The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-18
Asphalt for yirpinia Avenue.

Asphhit hiFktniA Aschucs
The Board of Public Works yesterday
awarded the contract for paving Virginia
avenue with asphalt and if the improve
ment is 10 be stopped it will have to be
done by the courts. j. G. Siersdorfer sp-
peared before the board to correct state
ment attributed to Dennis Golden. that
Siersdorfer had driven about in buggy
and gotten the consent of the people to the
remonstranee presented at the last meet
ing. He had simply copied the names
from another paper, the old remonstrance
before the Council. Some of them he knew
others he took the word of Messrs Golden
and StucKmeyer. The board asked about
the typewriter heading to the fest To-
monstrance and Mr.. Siersdorfer replied
that it had been pasted on at the Virginia
avenue meeting three weeks ago. In an-
swer to further inquiries he said there were
between twenty and twenty-five people at
that meeting"
lyon make an entry. Mr.. Parker" said
President Conduit, later In the session,
awarding the contract to asphalt Virginia
avenue and the finish on Shelby street to
the Western Paving and Supply Company,
and notify the contractor and the city en-
gineer to that effect" After some further
discussion the board decided upon strait
fed limestone curbing for the street. The
bid with this curb is S645 per front foot. or
about $3.50 per square yard for the asphalt.
The same company bid $3.50 with Berea
this. but Messrs. Scherrer and Defrees pre-
ferred the other. On Shelby street
the bid Is S7g7 per front foot
The Virginia avenue pavement runs
from Louisiana to Shelby street. and
requires 1928 square yards of asphalt
The Shelby-street paving Is simply finish.
extending from the north line of Prospects
street to the first alley south of Coburn.
calling for 904 square yards. The Western
company has it's curbing ordered. and ex-
poets to begin work on the avenue some
time next week.
The board yesterday opened bids for as
phalting North Meridian street from
Twelfth to Fourteenth street. The War
rem Schartf Company bid Is. "a per front foot
with Berea or stratifed curb, and 1928
with blue oOlitic. The Western cOmpany's
bid was 500 with Berea, $3.50 with strait
fed, and 1886 with blue oOlitic. The con-
tract was awarded to the Warren-S SCI arf
Company at 1874 per front foot, with Berea
curb.
How Scherrer Fooled Them.
The Board OF Public Works finally decid
ed. yesterday, to retain 20 cents per square
yard on asphalt contracts for a repair guar
antee fund. to be made up of bonds and
cash. as described in Thursdays Journal.
As there was considerable disagreement
among the members on this point. it was
agreed that each should mark his choice of
the amount. and they would Fix il at the
average of the three. Just here Mr..
Scherrer fooled the other members. He ia
Vored - cents, Mr.. Conduit favored 20
cents and Mr.. Defrees Is cents Now, it Is
understood that We take the average, is ItP
MIR. Seherrer asked, when they were ready
To- vote. The others assented and each
marked an amount. Mr.. Defrees marked
Is cents and Mr.. Conduit 20 cents. Mr..
Scherrer had figured the thing out and
marked so cents. which brought the aver
age Just To- his figure-22 cents. Messrs.
Defrees and Scherrer lookeda little bit like
farmers who have Just been done" on q
laughed in fulsome Rlee.
1t struck Secretary Kenyon, of the West
ern Paving Com pany, who was sitting near
by, as no joke at all, and he protested
warmly TO President Conduit. 81 can tell
you frankly" said he. that had this high
figure been decided upon before these bids
were in you would never have gotten such
low bids. and the next ones that come mp
Will be higher"
And | can tell you Just as frankly" re-
torted Mr.. Conduit. that if the bids are
any higher than at present there will be no
more asphalting done.' And the clerk
scored one for the king Mr. Kenyon
proceeded TO demonstrate by figures that
- cents would prove a great hardship. and
before the board adjourned the subject was
brought up again. This time q straight
vote was taken. and as Messrs. Conduit
and De;rees both voted for 20 cents they
carried :heir point.