The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-07
MUCH OF IT is BAD
Engineer McCabe Investigates
the Asphalt Pavements.
Finds That Whole Blocks Are
Entirely Worthless.
CAN NOT BE FIXED.
Says That Patching Would
Prove Useless.
Barber Company to Fix Up the
"WOrst Holes.
CAN NOT BE FIXED.

City Engineer McCabe stated today
that in his opinion whole blocks of the
asphalt pavement in Topeka are worth
less, and beyond repair. He will not
attempt to save those portions of the
asphalt streets which have become too
soft to hold a patch.
This means that Topeka is face to
face with the great question of the fu-
ture OF its asphalt pavements. The
streets must be repaved, and it is only
a question now as to whether the peo-
pie prefer asphalt or brick.
Some of the worst strips of pavement
are on Quincy street. The block be-
tween Eighth and Ninth is full of holes
and is crumbling. The asphalt appears
to have disintegrated, and the city en-
gincer says that what remains is not
solid enough to serve as binder" for
new asphalt patch. To repair the
block means to repave it.
1T looks 10 me-" said Mr. McCabe,
las though the city would have to Sc
lect what streets il wants to preserve
as asphalt streets and devote tine
money which we use for asphalt re-
pairs to those streets. We can't afford
to keep all the asphalt streets in re-
pair, because we are now using all the
money which can be spared, and it is
not enough to properly attend to all
the streets in the city. We might be
able TO keep a few asphalt streets in
good repair, but some OF those we have
now are too far gone to patch up"
Mr.. McCabe has received word from
the Barber asphalt company that it's
men will be here ready to begin work
for the city in repairing asphalt within
a few days, probably the first of next
week Following up the line of policy
| which he has adopted, Mr.. McCabe will
have the repairs made on the streets
! %, ho CO. rad sI1a fv,a r,rf.a
| dition of the city is such that only the
worst holes will be fixed up. The city
can't afford to spend much on repairs,
and will not let its bill exceed $5, 600.
Last year the repair bill was about
$4,000. and only the worst holes We're
patched
Without the regular annual patching,
the asphalt pavements would go to ruin
very quickly. Consequently. if the work
of making repairs is stopped, it will only
be a short time until certain blocks
of the asphalt would be almost fmpassa-
( bic, and some sort of repaving would be
necessary The cost of repaving must
be borne by the property owners living
| on the streets to be repaVed.
1t will not cost nearly as much to re-
pave with brick as with asphalt One
course of brick on the concrete founda-
ton now in place could be laid for about
SO cents square yard, and proba bly,
even less. To repave with asphalt would
probably cost twice as much but To-
peka doesn't want to give up its beauti-
full paved asphalt streets.
The city engineer has not yet made a
thorough investigation of the condition
of the pavements. 1t will take a careful
inspection to find out just what pOr-
tiOns of the pavement are passed repair,
and which should be saved. 1t is likely
however. that Quincy street. from one
end to the other, is doomed to be re-
paved with brick sometime in the not
far distant future The fact that the
south end of the street is now paved
with brick and that the VinewoOd caI
tracks are paved with brick between
Fifth and Seventh forms a sort of enter
ing wedge for the brick pavement on
that street.
Kansas avenue will probably be pre-
served as an asphalt street, though il
is admitted by engineers that asphalt is
subject to heavy traffic. There are por-
tions of Kansas avenue pavement
which are in deplorable condition al
present. and which will have to bt
practically reDaved.
Harrison street is probably in ths
best condition of any asphalt paved
street. and will be patched at compare
lively small expense.
People who live on the streets Wher'
the pavement has passed beyond tn,
possibility of repair will no doubt mak'
a tremendous protest at being left ou
of the distribution of patches" but tn
time is certain to come when the cit!
will have to require that new paVemen
| be laid on these streets