Evening journal., 1922-06-20

/ ing operations in the city.
I'VE have an officer known as I
sidewalk Inspector. The curbing
paving and repairing OF the publ,
sidewalk is the duty OF the prop
erty owners. I am sorry to say tina
many OF our citizens are negligent IL
keeping their sidewalks in proper re
pair as required by the city charter
II takes continual nagging from thii
officer Of the department and in som,
cases legal action to accomplish re-
suits. Last year. we sent out 1,17l
notices TO property owners for ths
repairing or the laying of sidewalks
Of which number 1,11S complied
There were 306 permits Issued for
new cement curbs and sidewalks
Even so the condition of sidewalks
Is far from satisfactory or a credit
to tho city. Up TO last year, many
sidewalks we're laid with cement
without proper supervision, but al
that time. the department adopted
rules and regulations providing that
cement work on sidewalks and curb
be done only by licensed cement
workers, who are required 10 pass
an examination on the city's specifi-
cations before a license is granted.
! They are further required 70 secure
/ from the department a permit for
each piece OF work TO be done. the
record OF which enables the inspec-
tor to supervise the work while in
progress Before this law was adop-
ted, many cement sidewalks and
curbs were improperly laid and we're
composed of unsuitable material and
insufficient cement, consequently.
they soon showed deterioration and
defects to the loss OF the property
owner. Since the new ruling, we
feel assured that the property owner
is being protected and getting value
for his expenditure.
"A few years ago the Legislature
placed the clerk OF the market
under the Jurisdiction OF our de-
partment, which necessitated the
making OF rules and regulations by
the department for the government
OF the public curbstone markets. At
that time the market streets-Ring
and Madison streets--were in a de-
plorable condition. Stands projected
onto the sidewalks TO various dis
tances, from a few feet to in some
cases nearly the entire width of the
sidewalk. As a matter of fact, mer-
chants along these streets were
using the public sidewalks as
places of business, to the dnconven-
ience Of the patrons of the curb
stone market and certainly to the
detriment of the appearance OF the
streets. Under the rules and regula-
tions, these projections were pro-
hibited, and the clerk Of the mar
ket was instructed to enforce these
rules and clear the sidewalks and
cleanup the market in general.
This has been a hard proposition and
has taken considerable time, and a
few arrests were necessary before
we accomplished what / am sure
you all agree with me is a decided
Improvement. During last year we
established a new market on the
west side OF the city. on Lincoln
street between Second and Eighth
streets. and the popularity of this
market is evidenced by the rapidity
with which the spaces were rented.
During the past few months. the
Department has erected approx
mately $500 street name signs
throughout the city These had been
needed for some time. but the funds
were not available before.
THE department, by Act OF the
Legislature. has jurisdiction and
supervision over the trees planted
upon the sidewalks Of the city. For
this work we have a Forester and |
one assistant. we trim, spray and |
generally take care OF the trees as |
far as our force will permit us TO |
do. The planting of the trees and !
their removal for any cause Is done |
by the property owner. As II IS inn !
possible for us to care for all the /
trees with our limited force, per-
mits are issued to the owners to do
such trimming, spraying or treating
as they may desire, but such per-
mits are not issued to tenants. For
last year. this Department cost us
SO, 610.73, and the records show the
following work done: Trees trim
med, 1,447; sprayed. ASH; re-
moved. los: treated. 6.
"All the foregoing applies to gem
aral routine work of the Street and
Sewer Department. the costs of
which are paid directly from the
appropriation from
he cltys revenue from taxes. We
receive many inquiries from the
,itizens as to why the Department
sannot always grant all the requests
)r meet all the demands made upon
{. and have the statement made 10
Is many times by taxpayers that
hey receive no beneht whatever
all to your attention that our de-
,artment in its appropriation from
The Council for the year beginning
Tuly 1, 1921 will receive 12.6c from
ZACH dollar OF taxes paid 10 the city.
This means that a taxpayer paying
Dn a $4,000 assessment, paid s76 in
axes. and the Street and Sewer De-
,artment received from him $3.50
Yer year for cleaning. street light
ng. removal of ashes and rubbish.
leaning and repairing of sewers.
epairs to unimproved streets, re-
noval Of snow, when necessary, and |
N the routine work OF the depart
nent For the year beginning July
/, 1922. we will receive less on the
lollar than that Our department
loes not receive all the taxes paid. |
,ut rather one-eighth. or less. Of
ZACH dollar, the balance goes for
he police and fire protection. health
and school and other purposes.
The Street and Sewer Depart |
nent Is practically the housekeeper