The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-28
MUST REPAIR THE STREETS.
Emphatic Order Issued to EaturalGas Com
pauies by the Street Commissioner.

The horrible condition in which the streets Of
Indianapolis have bean for two months. and the
seeming disposition Of the several natural-gas
companies 70 take no step toward putting them
Ia repair, impressed upon the city officials the
necessity Of making some positive move toward
having the companies obey their contract with
the city. There 10 NOT Q street in the city which
has not tsen torn up by the natural-gas com.
panies but what 10 out Of repair. Many on which
mains we're laid two months ago are still unrs-
powdered, and in places are not passabls for
heavy wagons. The Council has several
times attempted TO compel the MES
20 put the streets in condition. but has not Teen
able TO accomplish aoything on acsouus Of
sons hindrances. On Sept. "a, q resolution
was passed by that body directing the companies
to fiji the trenehss, and the eouncilmen believed,
at the time, that there would DO no more diff
Guilty about having the repairs made.
The resolution provided that if the gas COM
panles did not at once comply with the order.
which included repairing Of the streets, the city
engineer should stop all furthsr excavat-
ing by them. The street commissioner was also
TO have the streets restored and repairs
In the event the latter failed 70 do the work.
The resolution passed the Council by o unani-
nous vote, but when 1t reached the Board Of
Aldermen, representative Of the companies sp-
pesred before the committee on streets add alleys
OF that body and asked that no action be- taken
until they had an opportunity to make an expla-
nation. The result has been the resolution 10
still In the hands OF the committee, and the
companies have not appeared to show cause for
their delay. Every day for the last three
weeks there have been complaints about this
matter made by citizens to the Mayor and
street commissioner.
In view Of the seeming impossibility OF getting
any compulsory measure through the Board Of
n,ssr"s mad. 10 ts ais' f. IL hs Mayor the Denny re,
concluded to exercise the authority invested
in him by the natural-eas ordinance.
Yesterday he directed Street Commissioner
Rouey TO take such steps as would compel the
companies to repair the streets. Immediately
er issued tae following proclamation to each or
the three companies:
OFFICE OF STREET CoMMIssIoSrR,(
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. "a, 1888.
To the Indianapolis Nstural-ess Company. Consum-
ers' Gas Trust, and the Broad Ripple Natural-gas
Company:
BY direction of the Mayor of the city of Indianapo-
lis, | hereby notify you, and each Of you, that all ex-
city prior to Oct. 20. 1856. by either of said compa-
MES, their servants, agents or contractors, in laying
gas pipes must be repaired, filed up. rebowldsrsd and
public travel as they were in before said
excavations were made, within ten days from Oct.
30. 1888. If any street in bad condition shall re-
main neglected at the expiration Of said time, the
company making said excavations and failing to make
said repairs will be prosecuted for each and every
violation of this notice. that 10 for every bad hole thus
remaining: and in addition to said prosecution. the
city will at once put . force of men to work repairing
all such neglected excavations. and bring suit upon
the bonds OF said companies, respectively, for the
cost Of such repairs and for damages.
Repair to alleys may be made at any time within
ten days from toe expiration Of the time shove limit
ed for making repairs to streets. C.S. RoNEY,
Street Commissioners.
The order will BE- served upon the Ulcers Of
the companies tomorrow morning. aud Mr..
Roney says he will see that it 10 obeyed to the
letter. The mem bers Of the Council. 90 far az
they have expressed themselves, indorss the
the streets can ali be put in good condition be-
fore winter.