The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-26

At a general meeting of the men,
bers of the citizens last night in the
Commercial club rooms, which as
semblage was for the purpose of con-
sidering the advisability of having a
fifteen foot sidewalk in the business
district instead Of the twelve foot
walk now being used, vote of those
present showed an almost universal
approval of the wider channels for
pedestrians. only one vote against the
change, being recorded.
AT the instance of F. S. Sargent
resolution embodying the idea of
wider walks with all posts. poles, ETC.,
removed, was the opinion of the gen.
eral meeting. The suggestion made
by w. P. Davies that Presiding Officer
w. X. Nash appoint a committee of
three whose duty it shall be to cir
culate petitions among the property
owners of the district affected, was
acted upon favorably, and the council
men should have an abundance of ex-
pert testimony upon which to base
whatever action is ultimately agreed
upon.
Spriggs Spoke.
In the opening remarks at the meet
ing last night Acting President Nash
in a few concise words made plain
that the one and essential element to
be taken into consideration at this
time was the proposition of whether
or not the streets could be sliced
three feet on each side and the slice
added to the sidewalk. He called up
on VIM. Spriggs for a few remarks.
Mr.. Spriggs as chairman of the paw
ing committee of the city council dis
played a fund of information on the
subject, and delved down into the
grand opportunity for such action at
the present time, the attractiveness
of the wide walks, and broaching the
monetary question stated that It
would be about a "stand-off" in the
way of eXpense-as to whether the
taxpayers pay for less paving and
more walk or more paving and no
walk.
This idea was later taken up in
detail by City Attorney Rex. Mr.. Rex
explaining that the one and only diff
ference would be in the mode of pay
ing. For the additional walk the mon
ey would have to be paid in lump
form, whereas the cost of paving
would hit the money strings little by
little through series of years.
Must Look Ahead.
r. B. Griffith, representing the
heavy property owning class, express
ed himself in favor of wider walks.
mo doubt" exclaimed the speaker,
our walks are plenty wide enough
for 1907 but in my opinion we should
look ahead. If the walks are to be
broadened the time is ripe"
With reference to the need of a
wider street than that the fifty foot
roadway proposed under the new ar
rangement. Ex-Mayor John Dinnie
gave it as his opinion that accommo-
dation for the people should be con-
sidered in preference to the convent
ence of teams and vehicles. Again,
the travel on the paving is not in
creasing at pace equal to the side
walk traffic
Other prominent citizens were call
ed upon for ideas. F. S. Sargent: Il
think the fifteen foot walk would be
a decided improvement and there
would still be room enough for two
lines of street cars on the roadway"
A. L. Woods: Another thing must
be considered. A walk is only as
wide as its narrowest point and all
distractions as displays, poles, ETC.,
tend to cut down the usefulness,
therefore what We must have is
guarantee of the removal of these
distractions"
Subordinate Matters.
During the discussions several ac-
cessory details of the proposed
change We're brought out, the effect
on catch basins. electric light poles
and hydrants. being given a full share
of the attention.
Don Mcdonald favored the wider
walks because, for one thing. the mis-
cradle CRATES at the corners would
be hidden under the sheltering curb
ing.
Judge R. NJ. Carothers was in ia
vor of retaining the present walks if
the pole removal scheme was carried
out. He stated that there are at pres
ent no less than eighteen poles be-
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