Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-09-17

water and electricity, telephone, teIe-
graph, lighting, hydraulic power and
other trenching companies have been
notified in order that they may carry
out any contemplated alterations and
repairs to their mains and services
Immediately prior to or during the ex-
lecution of the proposed works, with
the view of obviating interference
with the paving by them in the near
future. The police authorities have
also been informed Of the intended
works, so that they may make such
arrangements as are necessary for
the direction and control Of the street
traffic during the time the street
works are in the hands Of the con
! tractor. The omnibus companies
have been notified Of any intended
/ Temporary interruption of a customary
/ bus route and the local authorities
/ with boundaries coterminous with
those Of the city Of Westminster have
also had full intimation of the pro
posed works where they in any way
affect the traffic in streets under
their Jurisdiction; and every resident
along the line of the works has had
intimation of their proposed com
Imencement
If at any time during the progress
Of the work you should think you are
not receiving proper consideration at
the hands Of the contractor, and will
communicate with me, I shall be hap
to see that as little inconvenience as
possible is caused to you and to the
general public using the street.
Should you contemplate carrying out
ANY works which would interfere with
/ the surface of the roadway. would
you kindly put them in hand forth
with, giving the necessary notices re-
IQuired by the City Council in due
course"
Practically, an exactly opposite con,
EDITION obtains here in New York.
While there may be notifications of
contemplated pavement work, there is
absolutely no intelligent effort at CO.
d u. / 5
a new pavement: but no sooner is
! that laid and opened up for travel
than along comes a firm with a con-
tract for a new sewer in the same
blocls-and up is ripped this brand
new pavement, and the streets are
closed again for an inrefnite period.
And 50 it goes-one Improvement"
Of work following another in weary
ing and discouraging succession and
at enormously increased cost and ire
mendous annoyance, Inconvenience
ard general trouble all around.
The instance comes to mind Of an
upper west side bit of area where an
avenue intersects Broadway with two
or three crOss-streets cutting it up,
"a trayeLcOngested point as long ago
Jas the early nineties- and for nearly
ten years continuously it was in a
state Of complete upheaval: An en-
larged acknowledgement torn up
for months and then relaid; next
change Of one street-car line from
cable to underground trolley
months of upheavaI again, with the
pavement finally restored; torn up
once more for a big new sewer-re-
laid; now, a change from blocks to
.asphalt; almost Immediately this as
'Ihalt torn up for subway construction
three or more years of open
ditching. dirt, dust and the practical
.stoppage of ordinary surface traffic;
pavement again torn up for the
change Of an old hOrse-car line to
trolley system; then a sort Of "buiId-
ing boom" that forced a partial clos
ing of about half the street area in
the entire section: and even now
some center-parkway and sidewalk
Improvements in progress so that
the proDerty-owners and tenants
might not suffer from quiet, cIeanIi-
ness and lack Of confusion Barring
the subway construction. all this
work might have been done inside of
one single year. But that is not the
New York way-mOre's the pity.