Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-29
PAYING AGAIN..

The Union Pacific organ comes to the
front once more with another plea for
Colorado sand stone, and attacks theposi-
ton and assails the motives Of this paper
in its opposition to the job which the
railroad officials are attempting to force
down the Threats of thepeople of Omaha.
Last week we were told that THE BEE
was bought by the asphalt contractors.
Our citizens are now informed that the
Jasper stone company has purchased the
assistance Of the editor of this paper.
This would be amusing if it were not
childish. The course Of THE BEE on the
paving question has been strictly con-
sistent for nearly a year. In and out of
this paper its editor has advocated gran
tie block pavements for heavily travelled
thoroughfares and asphalt for the re-
mainder of the city on level streets. For
the hills we have urged either cedar
block or well-laid macadam. The at
tempt to convince the public that THE
BEE has any personal interest in any
paving material or paving job will fail
as signally as the attempt of
the editor of the Republican to
convince our citizens that the U. p. or
gan is not hand and glove inwith the IN
ion Pacific sandstone ring, who are try
ing to swindle Omaha with a cheap John
and worthless paving material which is
unfit sven for curbing and guttering.
But whatever the personal preferences
of the editor of this paper, he insists
that the will of the people shall govern
the action Of their chosen
representatives in the city council.
An overwhelming majority of the proper
ty owners in five paving districts have
petitioned for sheet asphaltum and have
protested against the snap game action of
the board of public works, in endeavor-
ing to force upon them a material which
they have once rejected and to which
they earnestly object. These property
owners represent q street frontage that
viii require Ii, 700 yards Of paving. In
additionthe city will be called upon to
pay for 5000 yards at the alley intersec.
tions on Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets,
If all the rest of our citizens
with the exception of tho property
owners on these streets were
in favor Of Colorado stone, the BEE would
still insist that the provision of the char
ter which vests the choice of paving ma
terisl in the owners of abutting property
should DO respected by the city council
The men who pay five-sixths of the oos'
of paving ought certainly to have some
thing to say as to the manner in which
their money is to be expended.
But for u citizens generally, the Bel
protests against the Colorado sandstone
scheme because on its face it is
rascally job to plumber the city
treasury, defy the wishes of our citizen
and property owners and defeat the pro
visions OF the city charter made in TIN
interests of the people.
We warn the city council against lend
ing themselves to this bold-facod attemp
to override public sentiment. No coun
Gilman can afford to place himself in de
fance to the wishes of our citizens ane
property owners. We do not believe
that a majority of the council will MAKE
the dangerous attempt, The consumma
ton of such a job at the very beginning
OF public works in Omaha would be
serious drawback .oa further prosecution
OF improvements in our city, whose infu
enc will be felt for years to come to GU
detriment.