The Globe. THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1609, 17 April 1879, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1879.

After inflicting unnecessary inconvenience upon the residents on the northern part of Colombo street, tho City Council have, for tho present at least, abandoned tho idea of proceeding with the enlargement of Colombo street bridge. For many mouths past it has boon perfectly evident that the edifice is totally inadequate for the purposes of traffic. It was, therefore, a work of necessity which was forced upon the Council, and when tho resolution was arrived at no ono could bo found to cavil. But what results ? Acting on tho principle of tho circumlocution office, the City Council block up

an important and loading thoroughfare j for days without proceeding any further j or making any attempt to improve tho 1 structure. It is difficult to imagine | why this was done. If tho bridge j was intended to bo improved ac- I cording to tho resolution of fho I City Council, then it was tho duty of tho works committee, who are tho executive of tho Council, to carry out that resolution with all duo speed after tho bridge had boon closed for traffic. Tho citizens who reside in Colombo street north have, wo think, fair ground for complaint against tho Council, not alone for tho stoppage of tho bridge, but for tho fact that after such delay no improvements have boon effected as proposed. It must bo remembered that that portion of tho city lying to tho northward of tho rivor is very thickly populated, and that tho bridge in Colombo street is tho most direct mode of communication with tho centre of tho city. This being so, they have a right to demand that they shall have as good and safe a moans for carrying on tho traffic as in other parts. Wo may 3 nst call attention to tho fact that tho Madras street bridge, which carries bht a very small portion of traffic as compared with that of Colombo street, is wide and commodious and safe for pedestrians. Now this is precisely what tho Colombo bridge is not. That some severe accident has not occurred there before is merely a stroke of good fortune, and now, after an abortive attempt on tho part of tho Works Committee, it seems likely that tho bridge will bo allowed to remain in its old state. This cannot, in tho interests of tho city as a whole, ho acquiesced in. Wo cannot hut hold that it is the duty of the City Council at once to proceed with tho work of improving and strengthening this bridge, so that its traffic accommodation may keep pace with tho progress of tho northern part of tho city.

The fire of Monday evening in Lichfield street yet once again brings under our notice, and in a most emphatic manner, the urgent necessity which exists for an immediate provision of an improved supply of water for fire prevention purposes. The facts connected with the late fire show that, after a short time, the tanks upon which the Brigade depended gave out, or very nearly so, and the brigade’s efforts wore seriously crippled. It seems therefore that the Council should most seriously consider what moans shall bo taken to supply this very important deficiency. It simply amounts to this that, in a fire of any extent taking place remote from the river, the water supply now available would not bo of much use. In the fire under notice the supply ran short after an hour’s work. Either, therefore, more tanks are required, or some other means must bo adopted for temporarily, if need bo, placing a water supply at the disposal of the brigade. Under the most favorable circumstances the proposed water supply will be some mouths at least before it is available. Even if the waterworks scheme bo carried out as proposed, the city cannot consent to see itself deprived of proper means of defence against fire during the period up to the completion of the work.