The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-07
SET BACK BRICK.
Kansas Avenue Property Owners
to Pave With Asphalt.
Report Is Straight Out on This
Question.
TO FORM COMPANY.
Will Have Capital Stock of
Ten Thousand Dollars.
Strong Committee Chosen to
TO FORM COMPANY.
Strong Committee Chosen to
Represent Property Owners.

One big step forward towards the
repaving of Kansas avenue has been
taken-the Kansas avenue property
owners have discovered that they must
do the work. and that the city at large
is not liable. It is repaving. and not
repairs, as they have contended in the
past. In other words, the property
owners have come around to the view
point which the city council has
taken.
'They are now just at the place
where the council was several months
ago" said Councilman Howe, who was
present at the mass meeting. THAT
is something, though, for they have
satisfied themselves of the contention
which the city council has stood out
for-that the city council could do
nothing of its own initiative; that it
must be done by petition, and that the
paving petition must be signed by a
majority of the resident property
owners
By the organization of a company
capitalized at $4,000 the property
owners intend to do the paving them
selves, assuming the contract and en-
tering bid on the same basis as any
other contractor. If they are not the
lowest bidders they do not secure the
contract.
The following resolution embodying
this was introduced by S. S. OFT, and
adopted unanimously:
Resolved, That a standing commit
tee or i've. composed of the following
persons, to wit: c. E. Jewell Jonathan
Thomas. VIM f. Sterne. A A. GODDARD
and NJ Snattinger, be chosen to rep
resent the property owners in the re-
pairing of Kansas avenue; that such
committee, when appointed, be and Is
IN ct 1faf4 -
ton with a capital stock of $4,000. the
Shareholders thereof to be property
owners on streets in the city of To-
peka paved with asphalt; that said
corporation be formed for the pur-
pose or repaving Kansas avenue and
such other streets as may need re-
pairing with asphalt in the city Of To-
peka."
Primarily the mass meeting last
night was called together to hear the
report OF the committee consisting Of
Z T. Jewell, A A. GODDARD and M
Snattlnger- The committee made but
one recomm endation, and that was
that the city of Topeka purchase a.
municipal asphalt plant. The com
Tnlttee believes that the old water
works station at the foot of Harrison
street may be partially utilized for this
purpose, the boilers, grounds. etc
mus cutting down the cost of installa-
ton
In turn the corporation would rant or
lease the plant from the city payine. a
certain rebate on the contract vardage
price The city would then own re-
pair plant for taking care Of the nav
lii83 Ihls Is the argument advanced.
don't believe the people of Topeka
would stand for bond issue to pur-
chase a plant" said Mayor Davis when
asked to express his opinion of the re-
port L would like to have the city
purchase small repair plant costing
from $1,000 or so down because I be-
AeVe 1t would more than pay But I
don't think that they would stand for
a plant costing the sums of money
WnIcn mas been talked of in connection
with purchasing a plant. I received so
/ many telephone calls and letters protest.
ing against any contemplated bond is
sue that 1 can't help but feel that the
people don't want anything of that sort
A big plant such as is contemplated for
doing this work of repavfng is too large
Tor doing the necessary repair work on
the asphalt streets we haven't enough
streets of that kind that it would nav -
Representatives of the local brick
companies We're present but they didn't
secure an opportunity 20 make good.
! Joab Mulvane, of the Capital City Wit
/ rif1ed Brick company, arose in the fore
part Of the meeting and inquired if the
discussion was open and whether other
material aside from brick was to be
| considered. G. E. Jewell assured Mr..
/ Mulvane that nothing but asphalt Uas
I QA4lSA COASAQCA AlOlA ana tHtL the ma
! Jority Of the property owners had placed
4 themselves on record for that material.
/ That was as close as the brick people
got to shying anything into the ring
+ The services of G. A. Proctor. an
| asphalt expert of Detroit, who is in
/ charge Of the municipal plant at that
! place, viii be engaged to come to the
/ city and advise as to the size of the
plant required to do the work here,
/ the material. etc.
Mr.. Proctor can be brought to the
/ city at a cost Of $3.50 and a subscrip-
I ton fund has been started for that pur-
/ pose. F. C. Dreaming, city attorney,
/ has been appointed to solicit the funds.
/ Ten dollars was contributed last even
/ ing. Jonathan Thomas, who acted as
/ chairman at the mass meeting, con-
tributing the first amount.
The attitude of the Barber Asphalt
/ company which holds a repair contract
/ expiring in May of 1907 has been one
4 Of cOnsidera BILE anxiety. In a confer
4 ence which MT. GODDARD had with the
district manager of the company the
1 enjoin the city from repaVing if it
/ throws the bids for doing the repavfng
! open and does not attempt to confine
4 it to brick
About fifty of the property owners
were present last evening, most of them
prominent business men of the city.
The following is the report of the
| committee submitted last evening:
Report From Committee.
March 6. 1906.
'To the Property Owners Of Kansas
! .sl.ar,+Io,,,o7 Vo,,- oor,v,offfea an