The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-23
Members Agree to Allow City
Railway to Use Macadam.
No Paving of West Sixth Ave-
nue. Right of Way.
BLOCKS ARE USELESS.
So Much Decayed They Could
Not Be Used.
The Company Might Have Used
Brick.

Seven members of the city council
have signed an agreement to allow the
city railway company to repave its
right of way on West Sixth avenue with
macadam The seven members are
Weber, Tincher, Wolf. Sinner, Snyder,
Nellis and Swendson. and they consti-
tute a majority of the council
Acting under authority of this agree
ment, the city railway has gone to work
to pave it's long double track right OF
way on West Sixth with macadam. The
company, however. is not entirely sure
of it's ground. 1t will not sell off the
old cedar blocks until the council form
ally ratifies the action of the seven
members.
There is some doubt whether the ma
jority of the council can grant the COM
pany permission to use macadam. The
franchise ordinance which cannot be
changed by any action of the council,
makes this provision:
Upon all streets on which the tracks
of the company have been or shall be
built and pavement laid, the company
shall have the right in reconstructing
and repairing its tracks or right of way,
to take up and replace such pavement
without further compensation TO the
city,
The intention is clearly that the old
pavement shall be replaced in a case
like that of West Sixth. But the old
cedar blocks on West Sixth are in such
bad shape that they can not be relaid
to make a smooth pavement Either
the city must put up with bad job of
repaving with cedar blocks, or it must
consent to some other form of repaVing
the West Sixth avenue Tablespoonful
ing it can consent. OF course the city
railway might pave with brick now as
it must do eventually.
1t is impossible to have a city council
meeting to talk the thing over, owing
to the absence of the mayor. the city
clerk and the president of the council.
The next best thing was a sort of in
formal meeting of the members of the
council. and this was called for Tues
day afternoon by Councilman Weber,
chairman of the streets and walks
committee 1t was at this informal
meeting that the above mentioned
agreement was drawn uD and signed
The agreement provides that the
company shall repave with macadam,
and that it shall file with the city clerk
a written contract and agreement to
replace this macadam whenever the
city shall decide to repave West Sixth,
with whatever material West Sixth
may be reoaved with. 1t is only a
question of a year or two when West
Sixth will have to be repaved And
whan it is reDaved. it is almost sure
that brick will be the material used 81
For this reason. Councilman Weber
thought it would be better for the COM
pany to pave its right of way with
brick, from outer rail to outer rail. Out
side of the outer rails, he was willing
for macadam to be used between the rail
and the old cedar blocks, because the
railway engineers said that the old
blocks would not do to lay brick against.
But this was not satisfactory to the
company. They were afraid if they
paved their right of way with brick, all
the West Sixth street vehicle traffic
would take to their tracks, instead of
They said the wagon loads of brick COM
ing in from the brick kilns would ruin
their right of way pavement in few
years, which would not be likely. As it
is the action of the council will have the
effect of aggravating an eye sore. -'-
So six members of the city council de-
cided to allow the company to use ma.
cadam, and Mr.. Weber also signed the
papers.
There has been a great demand for
the old cedar blocks which the company
has taken out of it's West Sixth avenue
tracks. People want them for kindling.
The company estimates that it will have
/ 1000 loads to sell, and it will probably
get 81 a load out of them. So far all
none of the blocks will be sold until the
company finds out whether the council
ratifieS the agreement of seven of it's
members. OF course it will-anything
the city railway wants from the council
it gets.
The only good which the iI-wind
blows is the prospect for a speedy re-
pavement of the entire length of West
Sixth avenue. at which time the city
railway will have to make it's track t.,
correspond with the rest of the street.
perhaps.