The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-01-23

utSlltSs
The history of the South Pros
pect street paving is familiar to
all persons in the city who take
any interest whatever in the af-
fairs Of council. The matter was
sprung at meeting of council
about six weeks ago when, without
the consent, or knowledge OF some
of those interested in the affair,
Councilman wilson presented
resolution declaring ii necessary
to improve the street by paving.
Opposition was at once encountered
in the person of Councilman Setter
who questioned the propriety of
proceeding without a petition from
the property owners. The resolu-
ton was not passed at the session
at which it wos introduced, and the
promoter or promoters Immediately
secured the services of the repre-
sentat:Ees of street paving con-
cern to secure the petition which
was deemed necessary. A few
weeks later petition purporting
to have been signed by the property
owners was presented to council and
the matter was again taken up but
no disposition was reached. 1t was
permitted to lay over. In the in
terim, some of the resident proper
ty owners along the street between
Walnut street and the south cor
poration line began an investiga-
ton and some Of them express sur
prise that their names were found
n the petition. A remonstrance
was circulated and ii was signed
by every resident on that part of
the street. This protest was pre-
sented to the council at its meet
ing Monday evening, but their
prayer was not heard. The council
passed the ordinance, thrusting the
paving upon them.
No objection has been made by
any of the councilmen or by the
residents of the street from Hill
street to Walnut street and that
section Of the thorouehfare does
not enter into the consideration.
1t is the section lying south of
Walnut street, q distance Of about
100 feet over which the controv-
ersy has arisen.
A little review of the conditions
which exist on that part Of the
street will be of interest. There
are only ten resident property own
ers along the street, the remaining
frontage being vacant lots which
have only recently, and in some in
stances very recently, been plated.
These ten lots are the only ones
upon the street which will stand
the assessment for the improve
ments which have been planned, n
street paving and sanitary sewer
and cellar drain. A part of the
city's south side park fronts on
the streets and for this the city
will have to pay the assessments.
The city must stand two per cent.
of the whole cost Of paving plus
the cost of street and alley intersec-
tioas mad considering the distance
which must be paved (l700 feet)
this will be no small sum. All Of
this expense must be borne by the
ely for the accommodation Of ten
families and for the speculation Of
the owners of the lots which are
unlmproved. That it is ease Of
speculation upon the part of the lot
owners cannot be doubted when il
is taken into consideration that all
of the men who own lots either own
homes in other sections of the city
which are more centrally located or
have arranged to build in other
localities. These men who have
purchased this land for speculative
purposes, because they have the
power to secure the passage of an
ordinance by the council, the pc
tition upon which il is based having
been circulated ty a representative
OF u paving firm, are willing to
throw a heavy expense upon the
city and work hardship upon
the people who do reside on the
street and who expect to make
their present homes their peramn'
ent location. This too in the face
q