The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-09-29
NEW STREET GRADES
Council Working on Ordinance to
Change Old System.

sion Friday evening for the purpose
of considering the problem of the
street grades of the city and to pass
an ordinance that would tend toward
the better regulation of the same.
The new ordinance will be known as
Grade Ordinance No. 256, and dis
places all others or parts of others
with which it may come in contact.
The ordinance was read section by
section on its first reading, and City
Surveyor John Shannon was present
to make clear the places where the
changes had been made from grades
previously established. Some of the
changes brought forth considerable
discussion.
The ordinance establishes the dat
UNI for the use Of surveyors in estab-
fishing the grade of streets and side
walks as it has always been, fifty feet
below the bench mark on the south
west corner Of the Loring building at
the northwest corner of the park.
When the city was laid out Mr..
Alex. Tracy established the old grades
with reference to the avenues. That
is, he ran the avenues through the
city, having in mind the making Of a
good-looking street. The north and
south streets were not considered and
the grades that the intersections
made with the avenues running east
and west were just as they might be
changed to be. This fact has caused
considerable Inconvenience in num-
Der of the streets and some bad places
exist on this account. Mayor Will
liams contended that there should be
no governing street or avenue with
reference to grade, but that the ma
ture of the intersection and the sur
roundings should be considered when
the permanent grade of the intersec-
ton and the walks thereon should be
located. He held that so far as pos
sible the intersection should be level,
that is, the four corners on the
same plane. This would prevent the
intersection being placed on slant
on the side of hill for the accommo-
dation of preserving the grade of an
avenue in an unbroken line from top
to bottom. When this is done 1t
causes one side Of the street at the
intersection to be higher than the 9TH
er, and the appearance of the street
is disfigured. Surveyor Shannon, DR..
Cole and others took exception to the
views Of the mayor and thought that
70 IF hot Oh nd al
leyg would be injured by the mayors
system. The opinions of the gentle.
men remained in about the same rela-
tive positions at the closing Of the
argument, as they were at the open
ing, but the mayors views impressed
the majority Of the council and the
section providing for governing
grades was stricken from the ordi
nance.
Paving Assessed. E-
The alley paving in the north and
south alley in the block north of the
square was assessed to the abutting
properties by resolution. The no
tice of publication was waived by the
several property owners interested,
and hence the assessment at this
time. Almost all of the owners were
ready and anxious to pay for the i'm.
provement as soon as it was complet
ed
Sidewalk Ordered.
A permanent sidewalk was ordered
in on North First street on that poT
ton Of the street where grading has
been done recently. The walk will
start at the Willard Carver place and
will be laid as far as possible unit
the nature of the ground makes it un
safe to risk the laying Of the cemen!
| this season.
No Sign Allowed.
Some time ago the city granted per
mission for the placing of sign posi-
at the curb line of the sidewalk. Mr.
G.. w. Bollinger made application tt
| Councilman Turner to have the coun
Gil grant him like permission. This
desired permission was refused by {
vote Of to 2.
Council adjourned at 1880 o'clock
| blank hooks and office sIIpnIies