The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
A BLOW AT ASPHALT
THE BOARD OF WORKS SUBMITS ITS
ANNUAL REPORT.
Gravel Referred to I'm Glowing Terms
Colonel DOwning's Impractica-
Bile Hobby Set Forth.


Der OF changes are suggested. which
have been under consideration for
some time, in the work Of making
more complete the methods of inn
provement and government. Concerning the
question Of material for street Improvement.
the board in the report dwells on asphalt
at length in a manner not altogether salts
factory to the friends of asphalt, and then
drops the subject by saying that other ma
terial for pavements can be selected which
will give better and more lasting results.
The board neglects to say. however, what
material is in mind. Gravel is given good
lift by the strong recommendations for it's
use on residence streets. The recon-
mendation is made that the guarantee pc
riod for all street improvements be extended
from five to nine years. The report en-
bodies a number of minor reports which
have already been made public.
Probably that portion Of the report which
Is Of the most interest to the property own
ers OF the city is contained in the last para
graph. for this indicates what the policy of
the board shall be during the coming sea-
son. The declaration is made that "the
board is in favor of the permanent improve
ment Of roadways within the central mile
square," and then comes the following con-
clusion:
I'm concluding the first report which this
board has had to present. we beg to express
these views: The people of Indianapolis
since the passage OF the charter, In 1884,
have been assessed the sum of 81, 235, 504 "a 10
pay for the construction of sewers and the
Improvement of streets, sidewalks and al
leys OF which amount the sum of 81, SIS 746 AZ
has been spent by them for either asphalt
brick or wooden block roadways, the cost
OF sewers constructed since that time being
Sl,0C7. 27945 Indianapolis has increased in
population under the Impetus given il over
5000. To bring this condition about during
period of great financial distress to many
owners OF property, we give due credit TO
the Department of Public Works for the
energy displayed by II in the permanent
oetterment of our streets We fear, how
ever, that In some OF the outlying districts
the burden OF improvements has been too
much-almost unbearable TO many property
holders
I'VE desire to continue in the work of per
fecting the sewerage system laid out by Mr..
Rudolph Herring. to continue the work of
beautifying the street.. of the city by proper
and improved methods, thereby securing
such substantial benefits as come to all WE'LL
governed cities, but we are opposed to indis-
crlmlnate and costly Improvement of road
ways in locations when the assessments
following mean oppression and threatened
loss of property"
SEvENTY-ONE MILES OF SEWERS.
AS all good reports should begin that of
the Board of Works starts forth by re-
citing some. Of the virtues of the city. It
Is recalled that forty miles of streets are
improved, twenty-five miles OF which are
paved with asphalt. The statement is made
that there are seventy-on miles of main
and local sewers There are s24 electric
lights, which furnishes light for 10000 peo-
pie. Five years ago the population was but
10000. but the growth has been steady and
healthy, probably due to the improvements.
Inc embodied report OF Bart Parker
clerk or the board, shows that the depart
ment has had appropriated during 1895, for
all purposes, the sum of 1856, 81 90, of which
sssS.ss;l2 has been expended leaving an un-
20 the treasury. The fact that $37,CS9 u
more was expended in 1895 than in 1894 is
explained by the statement that increased
sums were needed to pay light and water
bills. to provide for improvements to the
nre department in the construction of three
engine houses. and to meet the expenses
of cleaning improved streets Very gently
MI. Taggart is reminded Of the fear enter
tanned by the board that the appropriations
cleaning streets $4,000 has been appropri-
ated, while last year this work cost $500
Inc decision OF the Supreme Court necessi-
tates the payment of $500 to the Sun
vision has been made for such payment.
The demands for water mains and lights
ef the board TO supply ply
creased appropriations, and the following
plea Is offered:
I'VE deem it proper to infom you that the
demands made upon the Board of Public
works FOR expenditures of money in the
maintenance of water mains. the location
Oh electric lights, the payment Of money
necessary TO properly clean our improved
streets, the necessity for adopting business
methods to collect garbage and night soil
IN me city, require that increasing appro-
dor, orfrr, or7f ft~tx
year TO year. Indianapolis, by the annexa-
ton of North Indianapolis and the addition
recently OF much territory lying immediate
ly north Of the city, is called upon to expend
on that account many hundreds of dollars,
and this, too, while many portions of the
SWell-popnila,ted sections of the city have
been within the corporate limits many
years and are not yet adequately provided
with fire protection and light. If Indianap-
oils expects to keep pace with other cities
IN her class, her citizens must expect to
be taxed sufficiently TO enable the munich
pal departments. by wise and economic
expenditure. to provide the city with such
In this connection. however, we beg to say
that we are not in favor of securing from
taxable property all OF our revenue. Every
corporation doing business in the city and
operating under valuable franchises should
be required to contribute its full share for
the proper maintenance Of the city,
A RUB AT ASPHALT
Spanking of asphalt. the report says that
streets laid but five years ago are in need
of repair, some being in such a condition as
to make general overhauling almost nee
esary. The report says that the members
are convinced that it Is an easy matter to
lay an inferior pavement with asphalt, and
that Indianapolis has suffered because of
this possibility. To quote again from the
report:
While we are aware that 1t is an i'm
possibility TO secure a material for street
paving which does not require from time
10 time, repairs, yet we do believe that
materials other than asphalt (unless inn
their construction can be selected which
will give better and more lasting results
we think the guarantee on all perma-
nent improvements should be increased 10
nine years. and this board will adopt speci-
ncatlons containing such a provision. No
material for permanent roadway which
viii not remain in the streets in a fairly
good condition and with little repairs for
nine years Is not worth the price now being
paid by property owners for permanent
streets. We express the opinion that an
Improvement costing from $3.50 to s.
square yard should be composed of ma
terial which. with but few repairs would
remain in good condition for fifteen years
out the property holders being taxed dol
lar TO pay for repairs to the same. II IL
can be shown TO our satisfaction that there
are other asphaltic materials In the market
which will make pavement equal or
perior TO those now being laid here, we shall
be in favor OF admitting such materials
And, further believe the cost of this
class OF improvements too great. At any
rate. We shall place nine-year guarantee
on asphalt pavements and shall expect TO
receive bids for the work at prices not ex-
ceeding the cost OF pavements heretofore
made under a five-year guarantee. fail