Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-17

trict. The city attorney more than a
year ago. reported that the city has
power to pave the streets. yet, save for
"A notice. ordinance or resolution
passed some months ago and which,
like the report, appears to have been
forgotten, nothing has ever been done
by this administration toward street
paving.
Paragraph , Of the street commit
tees report is as follows:
with the limited number of teams
and men in the employ of the city,
y has been impossible to do any sys-
tcmatic work heretofore, looking to
the permanent betterment Of the
streets In the way OF paving and grad
ing. it being the policy heretofore to
be satisfied with keeping the streets
in ordinarily passable condition. We
do not desire to be understood as in
any way criticising the policy hereto
fore pursued for the reason that this
committee thinks that the amount OF
money tina has been heretofore avail
able for the grading and maintenance
Of streets has been grossly Inadequate,
and the money available has been ex-
pended, in our opinion, as economic
ally and efficiently as could be done. Z
Two Of the democratic members OF
the council, Alderman heaven and Al
derman Wroth. signed this report, to-
gether with Alderman Hanley.
In order to prepare the roads TO
have them in good condition when tho
irrigation congress met, and being
and public spirited citizens, some
work was lone on West Central ave-
nue., and on Yijeras n from
Sixth to Fourteenth streets; these
streets were put in good condition and
permanently improved. \ splendid
foundation of gravel was made and
then a topping Of adobe. That was
the first street work done by the dem
ocratic administration. Some time
after this. because of rains and sur
face water. one or two streets in the
Second ward in the Highlands be-
came almost impossible. The resi-
dents OF the Second ward became so
Indignant over the method of repair
ing those streets, that one or two
largely attended Indignation meetings
were held by the Second ward people
to express their indignation at the way
the city government was treating
them. Since then some street work
has been done in tue Second ward, but
we notice that none of the streets III
the Second ward. have been I'M
proved in a permanent manner by
putting in a foundation of gravel, as
was done on Tijcras avenue. Some
work was done on East Central ave-
nue. in the way of grading the hill.
The hin, however. WIS never brought
TO grade and no action AT al was
taken in that matter until protests
were sent in by the Automobile assoc
citation of the city, and we have been
reliably informed that the Automobile
association did not take amy action I'M
til one or two prominent democrats In
the city got stuck on the hill in their
automobiles. IT would seem, then, that
the way TO get any street work done
under this administration is to have
prominent democrats living on ihc
streets. as in the case of West Tl1cras
avenue and West Central avenue, pro-
test, or have the Automobile associa-
ton send in a protest or 10 have tho
inhabitants Of tho ward hold an IN
dignntiOn meeting TO condemn the city
administration.
More recently, with The near ap-
proach Of the city election, feVeflsh
activity has been shown in the street
department. Alderman Boaven, as
chairman Of the street committee,
has had Marquette avenue broken up
and partially graded. Promises nave
been made to different persons IN an
ferent parts of the town to get to work
on streets in their vicinity soon ana
no doubt the chairman of the onnlll
tee viii have several places started be-
fore election day.
The Third ward, especially In the
western ana southwestern
part. points west and northwest oil
Tfteras avenue in the Fourth ward
the extreme north and northeastern
part of the First ward have been neg
lected as far as street improvements
are concerned. And this condition
prevails in spite of the fact tina the
street committee has had thousands
of dollars more to spend than n
other street committee, n in spite
of the promise hat we were to get
our sewer system and graded streets
for less than $2OO,OOO.
Up to date his administration has
spent or contracted to spend, $685.
900 on the sewer. In addition, in its
first wear. S20.163.90 vas expended on
street department, or SlO,Ol6.l4
han was expended by the street
department the year before. This IN
expense includes n steam
roller valued at $500 which we still
have. This year the street department
expenses viii be in the neighborhood
OF $4,000. We have then, in redemp-
ton of the pledge TO give us a
and graded streets for less
$4,000 an expenditure and
Contracted expenditure already of
$500, 900. on the sewer, and OF more
than $4,000 on the streets, total
$4,000, with neither sewer nor
GRADED streets vet in service.
Manual Training School.
The democratic platform is good
9 ading to us at this time, aud we
luotc once more from IL: we IA
the Introduction ot the industrial
,vstem of education into our schools
This statement was made W years
vet M To this time not a sign OF
an effort has been made toward the
Introduction of manual training or in
education in schools. Not
/, step. as far AS the public is aware.
been taken by the democrats 70
AIRY out this pledge. Instead, the
board has given much attcn-
to buying real estate without pub
ic discussion of any kind. The board
purchased "a portion of a block of
.round AZ the corner If Central ave-
and Broadway for $4,000. The
also spent some time in consid-
ring as "a site for "a public playground
large tract of marshy ground Just
.Outh of Central avenue. owned 10y
Fl. Il. FERGUSON. which said tract
II land was offered 60 the city as 81
,uhlic playground. for $4,000. 20 is
aid that only am Adjournment OF the
board m one time prevented
his stTaInpy piece OF ground
heing foisted upon the PEG.
lie at that price As fhe rf'l' p