The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-22
New Bridges Will Be Delayed by
Mistake.
Plans Provide for Wrong Kind
of Structures.
MELAN is ALL RIGHT.
Provisions For Its Construction
Are Agreed Upon.
Question May Be Considered by
Council Tonight.

Owing to misunderstanding be-
tween City Attorney Spencer and City
Engineer McCabe as to the construc-
ton of the ordinance providing for the
Issuance of bridge bonds, three of the
Bridges. Chandler. Van Buren, and
Kansas avenue. all of them across the
shunganunga, will have to be redrawn
cn a different basis of cost and specifi-
cation City Engineer McCabe in
making the present plans Iabored I'M
der the impression that as long as the
sum total of the cost of the construc-
ton of the bridges remained within
the amount of the bond issue that it
would be all right and that the in
dividual bridges would not necessarily
have to be limited to any specific
amount
The bond issue provided for the new
north span to the Melan bridge, the
three bridges mentioned above and
two bridges in the Sixth ward, span
ming Wards creek.
The plans and specifications for the
Aelan bridge were instantly available
when it was decided to pass the ordi-
nance authorizing the bond issue, but
IN the other instances the city engineer
had only sufficient time to approx
mate the cost as a sum total and not
covering each individual bridge. On a
later examination of the plans the
Sixth ward bridges luckily came under
the maximum cost provided for in the
ordinance, but in the case of the Kan
saS avenue bridge over the Shunga-
nunga the estimate exceeded the limit
placedin the ordinance by about 81 900,
the other two bridges over the same
creek being made considerably below.
Inc committee on streets and walks
acted upon the estimates and plans of
the above bridges and had just about
completed their work when City At
torney Spencer came in and catching
the drift of things called an instant
halt He informed the gentlemen that
the ordinance provided, that in the
construction of each bridge, a certain
stated amount must not be exceeded.
Inc committee was forced TO reScfnd
the favorable action taken on the
chandler, Van Ruren and Kansas ave
nue. bridges The result of this will be
That the Kansas avenue bridge will
gave to be constructed upon tubular
piers instead of the concrete piers as
planned and in various other ways the
construction will have to be cheapened
while the Chandler and Van Buren,
street bridges will be the gamers, the
dluerence In cost having been taken
from them This will in all proba biIity
settle the little trouble over the width
OF the Van Buren, street bridge the citi-
zens Irving In that vicinity having pre-
Fiously balked at a IL foot bridge Suf-
nc1ent time does not exist between now
ana 1hursoay evening for the drawing
Mp OF new plans and specifications and
the matter will have to lie over until
NE January meeting of the council.
The streets and walks committee will
recommend to the council this evening
that legislation be secured looking to
the passage of a statute granting auth
or1ty TO the city to order in repavine-
and to charge the same up to the pro-
perty owners liable for the improve
ment- At present no statute governing
such an emergency exists and it has
been matter of discussion as to whett-
er the city or the property owner was
liable for the cost
The pavement at the south approach
or the Melan bridge has the repu-
tation of being the worst thing in its
way within the city limits The COM
nittee on streets and walks have rec
onmended that an estimate for repay
ing this section should be included in
the next years estima ties for paving
The reronstrance of the property
owners who objected to the placing of
paving on Clay street between First and
Second fell fiat. The remonstrance did
not have a sufficient number of signers
and as result of the representation
made last night by a number of the
residents of that section who were pres
ent at the committee meeting the petit
ton viii go through.