The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-06
SQUARE CEDAR BLOCK
NORTH MERIDIAN-sTREET RESI-
DENTS DON'T WANT ASPHALT.
Unanimous in Asking for n Pavement
which Will Cost 20 Per Cent. More
than Any Yes Laid.

The Improvement of North Meridian
street, from New York to Seventh. occupied
the time and attention of the Board of
Public Works yesterday afternoon. About
thirty residents of that street were at the
boards office, and the meeting was some
what out of the ordinary, liz SO much as it
attempted. to decide the kind of pavement
to be laid, and elected President Holton, of
the board, chairman. Heretofore it has
been the privilege Of the residents of
street to express their wishes to the board
and of1er suggestions regarding improve
ments, but not SO with the North Meridian
street property owners, for they voted that
sawed pine block pavement shall be laid.
The delegation was unanimous, however,
for a block pavement as against asphalt.
One of the principal objections made to
asphalt was that it is unsanitary. 1t was
claimed that asphalt allows Of little drain
age. Another objection was that asphalt
kills the street; another that it is noisy, and
another that it is hot. After it had been
settled that asphalt Is not wanted. the kind
of block to be used was considered. Wash
ington red cedar started out the favorite.
r. r. Shiel moved that the street be laid
with Washington cedar with a sand founda-
ton, but this motion was laid on the table
and another, introduced by A. kiefer, call
ing for cedar on a concrete foundation,
taken up. DR.. o. S. Runneis spoke against
a concrete foundation, saying it would in
terfere with the natural drainage and have
a tendency to rot the blocks. 1t was also
said that with concrete foundations gas
from leaking mains can find no direct out
let, much to the detriment of the trees,
The laying Of the concrete, it was thought,
would also injure the trees. A motion was
made that Washington cedar block be
used. Objection was made to this on the
ground that the residents know nothing of
the cost of the Washington cedar, and 1t
would be inadviSable to contract for some
thing which might cost an enormous sum.
President Holton, of the board suggested
that the vote of the delegation was not
binding with the board, and that the latter
any improvement was authorized. Explana-
tions were made that the delegation was
merely making suggestions ana expressing
opinions and was not trying to dictate The
result of half-dozen motions and two
hours discussion was that the meeting de-
cded in favor of pine blocks, sawed square.
A majority of those present favored sand
foundation, but that question was left to
the engineer. The latter reports an est-
mated cost for a fOrty-foot roadway of
cedar blocks at 1855 q lineal foot on each
side. For the squared cedar blocks the es-
the cost of asphalt, which shows that the
property owners of Meridian street are not
looking for cheap pavement. The best of
feeling was manifested yesterday, as all
tie property owners seemed inclined to do
what is best for the street The board and
city engineer will investigate the sand
foundation question and decide whether it
will be practicable to lay blocks on it.