The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-05-30
THE PAVING PROPOSITION,

Just now COnSluerADle amount OF ln-
terest being taken in the proposition to
pave South street with vitri6ed brick.
A great deal of private discussion has
been going on over it, but nowhere
have we seen the matter publicly dis
cussed IN a businesslke manner.
This is matter Of great Importance.
The distance to be paved is 3, 800 feet,
which makes a frontage, counting both
sides Of the street, of $3.50 feet. The
amount of its cost cannot be computed
with exsctness until the contract price
is known,and the number Of feet of new
curbing is ascertalned, but taking the
price for which the paving of Main street
was contracted, the lowest estimate
that can be made, will make the cost
per foot to property owners $3.50,
The probabilities are that it will cost
more, and the total cost OF paving the
the proposed district will be right at
s22, 900.
Before entering upon an enterprise
so costly. and bearing so heavily on
some of the owners of the property
affected, adding to already heavy bur-
dens, it will be but the action of prudent
men, careful of the public welfare, and
of the rights of Others who may not be
so fortunate as themselves, to inquire
carefully into the necessity of that out
lay, and to discover if there may not
be some other plan that will ac-
complish the desired purpose without
depressing those who already have
enough to bear.
Into this discussion we should all
come with a spirit of fairness and
neighborly kindness, each one intent
upon doing as he would be done by
and upon doing that which is right.
Those who are more prosperous and
are able to make any improvements
they desire, and to adorn their proper
ty as their fancy may incline,
must remember that taxes levied for
street Improvement are not taxes for
private advantage or convenience, but
are for the pu bllc benefit, and cannot
be justified on any other ground; and
they should not come with an arrogant
spirit, looking only to selfish gratifica-
ton, lest they should be met By their
poorer neighbors with the suspicion
that they have an ak to grind, and are
seeking to speculate on the misfortunes
of the lowly. Nor should those less
prosperous let the sense of personal
hardship which the imposition OF the
tax arouses make them treat the sub
ject with an obstinate disregard for the
general interest, lest they should be
held as obstructionists, and standing
in the way OF proper progress, but the
endeavor of all should be to find
solution that will be fair and just TO all
interests, public and private.
We will start with the proposition
upoL which we are all agreed. that
South street is badly in need of i'm
proyement, and that it ought to be put
IN good condition, and that the general
revenue fund of the city is already
overtaxed and cannotiurnish the means
necessary for that purpose, and that,
therefore, it should be improved at the
expense of the property owners as
provided by Jaw in such cases.
The only difference is as to the kind
of improvement that ought to be
made.
There seems to have grown up a
sentiment among some of our citizens
that vitritied brick is the only kind of
paving worth mentioning, and they are
making what seems to us to be an un-
reasonable demand that it should be
put down without regard to locality.
We concede that where it is proper
ly laid of the best material, it is a last
log pavement suitable for the business
parts of the city, but claim that it is far
too costly for such street as South
street.
We contend, 1st. That to put it
down on that street will be tax on the
property out of all proportion, and
will be oppressive,
End. That it will be extravagant,
and much in excess of the needs of the
case.
Remembering that all taxes are for
the benefit of the public, and can be
justified on no other ground, let us take
an example.
On the business part Of Main street
l. n b,g;,o,, ke.... ..t.L e.