The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-29

intervals and could have been caused
| by nothing else than careless repair
work by whoever relaid water or gas
pipes in this block. The street at this
point looks like the streets of Frisco did
after the earthquake.
Eighth avenue from Madison to JEFF
ferson is in fairly good shape except for
a valley or rut running down the block
east and west. In the center of the
block there is a regular ravine extend
ing from the curb to the car tracks.
These rough places indicate repair
work poorly or carelessly done. for the
rest of the paving-i is fairly smooth and
in good condition.
There are actually places on East
Eighth in these blocks mentioned
where to drive a buggy at an ordinary
rate of speed would cause the occu-
pants of the vehicle to be thrown out
unless they held on with both hands.
These places will get worse If neglect
powder where an even surface Is TO
longer exposed to traffic
Valleys and Hills.
Following Madison street south from
Eighth depressions four inches deep are
found On the east side of the block.
There are three of these valleys and
they plainly indicate repair work of a
slovenly kind in an otherwise We'll
paved street. There is a bad depres-
sion at the intersection of Seventh and
Madison.
Madison from Seventh to Sixth is in
good shape except for place in the
center of the block where there is
bad depression with bumps all round
it like peaks round a gulch. There is
a bad hole in the intersection of sixth
and Madison and from Sixth on south
to Fifth Madison is a succession OF
waves in the center or crown OF the
paving where it should be in the best
and smootheSt shape.
Monroe from Fifth street to Sixth
avenue is rough and in bad shape,
while the intersection at Sixth ana
Monroe is in still worse condition
Sixth avenue from Monroe to Madison
has valleys extending the entire length
of the block on the north side, While 1t
is o. K on the south side of the street
Monroe from Sixth to Seventh is in
good shape all the way. No repair
work here. But Seventh street, Mon
roe to Madison. while showing no
bumps or depressions, is in bad shape.
The brick on the north side of the
street have been worn to dust. Seventh
street from Quincy to Monroe is in a
disgraceful condition, being as rough
as a ploughed field on the north side of
the block.
Has Gone to Pieces.
Jefferson street from Sixth ave. to-
Fourth ave. is probably in the worst con-
the fault here does not rest upon those
who have repaired the street from time
to time after digging holes for gas and
water pipes. The trouble with this
street is in the quality of brick placed
in the paving. These brick were evi-
IDENTIFY burned for sidewalk brick and
are what is called No. and No. paw
ers and not No. l street paving brick
The crown of Jefferson street for three
blocks is worse than corduroy road
4a1 oT.nl
worn half through and have shrunk
under the action of the water until
they can. be pushed out of their beds
by the foot.
Madison street from Fifth to Fourth
is in the same shape. 1t is impossible
for a buggy vehicle or auto except at
very slow rate of speed such as would
be used in passing over particularly
bad piece of mountain road.
In the cases mentioned in the above
two paragraphs the fault of the poor
having lies in the brick alone. In most
other cities in the country where brick
having is used these brick are subject
ed to a RATHER and moisture test UNI
der the specifications laid down by the
National Bricklayers' association. Few
so-called vitrified paving brick wiz
stand up under this test. Only the
hardest of shaIe and great experience
in brick making can produce No.
payer, the only brick fit to put in
street 1t is shameful waste of money
to pave any street with brick that nave
not been tested Inferior brick will not
stand up two years on a Travelled
street. while good brick will stand for
ten years. Committees from the coun-
ell Of other cities always attend the
tests of paving brick.
The asphalt paving on Jackson street
at the Seventh street intersection is cut
to pieces and Jackson street from Sew
enth to Eighth is in the same condi-
ton all the length of the block
This transformation of streets paved
with brick at an expense running into
the hundreds of thousands of dollars
into corduroy roads is without prece-
dent even in the most spendthrift of
communities. There is no excuse for
it, The brick paving was fairly we'll
laid in the first place and should last
in good condition for 10 or Is years. The
whole cause of the trouble seems to
lie in the repair work where the paw
ing has been dug up for gas and wa
ter pipes. Yet there is no excuse for
this as all plumbing firms are under
bond to replace the paving they dig up
in as good shape IS they found it. A
maintenance bond on street paving
should be held in force as rigidly
against the giver of that bond as ever
ShyIock held the Venice merchant, for
this paving is often a great burden in
the shape of taxes on the people pay
ing for it. Their civic pride was such
that they gave up many things when
they assumed the burden of paying for
paving bonds.
If the city council will appoint an
inspector or committee of their own
members to go over this paving above
mentioned they will surely investigate
this repair work and have it done over
again if possible