The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-27

timber. The blocks were Of uniform width
and were. placed .diagonllly in the street
AT an angle or 10 degrees with the curb line
The joints were afterwlrd illlei nth as
phaltic cement grout. These wooden-block
streets constructed n lSs5 viii be >atisfac-
tory 10 property owners ioI many Years.
The paving material which mas gwen the
best satisfaction on residence >'ree:s has
been asphalt and wooden block. Both have
serious disadvantages. The uryieiding sur
face of the asphalt during the greater part
OF the year, the slippery suffice n winter.
the noise and the wavy surface after a few
years of wear and the cost of maintenance
are serious objections % asphalt pave
ments. as the spongy, absorbent under sur
face is the great source OF wear and cost of
maintenance of wooden-block =treets-
"A street which would re:aove the ch5ec-
tions of the asphalt and wooden-block
streets mentioned would certainly BE- an
ideal street. 1t is my opinion mat uch a
street could be built with a combination of
a six-inch concrete foundation. cushion
coat of one inch of sand. on which should
be laid four-inch wooden blocks OF the long-
leafed Southern pine thoroughly creosoted
and laid diagonally and close togetncr, with
an asphalt wearing surface. one-fourth inch
TO be renewed when worn out.
Similar improvements have given gatls-
faction in cities of California; but blocks
were dipped in asphalt instead of creosote
oil and the blocks were not laid diago1ally.
Such Davements cost for maintenance one
halr cent a square foot FOR reneWai OF
wearing surface once in two or three years
under ordinary traffic. | would
that an intersection of wooden-block street
be surfaced with one-fourth inch or as
phalt as an experiment.
GRAVEL AND CEMENT.
1.-The length of gravel streets constructed
during the year is 4.S6 miles. These streets
were not entirely satisfactory. owing TO the
difficulty of securing good gravel in this
city. The rolling OF gravel streets has been
an Improvement over former construction
of this class of streets, and. while some of
the streets do lot 1T present present a firm
surface, before the guarantee period mas
expired these streets, after having been ex-
posed to travel and by rerolling, will be
solid.
More cement sidewalks were constructed
IN 1896 than during any previous year. 1here
is no doubt that cement is the proper paw
ing material for sidewalks in this city. As
nearly all of the streets within the mile
square have been permanently improved, L
would recommend that the sidewalks,
where the same are in poor condition With
in this territory, be replaced by cement
year.
The length of the sewers completed in
1896 does not give an adequate idea OF the
amount of this class OF work done. The
two intercepting sewers, the White river
and the Pogue's run, begun in 1895, are still
IN course or construction and about five
| miles of these sewers have been completed
but could not be included in the table until
accepted by the city. The other sewers
constructed are branch, main and local un-
der the general sewage system.
AFTER the passage Of the 3neiided or
dinance early in October changing street
names, work was at once begun on pa, ting
UP the signs and about Two thousand street.
Name signs were placed m Position. The
plans for a system of REMEMBERING streets
have been prepared aid streets will he re-
numbered before April. $50.
The Central Union Telephone Company,
under the supervision ,: this department.,
constructed ass miles of conduits. and, with
the exception of a few trenches in alleys
for which brick could not he secured in
time to make repairs, ali streets noVe been
replaced in good condition