The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-03-04
To Pave or Not to Pave

To pave or not to pave Whether
1t is better to wade through the mud
of Meridian's busy street, or to pave
and let the adjoining property-own-
er foot the bill-that is the question
There has been considerable talk Of
paving this week, and meeting was
held Monday evening at the city hall,
at which Engineer Scharf explained
the plan, and gave an estimate OF the
cost. Three blocks less was proposed
than was mentioned In last week s
Times. the block to the Smith feed
warehouse ON Broadway, and the
block north of the Interurban depot.
and blockto O. S. L. depot
1t Is expected that the petition for
the improvement will be considered
at the regular meeting of the board.
next Monday evening. 1t is said re-
monstrance is being circulated today
and will also be brought to the atten-
tions of the trustees. The remonst-
rance states that on account of the
high cost of material it would be i'm
advisable to pave at this time and
asks for a postponement of the plans
for awhile.
Considering the straw vote at the
Monday night meeting and talk
heard on the street, sentiment is
about evenly divided
Chairman of the Town Board, Ar
thur w. Garrett, who is in favor of
the proposed improvement gives an
interview to the Times as follows:
Mayor Says Meridian Should Go
Ahead
"A very conservative amount OF
paving is being considered by the
Board of Trustees as essential to the
continued progress Of Meridian. APP
parently there has been some mis-
understanding of the scope of this
program-its probable cost-and
character of work
It is proposed to pave with either
bitulithic or concrete the following
streets: The Highway from the o. S.
l.. right of way north for a distance
of four blocks, Idaho street, from
Meridian street (the Interurban COR
ner) east to End street (the Meridian
State Bank then south one block to
Broadway street (First National
Bank corner) thence west one block
to the state highway. total of 8
blocks. The cost of such pavement
would necessarily be assessed to the
abutting property, the street inter
vening to be paid by the village as
a whole. There being but intersec-
tions to be, covered.
1t would be wise to replace the pre-
sent water mains that pass under
meath the /, proposed pavement with
cast iron pipe. This cost would not
be excessive (and this replacement
must sonner or later be metz
A parking about Ia feet in width in
the center of the highway leading
north from Pine street would reduce
the cost of pavement to the adjacent
propertyand add to the beauty of this
street. At some later time as the
pavement is continued north this
scheme of parking should be contin-
ued to the town limits.
The money for the payment of this
improvement would be raised by the
sale of bonds to run for ten years;
thus the payments by the adjacent
property owners would be proportion
ed over period of ten years, as
would also the proportion to be raised
by the village as a whole. 1t has been
suggested that the present time is not
an auspieious one for the best sale OF
bonds. The public can be assured
that the present board would under
no circumstances make sale of
such proposed bonds unless they were
offered price at or very near par
nor would they consider letting con-
tract and paying for same with any
such bonds. The thing to do is to get
preliminary work started and the
good business judgement of the board
cam be relied upon to sell the bonds
when the time is auspicious.
1t Is also proposed to raise suffi-
cient sum of money in order to inn
prove the main side streets leading to
the pavement as an artery, by either
gravelling, sanding or using lava
cinders whichever proves most satis-
factory for the work.
All possible work would be given to
local help. thus giving needed emf
ployment to many of our best people
thus kteping a good deal OF the
money right at home.
We an know that Meridian has
borne an unenviahle reputation OF
poor strsets and mud. mud, mud.
We can have one of the most up-to-
date clean little cities in the state
but we mnst pat ont nf pur letharey-
and wake up. if we want to attract
the best people and in fact deserve
the name of The Best Little Town
in the State. s"
Our newly Installed president Of
these United States recently said:
We are going to be called upon, ma
tionally, collectively and Individually