The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-20
Citizens Ask Use of Under
ground Wires or Remov-
al of Poles to Alleys.
HOLD MEETING TONIGHT
Eighth Ward Residents Are
Greatly Interested in
Civic Improvement.

In no part OF the city has there been
j more general interest taken in the
pan OF street improvement in con-
nection with the new paving than has
been manifested b. the citizens of the
Eighth ward. Many public meetings
have already been held and commit
tees have been appointed TO confer
with all interests involved in relation
TO the work. The last meeting, held
several nights ago. appointed a COM
mittee consisting OF L. NJ. Showalter.
DR.. Holland. Dr. Miller. Frank Dick
ersou and J. Fay Watson to confer
with the traction company. the city
commissioners and the telephone COM
pany with a view Of eliminating the
large wooden poles from Locust ave
nue.. At these meetings plan has
been practically unanimously agreeo
upon by the large number OF citizens
and taxpayers who have attended the
meetings, by which the street is 10
be widened several feet. This is
necessary owing 10 the fact that the
street car line takes up considerable
OF the street room and the further
fact that the traffic along this avenue
is growing every year as this part OF
the city is extended, and especially
is this made necessary now since the
new Normal school has been located
at the end OF Locust avenue.
The Widening Of the street Will
cause the sidewalks to be made mar
rover and the citizens complain that
while the street and walks are already
too narrow to accommodate the traf-
fic. that the large poles take up too
inches in diameter. making about two
inches in deameter. making about two
and one.half feet OF lost space or OBJ
struction when both sides of the street
are taken into account.
The citizens are demanding that the
telephone company either put in the
underground wires along this avenue.
for which privilege the city has al
ready granted franchise, or move all
the poles to the alleys.
They are also asking that the trac-
ton company put in iron poles, the
same as are in use in Pittsburgh,
which they claim viii not only take
far less room. but will be an ornament
to the street. This is urged for the
reason that the commissioners will
not permit wooden poles to be placed
in the curb line, but will not object to
the metal poles being placed in the
curb. When the poles are placed in
the paving the sidewalks are badly
obstructed.
The citizens claim that they are do
ing.a liberal part in permitting their
grass plots between the sidewalks and
the street curb to be removed and
their sidewalks made narrower TO
widen the serviceable part OF the
street and will seriously object TO any
encroachment upon their limited side
walk space by the placing OF large
wooden traction or telephone poles
along the avenue.
The committee appointed at the
last citizens meeting will make re-
mort at another meeting to be held in
the Eighth ward tonight and from the
expressions Of the members OF the
committee It is evident the people VIII
insist upon the poles being removed
from the sidewalks and, no doubt the
CITY officials, the traction company
and the telephone company will ac-
cede to their wishes and make OF Lo-
Gust avenue one of the best and neat
est streets in the city.