Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-09
.SOUTH S|DERS. WANT
A PERMANENT WALL
TO PROTECT HILL
COMMITTEE OF PROMINENT RESI-.
DENTS ATTEND COUNCIL MEET.
ING TODAY TO PROTEST AGAIN.
OF MAkEShtFT FILL ON I'M
PORTANr WORK.

South siders, all Of whom boosters
ior permanent retaining wall along
the south side hill. flooded the citv
chambers this morning when they
went before the commissioners to eli.
ter their protest against any make.
shift work in connection with the
proposed improvement.
Headed by Attorney l.. II. Strawn
VINO spoke conyincingly in favor of
the permanent wall, the delegation
consisted OF the following residents
OF That section lying across the river:
II {. Wiley. {. +. Knapp, L. A. Reed,
! W. Smurr. W. |. Hibbs. G. \.
Crowden, X. A. Green, Frank Pickms.
Wilbur Lawrence. ". b. Pusey, David
Relior. Carlisle Pool, Dr.. T. NJ. Drom.
gold, j. NJ. Rockwell, Milton Pope,
Charles Beck, l. |. Hanna, w. e. Pric-
hard, J. G. Ebersol j. b. Lemon. c.
). Weiss. and Mr.. Strawn.
Srtawn's Argument
Mr. Strawn in his argument against
! any mis-, or rip rapping which would
tend to mar the beauties OF the hill
, said;
! Every few years Slip occurs on
. the north side OF the road near the
turn and the added weight of the
| interurban cars makes the situation
more dangerous than formerly. Til,
city engineer has prepared plans 10,
building concrete wall from the turn
at State Street west to Christie stree
at a cost of $1,000. Another plan pro
posed is 70 dump the old brick pavins
TO be taken off OF Main street on The
South side Of Courtney street so AS
/ to make very large fill on the SAM
cula Springs grounds. The latter is
The cheap way Of doing it. as it can be
done for $1,000 or $500.
Whether fiji would be permanent
Is an engineering question. but aside
from that there would seem to be i'm,
portant objections to making dunp-
ing ground to one of the main en-.
frances to the city of Ottawa. Many
think that the concrete improvement
would be worth its entire cost to the
city of Ottawa merely as an adyer.
tisement. Hundreds of strangers Ell.
ter the city every day in automobiles
over this piece of road A concrete
wall and concrete sidewalk would pro,
duce a favorable impression. whereas
the present old wooden sidewalk with
Wooden railings produces the impress
sion that one is approaching a dead
village rather than an enterprising
city a heavy fill would probably
destroy the trees which are most
important feature of the landscape
The effect of the concrete islands
and boulevard posts aud lights is
destroyed by the irregular old wooden
sidewalk Immediately in front of the
tourist. The south side of the street
With its concrete wall and superstruc,
trro is calculated TO make good i'm.
: preston, ana if the north side OF the
street were made to correspond, the
| effect would be not only impressive to
he traveller. but a thing of beauty
instead OF an eyesore. TO every citi
zen in the city. The city has the
money and the only question is
whether II is advisable to spend it in
| his valuable and lasting Improvement
or to use it in other places where
there is always 10 be found need
for the city funds. The permanent
improvement would be Of great ben
Gift to the Traction Company and
doubtless the Traction Company
would be willing to do its part tC
make this entrance attractive and
safe
blu'lS W nv cPbht III IA vi VI Lllt
permanent wall were W !. llibbs,
! l. Hanna, J. G. Ebersol. G. 4. Crowden
Milton Pope, +. A. Reed and W. f.
prchard, All were agreed that il
would be folly to undertake repairing
the Hill by the use Of fills They
pointed out the uselessness Of such an
undertaking rs proven by the exper
fences OF yesterycars
Cost is $4,000
The wall, according to Engineer
! George l., Farnsworth win cost an
proxtmaiely $4,000. part Of which, II
Is expected viii be borne by the \. |
H. a. 7. Co. and the {. O. a. p. Rs
| Co.
Commissioners lielilrich. Campbell
and Meagher all pronounced them
Continued on page 3, col ~