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The Dallas Daily Herald
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
What is this article about?
In 1876, Dallas Street Commissioner W.M. Johnson defends not enforcing Elm Street sidewalk ordinance, citing lack of resident cooperation, inoperability against non-residents, and city's inability to fund due to poor tax collection; urges property owners to build their own sidewalks.
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To the City Editor of the Dallas Herald:
In answer to an article in this morning's paper, as to why I do not enforce the side-walk ordinance on Elm street, I would say that the ordinance is inoperative against non-residents, and can not well be enforced against residents, unless they feel disposed to meet me half way in an effort to improve the streets and sidewalks.
The writer of the communication above referred to is a property holder on Elm street, and has no sidewalk in front of his own property, except such as I had made by the street gang, and none of his neighbors seem disposed to do any better.
I must say, I never in my life saw such an indisposition to do a little work to improve private property as in Dallas. I have given written and personal notice to many of our principal citizens and property holders as to sidewalks, and without avail.
The city is not able to do this work and take the chances of collecting it off the property, under the present deficient system of tax collection, and if the citizens do not make the sidewalks each in front of his own property, then we must all walk in mud in wet weather.
Respectfully,
W. M. JOHNSON,
Street Commissioner.
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
W. M. Johnson, Street Commissioner
Recipient
To The City Editor Of The Dallas Herald
Main Argument
the sidewalk ordinance on elm street cannot be effectively enforced against non-residents and requires resident cooperation; the city lacks funds due to deficient tax collection and cannot perform the work, so citizens must improve sidewalks in front of their own properties to avoid walking in mud.
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