The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-24
NO NEW Walks.
Council Decides to Abandon
Proposed Construction.

There win be no new sidewalks laid
in Topeka this year. according to pres
ent indications
Already the council has by resolution
abandoned the construction of all new
sidewalks in North Topeka, and at the
council meeting July 2. it is likely that
ali the proposed sidewalk work on this
side Of the river viii be cut out
This could not be done without the
consent of Michael Wall the contractor
who secured the work by competitive
bidding. Wall says he is willing to sur
render his contract and call off all pro-
ceedings. If the city desires to do So
on the other hand. MT Wall is also
willing TO so ahead with the work. He
Is a very Ohligiug contractor.
Because ot the fact that the grading
for new sidewalks is all done al the
expense Of the city at large it viii save
the city "a good deal of money to omit
building sidewalks this year The street
commissioner says that nearly all of the
sidewalks included i'm this years lot are
entirely new work. neCessltdt1ng new
grading The street commissioner must,
under the law hire the men to do this
grading. and the men are paid out OF
the general Improvement fund
~ IS not likely that this action Will
he AIKEN by the city without some pro-
TEST on the part of property owners who
want sidewalks. ard who would nave
AHIf MHAI next year 10 EtL Alltlli-
Some or those who have petiDOned for
sidewalks iu Orchard Place and the
southwest part of town which has been
building up rapidly. are already regis
terinr their protests against any delay
Nl the proposed Improvement. These
people might even go so far as to man
damus the city TO compel IL to carry
out the contract which it has entered
into for the construction of the side
walks This would raise the interesting
question of whether third party could
compel two contracting parties to carry
CUT an agreement which both Of the
contracting parties are willing to
ahrogate.
AIr Wall is not entirely unselhsh in his
offer u throw mp his sidewalk contract u
the city desires He has found that h'
won't make much money at it, and W0ulC
probably come out in the hole on tbs
work te took the work after very sharI
bidding at very low figure, his rate ne
ing s $40 cents per foot for sidewalks ovel
sidewalks Jess than six feet wide. III
make matters worse Tor him the sane
dealers have raised the price Of sand
which he VIII have to pay. 70 cents per 10
since he took the contract So. MIR Wal
fgures that his chance of making a prof
iu the job isn't worth having
Three or four miles of sidewalks wer
Included In This wears contracts This il
not considered a large yearly grist, and th
amount Of money involved is probably no
PAVEMENT WILL HAVE TO STAND
II the city council could get ont of it
paving contracts for this year it woul'
20 doubt do So Some of the councilmel
nave been trying 10 NIX up deal VIII
some Of the paving contractors to post
roue their work until next year. but l
satisfactory compromise mas Yet peel
made some Of the contractors seem to b.
rot unwilling TO let their work go for thi
year, but most Of them say that the thinl
has now gone too far to stop. Their bricl
IS ordered and some of it is On the ground
Grading on several streets IS completed
and contracts are let for sand.
IL the council could get ont of its pay
ing contracts as it can out of its sdewal
.'H increase
about a mill In the tax levy, which wi
have to hc made to meet the city's shar
OF the paving bonds
ON the other hand there are many VIII
claim that just now is the time when th
city should do all the public work possible
ao that work will be plenty and the Mort
Topeka people who have suffered from th
flood viii he able to earn good wages III
I'll next winter.