The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-03-29
MEND THEPAVEMENTs.
Why Does Engineer Kingman Per-
sist in recommending Brick
TO PATCH HOLES IN THE ASPHALT

A General Opposition 10 the Make
shift Propositions or the Engineer
Are the Brick AHanufa cturers Try
Ing to Work DeaIf
The extreme devotion with which some
of the city officers Of Topeka champion
the interests of vitrified brick for paving
purposes in preference to asphalt and
everything else, is rather remarkable.
For nearly a year the cause of the
brick men has been brought forward on
every occasion by some city officers,
chief among whom is City Engineer
Lewis Kingman. On the 23d Of last
August Mr. kingman in a communica-
ton to the city council, recommended
that "ln places where it is necessary TO
renew the asphalt pavement, IL would be-
advisable to renew with brick. 1t has
become quite evident that brick emdures
better than asphalt and it seems likely
that the interests of the city would be
better served with brick" On other oc-
casiOns prior and subsequently, and in
his daily intercourse with c0uncImen
and citizens. BIZ. kingman never loses an
opportunity TO speak a good word for
brick paving in preference to asphalt,
and TO use his influence in this direction
Only yesterday MIR. Kingman made to
Councilman Fulton the proposition that
On East Fifth street, where the pavement
rs in some places sadly ia need Of re-
newal, it would BE advisable to lay brick
w Thy these persistent recOmme ndations
of brick when the people want the
asphalt streets preserved Imagine
streets paved alternately with brick and
asphalt 1t would indeed be a beautiful
sight. An immense piece Of patchwork
which every citizen would be ashamed
to show to strangers.
Such devotion, carried close to the
point of the ridiculous, iii the interests
of a pavement which Ks both unsuited
for heavy traffic and objectionable for
driving purposes certainly puts Nr
kingman IN curious light
Is There Too Much Flooence
Do the several brick companies of To-
peka have too much influence" and too
strong ~puI' on some city ofhclalsf
Not Mr.. kingman alone) Those who
profess to believe these whispered RUM
ors say the long delay in repairing the
asphalt has been simply part Of the
scheme to tslet IT wear Out7 in order chat
brick pavement may be substituted. Air.
IF. I. BoneDrakes powerful letter drew
the inference that there is q brick
scheme aud many viii agree with him.
Dir. kiugman's estimates for keeping
the asphalt pavement in repair have all
ways been large, from $4,000 to $4,000
year. They are so large that other city
officers have termed them s-infative7
and the mayor says they are visionary
IL is believed that these large estimates
have had tendency to brighten the
counclmen who control the deficiency
threatened treasury into the belief that
that the city IS too poor to make the re-
pairs.
The communication of Engineer King
man OF aug ust S5rd from which the eA-
tracts noted above are taken was never
read TO the city council IL was suppress
ed' by Mayor Jones who dld not want
the subject Of paving repairs agItated at
that time as the city was hardest press
ed hnancial-y oI any time TOT several
years.
a ne communication READS ~ Iull-
81 have letter from the chief eDgln-
eer OF the board Of pubic works 81 but-
1alos n. - IN which he says the total