The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-29
FAXED Up A PETITION
PROPERTY OWNER SAYS UNFAIR
METHODS WE'RE USED TOFA-
VOR BRICK PAVING
HIS OWN NAME FOR EXAMPLE

at Profit for 10000, While
Fielding 81 ShepIey Bid $50, 900.
Recent developments go to show that
considerable injustice is being done the
property owners on Rice street, in con-
nection with the proposed paving con-
tract.
Yesterday a reporter for the G o b g
saw number Of them, and, without ex-
ception, all were disposed to freely admit
that they much preferred asphalt paving,
especially from University to College ave-
nue., to vitrifed brick. Although the con-
tract has not yet been technically let to
any one, it is understood that Fielding &
Shepley are to be given it at an early
day. Practically they were the only bid
bers, and thereby hangs a narrative,
which, if freely investigated, might de-
velop picturesque features in the line Of
municipal government "as she is govern
ed"
Mr.. c. F. Arrol, of 299 Rice street,
said:
You may quote me as saying that
consider the amount of the contract,
which IS undoubtedly to be let to Fielding
& Shepley, $SO,00O as fully $4,000 too high.
This is for brick pavement the entire
distance contemplated. and I believe the
paving with such material can be done
for considerably less"
Mr.. Julius Bjornstad, of S19-S25 Rice
street, said that more than one-half the
property owners between University and
College avenues were at one time favor
able to asphalt paving and had signed a
petition to that effect. This did not in
clude quite a number Of nonresident
property owners. Many Of these I'M
doubleday would have signed for asphalt
had they been in the city Mr.. Btornstad
SAID that, so far as he was concerned, he
was in no particular hurry to have the
pavement laid, but when 1t was laid he
wanted the most desirable and the most
economical. He believed that kind to be
asphalt. The difference in price would
be only 81 front foot, although men,
bers Of the board of public works claimed
there would be difference of $780, This
was impossible Then Mr. Biornstad
took his rule, and, going out into the
street, measured the distance from the
outer street car line to the curb 1t was
Twelve feet. This would COMPRISE one
and one-third yards The estimated cost
OF brick is placed at 81 a front foot: that
OF asphalt S.. The measurement was
N''"o III front OF MS building on Rice
street. but street car tracks traverse
put portion Of that end, Of Rice
street, and at the rate Of S. a front foot
extending to the middle Of the street. the
cost IN front of Mr.. Bjornstad.s proDertv
would De much less figured by the SQUARE
9aru' front foot there making only one
and one-third yards. The asphalt CON
tractors, Mr. Bjornstad said, would agree
~ rep 20 the street In repair for ten years,
anu ~ per cent OF the contract price was
WlthheId by the board of public works "a
a guarantee for the fuIfilIment of tbe CON
tract '--o O'1'-
another gentleman who was seen
rice street property owner, was quite
ehphatlo In his opposition to the nro-
posed $4,000 contract with Fielding q.
SbepIey ip4i--e "
This street paving contract business,
he SAID, oates back quite a while. II
was the principal cause of City Engineer
hundletts retirement. The board of pub
Tic works wanted, and did. put in CON
SIDERABLE rotten brick paving, and Mr..
Rundlett wouldn't stand for 1t. se-
cured the signatures of the owners Of
AfVO feet of property on Rice street for
asphalt paving between University and
Conege avenues. When 1 brought in
the names the board of public works
couldn't hear me. One Of the members
said that there was a big petition in for
prlck' asked to seq it, and when a
clerk brought it out there was nv own
name on the brick petition. L then and
there asked the members Of the board
II they considered 1t a fair deal to fake IN
a lot Of names for brick paving against
bona fide signatures of Rice street prop
erty owners. It Is undoubtedly +r11e
that Fielding & -Shepey are the only real
bidders on the brick paving contract.
Ihey We're few other straw bids put
H. out In my opinion there was no real
opposition. There was a MINNEAPOLIS
firm which made a bluff at putting in q
Did, but somehow these men mysterious
Iy dropped out at q critical time IT ia
true also that number of the signers
Of the asphalt petition We're induced to
withdraw their names by the threat that
If they did not do so they would have
no pavement whatever for a number of
years. This accounts for certain dupi-
cation Of names on both asphalt and
brick petitions"
Thls statement was corroborated by
Mr.. Bjornstad, who said that ex-Mayor
Wright had signed the asphalt petition,
and subsequently the one for brick, on
being told that there was danger of los
ing all chance Of a pavement of any kind
for several years.
1t IS understood that paving brick can
be purchased in Galesburg, Ill, for 50
q thousand. When laid down in ST. Paul
it Is claimed they foot up $22 a thousand.
But there is one element in st. Paul brick
paving which is greatly to the advantage
Of the contractor. This Is sand In Min
neapolis and other cities it is necessary
first to purchase sand and then haul 1t
into town. In st. Paul sand can be had
free for the hauling Of 1t. It comprises,
in other cities, about one-third of the
cost Of the pavement. Therefore in St.
Paul the price of brick paving, instead
of being higher, should be lower But it
appears that It is not, and that Mr. Ar
rolls estimate of $4,000 for the Rice
street paving IS much nearer than the
5000 which 1t is proposed to give Field
ing & Shepley for work that is not real
ly wanted by a majority of Rice street
property owners.
There are a number of householders
between. University and Front street
who are just as DESTROYS to have asphalt
paving instead Of brick as they are be-
tween College and University avenues.
Those who were seen yesterday said that
they were convinced that asphalt was
much the more economical of the two
They unite in saying that the board of
public works is treating them in a high
handed manner, and they would like to
be informed why they do it.
MAKE NO MISTAKE SMOKE