The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-28
HIS BOAST A BUBBLE
BOARD OF works PRESIDENT
MAKES AN uNFouNDED CLAIM.
Cost of the Sewer I'm Capitol Avenue
North os Fafi Creek-New Fire
Plugs.

The monthly meeting Of the Mayors cab
met was held yesterday afternoon There
was little 10 come before the meeting ex-
cept routine matters. During the discussion
or the report Of the Board of Works Colonel
Downing. Of the board, took occasion TO
comment on the letting of the contract for
the sewer in Capitol avenue from
Fail creek to rTwenty-sxth street. He
said, and with much pride. too that
1t would be seen from the records
that the new beard had acted wisely in re-
scinding the action of the old board in receiv-
ing bids for this sewer. He then gave the
figures of the BIDS as submitted 10 the two
boards The bids received last fall were over
$ a foot while the contract was recently let
at s3.l0 foot. This difference of 81 foot
Mr.. Downing willingly accepted as showing
the great difference in the business capacity
OF the two boards, bat did not go into any
other explanation Ia show why the differ
ence was there. Later. when a Journal re-
porter asked City Engineer Jeup about the
matter, he said: 'ifi
You may say on my authority that there
is absolutely no difference in the bids, except
that made by thes difference in the work re-
quired under the two sets of specifications.
The price of 50 foot for the sewer under the
old specification -was-ile higher In proportion
than the price of 1910 under the new specii-
cations" .roki-
He then explained the difference The old
specifications called for a sewer four feet
two inches by six feet three inches at the
large end and twosfeet eight inches by four
feet at the small end, while the new specf-
cations call for sewer only three feet four
inches by five feetsat the large end, narrow
ing down to fifteen-inch pipe sewer at the
small end This difference in the size of the
sewer is occasioned by change in the plan
of the drainage system of that part of the
city. 1t was first decided to make the Capt.
tcl-ayenue sewer the main sewer for all tha:
district of the city lying north of Twenty
II would be better TO, make the main sewer
In Senate avenue, as that would more nearly
follow the line of the natural drainage OF
tnat section THUS Il viii be necessary 10
build a sewer of--the size contemplated in
the old resolution, for which the district
will have to pay, 81
1t was also stated by Mr. Downing that
in the change of the specifications the new
sewer had been made main sewer, thus dis
trbuting the cost over mere territory, while
against the owners OF Capitol-avenue prop
erty. According to Mr.. Jeup this statement
was also very misleading He says the as
sessment for the new sewer viii include only
Capitol avenue and Kenwood avenue, while
the assessment under the old specifications
would have included as much or more terri
tory.
There was a discussion of the additions to
the fire department. 1t was the opinion of all
those present thar the other new fire engine
to be bought should be as large as the one
recently received, and should be placed in
downtown house, and not go into the resi-
dence portion of the city. except in cases of
emergency. This seemed to be the opinion OF
Mr.. Mcguire, the only member of the Board
or Safety present.iclae -
All who saw-sFhe recent test of the new
fire plug with three hose attachments and
engine connection were highly pleased with
| the plug. and think 1t SHOWS the falsty of
the report recently made by expert Griswod
at the request cf the insurance companies.
| He maintained that fire plug al a dead
end of water main is almost worthless,
and that water. could not be forced through
| the pipes in sufficient quantity. The test OF
| the plug disproves that statement. The plug
i is located at a dead end Of a six-incn main
| and the water being drawn from it equal
| to the full capacity, rQfs a six-inch main. yet
the three direct streams and two engine
+ these plugs have been ordered.