Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-05-02
A Suggestion.

OOuCGEuiIS d CIUS SUI Wy ssrhl<tlt
made without invitation: 1t IS
conceded that the city couniL
has control of the streets asd
alleys. The council has a right
to know, and is in duty bound,to
know what territory within 4e
city belongs to it. In the fs-s
charge of some of its duties iuis
necessary that the council kIbW :
which is public and whichk Isl
private property, because 1T HaN
order or allow various lmprtpe'
ments to be made at, or upon, n
across, or a stated distance fEOlns
street and alley lines, such3 as
drains, crossings, sidewalks,
and the setting of trees, tile
phone poles, etc. Streets ARE
established and these imprEve-
ments are ordered or permitted,
for the benefit and convepie1ces
of the general public. UnifoEm-
ity, regularity and accuracy fare
| desirable, or even neceSSaryL as
! a matter of public policy hnd
puioiic interest. They can bel
cured only through public actin
That is, through the council, and
it follows that the public should
bear the necessary expense.
OF course, everybody knows
that block lines and street lines
are the same. All fair minded
citizens will admit, or even insist
that block corners should be ac-
curately and permanently mark
n 10
of some durable material, and
such as will be recognized read
lily by any person of average in
telligence. These are matters
of public interest. They should
be secured through public
action and at public expense.
Under the circumstances it can
be done in no other way
Yes, I admit that I own a
corner lot, that l want it mark
ed, and that I am able to pay for
the marking, but that would do
no good without the marking of
others, over which I have no
control. 1t would not mark
| another corner in the block, nor
in the city. It would not secure
uniformity, regularity and ac-
curacy in the location of either
public or private improvements.
Even more to the point is the
fact that the public owns and
controls the land three-fourths
of the way around my block
corner. It-compels me to help
keep it in paSsable condition
Of III
may compel me to put public
improvements upon the adjoin
ing public land, for public use
and convenience, and it must be
done at private expense or the
public will sell my corner lot out
from under me- The public may
say that 1 shall put these public
improvements (sidewalks) just Sc
many feet or inches inside the
line of the public-property. But
am no kicker. I only ask thai
1.-THE public show me the line Il
that too much !?
If the establishing of public
lines and corners be left to pri
vate enterprise and persona
greed, how long will it be- before
the city has no lines. Has it AM
now, sure and certain?
| Has the city secured uniform
ity, regularity and accuracy il
public improvements in the past
Even blind man could ansWe.
| that if he were turned loosetol
the streets, and if not too dizzy
As to the marking of the corI1el
and line between my lot and 1hl
neighbor's lot adjoining, we viii
attend to that at our own 4x
pense, and the next lot owner,
| will do likewise, but we are &l
dependent upon the public 3
show US the public line.
In conclusion, my suggesti9l
: is that the block corners be ite
located and marked as I have ii
: dicated, at public expense. 4
!, this had been done a few yeat
d ago, before any permanent wallt
had been laid, it would have bed
- better for the public pride.
n done now I believe the psx er
= generation will approve, ami
lposterity will certainly hayl
4 cause to bless the memory of tt
men who have it done 1t seem
= to me just and reasonable an
b that it should have the heart
e approval of all public spirite