Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-08
WACO AVENUE TAKES THE INITIA-
TIVE STEP In THAT
DIRECTION.
Meeting Of Property Owners Last
Night---The Sentiment Largely
in Favor Of Paving.

/
/ favor of doing so. Aside from the question
of whether or not, it will be good thing
as a financial venture for the parties
interested, it is another step in
the direction of metropolitan city, The
expense of the project is treated in another
portion of this article AS a matter of pub
lie Importance it cannot be overestimated.
Not because Wichita cannot do without
paving, because, if there is any city IN the
country blessed with streets and natural
drives that are good more months in the
year than the natural drives in any
eastern city, then Wichita
is that city. Waco avenue,
perhaps more than any other leading resi-
dence street, needs either sprinkling or
paving to rid it of the disadvantages to
buildings, lawns, clothing and the general
comfort Of its residents, arising from the
dust.
From business standpoint such action
would be instrumental in bringing out
side capital and employing large num-
Der of men in the work of construction and
should go hand in hand with the sewerage
system. One thing not to be lost sight of
is, that not the individual, but the prop
erty, pays the expense, while the Individual
is remunerated by the increase in the value
Of his property.
THE MEETING.
At SIS the meeting was called to order
and DR.. L. S. Sherwood was chosen chair
man and Mr.. Fred Guthrie secretary.
Mr. James Richey offered a motion that
it is the sense of the meeting that it is
necessary to pave Waco avenue. He
asked that there be liberal discussion of
the matter.
One gentleman asked Mr. Richey to give
an idea of what he thought about it.
Mr.. Richey thought it a good idea to
have d general discussion of the subject
and let the persons present express
themselves as to the kind of paw
ing to be adopted He also thought that
a committee might be appointed to inves-
tigate different kinds of pavement in diff
ferent cities and also examine into the law
regarding the methods and manner of pay
ing for the same.
Mr.. Cox wanted to know whether this
vote would be adopting a resolution to
pave the avenue. If that was the case, he
thought it would be well to get sense of
the feeling of the property owners by cir
a.
Mr.. f. P Ford was in favor of paving.
A colored property owner suggested that
the avenue lines be Strengthened first.
a rising vote being taken on the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Richey, the same was carried
by about four to one. There were about
forty property owners present.
A resolution was then offered that
committee of five be appointed to investi-
gate kinds and prices of paving and also
the law in regard to the paying for paving.
In accordance with that motion the follow
ing committee was appointed: MIR. Alex
ander, Mr.. James Richey, E. p. Ford, DR..
A. NJ. Wassam, and at the request of the
meeting the chairman was added.
Mr.. Alexander was asked what he knew
in regard to costs of different kinds of
street paving, the chair having stated that
Mir A had given the subject some investi-
cation.
Mr.. Alexander stated that he had had
considerable experience with different
kinds of street paving. He had written to
Wyandotte in regard to the prices they
had paid for various kinds of work. The
answer was that their Asphaltum cost
them So per square yard, the cedar block
cost from 81. 81 to 81. a per square yard and
another kind of paving, which consisted
of about six inches of broken rock Called
either groutting or macadam) on the top
of which was six inches of
a mixture of gravel and cement,
cost completed, about 81. per so. yd. The
latter style of pravement, they said, gave
very good satisfaction.
MIR. Z. p Ford then began to make an
of the probable cost per lot of
twenty-five feet front for this last kind of
paving, with paved width of forty feet,
which would leave north of Oak street
seventeen and a half feet on either side to
be devoted to sidewalk and parking or a
grass plat, set to trees, between tie side |
walk and the paved street. South of Oak |
there will be twenty feet on either side. |
Taking that basis, there would be, to the /!
middle of the street in front of each lot, |
500 square feet, equal to ffty-tive and |
half square yards, which, at sl.l0, would |
make the expense to each lot only S6l.05 |
for paving the street.
Then followed some general talk as to |
the manner and length of time in which |
this work would have to be paid for. 1t |
was stated that in Topeka the property |
had the paving tax assessed against it. as |
a special tax and was paid in five equal |
annual payments. 1t was thought it could |
be arranged so as to make it in ten annual |
which would make only little |
more than So per lot per year, including |
interest on the bonds. provided the paving
cost S1.10 per square yard. Should it
cost more, the ratio will |
Using this as basis, the rate
y I'll
.or instance, a lot which with its improve
nents, is worth 5000, our ratio OF assess
nent being 80 per cent. would give 81 800
IN which to raise IS. This would make
he rate mills on each dollar, or 10 cents
III each Sl00,-if the lot were worth only
half as much, the rate would be twice as
much, or 50 cents on the 500. This is
hardly any more than the reduction in our
ate of taxation during the past year, from
2 - TO s. p on each 800. Add the 40 cents
Or the 50 cents, if you WILL 10 the 8. % and
you can see whether or not the expense
Will be great burden in the next ten
Tears. With our rapidly increasing gross
property and inverse decrease in
our rates of taxation, there is every pres
beet that this tax itself will be entirely
ost sight of in a few years.
Mr.. Finlay Ross thought that property
would be increased fully p per cent, if not
s per cent, by paving and would
ell much more readily than property
N uupaved streets. 1t was also the opin-
on Of some, that property would be more
desirable and command better rents than
N streets not paved.
Mr.. ". B. Mead thought paving would
lot get rid of the dust and that sprinkling
O., r. !