The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-08

nat the present city administration
in came into existence less than q
: and half ago, has not been Idle
hnwn by the record OF Its accomp-
,ments along both moral and mater
lnes Some Of the more import
"A these are set forth below.
record Of Accomplishments.
,ne Of the first things to which the
ninistration addressed itself on
hing into power was the repair Of
I'D macadam streets. many of
ich were in bad condition. These
re gone over and made passable 5y
M the holes and depressions with
macadam topped with screenings.
little later systematic reconstruc-
Of some Of the main travelled thor
khfares was entered upon and has
bn continued ever since. Several
hes Of new macadam were put upon
old after the latter had been cleaa-
Of accumulated mud, and after top.
e with screenings, thoroughly roll
The effect was to make practica'
new streets of the blocks thus treat
This was done wholly at the ex.
nse of the municipality. without
1t to owners of abutting and adtac-
t property. The money expended
this purpose last year aggregated
er $4,000. The figures for the pres
year are not available, but It is
|lieved at the city hall that they will
Dt up nearly as much. At first no
nditions were exacted before enter
upon such work, but later the
Slicy was adopted OF requiring own
OF AUDITING property to oil the
reefs and parts of streets so improv-
!. Oiling, it was learned. Is desirable
BIT only as sanitary measure In lay
Sg dust but also as measure Of
economy in materially prolonging the
he OF macadam, streets. A fine ex.
nipple of the letter Is afforded By
nschutz' hill. This was oiled about
year ago and again this summer. IN
lead Of being worn into ruts by
agons automobiles and other We.
cles. the surface of the road remain
l intact and as smooth as concrete
asphaltum. The oil and sand com.
line to form a protective covering
Fhich sheds water and prevents dis
htegration. The mayor and council
pen are unanimously Of the opinion
hat all reconstructed streets should
)e oiled.
During the past year and . half z
hrge number Of street crossings have
|een renewed and repaired at cost
|pproximating $500. Many sidewalks
pave leen repaired at IN outlay OF
bout 81 900.
Last fall the bridge over the Norill
pad tracks on South Fifth street was
Practically rebuilt at comparativeiv
(nall cost. This was made possible
n the purchase Of used iron beams III
fraction of their first cost and this
ilization of oak lumber which ha
Pen IN service but a short time on
e approach to the Keokuk and Ham.
ION bridge. Lumber from the same
URGE was used this year In repairing
city's portion OF the Seventh street
1dge. The entire floor Of this part
the latter structure was releid with
planks. New iron Orders were In.
lied at the same time. The Improve.
mt was badly needed, is . valuable
and will last for years.
Three main or storm sewers have
zen constructed to date. Ono OF
ese extends from Palean street at
fourteenth, in the rear Of the Carey
Enool, to Bloody Run" and affords
fWage facilities to q large area IN
Pat part Of the city. The cost was
trge. owing to rock excavation In the
fcinity OF Eleventh and Ridge streets,
- the necessity for undertaking the
lofh was imperative in the interest o;
" pubic health. Another storm sow,
was quilt from Twenty-first and. Bank
tIeet to Home Place, In the rear OF
nat Is commonly known as the Carey
nesIead. This sewer 10 about 1850
r.. long and affords needed facilities
.ne new Jefferson school In the
P'enth ward. It also made possible
IL development Of Home Park and
|eihnap Place additions, which have
|nce grown rapidly, have water, gas,
S.lIc hgnt and street car service
- W ouAOu8 tu0 mOSt 8JIf0CtIVe
" OF the city. The third main SOW
was constructed in the hfth ward
I'll seventeenth and High streets
~, by northwesterly to a junction
~ sewer previously built in the
lie block, thus completing the latter
~ aoolishing nuisance that was be.
,,lins progressively worse. In addt.
on 70 the foregoing concrete arch
as constructed In Rand park and q
lnoer OF sanitary sewers were or.
srea and were constructed at the ex,
use use OF the abutting property owners.
lernaps the most important &C.
, ~ shment to date was the satisfac.
~ contract negotiated and entered
70 ny the city council with the Keo.
* ana Hamilton Bridge company.
a,s contract calls for. the erection OF
aouoie-decked bridge, costing be.
zen 100000 and $40o. 900. with a
auuct across the railroad trackx and
aver street and . paved roadway
ence to First street. The bridge il
w IN process Of construc&iou ana Win
~