The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-10
Topeka Paving Brick Will Have
Competition.
Engineer Rodgers Specified
tiOns Let in Other Factories.
HE EXPECTS NO RISE.
Thinks People VIII Pay About
Same For Paving.
Grading Estimates Are Higher
Than Last Year.

Foreign manufactured brick will be
on a par with home manufacture I'M
der the paving specifications which
John Rodgers. city engineer, has
drawn up and under which the council
will call this evening for advertise
ments for bids.
Last year the specifications provided
for brick not less than 2 n inches in
width.
AS a result Topeka vitrified brick
manufacturers were the only ones en-
abled to comply as the other manufac-
turers had not prepared themselves
with the necessary machinery, says the
city engineer.
I'VE are going to throw open every
thing as wide as possible said Mr..
Rodgers. at want Coffeyville manu-
1acturers as well as Lawrence manu-
4acturers to compete with the home
people. I want the lowest price avail
able and so have changed the specif-
cations to read that any brick two
inches wide may be accepted. 1t has
TO be that width at least and may
grade up from that point. The Cot
feyville brick was lis of an inch less
than the 2 Il inches specified last year
and as a result were barred out"
1t has been generally conceded that
the Topeka vitrified brick stands up
with the pest ana Lnere mas never
been an occasion to complain of the
quality of the local brick except in one
instance from kilns of company
which has since gone out of business.
The two and one-half brick
which were first employed in the con-
etruction Of paving last year are Civ
ing good satisfaction. 1t is generally
believed that the wider brick Is more
durable. Since last year other brick
manufacturers over the state have be-
gun to manufacture the brick of this
standard width and it is probable that
all of the samples submitted by the
various companies will be of the 2 u
inch width.
Though the claim is made that the
cost of manufacturing brick has adj
vanced over last year, City Engineer
Rodgers believes that the bids when
submitted will not show much of an
tracts were let for $1.22 per square
yard.
The engineers estimate last year
varies from $1.S0 to $1.35.
The paving for North Topeka is Civ
en- an estimate of $1.35 because of the
longer haul involved. The estimate
for paving alleys is $40 which in
cludes the placing of oak headers,
costing about cents a square yard,
making the actual price for the paw
ing about $1.35.
Estimates for. the reravfng of North
those which will be submitted this eve
ming because the city engineer is not
yet prepared to make an estimate. 1t
will call for but one course of vitrified
brick because of the presence of the
concrete foundation and this of nee
essity will make the estimate consid-
erably lower and probably will place
it as low as 81 per square yard.
A new curbing and guttering will be |
employed in North Topeka.
A concrete guttering which will form |
one piece with the curbing will be used |
entirely. The estimate is given at Go |
cents a lineal foot. The curbing must |
be six inches in width and have a depth |
of Is inches. This is the first time that |
a combined guttering and curbing has |
ever been used on the streets of Topeka. |
1t is especially recommended for North |
Topeka because the grade is so slight |
and this form of construction permits |
the water to flow freely without any
obstruction.
The estimate for Fort Scott blue lime |
stone. Lyon county stone and limestone |
for curbing. together with cement curb |
ing has been placed at As cents a lineal |
foot Last year the estimate was 80
cents The specifications for natural |
width of inches.
The estimate for grading varies ac- |
cording to the location. In North To- |
peka the estimate is % cents in South |
Topeka on west and Lincoln streets the |
estimate is 80 cents and for the remain |
ing pavement 80 cents. Last year the |
estimate was for % cents all over the
city. The grading for the alleys is esti- |
mated by the city engineer at 35 cents. |
The estimates for grading are therefore |
almost generally higher in every partic-