Idaho County free press., 1923-05-24
MAY SURFACE
MAIN STREET
BY BOND ISSUE:
Creation of Improvement Dis
tricts and Laying of Con-
crete Walks Contemplated
Paying Idea Abandoned, Be
cause of Difficulty in Sell
ling Bonds on vacant Lots

Extensive program of street i'm
provement in Grangeville is being con-
sidered by the streets and sidewalks
committee of the city council.
Matchmaking of Main street from
the end of the present macadam, at
the intersection Of Idaho avenue, west
to the Vonbrge brewery, a distance of
almost six blocks, is contemplated.
This work, it Is pointed out could be
done with money to be available
from sale or the remainder of bond
ISSUE authorized more than two years
ago, when the surfacing program was
first taken up, and when paving of
Main street was contemplated. The
street is for the most part graded.
Grading would be required on the
courthouse block, but through the
business section, the street is already
graded and curbed.
Give Up Paving Idea
Hope of paving Main has virtually
been abandoned, because of in
ability to sell municipal paving bonds.
under the plan inaugurated by the
council two years ago. The plan was
to assess abutting property for block
on each side of Main street, for cost
of paving. The lot facing the street
would be assessed three-fourths of the
cost of paving in front of the lot while
fhe rear lot would be assessed one
fourth
Because, at the present time, many
lots facing Main street and on which
are no improvements, are regarded by
bonding companies of little value sale
of paving bonds is impossible. 1t is
pointed out by bonding companies that
paving assessments against many of
the lots would not be paid by owners
thereof, most of whom do not reside
in Grangeville, and the concern which
purchased the bonds would find itself
in possession of the lots.
Macadam Only Solution
The streets and walks committee of
the council, believing that Main street
should be Immediately improved, is
macadam as the only solu-
ton of the problem Expense of sur
facing the street with crushed rock
would not be excessive, and would be
borne by the entire city.
Sidewalk program also is being con-
sidered by the council, which has found
many sidewalks in Grangeville badly
IN need of repair. The streets and
committee has given notice
to all property owners u at sidewalks
must be promptly repaired 10y the own
ers, or the work will he undertaken
BY the city, and cost O; replls assess
I'd to the property.
The council committee however, is
Of the opinion that repair Of tie pres
mt wooden sidewalks will at the most,
be only makeshift affair and win
,all for further repairs in year or so.
For Improvement Districts
With this thought in mind, the COM
nittee is considering placing before the
council plan of dividing the city into
districts. issuing bonds.
md laying concrete walks throughout
Zach district In this manner, outly-
ng sections of the city, where are to
)e found large numbers of vacant lots,
could be excluded from the improve
nent districts, while vacant lots near
II the center of town would be in
.luded within improvement districts,
md the entire district would pay for
.he sidewalk Improvement, through a
To- to 20-year bond issue.