Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-04-15

foot. in automobile or carriage.
During that time the eastern end of
the city's principal business street
has been serving the helpful purpose
of a gravel pit. Persons who have
attempted to use it as a street have
done so at considerable risk and at
least one mar has been dumped from
his carriage, together with his family.
while attempting to make the perilous
passage. The. trip to the University
has been likened by strangers to a
trip down Bright Angel trial and the
situation generally has been approx
mately the limit multiplied by six.
Up to the time of the action last night
the only remedy tina had been sug-
gesed IN the council was to close the
street and fence il in in order to keep
citizens from breaking their neeks in
attempting to use il. The impression
has been that the city treasury was
without funds which could be used for
the completion of the street M this
was suggested last night by Mayor
Lester, Mr.. Beaver and Alderman
Neustadt, the chairman of the fin
nee committee, who, although he
voted for the motion TO fix the street,
said he would not be able to state
how much money would be available
for street work until the annual report
of the treasurer was presented Mon
day night.
The city undertook the cut through
East Central avenue last year In con
nection with the county and the irri-
cation congress-, the dirt being carted
to help fiji in West Central avenue.
A deep cut was projected on grades
given by the city engineer, to bring
the street to a satisfactory grade. The
grade has been completed on the east
end OF the University Hill, which Is
outside the city limits, although hat
portion has not been surfaced. The
city's part of the road has been used
since as a gravel pit. Transfers and
contractors hauling dirt thereform as
they happened to need it.
The result OF this has been to leave
holes in the general area where the
street should be ana to make it very
much worse than useless.
Last December the university au-
thorities made Il vigorous protest to
the council against leaving the road
in such condition. They were told the
council would investigate. Alderman
Wroth stated last night hat the street
committee, of which he is a member,
had neglected the matter as long as It
AaT1d h. nnnIaatad md yhat 10 e.,
vored immediate action. The view has
been voiced by practically every man,
Woman child and dumb beast hay-
ing crossed the tran within the past
half year. For since Central venue
has been virtually closed all traffic has
been diverted to Silver avenue, which
has become. in turn. about as bad
as the gravel pit. only the strong
est automobile can beat IFS way up
the Silver avenue road and coming
down is perilous to springs and EN-
glncs. A sure footed horse might
make his way up If scared; a loaded
wagon can only make II with our
horses and grave profanity, while q
buggy has its troubles. The matter is
one which has furnished a standing
disgrace to Albuquerque. since the
mesa Is the eity's pleasure GROUND for
those who ride and drive.
The business men who came before
the council last night to demand ac-
ton did so after an agitation which
the Morning Journal first called at
tention to some weeks ago and which
been growing in activity ever
since. Aldermen Learnard. Iianley
I'D Ar. fnHtnfAd YtUnEnYlGlu lnGf
night on the completion OF the work
MI. Auge said he saw no reason In
considering the details at the meet
Ing, indicating that It was the bust
ness of the street committee. that the
city had to build the road and the
council would just as we'll proceed.
DR.. W. C. Hope addressed the coun-
Gil by request. lie complimented the
city government IN the street work
had been done during the
present administration n which he
said was the best campaign ever car ,
ried out in a similar period. He be-
lieved, however. that there had been
much delay on the East CentraI
cut and that every citizen and
taxpayer in Albuquerque, he believed,
would back him up in the demand
that something be done.
Some objection was expressed at
the thirty-foot provision, holding that
il the city has the money il would be
false economy TO build only half a
street, when with a comparatively
small additional cost the full sixty
feet could be done. This phase, how
was not taken up during the
meeting.
THAT the people win be grateful for