Seattle Daily Post Intelligencer

The New Sidewalks—Sidewalk building goes right along on all the improved streets, and goes on in the same remarkable manner on each. A deep wide trench is dug, and the new sidewalk is placed down in it. In places this trench is three or four feet below the height of the middle of the street. The sidewalks vary in height compared with the street. In some places they are six inches below, others a foot, and still others a foot and a half and two feet. Here and there at long intervals they can be found on a level with the street.

The digging of these trenches, of course, costs a good deal of money, but its expenditure would not be regretted if any good object were to be served thereby. But if, on the contrary, adjacent property is to be injured by these excavations, if the sidewalks themselves are in consequence to be kept covered alternately with mud and dust, and if the comfort and safety of pedestrians are to be destroyed, then the new way of placing the sidewalk is wrong and should no longer be tolerated. It is a new thing, here, this placing the sidewalks below the street level. We understand the effort is to have it eighteen inches below. What for? What is gained by having it below at all? Why should the walk not be above the street?

If the object is to increase the expense, injure abutting property, make a receptacle for dirty water, filth and disease, the new plan is an entire success. An elevated sidewalk is a protection to pedestrians against cattle driven through the streets, against runaway teams, and the like, and is of value if for that reason alone. A raised sidewalk unconsciously imparts to the person using it a feel of elevation and pleasure, while a lowered walk causes a feeling of depression. As between the two, when the choice is offered, we all half unconsciously, but quite positively, take the raised walk. Sanitary reasons, if there were no other, condemn the lower sidewalk. We regard the work now doing on new sidewalks very unsatisfactory, and we shall be agreeably disappointed if it does not prove so before the end of the approaching season.