The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-28
He RIDES A WHEEL HIMSELF
BUILT IN CERTAIN AWE
NUES.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT IN 'oo.
Rec Omm en- atiOns for Extensions in
Bridge, Sewer and Street
Work

eineer's department for 1896. submit
ted yesterday, with recommendations
for future work, was submitted to the
board of public works. The salient
feature of the report are embodied in
carefully prepared tables, twenty
five type written pages being needed
to disclose the workings of City En-
gineer Rundlett's department.
Some of the recommendations of the
engineer will meet enthusiastic well
come. Mr.. Rundlett is a friend of the
wheelmen, and the chapter on cycle
paths will be read by them with in
terest.
For the taxpayers Mr.. Rundlett
shows that he saved nearly $4,000 of the
appropriation of his department, which
was $4,000. Inspection work for the
department amounted to $5146.2S. while
there was $1,000 allowed.
The total amount of expenditure au-
thorized by the department was 1884,
056.39, of which $685. S45.34 were estl-
mates on contract work. Contracts
were awarded during the year to the
! number of seventy-six, Of which seven
| teen were for street sweeping, ten for
sewers, nine paving, eight water de-
partment, eight sprinkling, five grad
| ing. five curbing, four bridge painting
and repairs, two sidewalks, one paving
repairs. one lumber. Six contracts
were brought over from 1895.
Estimates have been made for pro-
posed improvements not yet under con-
tract for paving. $1SS,9S5; sewers. $685.
900; grading, $4,S1O; bridges, $27O, 900:
improving, $3.50; making total or
$40, 945.
A little more than two miles Of
streets were paved during the year,
and of this all but 1920 feet was
! asphalt. Five of the streets thus i'm
/ proved were occupied by street car
/ tracks and the street car company
paid for the space between the tracks.
! The average price per yard for this
work was $2.46. Seven Corners plat
was paved with granite at a cost Of
Daytorf avenue and Sixth street hill
paved with adstone at d cost of $1.76
per square yard. Fifth street hill from
Wabasha to Cedar with brick at $2.15
per square yard. Tenth from Cedar
| to WabaSha with cedar at a cost Of
IS cents per square yard.
Recommendations for paving to be
done during the present year are made
as follows:
Third street from Sibley to Wacouta
Sixth street from Sibley to Broadway. Min
nesota from Third to Eighth. Broadway from
railroad tracks to Grove street. Cedar from
Third to Eighth. Eighth from Jackson to
Wabasha. Laurel avenue from Western to
Dale. Ashland from Western avenue to
Dale. Seventh from Bradley TO Hope. Hill
from Third to Washing ton. Washington from
! Hill to Eagle. Chestnut from Seventh to
| .Levee. go. .> :.
Sewer. construction Jagged last year,
but 1.59 miles being built. The cost
! was $10973.S5. This gives a total mile
/ age of sewers in the city of 1857, cost
! ing 1884 ,012. II. Plans and estimates
for sewer work for the year are for
outlying streets, and the cost $50, 942.
| But BIG sewer connections were made
! during the year and the total of house
drains now in operation is 1916. The
receipts from fees for making the new
connections Slightly exceeded the office
expenses. of inspection and plating.
| The actual cost of laying the new
drains was $1,000. ,-a.. ~ 49,,
Bridge work is an Interesting feature
of the engineers report He says the
! Como avenue bridge over the Great
| Northern tracks has been completed
It is steel structure, of three spans,
308 feet long. It cost complete $780,
| O4776. Plans have been made for
bridge on Summit avenue over the
| Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul tracks,
| to cost $2S,5OO; on Raymond avenue
| over the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific tracks, to cost $57, 000 Bridge
repairs cost: Seventh street, $7,56956
Arcade street, $1,2S0.73; Forest street.
$3.50; Western avenue, $207.26; Third
street. $1,629 29;@ Sixth street, sits. rs;
cleaning and painting other bridges,
| 81, 753. recommendations for new
bridges, repairs and rebuilding during
the coming year reach the tidy sum
Of $118,050. ..- ...-.-
10 ~ lot
miles of cement and wooden sidewalks
during the year-less than half of what
should have been done, according to
the engineer. Less than three miles
of wooden walk was laid in new terri
tory. Much work of this total, both
cement and wood, was done by private
interests. The, total cost tc the city in
repairs alone was $16,069 80, of which
$9,350.S7 was for labor Two men in
single rigs are Kept busy the year
round In each city district looking for
breaks, yet, the engineer says, the city
is obliged to pay annually $4,000 for
personal damage suits on account Of
defective walks, and will continue to
do so until more permanent sidewalks
are constructed and more attention is
given to the necessary renewals, or
some legislation passed whereby prop
erty owners can be compelled to keep
their sidewalks in repair.
j. 1t cost the city $31, 94491 to hava
! 1908 miles Of streets sprinkled from
| May 1 to Nov. l. Of this amount $15,375
went to the water department.
When 1t comes to cycle paths, Mr..
Rundlett shows he Is sin line" He
| says: 1---.
During the past year for the first time
| recognition has been given to the necessity
| for making some provision for bicycle travel
| The sidewalk is not the proper place for
| such travel, ana as a rule ordinary drive
ways, except upon paved streets, are not
constructed of proper material to be in suit
able condition for bicycle travel except under
favorable conditions of weather. 1t is esti-
mated there are from Il, coo to Is, OOG BICYCLES
in use in this city and 1t seems proper that
| some provision should be made on well de-
fined lines Of travel to provide space for
| wheelmen."
Mr.. Rundlett continues with a review
of what has been done in the city and
county in favor of bicycle riders. men
tioning the roads constructed by sub
scriptions from the riders. and con-
cludes this section with the following
recommendation:
81 would therefore recommend that an ap-
! preparation be made each year for the con-
| struction Of bicycle paths along the lines OF
principal travel and would particularly suggest
! that bicycle paths be constructed through the
| boulevards on Summit avenue from Lexing-
| ton avenue to Smelling avenue, as thousands
| OF people In pleasant weather daily pass over
| this road. I would also recommend that
| bicycle path be built on Lexington avenue
| from Summit avenue to Como park as being
| OF the most convenient avenues of approach
| to the park. Also, that bicycle Path be con-
| structed on Langford avenue from. Como park
| to Smelling avenue.
"The wheelmen of St Paul last year raised
| $1,000 for the construction Of these paths
| and l have no doubt that an equal or per
| haps a larger amount can be raised this
year in connection with the appropriations tc