| Show GRADING AND THE CITY ENGINEER CLAIMS for damages were presented to the city C council ou n oil on tuesday oct 20 in consequence of the grade established by the city engineer on state street between the theatre and eagle gate we have expressed our views and those of a large portion of the public in relation to this and other grading which has hai been done in this city to the great damage of private property without corresponding benefits to the general public in this case however we learn that one of the petitioners petition ers for compensation was a party to the movement for lishing the grade complained of we mention this in order to do justice to ta the city engineer who has been severely criticised criticized for this as well as aa other work he has done on the streets and sidewalks it appears that mr doremus pro posed an entirely different grade for that portion of state street referred to this would have made the street much easier for traffic but would have involved the cutting down somewhat of the roadway at the junction function with south temple street and through the eagle gate date but a number of the property owners on the portion of first east street to be affected expecting that it would becomes become a business street urged the establishment of the present grade and petitioned for it to the city council among them was one of the present claimants for damages who did not at the time understand what the charge involved the city has simply carried out the instructions of the council or the board of public works and while he thinks the present grade is better in some respects than the enebe first proposed to is not responsible for the damage to 6 residence property and to the theatre nor for any bany of the consequences sequences of the work fie ne rethinks thinks however that if business houses are established in that locality a change will lave have to be mae made in the grade for while teams tan can travel well enough up and down the hill yet when drays and heavy wagons are arb turned and backed ap aeto to places to unload they will be liable hable tn in winter particularly if asphaltum is used for paving to slide down hill loade teams and oil all in grading the streets and sidewalks the future as well as the present must be somewhat considered but also as we think the natural conformation of the land in the locality should be regarded and rigid lines and levels should not be adhered to in every case there are places in town where the elevations and depressions that have been made seem utterly absurd and detrimental to public convenience it may be that the council and not the engineer is also responsible for those conditions in the case of state street it is 11 clear that any reflection upon the latter is undeserved and we take pleasure in making this explanation |
