Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-05-04
STREET IMPROVEMENT

pPoflea for street grading and now
has an engineer at work resurvey-
ing the streets, which means an addi-
tional expense of several hundred
dollars, or double taxation. With
out discussing the merits of the case
or Offering criticism, the Press wishes
TO call public attention to the fact
that every administration and every
new engineer seems to and ii neces-
sary to change the street grades on
one or more streets. Fourth street
has been graded twice, and we un-
derstand is to be graded soon for
the third time. Sherman street has
been graded three times and for the
changed In places. "A system of gov
eminent which permits such condi-
tIons to exist is not only expensive,
but 1t Is unjust and places burdens
OF taxation on the people which IL
not justified. II ID unfortunate that
such conditions can be fastened upon
community and there should be q
state law preventing the change of
street grade once established, then
1t would be done right in the first
place.
According to the statements OF the
members OF the present council, the
engineers who made former surveys.
and there were thre OF them, showed
incompetency or neglect In doing the
work. AT the time the first work
was being done the Press called pub
lie attention to the fact that the
monuments which were being put In
at tho intersection Of the street cross
ings were improperly placed and
would in the future cause additional
trouble and expense. The present
street committee takes the position
that on account Of the disappearance
Of probes, OF inaccuracies and incor-
rectness In former surveys, the work
must be done over again and that q
complete survey is cheaper than to
patch up the old job. This may be
true.
Members OF the old council claim
that the former work was properly
and completely done and the proflles
placed In q receptacle made sspe-
cially for their safe keeping. There
ID no reason TO doubt these state
ments and the question IL. what be-
came OF the profiies and who Is In
terested In their disappearance?
This ought to cali for a searching
investigation by the present city
council II II wishes TO justify Ito 60
tlon In making q resurvey. 1t Il
time the people were given some
light on these transactions. They
are entitled TO know why the policy
Of grading and regarding streets Il
pursued year after year and the ex.
penses Of the same charged up "a
them. We believe q thorough In.
veatigation and report Ii justly due
the people regarding the disappear,
ance Of the protiles and in all mat.
tiers pertaining to these expensive
street improvements. VIII they b.
given the information?
The people have no assurance tina
the next council elected win not EN-
pioy another engineer who will rec
ommend another change OF stree
grades and all the work be ordereS
done over again. When will sucl
things stop Is what the people wan
10 know7 The present council ma.
be justified In doing the work II ha
commenced ON the streets. bat 1t 1
time some definite policy were es
tablished and followed out.
Streets should be graded to re
main so permanently and a system
Of parking and sidewalks should b
adopted for the residence district
which win be attractive aud permu
nent. The council should keep 4
mind the fact that It IL not doln
these things for the present. but
properly done. for many years I
come, and the whole policy OF In
pr0yement should be based on = syu
tenn with that object In view. II
time TO quit haphazard work an
make these improvements complete
TO do this properly the experience I
older cities like Spokane might q
ford a good guide and advice froI
her experts would prove eeonomiea
Bring them 10 the city and let .
set tangible basis 10 work frol
before any more money Il wasted
new grades and regarding.