The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-05-12
THE COUNCIL AND SIDEWALKS.
Powers Conferred on Council by Charter
Up to the Council.

Up to the Council.
It might be we'll for the people of
Princeton to bear in mind, without
ceasing, the fact that the sidewalks of
this town in lots and lots of places
need repairing, and repairing at once,
and it is the imperative duty of every
property owner having defective walks
to see that they are repaired at once.
Occasionally property owner, mind
full of the comfort and peace of mind
of pedestrians, sees that his walk is
keptup in good shape, but it appears
that there are many who do not seem
to care what becomes with the walks.
One of the reasons why villages incor-
porate is so that communities can have
some of the advantages of good roads,
sidewalks, fire protection, and such
necessities that all progressive COM
munities desire to have and do have.
The only reason why Princeton has
such a lot of poor sidewalks is be-
cause the council and the people are
just little bit too negligent in the
matter. It is not because they do not
want the improvements but simply be-
cause no interest is taken. Let us
have renewed interest and fix up the
walks.
It has been said by some that the
village has not the authority to CON-
pei property owners to build new
walks and keep the sidewalks in re-
pair. Don't take any stock in such
statements. The charter of Princeton,
while a very antique document, con-
fers ample power and authority on the
common council to provide the people
of the village with good sidewalks.
Among the things that the common
council can do are these:
To rename any or all streets, to
provide for the erection of lamp
posts and lamps for lighting any
portion of the village or the streets
thereof by gas or otherwise; to
provide for and establish the
grades of all streets, and for the
construction and maintenance of
suitable sidewalks and street cross
ings of a uniform grade and width,
as they shall deem expedient, at
the expense of the owners of lots
or the parts of lots respectively op-
posite and adjoining to said street
crossings or sidewalks, or out of
the common fund of said village.
The above are few of the powers
that the village charter confers on the
common council. The language
seems to be very clear and plain and
any school boy can easily interpret
it's meaning. There are provisions
in the charter for the proper procedure
and initiative in order to secure new
sidewalks and repairs, and in case of
the repairs where the village does not
deem it the proper thing to pay for
repairs out of the village fund, the
street commissioner shall make a list
of all the necessary improvements and
return the same to the council
which shall notify the property own
ers by publication that such repairs
must be made and unless made in a
specified time the village can make
them and charge all the expenses of
the work against the property, the
same standing against the property
the same as the regular tax.
The whole matter is up to the village
council, and it is to be hoped that no
time will be lost in taking the neces-
sary steps toward getting better side
walks in Princeton. The sooner the
better.