Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-02

wherein, on account of proximity to rail-
road tracks, electric conduits gas and
water pipes, extreme care is required, and
the number of workmen for the time being
is limited to very few; but this does not
justify the engineer in reducing the number
best results unless the contractor in charge
Is more conscientious than the average OF
those who are engaged in that vocation.
Contract Work for 1907.
The work of the coming year already
under contract is within 15 per cent as
great IN extent as the work of the entire
year of 1906. The work under contem-
ton and upwards of 10000 in other con-
struction. Thus, whilst, the contract work
Of the C9ng year is fully 10 per cent sS
allowance for inspection, which last year
was $1,000 is cut down to 5000 or one
face, appears to be economy, but in the
extravagance. exposing the city to inn
a loss to the city thereby Of at least 90 per
cent Of its cost, amounting to $4,000 for
the year 1907 In order to save $4,000.
Sewerage for 1907.
Included in the very important public
works to be undertaken during the coming
year will be the construction Of a main
sewer from lizard and Fifteenth streets to
some point near the river east of Eighth
street. This sewer will necessarily have
to be constructed through a considerable
portion Of the Union PaGS shop grounds
for or carried out at the Joint expense of
the city and Of the Union Pacific Railroad
ences With Mr.. r. L. Huntiey, chief en-
gineer of the Union Pacific Railroad COM
pany, and hope within the next week or ten
days to conclude mutually satisfactory
arrangement to cooperate, which will be
submitted to your body for final considera-
| ton. In addition to the construction of
| this sewer the extension of the. Jones street
relief sewer, now under contract. should
| be carried out as far as Twenty-second
4 afp NJ ut Ina Enr ~ NJ lie nTfafs
construction right-of-way will have to be
secured and surveys and plats are now I'M
relieve the MISSOURI river bottoms from
| overflow In North Omaha surveys have
been made and a plan will be submitted
north line of the city TO the Missouri river
| to divert the flow southwark, which now
forms a marsh after every rainstorm.
temptation for the northwestern and north
ern part of the city, the details of which
| will be completed within the next thirty
days and estimates will then be completed
| to enable the department to determine
| what available funds there will be after
| providing for the other sewers heretofore
outlined.
Future Sewers.
| The construction of a storm water sewer
| system of the city within the present area
| of twenty-four square miles would include
| the extension of Saddle creek main sewer
from California street southwest to the
| city limits and other necessary sewers in
| the central and northwestern parts of the
city, requiring an expenditure of fully 500,
900 for their completion. II this could all
be done under one set of contracts Ii might
| be done more economically than II done by
pieceneal, but under the existing law the
limitation of bond issue each year is such
as TO make only the latter method of con-
struction practicable. and 1t will take fully
| eight or ten years to complete the main
sewers within the entire city in this way.
Future Pavements and Walks.
From a study of the paving sidewalk
conditions, 1t will be observed that whilst
we have $50 miles OF streets within the
city, only ninety miles are now paved, leav-
ing three-fourths OF the mileage OF the city
of the narrowing Of the paved roadways
city, will cost very much less per
mile than the other sections heretofore
paved. Whilst the city has expended nearly
Sc, 900 600 on pavements representing per
cent of the street mileage OF the city, and
their maintenance in the past twenty five
years, the other 70 per cent can doubtlessly
The sidewalks OF the city, which are
laid with substantial material such as
stone, brick and cement cover a5 OF the
100 miles of sidewalks space In the city.
At the rate OF construction pr the past two
years twenty eight miles per year OF
win take seventeen years 20 pave the en-
tire sidewalk mileage OF the city with
permanent material. This rate, however,
will doubtlessly be increased and the work
can readily be carried out within ten years.
There are many details OF our present
charter provisions and ordinances relative
10 pavement and sidewalk construction,
which should be changed and radically inn
time to outline the details Of the numerous
existing defects. One important point,
however ought to be remedied by the