The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-14
ONLY THREE LAID.
What the Paving Contractors
Have Done.

In four months time. the paving con-
tractors Of Topeka have laid 81 blocks
of brick paving, out of 2S15 blocks con-
tracted for. 1t seems almost incompre-
hensible how so little has been accom-
plished since April 20, when the con-
tracts were let. Never in the history of
the city has the work been so behind
time
Ramsey & Ramsey. the anti-combine
hrm which got the largest portion of
the contracts. have completed one block,
on Tyler. between Second and Third.
They have the contracts for 10 blocks
Wall & Hanley have completed one
block on Madison, between Second and
Third. They have contracts for IL
blocks
John Ritchie has completed IL blocks
on Topeka avenue, between Huntington
and Douthitt streets. He has the con-
tracts for So blocks. but they are extra
broad streets.
If the contractors expect to finish,
they will have to lay the remaining 81
blocks in about two months.
1t is noticeable fact that Ramsey &
Ramsey have so far been able to make
as good progress as have the contractors
who are in the paving combine. Every
body has been delayed by the wet
weather. The flood made it impossible
to get any sand for about a month,
and this tied up all work. The flood
also damaged the plants of the Capital
DA1Ch CUIHpdDy ana TIE
company and they got behind in their
orders. So far this month, it has been
impossible for the contractors to do
anything because of the continued rains.
Ramsey's great difficulty is TO get
brick The managers of the old Black
man plant expect to be able to turn out
$4,000 brick a day from now on, and
this will just about keep Ramsey &
Ramsey going. To give some idea of
the number of brick required for paw
ir,~r ,serl1& -t- 41d for he
blocks which Ramsey & Ramsey will
lay on Harrison street they will use
about 800, 900 brick.
From now on, if the weather is good,
the Capital City Brick company will be
able to deliver brick very rapidly to
Wall & Hanley and John Richie. The
brick for Western avenue, two blocks,
and Van Buren, street, three blocks, are
nearly all on the ground ready for use
This is a Wall & Hanley contract. The
brick for Kansas avenue. John
Ritchie contract, are now being deliv-
cred.
Ramsey-& Ramsey are short on brick.
They have some on Harrison street. bur
had to take some away to finish up their
one block on Tyler street Unless Ram
sey & Ramsey can get in more brick
from the BIackman kilns very soon.
they will run out. and have to stop
work
James Ramsey said this morning:
! THE great trouble is to get brick to
town from the Blackman plant The
Rock Island will not run cars out on our
spur because the track is so soft they
are afraid Besides, they have about all
the business they can do. and are not
hunting for short hauls- Still, we hope
to be able to get brick in rapidly from
now on. if it does not rain. and we be
lieve that we may be able to complete
two-thirds of our contracts before cold
weather sets in
]. H. Maxwell, the contractor who has
all the grading for pavement to do this
of Western avenue. Harrison and Van
Buren, streets. Western avenue IS Wall
& Hanley paving contract, and the other