The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-25
LAST OF THE REPORTS
BOARD OF WORKS COMMENDs MIR.
FISHER AND CITY ENGINEER.
Tomliuson Hall Not self-SustainHng
May Rcadjust Rentals-statement
of Public improvements.

Ine Ix}ard or EuDHc w OrkS competed the
annual report OF that department yesterday
afternoon, and submitted the same to Mayor
Denny. The report covers in detail all of
the affairs of the department. including
the report of the street commissioner. the
city engineer and the assessment bureau,
making volunlinous document. The board
begins the report with the following:
owing to the depressed condition of all |
Industrial and other interests in the coun-
try it has been very hard matter for the I
board, in many respects, to prosecute pub
lie work. In many cities a complete stop |
page of public work has been made. While. /
on the one hand, labor was seeking en- |
ployment on the other hand the property |
owner was complaining of insufficiency of |
his income from rents, and of his inability |
to sell real estate heretofore 1t has |
been perplexing question to the board to |
conduct the affairs of the department, un-
dertaking at the same time TO reconcile all
interested parties namely. the property
owner assessed and the laborer seeking
employment on public work
ave did not believe it was our duty to
stop public Improvement, and We have not
done so. The sewerage system was one
that had been laid out by Mr. Rudolph
Herring, and the construction of the system
had been commenced in a systematic way
at the time of our appointment to this
office. We decided that this must continue.
Therefore, sewer construction has been the
principal item of cost 10 the property own
ers of the city the past year. To have
caused the portion of the system already
begun to have been rendered almost use
less, and the portion that mad been m m
public health of the city without having
constructed and completed at an early day
the necessary outlets.
I'VE are aware that it is a hardship to
many to- pay sewer assessments. We are
convinced, however, that, owing TO the
sharp competition existing at this time
among contractors, all OF our sewer con-
tracts have been let at a very satisfactory
price"
The board also calls attention to the work
! that has been done In improving streets.
Many streets which are in a bad condition
We're not improved because of the hard
| times and the sewer work. The work has
! not gone without attention, however, and
| considerable work of the kind has been
| done.
| guarantees on improved streets have ex-
| pired, namely ON the pavement on Pennsyl-
vania street from Washington to Ohio
| street, and Court street, from Pennsylvania
! to Delaware. Attention is called to the ne
cesslty of the city taking proper steps for
streets, after the guarantys have expired.
| IL it is found impracticable for the city to
own an asphalt plant of it's own, the recon-
mendation is made that provision be made
for the board to receive bids for repairing
| such streets
An ordinance is also recommended, which
would require all persons desiring to cut
which should go to a repair fund When a
| property owner has failed to make sewer
and other connections before the perma-
nent Improvement of street is made, the
report says II is an injustice to other prop
erty owners that he should be allowed to
thing for the privilege The report reviews
the REFUSAL of a right Of way to the FL, In
pany, and introduces the correspondence
which passed between the city and the rep
| resentativeS of the company at the time the
matter was up for consideration. The report
says the board does not want to appear in
the light of keeping any road from entering
: the city, but the representatives paid no
attention to the routes offered them which
were laid out by the city engineer. The
by the board, and the company declined to
consider any other. The receipts from Tom
s He the pass ys Tss and
marked increase in the receipts, but at nc
time since ro the hall w was establishes
lures. The board has maintained the rates
but it is thought that they will have to b.
clerk of the board, show that there was il
the repair guarantee fund Jan. improve
ment bonds to the value of $s5.515s6 cash
s2o,S5s.os, making a total of s1O5, $3.50, al
increase of 500, 515. 10. The clerks repor
proprated for the use Of the Department
and $295. 959.46 expended, leaving a balanc,
of s14,922 A.
600 square yards OF cedar block pavemen
laid during the year, but makes no specia
The report merely says that property own
ers petitioned for cedar and an attemp
of that class possible. It is with a littl
evidence of pride that the board calls at
tean to the fact ad that rn ss ss at ct
Of s2sa74$1 while in 1872 sals47 was 5 pal pal
called to the reduction in the cost O
J asphalt. During the season of 1898. whe
but two companies occupied the field an
the administration was Democratic, SIS
a square yard was an average price pal
for asphalt pavements. The present boar
t the BIDS of of other Companies and the prize
has fallen to about 81 square yard Will
some asphalt has been laid for SIZE an
even less. BY this change in the specif
saved nearly $4,000 this season. 49,,
Brown and street Commissioner. Fishel
The report commends both for their SCI e,
manner in which he has taken hold of tn
sewer work and the board GA says tie tie bat
the world 1t is said that the street CON
missioner has done highly satisfactory wor
and used all his small allowance in the wa
to obtain the best possible results M
jefferson, of the assessment bureau, is ais
commended for the. manner in which he hs
conducted the affairs of his department
Perhaps there will be more interest show
in what the board has to say regarding I'll
bas BEEN the most abused What it has
say upon this subject is little, and it com
toward the last of the report This is Il
way 1t begins:
= .in our last report we said we would e
deavor to show a marked Improvement
the manner of cleaning streets. We fe
that we have made progress in this matte
- While we admit that the streets have n
- come in point of cleanliness, to what
believe they should and to what no
to accomplish in the coming year, yet
:, feel that we now make favorat
"a comparison with any other city in t
er country"
IS The cost OF cleaning for the year w
Sse 1885 The sprinkiing, the report sa,
e amounted to one-third less than in any pl
is vlous year. Sprinkling the board thinl
n is now within the reach of everybody. Il
= | cost for the past year was St9el9.a6.
- Public light the past year cost SO. 5as.
ed Attention is called to the notification Civ
he the Sun Vapor Company of the citys
!; tention to annul the contract for val
- light. The report says there will probal
IS be litigation over the matter, but the c
er attorney has expressed the opinion that
:. action of the city is legal. The city
a. paid $47.s69.53 for water, and ordered II
m miles of water mains laid. The dema
It's for water mains extenton is greater tn
he the board can supply.
ss- The following tabulated statement sho
cir the expenditures Of the department for
he provements:
ne Iysnd of Iu,Droyer4,eut Miles Cost