The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
CARDS IL as yet in the experimental stage,
saying the result OF the Capitol-avenue
pavement will show If Il is desirable.
EFT

ELOQUENT OVER GRAVEL
Speaking of gravel, however, the board
grows eloquent. The claims made for we'll
laid and well-cared-for gravel streets are
cited. and then comes the following:
1T is claimed by the board that no road
way is so sanitary In its makeup as a
roadway improved with hard packed gravel.
and that it Is the most agreeable of all
surfaces to ride on. We are in accord with
the ideas expressed. While it seems to
be necessary to so improve the business and
which will stand heavy traffic, and not re-
quire such vigilance TO keep the same in
repair, yet we do not think 1t wise. when
an Improvement is necessity, on many OF
the resident streets, TO require the property
owners to pay for an Improvement equal to
from 10 to 80 per cent. of the taxable valu-
able or the property assessed. We are or
the opinion that gravel roadways well
rolled and packed at the time OF their con-
struction, and afterward kept thoroughly
in order by the use, possibly, of heavy
roller, which the city should own and use
for this purpose, would bring into popular
favor this class of an Improvement. The
municipal officials must, however, adopt
such methods as will compel all companies
authorized 10 excavate in the streets of the
city, do all the work under such rules and
regulations as will cause streets torn up 10
be replaced and left in as good a condition
as before being entered into. such restrlc-
tions must also be placed upon all licensed
is taken TO prevent the settlement of
trenches and consequent disarrangement OF
the surface"
total sum of siHL76s75. of which s12S. 1855
is in bonds and 81, PSI 10 in cash. The board
has under consideration change IN specl-
fcations requiring an increase IN the
amount a square yard to be retained on
improved streets. The report of the clerk OF
the board shows that before the end or this
year the guarantee OF thirtyswo SonIpaees
expired during 1895. 1t falls 10 the duty OF
the city to repair these streets, The WASH
worn out and the statement made that II
should be repaved with a lasting material;
The board has the sum of 5000 appropriated
for such improvements TINS year. put me
recommendation is made that plant be
erected by the city, so its own repairs can
be made. In the meaning OF the boards
language the keeping of permanent I'M
proved streets in repair is going to be an ex-
pensive business
STREET CLEANING CONTRACTS.
The STRENGTHENING contracts are reviewed
and the following deductions drawn:
1.-THE city, as before, is divided into four
districts but the contractor is compelled TO
clean all pavements in the one district for
the contract price. This includes not only
all completed streets, but those built in 1896.
The price to be paid varies from rs cents to
% cents per ten thousand feet-a reduction
from prices prevailing from 1891 to 1888 of
10 cents per ten thousand feet.
THE approach of the winter season so
soon after the commencement of the pres
ent administration has prevented us from
giving the sweeping contracts fair and
impartial trial, but believe busnesslike
enforcement of the provisions of the con-
tracts will demonstrate that the streets can
be cleaned in a manner satisfactory TO all
interested.
THE appropriation given the board. we
think, will prove insufficient and it may be
necessary to ask for additional moneys be-
fore the expiration of the coming year..
No report would be complete without due
reference to the garbage and night-soil
question. The particular report under con-
done In this line during the year, all Of
which is part of the history of the city.
The city is now paying the indianapolis
Desiccating Company the neat sum OF sloVn
ard garbage, but as there is no ordinance
compelling that such refuse shall be taken
to the crematory, it is unknown whether
one load or a hundred thousand are being
destroyed during the year. This situation
leads the board to say:
mo city the size of Indianapolis should be
without q contract which will enable the
authorities 10 secure the collection OF gar
bage. This is imperative from a sanitary
standpoint, and this city is not keeping
pace with other cities of her size by not
having this work done in proper manner.
We are of the opinion. however that the
method to adopt Is that which provides for
the payment of the work from the general
fund in the treasury. 1t is by this plan that
the work can be done cheapest, best and
most satisfactorily"
The efforts made to get telephone and
telegraph wires underground are reviewed
and the prediction made that all will be
underground by Sept. %, the time stated
in the ordinance. no new franchises let not
outstanding. The attention OF the Mayor
and the citizens is called to the very bad
recommendation is made that a building
be erected east of the Market building,
If the finances will permit. Tominson Hall
is shown to have cost 81, 2O1. 0S for repairs
during the last year, while the receipts
amounted to 50, 5000 and the running ex-
penses to S,7T.22.
The report OF the street commissioner Is
embodied in the boards report and APP
proved Mr.. Harpeck has spent $1,i4992 on
Pogues run during the two months he has
been in office. but the board says 1t is the
hope and purpose to make closed sewer or
drain of the run.
DOWNINGS PET SCHEME.
In the consideration of the sewer i'm
provements of the city and proposed work,
Colonel Downing gets in the report pet
scheme of his which is worded as follows
while we consider the disposition of the
State ditch district of Importance. yet we
believe that undertaking TO provide for the
drainage of Pogue's run district is OF vastly
more Importance to the city and property
owners interested. We believe Pogue's run
should be converted into a sewer of suffi-
Gent size to care for all the water which
will be drained into 1t. This Is great un-
dertaking, but the injury done to property
during its periodical overfiowS is such as TO
require solution of the difficulty. A sewer
of sufficient capacity can be built, we be-
lieve and this will enable us to reclaim
much property valuable for residence as
as we'll as for business purposes. Much OF
the property abuttlng will receive greater
benefit If the run is severed than II an
open drain is maintained, and consequently
can afford to pay greater benefits. There
are some legal questions TO be considered
before we finally enter into this, but we
are of the opinion that this portion of the
sewer system should be commenced. This
administration can do no one undertaking
which will be of more credit TO 1t tnan the
performance of this work"
The report considers the water question.
offering the expression that 1t would be well
If the city could obtain municipal owner
ship of the plant. During last year the
board spent $50 1856 to compensate the
water company for water service This is
for the location and use OF 1,l90 MIGRANTS
and thirty-five public drinking fountains:
The board expresses the belief that Ii would
be we'll to have the plant of the water
company located on a high elevation at
Broad Ripple. where fresh and pure sup
ply of water might be obtained.
The report touches on minor matters or
the department and praises a number of the
officials. The recommendation Is made that
b. j. Il. Jeup be permanently appointed city
engineer.
one OF the closing paragraphs of the re-
port is devoted to street car matters. on
which members of the board have been so
silent This paragraph reads:
lowing to the position taken by the
former Board of Public Works to the effect
that no communications or orders could
N-rA lrrA a