The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-18
Our street Improvement Problem.

OoF improvement IrODtem.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
a few things in regard to street i'm
provement should be regarded, as existing
facts which are about as stubborn as facts
ever get TO be- and the whole subject
should be considered in their light. First
we are to remember that road building
has not yet been reduced to an exact sci
ence, hence there is room for differences Of
opinion among men of very general intel
igence when come to discuss or apply
the various systems. 1t is fair to assume,
also. that every good citizen of Indianapo-
lis believes that the time has come for q
systematic improvement Of all our streets.
This Improvement may be hard on some,
but such is life.
Again, must recognize that ultimate
authority TO details must rest some
where, and possibly Board of Public
NC MorRRs unGer proper Irn1ta 5ions; Is a6out
not to assume that our board or any other
board IS infallible. Our board is COM
suspicion Of wrong doing as any other
three men in the city, but there are thou
sands who know as much about road build
ing as the best Of them, hence 1t is not
unreasonable that those who have to pay
expenses should desire to have a, word
10 say as to the kind of Improvement they
prefer. This is all the more reasonable
from the fact that there are a half dozen
methods. each SO good that as with sew
ing machines. the best is the one whose
agent has you in his grip
The experience of other cities is not uni
form. In Detroit brick and block on con-
crete foundation is almost wholly adopted
IN columbus, o., clay product, either in
the shape of brick or of block. on a con-
crete base, has the preference, while in
most towns and cities in eastern Ohio
broken stone or screened gravel prevails.
built brick streets are generally well sat
isfed, especially when they think Of the
ever-present repair gang" on Washington
street and elsewhere They do not claim
that ii makes as desirable a driveway as
asphalt, and they very much miss the
stream of carriages which asphalt invites.
but they greatly enjoy its freedom from
annoyance of those Institutions.
But we are confronted in indianapolis
building, which is the chief cause of dis
content: No one claims that there is any
wonder is that the price Of all kind Of
roads on concrete is not higher. Just how
the contractors happened to stop at the
present prices has never been explained.
II l understand the situation. this is what
Is the matter with my neighbors on Ala
bama street. They are not a set of chronic
them may be slightly liable to be classed
among. the, chronic kickers; but there is no
an occasional indulgence in kicking affords
me- conclude that as a business it must
pan out well when well followed. They
want their street improved, but they want
some slight assurance that they are to get
the worth of their money.
Let me suggest, not only for their bene-
| tit, but for the benefit of ALL and as a pro-
lection to the board, which is in danger Of
being talked about in not the most flatter-
| ing terms, that the board resolves to i'm
prove Alabama street or Central avenue
! or any other street. making out the speci-
| bids for a good asphalt pavement and at
the same time for a brick and a block on
concrete and a brick and a block on bro
ken stone or screened gravel foundation
and every other kind of approved perma-
| nent street reServing the right to reject
| all bids or to select the kind most likely
| TO please those who have to paw for IL
! 1t may not be the kind best suited to fast
| driving, but all these kinds are standard
| goods in any market. Ii seems 10 me that
this IS not an unreasonable thing for any
| street to ask Possibly the very best, even
| for those who pay expenses, may not al
| ways be chosen. Men do not always choose
the best kind of a house or wagon hut
even when they discover their mistake
| they are better satisfied than if they had
| been compelled to take what they did not
want. Let us have peace and let Alabama
| street be humOred, for she is right In not
| wanting what she does not want This
| much is due from the board, which
| though clothed with great power. is not
| omnipOtent, and il should not use, what au-
| thority IL has in such a manner as TO
| create unnecessary satisfaction. I see no
| plausible objection TO this plan II would
| at least remove the suspicion of colIusi0 on
| with contractors and seem 10 crippe mo-
/ noDoly somewhat. / want to protect the
| board from suspicion. L. L. SEE
| Indianapolis, April Is.