The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-07-06
Commercial Street Property Own.
ers Are Making Trouble For
the City Fathers.
Mr. BELLAND ON PETITIONS.
Says They Are Uncertain and
Calculated at Times to Go AS.
tray-Duane Street TO Be
y Improved.

The council is having as much trou-
Die with the Improvement of CONNER
eIal street between Fourteenth and
Seventeenth as it usually has with Inn
provements affecting the troublous
Third ward. Two weeks ago it was
supposed the contention over the man
ner IN which the improvement should
be made was settled, but last night a
petition was sent In by property own
ers requesting the council to so alter
ahe ordinance as to make no provision
f0r new sidewalks. The petitioners
said the old sidewalks were good
enough. Councilman Lebeck couldn't
see matters in this light. He stated
9hat the walk was in dangerous con-
aitinn. and he believed the council
sh1uld not run the risk OF accident and
szits for damages. Mr.. Nordstrom sug-
gested that the city require the petit
1ioners to execute bond In the sum
ok 3sao0 to guarantee the city against
Mzs through damage suits, the bond to
bold good for five years. Finally the
petition was referred to the street
committee for immediate report. The
committee reported a short time later,
recommending that the petition be
Hsed.
'tOf course. am not disposed, as a
rule. to go against the wishes Of a large
Number of property owners, such as
have signed this petition" said Mr..
BeIland, but shall vote for the adop-
sznn of the committees report. Petit
hmns are rather uncertain as portray
ing sentiment. Why, were one to cir
culate petition to send Billy Welch
10 Salem, he could get lots of people
% sign it,"
Thus far the plans and specifications
Ar the improvement have not beenl
by City Engineer Tee. so the
sOuncII last night adjourned until Fri
Eay night, at which time an ordinance 4
YEuEiding for the manner in which the
Improvement shall be made will be 9
Vassed. Councilman Morton said be-
lnre adjournment last evening that
Manager Coolidge of the A. E. Co. has
'aated he would discontinue car service G
u Commercial street between Four
Henth and Seventeenth if the street
sere not improved before regatta week. b
zg would not risk the lives of heavy h
ads Of passengers. e
Another Dangerous Street. is
Street Superintendent Kearney called G.
attention to the dangerous condition b
{ Exchange street between Seven b
zenith and Eighteenth. He said the
was liable to collapse at p
ny time and urged some action look v
ne to its improvement. Mr.. Hansen NJ
h0ught the street ought to be fenced e.
q If the property owners refused to is
etition for its improvement, and Mr..
'urns thought that would be an excel
.nt way to bring them to time. The
treet superintendent, said Mr.. Kaboth, A
ught to take up some of the plankingl
D as to make the street utterly i'm
but Mr.. Kearney wanted a of
Odyguard If he had to resort to this w
xtreme He was instructed to fence Bi
I the street, although other fences pc
.ected in that part of the city have ia
zen torn down. tn
Will Repair Duane Street. ia
An ordinance providing for the time m
1d manner of improving Duane street
ON Fourteenth to Seventeenth was
assed last night. The repair must be
,mpleted by January 1. This i'm Pe
'nvement is an important one, but has
zen held up for some weeks by dis