The herald., 1895-01-17
SPEAKING OF STREETS.
CAUSES WHICH HAVE LED TO THE
PRESENT CONDITIONS.
Tho Now Strest supsrintend emit Talks OF
the Way Street. ontractors
Abuse the Public.

The deplorable condition of many OF
the most travelled streets of the city,
more especially those upon which work
has been done recently, has given rise
to great deal of comment since the
rains have rendered them almost i'm.
psssable.
Complaints have been made to osun.
oilmen and others by residents on the
streets where this condition OF things
exists, and the council has been COM,
PEELED to refer them to the superintend-
emit of streets.
Yesterday, in an interview with re-
porter of The HERALD. Mr.. Howard.
the newly elected street superint endent,
said that the heavy rains OF the past
few days have brought to light the fact
that sufficient care has not been exer-
cised in replacing the material removed
from the street, for the ssveral purposes
that are constantly coming up whereby
it is necessary to excavate in the paved
and graded streets.
These streets are the property Of
the general public of our city," said Mr..
Howard. They have been paved or
grRveled at q heavy expense to the
property owners and taxpayers. The
specifications under which the work 10
done are Of the best that experience and
common sense can produce. The street
is finished under the watchful care OF q
street superintendent and the work &C.
copied by him. 1t thus becomes tho
duty Of the street superintendent to ex.
erciss his most watchful care in pre-
venting the destruction OF this part OF
the property of the inhabitants of the
city thus placed in his charge. To aid
and assist him in the discharge OF this
duty. carefully prepared specifications
have been given, governing the permits
for excavation issued from this Office,
and when followed, the least possible
damage will result from tearing up and
replacing the material composing the
street, and it becomes my duty to in
form each and every rerson expecting
to do work in excavating and bsok-fill-
ing in the streets of this city during my
term of Office as street superintendent.
1.-THE first important thing for astreet
superintendent to do ia to make himself
thoroughly conversant with the specif-
cations and orders of the council gov
erning the same. and in making bids
upon CH6 p6fIOr mRuCe OF buCu WoIk
figures might just IS well be made from
the beginning looking to the complete
carrying out OF these orders and spscif-
cations.
sin allowing any latitude to parties
doing this work, in my opinion. we are
infringing directly upon the rights of
every inhabitant OF our city. for every
ones comfort depends in no small
measure upon the good condition OF the
thoroughfares. Therefore in asking
bids, want all to understand that il
their bid ia made with the expectation
of any latitude in the specifications
they are forcing themselves into an IN
desirable position. and one from which
there i, no escape.
at lie not my desire to cause any IN
necessary hardship to anyone, but thus
far none has been successful in convinc.
ing me that any other way than that
laid down in the specifications ia the
better way, and ii they will ride for an
hour with me just at this time. they
will become convinced that in every
minute detail it is essential they be
oorriod ont ,,