The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-01
CLOSING THE CITY BOOKS
MORE IMPROVEMENTS THAN IN ANY
PREVIOUS YEARS.
Employment of Inspectors n Bother
some Problem to the
Officials.

All day yesterday city officials were busy
closing up the work of 1888. Members of
the Board Of Public Works spent the entire
day signing records and otherwise fixing
everything in shape for the closing year.
They expressed satisfaction at what had
been accomplished during the year, in
which more public improvements were un-
dertaken and carried out than ever before.
Notwithstanding the large amount of work
that was DONE the board enters upon the
new year with 106 petitions for new inn
provements carried over On these nothing
has been done, except that in some in
stances the engineer has been directed to
prepare papers for the work.
The board has found itself confronted
with a very serious problem in the matter
Of employing inspectors. At one time last
year there were sixty jobs of work in course
of construction. This, according to the
board, required the employment of large
number Of inspectors. There were some
cases where one inspector had to look after
two jobs. While not wishing to draw dis
credit upon conscientious contractors, the
board asserts that unless public improve
ments are watched the contractors win
shirk responsibility and avoid the specifica-
lions by putting on less cement, a thinner
surface of asphalt or a thinner foundation
of gravel and concrete, as the case may be.
A large part of the last year seventy inspec-
tors were kept busy. While not saying so
for publication, it is understood the board
realizes the difficulty of always getting ex-
perienced and conscientious men for the
work of inspecting improvements. This
one item alone, placing large expense on
the city, had much to do with delaying
other re hot
petitioned for While realizing the difficult
ty in this direction, practicable remedies
have not suggested themselves to the board.
Although it was the policy of the board the
last year to make as many Improvements
as possible, the board was handicapped by
lack of funds available for experimenting
the work. Even while insisting that con-
tractors shall do work entirely in accord
with the specifications under which their
contracts are let, there are many property
owners who object to the inspector system
and the expense it entails. What substi-
tute can you offer?' is the question the
board has to ask.
A member of the board said yesterday
that he felt the body had reason to feel
proud of the years accomplishment. Among
the important work done was the resurfac-
ing of Washington street, the completion
or lie Capltol-aVenue macadam roadway
ana the Improvement Of Morris street with
asphalt block, not to mention many North
side cross streets that were improved. Def
mite plans for next year have not been COM
pleted, so far as street improvements are
concerned, but the board has already de-
cided to improve the roadways of North
Delaware street, Ash street and Bellefon-
tame street. 1t is said that property own
ers on these streets are "clamoring'' to
have improvements made
one thing on which the Board of Works
admits a certain amount of lameness is the
street cleaning. Admittedly, in the opinion
of the board, the pneumatic or suction
sweepers are the best for improved streets,
but the trouble is there is a monopoly on
these machines and the controlling COM
pany will not sell them, and will only lease
at a price asserted to be prohibitory. In
this as other cities there is room for some
mechanical device that viii do work equal
to that of the pneumatic suction sWeepers.