The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-08
The estate Journals" Often
Reiterated Demand
After Years of Hammering
Yields Good Results.
The City Administration Has by Get
ting Down to Business on the
Question Finally Fetcheda
Proposition That Ought
To Be Accepted.

of waiting and ag1tatlng Dy the SI@IC
Journal the city administration has re-
ceived an excellent proposition for the
repair of our asphalt pavements. This
news was published briefly in last even
ing's issue.
The proposition will undoubtedly be
accepted and the Barber company
promises to have the repairs completed
within 80 days. The total cost of keep
ing the pavements in repair for I'VE
years under this proposition is $4,000
which is much better than any one had
hoped. It was at first thought that the
plan of the Barber company was to
charge the city $4,000 per annum.
There are a few not disinterested peo-
pie in the city who hoped that the
pavements would not be repaired. They
said that the sooner the pavements
were ruined the better because others
would have to be built. 1t was not the
people owning property on Kansas aV-
enue who have borne the heavy load OF
paying for the asphalt that were anx-
1OuS to see this happen. Iney were
men interested in the brick business.
The condition of the pavernents is
now extremely bad. Provisions for
their repair should have been made
long ago. The policy of delay pursued
made some people think that the city
administration was in league with the
brick men but when the contract with
the Barber company is closed they will
know it is not true The brick men
ought to be satisfied with having all
the rest of the city as their field.
The Journal has fought for the pre-
servatiOn of the asphalt pavementS
and the people of Topeka are to be
congratulated that the hope is about to
be realized.
Following is the letter from the Bar
Der company concerning the repairs:
The Barber Asphalt Paving Co,
No. l Broadway.
New York 1S96
Homo. A. Fellows, Mayor, Topeka, Kan.
Dear Sir-Referring to our correspOn-
dence on the subject of the asphalt
streets in Topeka, we have delayed
! making definite proposition until we
could have the streets examined with
particular care, for the purpose of max
ing an intelligent estimate, and we
have also been engaged in figuring very
closely on the matter so as to make a
proposition at the lowest possible cost
and one that will be acceptable to your
self and the council of Topeka.
We now make this formal PROPOSE
ton:
We will put all the asphalt streets in
the city of Topeka, according to the list
herewith enclosed, amounting in the
/ aggregate to 1874 633, in perfect order
within 80 days from the written accept
ance of this proposal, and will keep the
/ same at all times in good repair until
/ September 81, 1901, for the sum of forty
thousand dolIors C$4O,OO0) payable as
| follows:
$40, 900 on October /, 1896.
$4,000 on February 1, 1897.
$4,000 on October I, 1897.
$4,000 on October 1, 1898.
"a 600 on October 1, 1899.
$4,000 on October 1, 1900.
$4,000 on October 1, 1901.
This is the lowest figure we have
! ever made on maintaining asphalt
| pavements, and is substantially at cost.
/ In fact, if our estimate of the traffic
| and repairs during the next five years
should turn out not to be correct the
! work will result in : loss n q a r.
/ induced to make this low figure for the
| reasons already given both by yourself
and by US in the previous correspon-
! dence
Before signing the agreement or in
! SURFING any liability We should like to
/ have the opinion of the city attorney
/ on your behalf, and of Messrs. Gleed,
| Ware & Gleed on our behalf, to the eff
4 feet that the city has full power to ac-
! cept this proposition and can lawfully
/ the time stated.
We enclose a copy of the specifca-
/ tons under which we would propose to
! do the work, which are based upon our
experience in cities where asphalt pave
| mentS have been used for many years
| and in large quantities.
Awaiting your reply, we remain,
Very respectfully,
THE BARBER ASPHALT PAVING
COMPANY,
F. V. GREEN. President.
-, Following are the specifications for
F'irst-The work to be done is to put
| the asphalt paVements in TOqelza, Kan
sas, according to accompanying list, in
! good order and repair, and to keep
! them in good order and repair at all
times from October 1, 1896, to October 1,
| 1901
Second-The repairs will be such as
| TO remedy all defects in the pavements
! due to their proper use as roadways
and to keep the surface free from holes,
punches, depresSiOns or cracks of such
/ size as to cause anV Inconvenience To
traffic.
Third-The Barber Asphalt Paving
company can use two methods in MAX
ing these repairs at its option: L BY
cutting out the old pavement to the full
| thickness and filing in with new ma
terlaI so as to bring the surface even
! with the surrounding pavement, max
ing a close surface joint Herewith.
without any cracks, depressions or ele-
| VatlOnS- 2 By heating the surface of
the asphalt by means of a heater made
for that purpose. so as to be able to
scTape off the defective surface to a
sufficient depth, and then fill in with
new material to make the patch to con-
| form to the contour of the pavement.
FOurth-The city of Topeka will pre-
vent the opening of the pavements for
laying or repairing pipes or any other
purpose without a written permit from
the city engineer; and whenever such
/ openings are made it will direct the
Barber Asphalt Paving company to
restore and relay the same and will nav
said company for such work at the
rate of 81 per square yard for concrete
six inches thick, and $3.50 per square
yard for asphalt surface two and one
| haf inches thick; and when thus re-
laid the Barber Asphalt Paving COM
pany will keep such places in good or
der and repair until October l, 1901
without further charge.
TAEMAGE TALKS SILVER.
He Says It Will Win and the Country