The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-08
Hope of Compromise With Bar
Der Company Vanishes.
Engineer McCabe Says Concern
Owes City $5, 900.
HE SUBMITS A REPORT.
hOws i'm Detail the Work Left
Undone.
Outcome Will Probably Be Suit
Against BOndsmen.

Because of poor work and failure to
complete its contract, the Barber
Asphalt Paving company owes the city
of Topeka s5,095.43. This is the esti-
mate of the city engineer, made from
actual measurements.
Worthless material was used in MAX
ing large proportion of the repairs
which have been made during the last
fall and winter. 1t will require $1,070.7S
simply to make good. the defective work
done less than six weeks ago. Great
strips of asphalt which were resurfaced
a few weeks ago are crumbling to dust
The Barber company claims that this
is due to burned asphalt" Others be-
lieve 1t is because old asphalt, taken
from the streets, was melted up and
used again.
In addition to making good its poor
work. the Barber company will have to
do 81, 024 65 worth of work designated py
the city engineer and agreed to by e. b.
Demarest, Kansas City representative
of the Barber company, which has as
yet not been commenced.
All talk of compromise with the Bar
Der company is at an end. The city
council will without doubt demand that
the Barber company do every inch OF
talking of the ACCESSIBILITY of compTo-
it's contract.
The measurements of the city engi-
neer were made some days ago, at the
order of the committee on streets and
walks, which at that time was seriously
talking of the advisablity of compro-
missing with the Barber Asphalt COM
pany. This report of the city engineer
has not yet been made public, but most
of the members of the council nave peen
privately acquainted. with the astonish-
ing figures which it gives. 1t puts a
most effective quietus on all talk OF
compromise with the Barber company
The report of Mr.. McCabe, as given
out by one of the city officials, is as fol-
lows:
Places repaired during fall and win
ter of 1901 but now in bad condition,
due to the use of rotten aspnait- "a
S.S square yards, holes, at $15O-$ 6.4o
14201 square yards resurfaeing, ~
at rs cents. ...-...---....--.' 1'ooo-oo
PAGES Pace marked for repair but not yet
touched:
1855 square yards, holes. at. 1000
1850 So square yards resurfacing,
at 75 cents. ......-...-........ S'5si.f9
Grand total for all work yet
The rates of $3.50 per square yard for
repairing holes, where the asphalt mas
to be cut down to the concrete, and OF
rs cents for resurfacing, SGe the rates
which the city has been obliged to pay
for all this kind of work it has mad
done on the piece system LII may De
stated with confidence that Mr.. Nc
Cabe's estimate on the probable COST
of making the repairs which he ordered
and which the Barber company agreed
to make, is not too high.
Very few people have suspected the
true status of the case as 1T exists be-
tween the Barber company and the city
of Topeka. The Barber company has
given out the impression that its work
hi q
days, and has attempted to get the
council to pay it the $1,500 yet due 1T on
the contract, in view of the fact that 1t
would complete it's work In so snort a
time. 1t now appears that to complete
its work in Topeka, according to its
contract with the city, it must do over
IS 600 worth of work, which cannot be
CON p1eted inside of several months.
This gives color to the rurnor winch
has been current among the city ofn-
Gals that the Barber company would De
willing to go to almost any extreme TO
secure through the city council com
promise with the city, on the basis of
a partial payment to the company OF
the 81 500 still due on the contract. AS
the company owes the city $4,000 worth
of work and the city owes the company
81 500 in money, it is evident that the
company could afford to make what
would appear to be liberal terms to the
city council.
Now. however, that the members of
the council are acquainted with the
fact that the Barber company is $5,e0O
in arrears with it's work, there viii be
no further talk of compromise. The
Barber company will either have to do
the work or else stand suit against
its bondsmen The city has a $4,000
bond to protect it
City Engineer McCabe's report is a
detailed statement of every piece OF
damaged pavement in town which was
marked for repair by himself and Mr..
Demarest 1t was definitely agreed by
Mr.. Demarest that these repairs should
be made by the company.