The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-01-13
PROPERTY OWNERS DISCUSS THE
SUBJECT At COMMERCIAL
CLUB MEETING.
Opinions Differ-Some Favor PAVE
ment-Others Want Macadamized
Streets-Committee Will Handle.

night the meeting was turned over to
the property owners In the main ous1-
ness district of the city for the pur-
pose Of considering the subject OF I'M
proving the streets. Frank w. Paine
was chosen chairman Of the meeting
and ]. Nj. Turner secretary. The sub
tect was at once taken up and gen.
eral discussion followed. Those who
spoke on the question were E. s.
Clark, M. H. Paxton, A. K. Dice, e. w.
Babcock, ]. Nj. Turner. H. S. Bland
ford, DR.. ]. E. Bingham, B. F. Simpson
William O'Donnell, H. H. Turner, Geo.
Schorr and Street Commissioner H. H.
Champion.
Every property owner expressed
himself in favor Of taking some action
toward lettering the condition OF the
main. business thoroughfares, but only
a few were in favor Of paving. A ma
jority believed that the cheapest and
best way for the present was to decide
upon some system Of macadamizing.
City Surveyor Clark, while not a
property owner in the business dis
trict, was called upon to give his views
He said that he had made some investl-
cations as to the probable cost of the
different kinds of pavement but was
unable to give figures at the present
time He believed that bitumlnous
pavement was the best adapted to
Walla Walla. which would cost at a
front foot.
NJ II. Paxton said that the question
to be decided was whether the property
owners wanted to pave or to adopt
some other method of making the much
needed Improvement. He was in favor
Of paving. as were several other heavy
taxpayers that he represented. While
the expense might be very large, II
was not necessary that the work should
be paid for at once. Bonds Couid pc
issued. made payable in FIVE or SIX
years and the payments could be made
SO that it would not be so burdensome
on the property owners. He was WILL
ing. however, to abide by the decision
of the majority.
G. w Babcock thought the talk of
paving was premature. He said that
the streets of Walla Walla in general
were in good condition, and that the
unusual wet weather this winter was
the cause of the present appearance
Of the thOrOughfareS. He had inquired
it would cost about s1500O0 to pave
the streets, which he thought was more
| ct
favored the use of crushed rock and
system of cleaning the streets at fire.
uuent periods. He believed that plan
would keep the streets in good cOndl-
ton for many years to come.
J. M. Turner said the main fault was
the fact that the streets had not peen
cleaned of the mud early in the VIM
ter He heartily favored making M
provements at once, but he was Of the
opinion that the city was not in q po-
sition to put in expensive paVements.
He suggested that experiments be
made by the city with the different
kinds of pavementS suggested. by con-
structing crOssWalks, and in this man
ner it could be decided which would be
the best for the needs of Walla Walla.
II. S. Blandford said the first ques-
ton that should be considered by the
property owners was that OF drainage
It would be useless to pave the streets
unless there was some way of provided
whereby they could be kept clean. II
the pavement was placed down 1t
Il
the streets until the matter Of drain
age was settled. He believed that
true macadamized streets was what
was needed in WalIa Walla. There
was not one macadamized street in the
city 1t was true that a large amount
Of rock and crushed gravel had been
placed on the streets, but it had not
been done in the proper manner.
William O'Donnell opposed paving,
but thought that something should be
done at once to make an improve
ment in the streets. The first thing
to be done was to have good foun-
daton for the streets and then if they
were properly macadamized there
would be no trouble in the future.
A. K. Dice was heartily in favor of
paving and said that he was willing to
stand his proportion of the expense.
He believed that it was the only way
to have good streets.
DR.. ] e. Bingham stated that he did
not believe that the business of the
city justified the expenditure of as
much money as would be required to
pave the streets in the business dis
trict. Drainage was the most import
ant question, and he believed that was
the first step to be taken by the prop
erty owners. The present condition OF
the streets resulted from the vast
amount Of water that came up through
the gravel and crushed rock and If
there was proper drainage but a small
amount Of mud would accumulate He