The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-11
MATTER OF COST AFTER ALL
The Seventh-Stree Peoples at Last Learn
WhatThe MustP Pay for Brick Paving.
Snap Taken Out of Opposition to Asphalt-The
The Virginia-Avenue Remonstrance-lllegal
No,arialF Fees Charged by Clerks-NOtes.
1T WILL BE
venth-Stre Property-Hoiders United
Their Flight for Brick.

seventh-Street Property-Holders United in
Their Fight for Brick.
The Board of Public Works sat behind q
barrioade of bricks yesterday morning. The
Seventh-street property-owners were there.
and the board had the bricks piled so high
upon its table that it was hard to see over
them. The members held o long whispered
consultation before opening the meeting,
aud il is believed, from a word or two that
hoated across the table between the bricks
that they then ana there decided to either
60 ahead n asphalt Seventh street or not
improve il at all this year.
The board did not give the committee its
Immediate attention. but first opened and
read aloud the bids for brick paving on
Coburn street, thereby conveying some in
formation that had q very s~alutary effect
upon the Seventh-street people. A little
figuring showed that at these figures it
would cost from S42S to ST. 70 per front foot
TO brick Seventh street. with the oolitic
curb. while the asphalt with the same curb
Is to cost S5.9S per foot. After he had fin
ished reading the bids President Conduits
picked mp q couple of ~type-written docu-
ments which MIR. Coffin had deposited upon
~ tdDiCs dltcI dTu IttlTluX Win snS rest
OF the committee to the furthest corner of
the ROOM. The first of these he read
aloud. 1t was to the effect that
the undersigned owners of real estate on
seventh street. between Alabama and Mis-
sissippi streets, demonstrated against the
paving of said street with asphalt, and re-
spectfully requested that the street be
paved with brick. believing that brick
pavements are more durable than asphalt,
better adapted to this climate, not SO slip
naru md dam xrAT \.
To open for gas and water trenches, can be
put down at less expense. INC can be re-
paired, without skilled labor, at q very
much less expense than asphalt. They fur
Their especially asked the honorable board to
allow the use OF vitritied brick of the ordi-
nary building size. without further specific
limitations, in order to admit of all the
competition possible.i,.
Has any body any thing to say on this
snbjectr asked Mr.. Conduit. Thereupon
Mr.. Coffin stated that there was q COM
munication also. This President Conduit
read aloud. IL was cOuched very mildly,
reading as follows: referring to the res.
olutlon of the Seventh-street property
owners. presented to you on the Sth INST.
In regard to tine improvement of said street
with asphalt, and availing ourselves of
your courteous consent to defer action
thereon until W. could be heard further in
the matter We have the honor to herewith
present You a remonstrance and petition,
It u . oi8hCd " OnA1 ny IL ICQuiolt0
two-thirds. but by every resident property
owner on the street except two, who are
absent from the city. Confidently believ-
ing that you will give our petition due
consideration and grant that our street
may be improved without further delay
We are" etc.
That's ALL" said Mr.. Coffin meekly
when the reading was finished.
- can say this to you. gentlemen" said
Mr.. Conduit. IF the character Of that
mnrnvamQnf 10 nhannaA ~ will aanao a
long delay of at least sixty days. with the
probability that the improvement would
not be made this year"
This alarmed Mr.. Kiefer very much and
have asphalt than to have the paving 60
over for another season. Then Major
Richards came to the front and said that
Notwithstanding the bids on Coburn street.
they believed they could get more compe-
titlon. They had been promised q low bid
on this street and they would get plenty OF
competition if no fixed size of brick were
specified.
IL see. Major Richards" said MI. Con-
duitt. that you ask the board to change
its specifications on brick paving. We ad-
dopted these specifications for good
and sufficient reasons and. 80 far as
L know. the board proposes to hold
on to them.n Then followed an
explanation of the size of the brick
often explained before. Finally Mr.. Coffin
asked how long it would take to change
the paving to brick and was told that the
whole thing would have to be done over
again, requiring forty days before bids
could be opened. and then more time until
they could be figured out and the sample
bricks tested, and still more until the con-
tractors could get their supply of brick.
Then. gentlemen" said Mr.. Coffin. lit is
the unanimous opinion of this committee
that you will do what in right about this
matter. and we leave it to you. GOOd-bye.n
And the committee quietly melted away.
Would you like 70 know the decision of
this board on the Seventh-street matter.'
asked President Conduit, of the assembled
reporters mt the close OF the session. "Well,
it's asphalt.' he replied when asked what
it was. That settles o question that has
caused more trouble and bad feeling IN
four laws than any other that has come
before the board In its brief but checkered
career.