The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-29
CUT THE PAVEMENT.
Thing Council Tried to Avoid Already
Comes to Pass.

The thing that they have been afraid
of has happened.
The new asphalt pavement has to be
cut up and open in order to make re-
pairs in water mains where leake have
occurred.
The first two permits for excavation
for this purpose were granted to sam
Radges and Warren NJ. Crosby, the first
the owner of the building at $40 Kansas
avenue and the second the owner of
the building at 713 Kansas avenue.
In both instances leaks were discov-
cred in the service pipes leading from
the mains, the water seeping up and
through the pavement Application was
made to the city engineer for the per-
mits to excavate and repair the leaks
but that city official refused believing
that the matter should be checked up
to the city council this evening and
have them take some authoritative ac-
ton. Appeal was taken to the mayor
and the necessary permits were finally
granted.
The council in order to avoid as much
as possible of excavation in the new
pavement passed an ordinance provid-
ing that no excavation should be made
except in a case of leak in water
mains for a period of five years.
I notified every property owner and
tenant along Kansas avenue to put in
new service pipes where it was needed
and urged upon them to have an in
spection made to see If repairs were
needed" said McCabe. From now on
you can expect the pavement to be torn
up every little while on the excuse that
there is a leak and that it need to be
fixed. People jumped on the gas COM
pany for digging up Kansas avenue the
way they did, and 1t did look kind of
bad, but it proved to be the best thing
that could be done and the thing that
he oft " should have done
and look after every main on that
street"
Il never was notified. Nothing was
served on me- chorused both Mr.. Cros-
by and Mr.. Radges.
well sent a man around serving
written notices and have the stubs in
my office to show for it," responded
McCabe.
wen. you may have served on a
clerk of mine. but 1t was never given
to me- said Mr.. Crosby.
tits very unfortunate that we should
be compelled to cut up the pavement at
all but it is better TO have to tear it
up now than later on for the company
is here now and can put in the same
kind of asphalt that It is using now
and it has its tools and plant here to
do the work. The repaving should be
better done now than later on" said the
mayor
Indifference is probably one of the
! reasons
been drawn to the necessity of looking
after the water service mains prior to
the putting down of the new pavement.
Attention has been called to it, the
city engineer had his Instructions and
he attempted to see them carried out
but between a failure to properly notify
and the Indifference of those notified the
good intentions embodied in the ordi-
nance passed by the council have gone
astray.
Three Of the blocks on Kansas ave-
nue. still remain unpaved; the best thing
that the city council can do is to go
over these three blocks and issue In
structfons to see that the service pipes
are in proper condition, If need be the
waterworks department should make
the examination themselves, anything
to keep from making any further exca-
vations in the pavement. No matter
how hard the paving company may try
patching. the pavement after it's once
laid is never as good as the original
pavement and it always shows.
s'I have been told by the plumbers
that the heavy pressure put on during
the Crawford theater fire is responsible
for the leaks found now and probably
others which will be discovered a little
while later. It was impossible for TO
foreteIl this and I regret that the ex-
cavation has to be made,'' said Mr.
Radges.