The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-11-18
PAVING PROPOSITION
MADISON PEOPLE WARM UP TO
THE ENTERPRISE-IT
WILL SUCCEED.

next spring was practically assured
today
1t was announced this afternoon
by Frank c. Smith, a member of the
Merchants association committee cir
culating the consent petitions, that
the canvass, which began yesterday,
had revealed that sentiment is uni
versally in favor of the proposed
project. He said that none of the
forty or more property owners called
upon had declared against the paving.
That it would be necessary, how
ever, to get the signatures of just
about all of the resident individual
owners of realty along that portion
of the avenue to be paved, was point
ed out. While the law does not pro-
vide that the city commission must
have the consent of so per cent of
the property owners before passing a
resolution as to the necessity for paw
ing, the merchants committee feels
that it is under moral obligations to
get the sentiment of at least one-half
the taxpayers affected before asking
for the improvement. 1t is done, it
that the expense of advertising the
paving will not be wasted
One reason given for urging all
available property owners to sign
now, is that there are a large num-
ber of owners of lots abutting on the
business section of Egan avenue who
cannot be reached at this time. Two
out of town breweries, which would
have slight, if any, interest in the
plan, each own lot. AS the Lake
Park hotel site, comprising three
lots, is in litigation, no one has power
to consent or protest for that prop
erty. 1t would probably be a consid-
cradle time before the Masonic lodge
or Methodist church trustees would
be in position to act in the matter.
1t is estimated that if fifty sigma
lures are obtained the paving as far
as Seventh street is assured, and that
if sixty names are secured the surfac-
ing will be extended as far as Eighth
street.
Thirtythree property owners had
signed early this afternoon. There
are a number of title holders yet to
see, and there have been no out and
out protests, il is explained.
With very few exceptions, | be-
lieve, you will find something wrong
with the middle western town or city
which has a population of 5000 oil
more, and which neither has a stretch
or two of pavement or is not arrang-
Z ~
least
The foregoing statement was
youchsafed today by resident of the
city who takes more than passing
interest in civic improvements, and
who this year Travelled in Minnesota
Iowa and Nebraska Fearing that his
suggestions would be considered by
some as bordering on the dictational
the gentleman asked that his name
be withheld from publication.
ITO the best of my knowledge.
never saw piece of city property, the
actual value of which could not be
enhanced by a strip of pavement" he
said. 'As to well kept pavement be-
ing a convenience and lending beau
tifying appearance, | do not think
that will be disputed by the most
conservative property holder"
Continuing, the speaker explained
that Madison had only to look about
her in determining whether paving,
If not money saved" is actually
money earned"
No town of perseverance, nova
days lays a few blocks of pavement
along a street and let's it go at that.
very little amount of street sur
facing will soon prove its worth, not
only as to appearance, convenience
and as source OF favorable comment
/ in outside places, but as a drawing
card so vital to the business success
| of the merchants. of any city. Elk
perts have shown that with the ad
vent of the automobile as more OF
! less general means of conveyance, the
/ town that has not up to date street:
is struggling under an almost insur
mountable handicap"
1t was pointed out that cities o.
the class of Sioux Falls and Aberdeen
would not dispense with paving a
any price. During the last two years
Sioux Falls has laid more than tel
miles of pavement, some of which
serves thoroughfares along whicl
there is not nearly so much traffi
as there is on Egan avenue. Sheldon
Ia, town of $500 population, som,
seventy-five miles southeast of Siou.
Falls, has approximately a mile o
pavement That it has proved
profitable investment there is evi
denced by the fact that more pavinl
will be laid next summer.
LeMars, Ia, city OF some 5000
population. situated about thirty-fiv
miles south of Sheldon, a few year
ago laid few blocks Of pavement OF
one of its two principal streets. Bot
Of the city's business thoroughfare
are now paved from end to end, AM
much street surfacing has latel,
been done in the residential section
Men who travel are authority TO
the statement that Sheldon and LIE
Mars are typical wide awake center
Il n