The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-06
MUST ASPHALT COR

One OF the prides of Topeka is its
miles Of asphalt pavement. 1t Is one
of the things which visitors to the city
are first to comment upon. 1t distin-
guishes Topeka from scores OF otnef
cities of equal size. AS q pavement It
has advantages which no other material
can ever equal
Serious question Is now being raised,
however. as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF doing
away with the asphalt. and substituting
for it the more commonplace vitrified
brick. 1t would be one OF the most
radical changes which has ever occurred
in the history OF Topeka's street Inn
proyement 1t would cost an immense
sum of money. 1t would be move
which to say the least is questionable.
and would merit much serious study
and investigation
There are many grave objections TO
asphalt pavement, and the chief one il
no doubt the fact that the asphalt conn
panies of the country, excepting possibly
the natural rock asphalt companies. are
parties to an IRON bound trust which has
the asphalt supply completely within its
grip. To all intents and purposes. To-
peka is at the mercy of the trust. for
it is claimed that such pavement as we
have can not be repaired by companies
outside of the trust. Being bound hand
and foot to this trust. Topeka is obliged
to pay exorbitant prices for asphalt re-
pairs. and regardless of bonds and con-
tracts, is apparently unable to hold the
trust to it's agreements.
Moreover, 1t is patent that the asphalt
pavements in Topeka are getting old
and beginning to wear out. The repair
bill is increasing from year to year.
How long can the city stand this heavy
drain on its general funds, which is get
ting larger as the pavements get older?
Even today the asphalt on many blocks
is in deplorable condition. and it would
require the expenditure Of thousands of
dollars to restore them to anything like
good condition.
It Is only natural that property own
ers on asphalt paved streets should fight
hard against repaving those streets with
vitrified brick. They have only recently
finished paying the tremendous cost of
the asphalt pavement 1t looks like in
justice to now saddle upon them another
burden in the shape of a requirement
tax. The law on this point, however,
attorneys say is quite plain. If the
streets are to be repaved with brick, it
is the property holders on the street
who must pay for it, not the city at
large.
Possibly some arrangements can be
made by which the city at large can de-
vote several thousand dollars a year,
which otherwise would be used in re-
pairing the asphalt, in assisting, block
by block, the property holders to replace
| the asphalt with brick. The work OF
changing could be carried on gradually.
repaving those blocks first which are
most in need of repairs. In the course
! of ten years the change could probably
| be accomplished. Meantime temporary
| repairs with pulverized stone could be
made on the worst places in the asphalt
| streets.
Topeka would regret to lose it's pre-
| eminence in the aristocracy of asphalt,
| but if asphalt does not fill the bill, II
| must go-and unless constant repairs
are made. it will go very fast from now
on. It should be saved If possible.