The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-17
WORK BEGINS TODAY
LONG DELAYED PAVING IN FAIR
PROSPECT. OF BEING. RE-
SUMED.
CONDUIT SCHEME ARRANGED.
LESS ELABORATE PLAN FOR
WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL BE
ASKED TO ISSUE BONDS.
BUSINESS M
Meeting Held Mt Which Vigorous
Protests Are Made-Neyys of
minneapolis.

City Engineer Cappelen has aban-
doned the tunnel system adopted at
the last meeting of the city council,
for the care Of all electric wires in the
center of the city. Mr. Cappelen'5
action was owing to mechanical DIE
ficulties which could not be overcome.
The plan abandoned provided for an
underground tunnel three feet wide
and six feet high, in which could be
accommodated an immense number Of
cables and wires. In the place of this
system, the city engineer has pro-
vided another scheme, which will cost
far less, and at the same time will
surmount the engineering obstacles
found in the original scheme. The
tunnel plan would interfere with the
gas piping system and that company
has the right of way.
The new system which the city en-
gineer will construct, will be composed
Of terra Gotta piping, and while not
as extensive, by far, as the origlna.
scheme, will still provide for an i'm
mense amount Of wiring, and will
have the merit of being cheaper. 1t is
believed the new system will remove
the last objection Of the howlers. City
Engineer Cappelen yesterday wired to
the East to secure bids for the ma
terial, and will Immediately COM
mence the work of construction.
The abandonment of the tunnel pro-
position also settles to a large ex-
tent the delay in paving the business
thoroughfares, and this morning both
asphalt companies will start crews Of
men at work laying concrete.
There will not be time enough in
which to consider the matter of the
conduits, on account Of the arrange
ment whereby the paving companies
have been allowed to proceed upon
one side of the thoroughfares. Mayor
Pratt stated that he might call a
special meeting of the council today
to consider the bond matter, in order
to push matters along. City Engineer
Cappelen has sufficient funds on hand
to carry him along until the money
from the proposed bond sale can be
realized, at which time the city comp
troller can reimburse the engineer S
fund.
The question of immediate relief
from the present condition of the
streets is not the only thing which is
worrying the business men of the city.
The problem of uncompleted pavement
at the time Of the fall carnival and
encampment is what is worrying the
merchants at the present time. Dozens
OF the business men have been asked
to subscribe literally to the carnival
fund, but there is no announcement
In doing so in the face of present con-
ditions. meeting of many citizens
was held late yesterday afternoon with
w. l.. Harris at the New England, and
some heated remarks were INDUCED in.
There were present among others: S.
Z. Olson, Jacob Barge, J. r. Gordon,
j. r. Hoff1in, c.. S. Bracket. Messrs.
Bintliff and many others. Aid Alex
ander and Drew were also present
The gentlemen were unanimously OF
the opinion that unless the work was
commenced Immediately in order that
the streets could be completed before
the carnival, there was no use in put
ting up .ot of money to construct
costly floats, and in defraying the ex-
penses of the carnival and encamp-
ment. The present delay was talked
over, and on the whole the situation
looked very discouraging until City
Engineer Cappelen dropped in and
shed few sunbeams. The city engin-
Ger announced that he had turned over
a portion of Sixth street to the paving
companies, and that in all probability
he could turn over ree-fourths OF
Fifth street and portion of First ave
nue. south.