St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-26
A CHERISHED RIGHT.
Col. j. H. Davidson Refuses
Point Blank to Abdieate
or Surrender
The Inalienable Privilege OF
"Cussing" the Board Of
Public Works.
His Bold Declaration Elected
by a Naive Inquiry From
Capt. German.
Fourth Street to Be Repaved
Two Blocks and Repaired
the Balance.

The hearing on the preliminary order
sent to the board of public works for
the repaving of Fourth street from
Broadway to Third street was cOnSid-
cred and discussed by the board and
property owners at meeting yesterday
afternoon. The majority of the prop
erty owners present were opposed to
the street being repaYed, especially that
portion west of Jackson street.
J. II. Davidson made strong talk
against the work being done at this
time. If the property owners along the
street could stand the present condition
of the pavement he thought the council
and the board of public works should.
1t would be an outrage, he said, in the
present hard times, to assess the owners
for a new pavement. All that was
needed between Jackson and Third
streets was a thorough repairing OF the
pavement.
President German stated that the city
engineer had Informed the board that it
would not be profitable to repair the
pavement, as it would be the same as
throwing away the money spent in re-
pairs.
To this Mr.. Davidson took exceptions,
and said his judgment was as good as
that of the city engineer on the question
at point. Mr.. Davidson also inquired
as to who would have to stand the eX-
pense of the repaving in front of tie
court house and city hall, and he ap-
peared to be much relieved when told
that part of the assessment would have
to be paid out of the general fund.
James King said the pavement on the
street west of Jackson was in such con-
dition that by repairing it i'll places 1t
would last a couple of years, and thus
save the owners any assessment at this
time. n. r. Frost was of the same
opinion as the two previous speakers.
A Precious Right Reserved.
President German inquired if the
bo ard simply ordered the pavement re-
aired, and it afteTward turned out that
the thing was a mistake, would the
property owners shoulder the blame OF
the mistake, and not lay it to the board
of public works.
10 this Mr.. Davidson said that as
taxpavers he thought the citizens in
general had a perfect right to curse the
board of public works, and he for one
did not want to relinquiSh that right.
even If the board were right i'll the
matter
Mr. Horrigan, of the board, said it did
not require much judgment for any one,
after viewing the pavement between
jackson and Broadway, to say the street
needed repaving. He was in favor OF
ordering the pavement on this part OF
the street and repairing the rest.
President German suggested that II
this were done the cost of the repairs
and the repaving below jackson street
might be spread over the entire street.
This did not meet with much favor, and
Mr.. Quinby said the property owners
below Jackson street should Day for the
repaving of that part Of the street. He
agreed with Mr.. Horrigan that it was
useless to attempt to repair the pave
ment east of jackson street. lie fur
ther said when the question was raised
of what kind of pavement would be the
best for that district, that cedar block
was the most expensive kind of paving
for that section of the city.
Ii. p. Upham and other owners inter
ested below Jackson street were III
favor of putting down granite blocks.
for the reason that it would be more
lasting and cheaper in the end.
A Spiel for Asphalt.
C. Nj. Carpenter, representing the
| Northern Asphalt company, made some
remarks as to the durability and adj
vantages of this kind of pavement. In
| the cities of Cincinnati and Buffalo the
| business portions were paved with as
1 phalt, and it was giving the best salts
| faction. Tne special advantage OF the
| pavement was that it was easily kept
clean, and, where the street is level,
much easier to haul heavy loads on.
The cost of paving to the property
owners with cedar blocks. President
German said, was S1.73 per front foot on
plank foundation; on concrete fOunda-
ton, S2.4S per front foot; with granite
| blocks, s.. l6 per front foot, and with as
! phalt about $3.50 per front foot. 1t was
| finally decided to recommend to the
council that the street between Broad
way and jackson streets be repaved,
and the balance of the street be repaired
| at the expense of tie owners OF the
property frontage; the cost of tie re-
paving below Jackson street to be paid
! for by the owners of the property. Bids
will be advertised for repaving with
cedar blocks, granite and asphalt, the
choice OF these TO be decided after the
figures are sent in. The hearing on the
repaving of Fifth street, from Third to
Broadway, Will come up today.