Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-01
BEGIN REPAIRS THIS WEEK
Unsightly Cuts in Asphalt Pavement Will
Be Abolished at Once.
CITY ENGINEER MAKES AN INVESTIGATION
Many of the Cuts Have Existed n Long
Time and the Repairs VIII
lie Pleasing to
WhceImcn.

Wheelmen and wheelwomen Of the city
will be especially gratifed to learn that the
abolition Of the unsightly cuts in asphalt
pavements which have been a source of an
noyance for years is close at hand. City
Engineer Rosewater has just completed q
thorough examination of the streets and has
had q list made which indicates every old cut
that remains in the pavements. Monday
morning he will issue an order to the Grant
Paving company to proceed at once to re-
store the pavements and the work will be
done in a few days.
These depressions in the paved streets have
been repeatedly complained of, but for some
reason they have continued to disfgure the
streets and interfere with the enjoyment Of
riders. In most cases they represent cuts
that have been made by the gas company TO
make connections with the mains and many
OF them have existed for one and in some
instances for two years.
When a cut is made in the street Ii Is
presumed that the pavement is to be restored
as soon as the desired connection has been
made. Every plumber is required to make a
deposit to cover the expense Of repairing the
pavement before the permit to open the street
is obtained. No deposit Is required from the
gas company, as the restoration of the pave
ment is provided for in its contract with the
city.
The principal reason why the cuts have
been allowed to remain has been the iacom-
pletc records in the office OF the Board Of
Public Works. The Office of permi, clerk
was abolished a couple CT years ago. ana
since then the secretary mas been expected
to take charge of the permit department in
addition to his other duties. He has been
unable to keep up the work in both depart.
ments, and in many caees there is no record
il the office to show whether the cut has
been repaired or not. City Engineer Rose,
water took the matter up several days ago,
but found 1t necessary to supplement the
record by a personal examination Of the
streets. He has now located every old cut
and from now on all openings in the pave
Inent will be filled Immediately after the
connection is made.
In speaking of the necessity for some re-
duction in the expenses of the street depart
ment, City Engineer Rosewater says that in
a couple of weeks more he will be able to
dispense with the entire street repair force,
with the exception of one small gang of
possibly half a dozen men. The reconstruc-
tica of Thirtieth street is completed, and the
men are now working on North Twenty,
fourth street, which will also be thoroughly
graded and drained. There are two or three
small jobs remaining in the northern part OF
the city, and then the streets will be In
better condition than they have ever been
for. years.
Mr.. says that considering the
amount of work that has been accomplished
very little money has been expended. More
actual work has been done in the past two
months than is usually accomplished in a
year.
This is the first time that a really effective
system of street repairs has been put into
operation. Heretofore a vast amount OF
money has been expended every year in re-
pairing washouts that became washouts again
every time it rained. This year the depart
ment aimed not only to repair the damage
4 htrt IN en- TanOnStrlnt tho Strantc ne RI $40
vent them from washing out in the future
All the thoroughfares which have given the
most trouble in previous years have been sc
graded and drained that the water Is carried
off before it can gather force enough to dc
any damage. From now on the cost of keep
ing them in good condition will be trifing, as
an occasional trip with the grader is about
all that will be required.