45

Streets and Alleys.

The streets of Fort Worth, while needing a great deal of
work, are in better condition than they were a year ago, and under
the efficient management of the Street Commissioner much work has
been done in this department with very limited means. Houston
street has been paved with a combination of asphalt and brick
pavement. This has added very much to the appearance as well
as the value of the street and has enhanced the value of property
abutted thereon. The citizens will now have an opportunity to
judge the relative merits of asphalt and brick paving, as Main
street is paved entirely in brick.

A recent decision of one of the courts of appeal in the
State has practically reversed decisions that have stood in the
way of paving in municipalities having over ten thousand popula-
tion; and if this decision stands the final test of the supreme
court the city will, by creating taxing districts be enabled to
compel property owners to pave in front of their property abutting
streets where the benefits of such paving equal the cost of the
improvements. In the congested business districts it will be
an easy matter to establish by evidence before a court that the
benefits of paving largely exceed the cost of same; and if this
d ecision sticks it will enable the City Council of Fort Worth,
by proper legislation, to compel the paving of the cross streets
between the courthouse and the depot from Throckmorton to Rusk.
That this should be done is evident to all, and the City Council
should commence at once to take active measures to compel the
paving of these cross streets and do as much as it can under the
state of the city's finances to assist in such work.

Public Utilities of the City.

Under the city charter of Fort Worth the City Council is lim-
ited in its authority to regulate the public utilities in Fort
Worth. In my judgment these powers should be enlarged by
appropriate amendments to the city charter, and the governing body