The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-01
M'CABE is READY.
Win Begin Taking Levels on
Kansas Avenue Monday.
Used to Furnish Estimates on
Resurfacing.
NOT ON ONE KIND.
win Include Bitulithic, Brick
and Asphalt.
Mayor Davis Still FavOrs City
Asphalt Plant.

Ahe city engineers force will take
levels on Kansas avenue commencing
Monday morning preparatory to return
sng estimates to the city council for re-
surfacing that street.
The resolution instructing City Engi-
neer McCabe to prepare the estimates,
calls for the pavement on Kansas ave-
nue. from First to Tenth avenues and
in. North Topeka from the north end of
the Melan bridge to Gordon street,
Through inadvertence the resolution IN
PRODUCED does not cover the pavement
from First to Crane streets, where it is
In as probably bad condition as any on
Kansas avenue, though it takes in from
Third street to Fourth where no resur-
facing will have to be done owing to
0the presence of one block of sand stone
Pavement
The readings will be taken every so
feet longitudinally and about 81 feet
apart tranSverSely. The cross readings
viii be IL in number starting in on each
Side at the car tracks, four between
that and the edge of the curbing and
one again at the edge of the curbing.
The taking of the levels will occupy
something like ten days because of the
interference which will necessarily take
place from teams which are constantly
passing up and down the street The
levels will probably be taken early in
the morning and later in the day when
traffic has ceased. The levels will be
taken from the surface of the concrete
IN order that they may be as uniform as
possible with regard to base elevation.
The asphalt surface varies in thick
ness from one inch to three inches ow-
ing to successive stages of repair and
it would be impossible to secure ac-
curate data by taking readings from the
surface.
Estimates will be returned after the
level readings are taken on the basis
of brick, asphalt and bituIithic as ma
terials.
The council has not told me-" said
City Engineer McCabe, chow they want
these estimates turned in but presume
the best way would be to fix an esti-
mate which would permit the paving
men to submit bids beneath those fig
ures and then let them fight it out be-
tween them for reductions. think es-
Inmates should be submitted on the
three different plans, fiat bid without
any maintenance clause, a bid with a
five year maintenance and a third bid
with ten year maintenance bond. I
think you will find that the bids will
increase in proportion to the length of
the maintenance bond furnished. If a
straight bid is submitted the figures
should be considera bly, below 81 so per
square yard for the resurfacing. At
present our contract is $1.5S for resur-
facing and $1.99 where the concrete base
must be furnished. Great improve
E1ents have been made in asphalt pave
1nent since the time Topeka's asphalt
pavement was laid and this should be
remembered. If bitulithic is to be con-
sidered I should think it would be
good plan for some of the councilmen
to take a trip to cities where it has
been laid down"
Paving men are beginning to visit the
city building in anticipation of the re-
surfacing of Kansas avenue. E P
Demarest of Kansas City, manager in
this district of the Barber Asphalt
companys interests, has been in the
city the last few days seeking informa-
ton. The rock asphalt company's rep
resentatives have also been urging
their claims and it is probable that es-
Inmates will be introduced looking to
the use of that material.
At the same time Mayor w. H. Davis
is holding out for a private asphalt
about $4,000 which would do the work
of resurfacing. The mayor believes that
Topeka can purchase a plant costing
about $4,000 which would cd the work
effectively and cheaply as we'll De-
troit has such plant and the cost is
placed by their expert at 81 cents per
square yard. Denver has a similar
plant and the cost has been greatly re-
duced and the satisfaction is general.
The board of public works controls the
operation of the plant in the latter
city.
City Engineer McCabe and others of
the city officials do not take kindly to
the plan proposed by the mayor. 1t is
certainly worth investigating, however,
before any contracts are let.