New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-27
THE COMBINATION BROKEN.


Mr. White is convinced that the combination has
been permanently broken and that the present low
prices will prevail next year also. II Is MS ex-
pectatlon to make contracts now for large
amount of work to be done next year; in fact.
Il is hardly likely that any more contracts maze
this fail VII be competed before the weather gets
so cold that asphalt cannot be laid properly But 1t
IS his opinion that by having several months to get
ready for their work the contractors Will be glad
to undertake work at low figures TO be done as
soon as the weather opens In the spring-probabiy
about April /.
The contractor who puts down an asphalt pave
ment is obliged to give satisfactory bonds TO keep
it in good condition for five years and under the
law as amended this year percentage OF the con-
tract prce is withheld for year in order to see
that the pavement continues in good condition during
that time. while for the four following years the
contractor is under bonds 10 keep ii in repair. All
the contracts let within the last TWO months or so
have contained provision in reference to the with
holding Of part of the amount TO- be paid for
the work.
As has been before explained. another change IN
the Jaw enables the Commissioner of city Works
to have pavement laid before the property-owners
are called to pay their assessments and then the
latter levied for exactly the amount Of their
respective shares; it being understood that In al
most all the work done ana contemplated one
half the cost of the Improvement il paid by the
owners of the property directly benefited. BY the
old law estimate OF the probable cost was made
In advance and the assessments laid accordingly.
and one-thrd OF the assessments had to be paid
in before the Commissioner could proceed with the
work. Then when i; was finished AMI the exact
cost footed up. the amount paid in excess Of the
actual cost refunded TO the properiy-owners.
MONEY PAID BACK TO PROPERTY OWNERS
\ number of such refunds have just been passed
on by Commissioner White. II Will be OF interest
i1s. hatyr mn * tn
be divided among them. and those vino wat
ing see how large sum they will get back can
from these figures form fairly accurate eSti-
mate. For repaving Montgomery Place between
Eighth and Ninth ayes, the estimated cost was
5000: the amount TO be refunded Is ST. %. OF
which. Of course one-half will go to the property
owners assessed for the Improvement The other
follows: Blinbridge-st. between Lewis
and Stuyvesant ayes, estimated cost $500; refund
N.l79 "a; Fourth-si, between Sixth and Seventh
ayes estimate. $500; refund. 81 $50 "a Macon-st..
between Lewis and Stuyvesant ayes. estimate.
$500 refund. N.j5 81; Jefferson-ave., between
Tompkins and Throop ayes. estimate, $500; re-
fund. $3.50 ST McDonough-sL. between Sumner and
Lewis. estimate. 5000; refund. S223 70. The aver
age cost to the property-owners is about 81 per
! front foot Of their lots
In most, II not all of these cases. the estimate
was madS for the cost Of asphalt laid cobble-
stones but in accordance with the policy OF Com
missioner White he has insisted concrete
! foundation for the asphalt. thus giving better
ana more durable pavement. and at the same time
/ returning n considerable sum TO the owners or
/ properly on the streets receiving the new pave
! inents II may be noted that the expense on
/ some blocks IL Increased by the fact that the
asphalt Is carried out 10 the cartracks on the
cross streets, anh Of course the cost OF several
/ extra yards Of pavement has TO be shared by the
| Noperty-oWners along the entire block
THE SAFEST. COMPLICATION.
An unfortunate complication has arisen in con-
| nection With the plan repave State-st with
asphalt This was not entered by petition OF
! . majority OF the owners Of property. but By a