The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-09-10
TO FIX THE GRADE.

A meeting Of the council committee
having the street grade ordinance nr.
der consideration is called by the may
or for this afternoon at the council
chamber, and he requests that the
people d recily int ested in this ordi
nance. especially on Washington ave
nue.. be present to discuss the proyis.
ions of the ordinance.
Washington avenue property own.
ers are probably the only ones who
feel sufficient interest Ia the oFdi-
nance to make their appearance, and
they can probably depend upon 1t
that their views will receive re peci-
full consideration. 1t is not likely
that any of the citizens walt the
grade Of the avenue fixed so that when
the street has been permanently i'm
ance and this being true it should
not be impossible to reach an annie
able adjustment of any differences Of
opinion that may exist.
A statement published in yester-
days Bulletin, carefully prepared from
a profile in the city engineers office,
show. that The crown of the avenue
from Twenty-iirst street to Thirty
fourth street is at present from one to
nearly two feet above the grade OF
the sidewalk. on every foot of lis e.:
tire length of over 5000 feet except
ing only about $50 feet.
That this condition is in gross VIC
lation Of every sane rule of street
building must be admitted by all w,o
are not pflu Npeel by unworthy Goa
sideraiions. 7 .ae commonot Of CON
mon serre, as well as every racog-
nlzed engineering authority on sire
construction teaches us that all streets
must be so built that all surface
drainage from the sid walks and from
the premises on either side shall be
toward he street. the crown OF
the street should be lower than or at
least on a level with the sidewalks.
and the side walks should be lower
than the private prem ses abutting II
ANY contrary method of street and
sidewalk building is contrary to the I
fundamental rules Of sanitary engi /
ne sring.
Because Of a neglect of tj funda /
mental rule in the past We have de- /
plorabla conditions in many Of our
streets. Whenever a heavy .rain oc
ours the sidewalks are flooded be-
cause the crown Of the streets stands
a foot or more above the walk CT
zenh refused. as a2matter of sentiment 4
10 permit the street 10 be cut down 10 4
make room for the pavement. the Il
pavement wa put on top Of the dirt 4
IS il had been placed when the tire I \
was filled: the sidewalks could not be
.aised. or citizens refused 10 raise them
because their premises were on a
evel with the walks as they were
,uilt: the engineers found It ne-es \
airy. in order to construct a gutter.
o give the street an extraordinarily
harp crown-ani the con sequence
W. thai every heavy shower wash s
nj the pavement. flls mp the CUTTERS
md flood the sidewalks.
It is hardly iikely that anyone viii
wish that this shall b. the condition
N upper Washington avenue or any
,art Of the avenue. when T. is pe-mau
nuy improved. and IN orler TO AVOID
( one of two things must be done.
.iih1 The crown Of The treot mas
30 ciIi down. or an u The sidewalks.
accepting the 2sa feet men Toned
Ib1ve and al Of taa private pre1His@s
both sides mH-t be- rai iu the
.4-foot grade. simultaneously wi b the
layine Of the street.
Which Of the tao changes shall De
made win be for those in authority
o say.
difhculi circumstances: II IS KInu.