The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-07

small amount OF money available; second
failure or delays in determining the kind
of material to be used, and last of all, the
courts
The following is Il statement of the cost
of the various improvements, bills for
which have been approved by councils;
sewers .......'.s....'''..'......' '....SBli5 %
PavementS ............................ 6,l2O IA
Culverts ...............,..........., 63S 20
Pipe drains .......................... 80 90
Grading NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 16j 80
Improvements at east corner of
Wyoming avenue and Spruce
street t.....,....,................ oSi Is
Iotai .'.'...'.....,....'..'...''' ''''SZ4o'' %
CONDUIT WORK.
Extension to the conduit system made
by the Central Pennsylvania Telephone
and Supply company aggregated $40
lineal feet of conduit containing 1885
lineal feet of ducts. Making grand to-
tai to date of 9,572.2 lineal feet of con-
duit, containing 06051 lineal feet of ducts.
This work was done under the supervis-
ion of this department as required by or
dinance of councils and was very salts
factory. every effort being made by the
company 10 cause as little inconvenience
to the public as possible
The usual amount of time and labor
were taken up in giving lines and grades
IOT the ldylUS Ol SlutWdlhS, CulDs -,
etc, done by property owners under pri-
vate contract. In this connection would
respectfully suggest to councils and prop
erty owners that hereafter no curb be
set until the streets are paved. A good
cobble gutter would be far better protec-
tion to sidewalks and roadways than
curb, and would cost only about one e-ha.f.
Much OF the curb set on Mulberry and
other streets last summer is out of line
and when paved Of not before) will have
to be reset. If cobbe cutters had been
constructed they would have prevented
much of the waShout in the roadway.
This dirt, etc. is washed into the street
basins and sewers and causes much eX-
pense in cleaning. flushing and sometimes
damages. l would earnestly recommend
wherever sewers have been constructed
that the property owners be compelled to
pave the cutters, If no sidewalks were
even laid.
PIPE DRAINS.
One of the best improvements ever~con-
tructed in the city considering the cost,
was the construction of the pipe drain
and receiver on Carbon street, under the
Lackawanna Iron and Steel company'S
railroad bridge. Estimates had been made
for a pipe drain from the above point to
the Lackawanna river, at a cost OF about
s900 At my suggestion the feasibility of
constructing a pipe line under the abut-
pany's railroad and connecting with the
Fourth district main sewer Ga distance Of
about S5 feeO was considered. After con-
sultation with the Company's officials, who
agreed TO the Improvement, providing
the city engineer would have charge, you
decided on the Improvement and made
an appropriation for the same. Work
was commenced Immediately after tho
Fourth of July and was completed inside
of three weeks at a cost of 1910. 1t has
worked perfectly and to the satisfaction
of all concerned. No water has accumu-
lated at this point ever since to interfere
with the travelling public. either afoot
or in vehicles.
IMPROVED STREET CORNER.
An Improvement which the general pub
lie very much appreciate was the con-
struction of a street basin, the setting
of a l0-foot radius circular curb and the
elevation of the pave so as TO leave but
a three-inch step, on the east corner of
Wyoming avenue and Spruce street, in
place of the square corner and d twelve
inch step. 1 would recommend that all
the square corners through the business
portion Of the central city be improved,
as soon as possible, in the same way.
PAVEMENTS.
The number of miles OF paved streets
in the city Calculated at an average
width of thirty-four (3D feet, except the
cobble stone or bouldor) is as follows:
Sheet asphalt ...l2.3lS miles
stone block ..................... L69o miles
Vitrifed brick .................... .92O miles
WyckoH OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .OlS miles
Cobble stone or boulder (va-
rious widths .................. 2.l65 miles
lotai ''''''''',''''.'' '..'''lhli' iilles
An increase of oaly .137 miles during the
year.
Only two small paving contracts were
executed during the year on which work
was commenced and completed, viz, one
block on Quincy avenue, between Pine
and Gibson streets, and Dix court, from
Linden street to the city hall, which was
paved with vitritied brick on "A six 90 inch
base of concrete. The contract for paw
ing Hyde Park avenue, with vitrified
brick on a gravel or broken stone base,
was executed so late in the season. |
deemed II best not to allow the con-
tractors to CO Cmn.ence operation and run
the risk of having the avenue torn up all
winter to annoy and Inconvenience the
public
Contracts have also been let as fol-
lows: To pave with vitrifed brick on a
concrete base, Dix court in rear of city
hail. For paving with sheet asphalt on
a concrete base, Forest and Breck courts
south of Spruce street. For paving East
Market street, from the Lackawanna
river TO the Boulevard, with vtrihed
brick on a concrete base Work on these
contracts will commence as soon as the
weather becomes favorable.
Ordinances have been passed and con-
tracts will soon be let for the paving of
Sanderson avenue, between Green Ridge
and East Market streets, and also for
Providence road and North Main avenue.
from Court street to the city line at Dick
son City. Both ordinances call for vitri-
fled brick on a concrete base
For some reason or other mot at my re-
quest or solicitation the repairs of the
asphalt pavements have been placed in
charge of the city engineer. While | will
not shirk any responsibility or duty placed
on my shoulders, which | believe | am
capable TO perform, / must say this is
not a very pleasant task to undertake
when consider the very general indig-
nation that prevails among the public on
account OF the disgraceful and danger
Gus condition OF our streets in the CEN
tral city. There is hardly a man living I'm
this city, should these conditions prevail
Nothing tnicrious In