The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-21
Plumbers Fail to Properly Re-
pair Their bitches.
WHO is TO BLAME?
Responsibility Is on Plumbing
Inspector and Engineer.
Someone Lacks Diligence in
Enforcing the Laws.
Plenty of Authority to Make
Plumbers Do the Work.

| Brlck ana aSpnall- paved streets or
| Topeka with excavations made by
plumbers, gas company and telephone
| companies look like corduroy roads.
Pavements which cost thousands of
dollars are being ruined because of the
| failure of the city in the past two
years and a half to bring the men who
have made the excavations to time.
Notices to repair have been sent out
| to plumbers and others who have done
the excavating and with the exception
of a few haIf-hearted attempts to re-
| pair, the notices have simply been neg
lected and the plumbers and others
continue to excavate, cutting the
asphalt and throwing it back into
place, digging up the bricks and put
| ting them back without properly lamp
ing the earth. As a result there is not
a street in the city that does not show
| sections where the pavement has sunk
several inches.
Eighty of the worst places were
found by State Journal reporter who
covered by an inspection most of the
principal paved streets of the city Over
125 excavations in the pavement need
attention in the city. In all of these
the pavement was torn up and then
placed back after the earth had been
Improperly tamped with the result that
in time the earth settled, dropping the
pavement down.
If the city does not get busy right
away many of these places will have to
he repaired by the city at its own ex-
pense. for those taking out excavation
permits are not held liable for ex-
cavation repairs after the expiration of
two years.
Indifference on the part of the city
has bred two-fold Indifference on the
part of the people responsible for the
excavations.
City Officials in Conference.
A conference was held Friday be-
tween the mayor, city engineer and
street commissioner.
The three men were talking about
the plumbers and the paved streets.
1.-The plum bers don't deserve any con-
They have been told enough; they
simply don't care" Turning to John
Rogers, city engineer, he said. Get
a list of all of these places and. put
report to the council. You really
ought not to give out any more notice
to these plumbers, they don't deserve
any consideration. But the people
serve some consideration and if we
refuse to issue any more permits
without a notice in advance it may
work a hardship on some of the peo-
pie that are having the work done.
But no more permits should be is
sued. If these repairs are not made
in the pavement no permits should go
out. That will bring them to time"
John Rogers, city engineer said:
"All of the plumbers are equally gull
ty. I don't know of any of them that
would escape. The gas company is
the same way. have repeatedly
called the attention. of these plumbers
and others to these excavations, but
they don't pay any attention"
Frank Snyder, street commissioner,
said: 1.-the paved streets of Topeka
are in an awful shape. Something
ought to be done to make these fell
lows who tore up the pavements for
excavations repair them. 1t won't
do to wait for the two years on some
of these places will soon be up and
the city will then have to repair at its
own expense"
THE city engineer has had some OF
his force out at odd times checking
over the pavement and the places
needing repair. The gas company has
had a repair gang out fixing up their
places in the pavement so they claim.
but 1 haven't seen anything of them"
said Rogers.
The city has ample power to force
the plumbers and gas company to be
good BY a refusal to issue a permit
to the parties who have failed to
make repairs properly, further work
can be tied up by the city. This is a
club which is amply proportional.
Further than that the city can punish
by arrest and fine from IS to 5000.
What the Ordinance Says.
Regarding the manner of repair the
city ordinance says:
f'AlI excavating and reflling shall
be made with such material and in
such manner as may be directed oy
the city engineer, or his authorlzeu
representative and all curbing, paw
ing, guttering or macadamizing shall
be replaced and renewed in as perrect
and substantial condition as De1ore
being disturbed; any directions thae
may be given, either in writing or
orally, by the city engineer, or any
other person intrusted with the super
intendence of such work, to any per-
son, persons or corporation, engdseu
in making or refllling any sucn ex-
cavation, shall be Immediately oDeyeo-
1T shall be the duty of the IN
spector of plumbing. provided for ana
appointed under ordinance regulating
plumbing, to superintend and inspect
all street excavations and work done
under this ordinance. and to perform
all or any other duties required on the
part of the city under this ordinance,
but he shall be under the olrectloh
and control of the city engineer, sub
ject to such orders. rules and regula-
tions as may be made by the mayor
and council"
The above extracts from the ordi-
nance indicate that the city mas ample
power to force proper repair of pave
ments and that the duty lies Jointly
with the city engineer and plumbing
INSPECTOR. If these officials neglect
their duty or are lax in holding taut
| the lines over the plumbers, gas COM
pany and others who make excava-
lions the pavements will continue to
| be ruined at the expense of the prop
ertv owner who paid to put them
/ down.
Dirt Filled Back With Scraper.
The gas company has been digging
| trenches east of the Santa Fe shops IN
extending its mains. The dirt mas
| been filled back into the trenches
| with scrapers. The dirt on the newly
| filed in trenches is piled up two feet
| and no attempt has been made TO
lamp. On the streets the newly hlleo
] in trenches practically make 1T I'M