The Disgraceful State of Our Streets

The first thing that is needed to improve the streets of Walla Walla is to clean them. It was admitted at the meeting of the Commercial Club last night that Main and Alder streets have not been cleaned since President Roosevelt was here last May. It is no wonder, then, that the business streets are in such a deplorable condition. Formerly, it was the custom to scrape the mud off these streets and then flush them thoroughly by turning on a fire hose. The result was clean, hard and dry roadways which were often pointed to with pride as demonstrating that paving was not necessary. The present disgraceful condition of the streets is due to neglect more than anything else. The street committee of the council should authorize the street commissioner to employ men enough to keep the streets clean, and then it will be time enough to consider whether or not paving is necessary. Even paved streets would soon be knee-deep in mud and slime if they were not washed and swept at frequent intervals. Between a well-kept street and one that is left uncared for, there will always be as much difference as between the polished floors looked after by a good housewife and the pig sty kept by a slovenly farmer.