The Cairo bulletin., 1906-09-11
GRADE ORDINANCE
RECOMMENDED FOR PASSAGE
FIXING THHRTY-TWO FEET
FOR WASHINGTON AVE.
Citizens Heard BY Committees Nearly
\ All Favored Lower Grade-Some
Changes Made--Wiii Be Re-
ported to Council Tonight.

tees of the city council met yesterday
afternoon at the council chamber &c
consider the grade ordinance upon the
passage of which so much depends In
the way of public street work in the
next several months. All the members
Of the committees, the mayor, and a
goodly number of citizens were pres
ent, with the city's counsellors,
Messrs. Lansden & Leek, and City En-.
gineer Thistlewood, as advisers.
, Among the citizens present were Chas.
Cunningham, Zion Bishop, F. J,
Hodges, VIM McHale. DR.. Fields, Hon
VIM. b. Gilbert, w. J. Johnston. Or.
Rendleman, Chesley Charles. J. 7.
Lynch.
The mayor stated the purpose Of
the meeting and remarked that the
committee wished to hear the senti-
ments OF citizens directly interested,
lin order to guide them in the mat
ter, the desire being TO do what might
be to the liking and for the best inter
ests of the majority and the city at
large.
In order TO bring the matter form
ally before the meeting Alderman
Meehan moved that the ordinance be
| recommended for passage as II read
seconded by Alderman Koehler
Citizens were then asked to express
themselves with reference to the
grade on Upper Washington avenue
Mr.. Lynch said he owned block
| fronting on the avenue which was on
the 30 foot grade. He had found II
difficult TO get dirt to fill II. as the
ground where dirt could be procured
anywhere near his premises, had all
been taken up. He had to pay for the
dirt and for the hauling which made
filling very expensive. II he were re-
CURED to bring his premises up two
feet higher II would be a hardship
which he felt should not be imposed |
upon him or upon others similarly sit |
tlated: and he did not favor a street |
two feet above his premises.
Hon VIM. B. Gilbert spoke for him
self and various other property own
ers interested He spoke at some |
length, taking as part of the basis for |
his remarks the figures presented in
the profile at the engineers office. as |
given In The Bulletin OF Sunday morn. |
ing. showing that but ten per cent of
the walks along the west side of the |
avenue was up to the "a foot grade, |
and none on the east side were up to |
that grade He said the crown of the |
avenue had been filed to the "a foot |
grade at a time when sipe water |
came very high in the city and |
before the city had the Menge pumps.
Since that time conditions had changed |
and SO high grade was found un.
necessary, hence utility could not he
claimed in behalf of the high grade
which would compel so many people 10
incur the heavy cost of raising their
walks and premises two feet or more,
tearing up and destroying their pres.
ent walks and private improvements
II would be a useless expense. for the
30 feet grade on which all these i'm.
provements were made would serve all
the needs of the situation. Nor could
Il be claimed that any artistic purpose
would be served. for the idea that ther
must be no variation In the grade II
I street In order TO be beautiful was
absurd. as was illustrated in street
construction in almost any city except
I prairie city. He suggested also that
( citizens were forced To destroy their
private improvements which had been
years in making on grades tacitly if not
approved by the city author
ties an action for damage might lie
against the city. Those citizens
whose premises were now up to or
above the 30 foot grade would be prt
% no expense whatever, by fixing the
grade of the street at 30 feet. for they
would not be compelled to change the
grades of their walks and premises
Those who were above that grade
,ould meet the lower street grade
with terrace that would add beauty to
heir residences.
Mr.. Chss. Cunningham spoke briefly
% behalf Of the petitioners who had
against the lower grade He
asked to be informed If there was not
an ordnance fixing the grade Of the
street at 81 feet.
Judge Lansden stated that he had
searched diligently among the records
of the city and had been unable 10
find such an ordinance.
AIR. Cunningham said be spoke only
Tor the owners Of property between
Twenty-first and Twenty-eighth streets
and asked the engineer to give him
the levels at the various intersections
between those points.
The engineer did so showing that
he average street level was about 30 :
feet and the side walk levels were but
little over ~ feet al nearly all the in
tersectiOns.
In reply to a question from Judge
Lansden why 30 many Of the side
? AXIS came 10 be built at the % foot
grade n the street grade had been
fxad Al "a feet