The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-26
Would Like to Have Macadam
Roads Abolished.
USE BRICK OF COURSE
Naturally 1t Would Make a Much
Better Highway.
But Then the Cost There's the
Rub.

1t is the general opinion that the
macadam roads around the city of
Topeka are costing the city little
more than they are worth. The cost
of building them in the first place is
not so great but the maintaining of
them in after years is a constant drain
on the city treasury. When the peo-
pie in North Topeka subscribed and
built their macadam of Rochester
gravel on st. John street and the city
agreed to pay for the intersections and
for the maintenance of the whole road
after it was finished many of the
councilmen shook their heads at this
proposition and the wiser ones saw
the danger ahead. 1t stood out like
a dropped semaphore. Macadam re-
QuireS constant care and the care is
ten times as technical as the work on
the regular paved streets of the city.
The grading has to be done with eau
ton or the precious material Will be
covered up and ground down into the
original mud. The continual filling in
and leveling up demands the attention
of a big part of the street force. Just
recently Governor Hughes of New
York state recommended to the legis-
lature that all of the improved roads
I'm the state reconstructed of brick in
stead of macadam material. 1t was
admitted that the original cost would
be more but the cost of repairs would
the improvement. The legislature Will
look upon the plan with favor and 1t
will undoubtedly pass. 1t would please
the Topeka councilmen to see such a
law passed Macadamized roads are
excellent for travel and are dream
to autoists, but when the repair bills
begin to come to the city there is a
different story to tell. The brick idea
is rather modern for way out here
in Kansas but it will receive cons1d-
Grafton from the city aldermen.
City Engineer Rogers is not very
enthusiastic about the brick IDEA. he
said that the suggestion of brick roads
was made by the brick manufacturers
of the country and was being lobbied
by them in the state legislatures. Mr.
Rogers seems to think that such
PROPOSITION in Kansas would almost
kill the good roads movements as the
expense at the present time is causing
a hitch in the work He seemed to
think that the cost of the maintenance
of the macadam is high but it was
we'll worth it In the parts or the
state where oil is plentiful and graYel
grows on trees the cost of keeping the
macadam in order rs very srllall anu
There has been some talk OF uni
forming the white wings" VINO work
on the streets in Topeka. A plain
white or gray suit would be advisable
and the workers themselves would be
required to furnish the uniforms
There are many reason why the street
workers and pavement Cleaners
should have a distinctive uniform or
some kind. The first, probably, is to
keen them from the danger that they
are constantly undergoing. For in
stance, while one of the white wings
on Kansas avenue is busily walking
along the middle of the street. push
ing his implement he cannot hearaa
swiftly approaching automobile, espe- |
cIalIv one of the electric type that
sneak up on a person as in the night, |
and Just before they lift you off your
feet they give a death soaring dingle
of a gong bell. In the busy part OF
the day when the traffic is greatest the
white wings are constantly working
truck wagons, frisky horses and
scorching automobiles. Many men on
the street department have been
thrown to the pavement, sustaining IN
iuries that in some cases have stayed |
with them for life. Not only this but |
every day a person can witness, after |
q short period of steady watching, |
narrow escape on the part of one of
the sanitary workers. An unheard au- |
draw team and energies in front of the |
team, only to meet a white wing"
who can hear nothing but the grind |
ing. scraping sound of his shovel. a |
slam of brakes a swerve to the side |
and the street cleaner RECEIVERS to find !
himself safe and sound but scared to I
death-and a man might as well be !
killed as scared to death. This is but /
one of the many reasons why the |
"white wings should be dressed in |
some distinctive uniform. If the men |
highway will be recognized and care