Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-11
MARKET STREET PAVEMENT.
The Work OF Paving viii Commence in Three
Weeks. Preliminary steps Taken al Once

The paving of Market street, at present.
seems to be the main subject in the minds
of the public and questions are rife on ev-
cry hand regarding the commencement Of
this Improvement. The action of the
council in selecting asphaitum for this
street is highly satisfactory to a great
many of the property holders while those
who mad other pavements IN mind seem to
be reconciled to the arrangements that
have been made.
In an interview with Messrs. E. G.
Church, western manager Of the Barber
Asphalt Co., and C. E. Squires, agent, the
reporter learned that it was the intention
of the company to commence work at once.
The firstwork on hand is the establish
ment of plant for max
ing the pavement the location of
which has not been definitely settled upon.
The main points in locating are, firstly, TO
be situated on a railroad; secondly, to be
near the work, thereby saving hauling;
thirdly, economy in purchasing site.
Should site be leased it will be with a
privilege of buying at the termination Of
the lease. The establishment of the plant
commensurate with the work already con-
tracted for means an outlay of $4,000 or
$4,000 The street will be paved from
English to Elm from curb to curb, the
company putting in the curb and gutter
where the present one is not suitable. The
company will probably employ $50 man at
times small proportion OF which is skill
ed labor, as the main object IN view is TO rush
the work to completion before any heavy
frost. If the weather proves to be fairly
suitable it is estimated that the job will be
completed before the close OF November.
The grading of the street is not included
in this company's contract, and the public
Improvement committee of the council
has power to act in this matter and the
work will probably be done by the city.
The first paving work will be six inches OF
concrete, which must stand two weeks,
which is followed by the cushion coat, one
half inch OF asphaltum, which is rolled.
Immediately after the cushion coat the
wearing surface Of two inches of asphalt
is put on and the street is
ready for Use the next day.
In regard to the relaying OF
the water mains Mr.. Church says that If
the work is done Immediately it need not
delay his company, aud if it is done prop
erly it need not in any way endanger the
pavement There are q, zoe square yards
that the city paves, and the remainder,
about 1000 yards, will be put in by the
Riverside and electric motor. The cost Of
the pavement will be about 100000, which,
adding the cost of the curbing and gutter
ing will swell the amount to about. S65, 900,
or about $135 per lot, The asphaltum used
according to specification must be from
Trinidad. 1t is a natural production and
cannot be initiated.
The guarantee of the company
is for five years and the street
must be kept in good re-
pair for that time at the expense OF the
company. For the ten years following the
company is to keep the street in repair at
an expense not to exceed 10 cents per
square yard per annum. The company
states that should it secure other contracts
in this city the cost of keeping the streets
in repair will be considerably less than 10
cents per yard, and although the city is
bound by contract to pay this amount,
after five years it may have the option of
withdrawing from this stipulation and
place Market street on the same basis as
other streets. The cost of repairing should
not exceed about cents per yard, pro-
vided six or eight other streets are paved
with the same material.