Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-04
PROGRAM FOR WIDE
IMPROVEMENTS IS
GIVEN TO COUNCIL
MAYOR AND SSlONERS
PLAN FOR NEXT YEARS WORK
WANT ALL OF SOUTH SIDE
STREETS PAVED.

Plans for city-wide improvements
developed beyond the nebulOus stage
last night when the administration. at
the suggestion of Mayor George V, b.
Weeks, authorized Public Engineer
George l., farnsworth to draw up
plans and specifications for paving
unimproved streets in South Ottawa
and two blocks of unpayed sections on
the East Side,
Mapping out carefully planned
program for next spring and summer,
the council is going To clear the decks
for a flying start as soon as winter
breaks, in "A hope Of getting major
ity OF the unimproved blocks on the
South and East Sides entirely mod
emiLed before the summer and fall OF
1920 passes into history.
The mayor announced himself a
fay0ring permanent repairs OF Goose
Creek before taCkling any North OF
tawa paving, saying that to attempt
city would be folly unless some com.
prehensiye and suitable plan for con
Quering the unruly little stream that
drains a large portion of the north
bluff and territory beyond lat ben
perfected
Il think now is the time to get
busy on these improvements SAID
the MAYOR, and by spring We will he
ready TO let contracts and proceed
with the work There are several uu-
improved parts of streets in South OF.
tawa. such as FIRST avenue to the city
limits. as Well as Third and Four.h
avenues and others. East Superior
street is another plaC" whore pave
ment is needed, and needed badly
while the north stub Of Orleans and
the west end of Chapel streets on the
East Side should he paved before an
other year elapses.
Il believe the time to begin these
improvements is right now Bv get
ting all th" preliminaries out of the
way We viii be able to get an early
start in the spring All the odds and
ends OF paving We hope to do could be
let 10 one contractor. as none Of the
Jobs are large, and all could be corn.
ploted in a short time
Acting in conjunction with the
mayor, all the commissioners eX
pressed themselves in favor Of this
program.
Public Engineer George FarnSwOrth,
who was in attendance at the meet
ing. was instructed to draw up plans
and specifications for paving the un-
improved blocks. He favored getting
down to brass taCks without further
delay for an early start on all work
mex, spring.
The council il in doubt as to what
materials should be used for surtac-
ing the streets. but before taking any
definite steps will look thoroughly
into the claim of cement manufacture.
crs that concrete is equally as durable
as brick and from 20 to 30 per cent
cheaper The engineer and members
what materials they will use, are con
templating a tour Of inspection OF
cities where concrete has been sue
ccssiuly used for paving purposes.
Public Engineer Farnsworth an
nounCcd that concrete it would be
found. runs anywhere from 20 to 80
per cent cheaper than brick, but as
for its serviceability and durability he
was not in a position to state. because
he had never seen any such improve.
been used for any great length OF
time.
Plans for Goose Greek.
Engineer Farms worth will draw lp
plans as soon as possible covering
some means for harne ssing Goose
Creek The proposal was made last
night that large tile could be used
and the waters drained from the bluff
sent through them. Any attempt to
divert the creek over its old course,
which follows along the foot of the
bluff and angles off toward the Fox
River. north of the Porter Il Co. fac
! tory, would meet with a deal Of oppp-
| stion. 1t Is said, and prove vecy
costly undertaking, The mayor said
he had lain awane night trying to de.
wise some practical means Of over.
coming the creek and its too frequent
| rampageS, but said 80 far he had NOT
hnDn 1hln tn IA M 4. a 1
methods, unless ii be by Harvesting
the waters and sending them down to
the old feeder in large tile.
The engineer viii draw plans GOV