The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-09-19
THE COUNCIL IS
MUCH ALARMED
Many Sidewalks in Most Dangerous
Condition in the City.
TWO MORE VOTING PRECINCTS
Second and Third Wards to be Divid.
ed-No More Lettering on the
Windows of the New Munich
pal Building Allowed.

I
made by recent sidewalk repairs, the
Mayor Reynolds to appoint someone
to make a special examination OF the
underlying supports of cement walks
in the business part of town. Reports
I have reached the mayor of several
places on business streets where &C.
,ment walks make the roof over coal
( holes and excavations, that condl-
tons were alarming. That is, wooden
supports for cement blocks rotted
away and the sidewalks likely to fall
! II at any time Some sidewalks were
declared to be in very dangerous
state and to daily jeapordize life and
limb of the public.
A few DAYS ago wOrkmen repairing
a cement walk on the west side OF
! the Chas. Shurtz drug store, in lift
ing a block to grade level sent a sec
| ton of cement walk twenty feet in
length, into the coal hole beneath.
| The cement blocks had been held in
place only by an arch formed when
the sides had settled. The wooden
beams, heavy oak timbers when the
work was put in about twenty years
ago, had rotted Off and fallen away.
The coal cellar has not been used for
years and the entrance being closed
mo one had ever looked into the place
to discover the condition of thejoists
or beams. Over this walk day after
day, men, women and children have
passed, unmindful of the fall over
which they stood. Mr.. Seibert told
of the conditions that existed at this
place and called he attention of the
council to other defective walks that
needed immediate attention.
Not long since, }. b. Doll made the
discovery that the walk at the front
of his place of business, No. 113 High
avenue West, was not in safe con-
ditiOn for traffic The wooden sup
ports had rotted away. Mr.. Doll ap-
pealed to the city and he was requir-
ed to put in steel beams, which were
tied together with stay-rods to pre-
spreading under a load Cement was
poured on an arched reinforcement,
making what is credited with being
a permanent sidewalk that will carry
more load than can be placed upon 1t
in ordinary usage. Such construction
is somewhat expensive at the start,
but it's there to stay. Several pieces
of work of this character are said to
be located i'll the business district,
but the great majority of the walks
are resting upon dirt or wooden fOun-
.datiOn, tn results of which are appar-
.ent to any Observant eye from day to
day.
No more of the ship-shOd, cheap
John, do-for-thepresent kind of con-
struction will go in Oskaloosa. If the
present ordinance does not reach the
spot it will be made to cover the de-
ticiency, if any exists, and hereafter
all sidewalks above excavations, coal
holes, areaways or light wells must
be of reinforced work laid upon steel.
Examination is to be made of every
Sidewalk at the front of business
block and where the walk is to be
found in a questionable condition it
will be ordered replaced Immediately.
The city does not intend to take
chances on damage suits for loss of
life or injuries. Truly, Mr.. Seibert
has started something.
More Precincts.
Steps are being taken by the city
council to relieve Oskaloosa's con
Igestion. In place of five voting places
lat the coming presidential election
this fall there will be seven. Two
voting places will be provided for the
Second ward and two for the Third
ward First ward, Fifth and Fourth
can get along very well with the
accommodations as they are. Where
the divisions will be made is a ques-
Ition for consideration of an adjourn
led meeting appointed for Friday even
ing of this week, when mass of
other affairs are to come up including
the appointment of registrars for the
registration of voters and the naming
Iof Judges and clerk of election for
election day.
4 ShHCT puSiUtoo.
A multiplicity of other matters
came before the body during the even
ling, but no business of moment. May
Ior Reynolds was in the chair for a
time, but was suffering intensely and
had to be excused to go to his home.
Fred Blattner took the chair. Num-
Ierous smaller affairs called for the at
ltention of the session, sidewalk,
sewer, grading, etc. Fred Loos, Geo.
Sparks, Frank Tetrick and others
Icraved relief and their cases will be
looked after. Report of City Solicitor
ii. B. Mccoy. on the investigation
into the rates being charged by the
Home Telephone company under the
franchise was read and referred, but
no action taken.
Don't Like Gold.
|. Objection was raised to the letter
ing of the windows of the municipal
building, no matter II the reading
matter was done In gold leaf. A com
lmittee had been appointed to have
this work done. but the entire coun.