The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-09-21
PAVED STREETS CAN Be HAD

east or us mas bonded itself to
the amount of STA, 900 to pave its
streets, Weiser, the city that sits on
the border of our state and whose
feet hang over into Oregon, has also
the paving fever. Boise, our beauti-
full capital city has several miles of
good, paved streets and Caldwell,
we'll she is hanging along toward the
rear of the procession with all the
possibilities of the procession losing
her from its tail end.
Years ago when Boise, Nampa,
Weiser and all the other cities were
slushing around through mud up to
their knees, Caldwell had board side
walks. Later Caldwell led in the
matter of cement walks.
We remember when cement walks
were first preached, the council or
dered 12-foot cement walk from Kim
ball Avenue west to First Avenue
west (now 7th Avenue), and what
howl went up. Threats were made
that the matter would be taken into
the courts, etc. But after certain Of
our citizens blew off such surplus en-
ergy as they had, through their
building apparatus (yclept mouth)
the walk was laid. Now cement
walks, good, bad and Indifferent,
makes glad the landscape of nearly
every street, and cement walks are
even laid where scarce man a week
uses them. We have now in our
progress as a city, come to the stage
of paved streets. OF course, there
are men, business men, too, (lots of
business gets along very comfortably
upon a moiety of brains), who may
oppose paved streets. But we have
got to make the start. When the
start is made it will be just like the
board side walks and the cement
sidewalks, and the sewers, and water
works, and other things Caldwell has
been interested in. When the start
is made you won't be able to stop the
citizens of our progressive city with
a steam engine or electric motor.
The present condition of our street
Is a disgrace. But this expression
has been used so often and Is so
thoroughly believed in thas it doesn't
even arouse interest. Besides to dis
cuss 1t from this standpoint is waste
of energy. We have already made
an analysis of the case; We have dis
covered the disease and its up to us
to apply the remedy. The remedy is
paved streets for the business Sec
ton. This opinion is already pretty
popular and 1t is gaining converts
every day.
We now have the disease, the rem
edy has been suggested, and the most
difficult part of the matter now comes
up, for discussion. What will 1t
cost? How will we pay for it? These
questions need careful consideration.
In the absence of reliable data, which
we expect to have for the next issue.
as to price we will say that for good
paved street 50 per running foot is
very safe estimate. This would
make paving cost for lot of so feet
frontage $225.00 and for the 120
foot frontage $4,000. AS our Main
street has a street railway over the
same and some of our side streets are
likewise fortunately situated, this
amount to those SO fortunately situa-
ted can be shaved down some. This
Is the approximate cost. We may be
able to shave the amount down some,
and 1t may cost little more. We
shall have more definite figures, prob
ably by next week.
Now as to the payment. This is
the crux Of the situation. As most
OF us have our heart in our pocket
book we have arrived at the point
where we might feel some pain.
The same law that applies to the
laying of sewers. or the laying of
sidewalks applies to the paving of
streets. The method then to be pur-
sued Is for the city council to pass
an ordinance declaring the city's in
tention to pave the streets, designat-
ing the streets to be improved. the
points between which said improve
ment is to be made, and the esti-
mate Of the cost of the same. This
can be done either with or without
a petition. Ten days time is then
given during which protests against
the Improvement may be filed with
the city clerk.
1t is not necessary to hold an cleo
ton to pave the streets.
If the protest does not assume any
great proportions. the city council
can by ordinance order the streets to