The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-01-07

Tho next best tnlpS W ""iHS
!. n :uow where to get it done
~. Mo;nes taxpayers under their
n,oo Of government seem to have
s s..a thoroughly the responsibility for
W., IA'c care Of streets and alleys aud the
"a Of public improvements II a
LII, 10 not done. the taxpayers now
s... where to get it done, and that is
~. next best thing, for it invarlaoly
guarantees that the thing itself Will be
done. ,.,o.,,.
n.s Moines streets were scandalously
a,,v under the old regime There Is
heavy traffic, the city uses vast quant'-
,iss o, steam coal and clouds OF SCOT
nour from factory and heating plant
,bimpeys, and;the soil of the unpaved
streets is not sandy. but either clay or
,umbo That combination makes for
iir,v streets. But added to this there
,u formerly neglect. The result was
,h., Des Moines became known through
Ibis section Of the midwest as notori'
ously dirty.
Business men complained to the city
officials. But there was no permanent
relief Responsibility for the streets
v,s tn much divided. 1t was split up
,mounr nine councilmen and by them
allotted in part to committee. Every
few weeks q delegation OF citizens
would appear in the council chamber
and let loose pleadings, concentrations
and threats, but they got little salts
faction in the way of results. They
don't know where to get the thing
DONE
Now the commissioner of streets and
public Improvements is directly re
sponsiblc for the care Of the streets. II
Is his business, and his special business
70 keep them clean. The success OF
bis career as an official depends upoa
The success with which he does 1t.
Likewise the commissioners elected at
large are more interested in the APP
pesrance Of the downtown paved dis
,ricts than aldermen elected in outiy'
leg wards and with only ward interests
IN view.
STRIKING RESULTS.
The result has been striking. Des
Moines paved streets in the business
districts we're never so clean as during
he last eight months of the Des Moines
Plan Street cleaning has been thor
oughly systematzed and the work has
hsen presistently followed. Des Moines
slosing its name for filthy pavements
md gaining reputation as a city OF
clean streets.
Il has cost money to do this. but the
money is carefully spent; it produces
results and the people are pleased.
Public improvements have not been
" extensive as formerly during the
N,t eight months, due to the general
restriction Of business. But enough
streeS have been paved to demonstrate
NE advantages OF the commission gov
eminent in efficiently, speedily doing
public work. Resolutions Of necessity
mpving, sewers, etc., must take the
usual course prescribed by law, as
@oer the old system, yet the average
une consumed for the preiminaries
W been much less. Petitions have
"en filed, resolutions passed and con
Nscs lot with the utmost promptness.
nnen property owners ask for paving
were Is guarantee now that they will
~ it;the day when a petition unani.
a0''ly signed by property owners on q
west will lie around 10 committee
Hseoa holes for two years before get
1ag action is gone That happened
va 10 Des Moines, but it cannot vel
uappen again. Neither i, it ever agai1
a.ely to take eight years to finish d
Maee originally estimated to cos
$4,000.
LETTING OF CONTRACTS
me letsing OF contracts seem to bs
! ''olatsly on q business basis. Con
".c~rs talk over matters with com
a''s'oners 10 their sessions much u
Ivy would talk oyer ih,ir propo>ll "u
"' zoe directors If ii business house
~ wed W 10 pol.licaI dlckvrlnl