The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-07-11
The SOurn STREET PAVING.

Al tue ldSJ meeIng OF tue CITY
council contract for the paving OF
South street was let at SITS per
square yard. This does not include
CURLING. which will be about so cents
per front foot. Some dissatisfaction
is manifested at the price. On this
subject it will be found by examina-
tion that the prices paid by other
towns have varied considerably. The
two chief elements in the variation
are freight rates and contract specif-
cations. 1t will be found upon exam
i%natiOn that at Moberly, Mexico,
Macon and and other towns where a
good quality Of paving brick is made,
the cost Of paving is lower than at
towns far removed from the source Of
this material. And then as to the
matter OF contract specifications, it
would be hard to find two towns
where substantially the same specid-
cations were used. Nevada is now
paving several streets with brick
made at PittSburg, Kansas, near by,
price sl.40 per square yard. The
contract calls for grading, rolling the
dirt grade a certain number OF times
with a roller of a certain weight,
then paving with vitrifed brick laid
fiat, then rolling, then a two inch
cushion of sand, then vitri6ed brick
laid on edge, not groute2.
Independence is now laying two
streets at 81, 65 per square yard, The
brick is to come from Pittsburg, Kan
Sas. The contract calls for grading
street mot previously macadamized),
a four inch cement base, a three inch
cushion of sand, paving brick on edge,
grouted
Warrensburg is now paving several
blocks with brick made in Kansas
City, price 81 so per square yard.
Contract calls for grading OF street
(not previously macadamlzed), a four
inch concrete base, a two inch cushion
of sand, paving brick on edge, not
grouted. So it seems that to inquire
the cost of street paving is like
inquirlng the cost Of building a house.
1t depends very largely upon the
character Of the house and Of the
materials used.
A very sensible plan, and one pur-
sued by the people Of Warrensburg,
is for a citizens committee to inves-
tlgate the contracts of other towns
and all the elements that enter into
them and report upon average con-
tract specifications and price. Taking
this report as a basis the people could
protest against any proposed paving
conditioned upon the bids going above
the price set. Probably better bids
may be had in this may. Certainly
it is better than charges and recrimi
nations between citizens and council.
AS to the South street contract, it
may be high or it may be low accord
ing to specifications. The price is
IL cents less than Richmond paid
last year. The contract calls for re-
moving macadam, grading, six
inch concrete base, brick on edge,
not grouted. The concrete base
is two inches thicker than those
Of Independence or warrenSburg.
To a man who has a lot of fifty feet
front the difference In cost between
and $I.7S per square yard is
SO 10. The really important question
is whether the people in the residence
of Lexington want so costly a
street as brick at all. This they have
decided in the affirmative, whether
Dr. unwisely remains to be seen
1t is that If they are to have ,
brick streets they should see to it that :
t is the best, for poor brick paving is ,
very costly indeed. r