The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-07

serves as a good Illustration of the I'M
businessllke system of governing city
by ward representatives compared to
government by commission. each MEM
Der of which is elected by the city at
large to devote his entire time to the
public interests without the interven-
ton of local politics or red tape.
The remedy which l urged. as a re-
suit of large personal experience, was
heartily approved by Mr.. A. A. Robin
son and City Engineer Rogers, both
of whom I consulted in the matter.
Mr. Robinson stated that the plan
suggested kept the pavements of the
cities of Mexico in perfect repair, and
Mr. Rogers said it was the only re-
liable plan. The plan is to amend the
city ordinances so as to give the city
engineer or superintendent of streets
(preferably the fOrmer) power to en-
plOy a force of skilled wOrkmen to
fill in and lamp the excavations and
repair the pavemeuts in all. cases
where plumbers have dug up the
same. the cost to be charged to the
plumber. who. of course. will collect
the same from the property owner.
In the little city of Ashtabula. Ohio.
where 1 write. there are several miles
Of fine brick pavement. All repairs
are done in this way. and it would
take the closest scrutiny to ever find
where a repair of this kind has been
made.
1t is not the plumbers of Topeka
who are to blame. for each one knows
that all the others are allowed to do
the cheapest kinds of pavement re-
pairs. and if he does not do the same
himself he will lose money and must
quit all street plumbing, which
amounts to going out of business. 1t
is not the fault of the plumbing in
spector. for he cannot put a skilled
overseer in charge of each excavation
shovel full of earth is thrown into a
pit and tamped down till the last
brick is relaid. and it is only such SUI
pervision that is of any value. 1t re-
quires more skill and experience to
properly fill in. wet down and lamp
an excavation and relay the pavement
than it does to make an entire good
new pavement No plumber can afford
to employ skilled men to make sound
street repairs when others are allowed
to do shoddy work. The fault is in
the system itself and can only be
remedied by putting in force the plan
which all experience shows to be the
only effective one. The unskilled la
bOrers of the plumber have but one
interest in view. and that is to make
quick. easy. cheap job of street re-
pairing; the skilled force of the en-
gineer has but one interest. and that
is to make a thoroughly sound job.
The abutting property owners. the city
at large and the travelling public pre-
fer the latter method. and no compe-
tent plumber who feels any interest in
the welfare OF the city will object.
There is no middle course. 1t IS up
to the legislative power OF the city.
the city council and mayor. to decide
which course to adopt in the future.
Your article also very properly OBJ
jects to the poor quality of the paw
ing brick which have been used in
many of the streets. When Kansas
avenue was repaved. some two years
ago. l. as a property owner. signed
petition for the use of asphaltum.
Notwithstanding all Of the objections
to the same, as I feared judi ing from
the past. that poor quality of brick
would be used
Any one familiar with the tough,
hard, chnker-like paving brick in
common use on the streets in Topeka
can not fail to notice the immense su-
periority Of the former This defect
can be remedied by proper tests and
requirements in the contract specifica-
tons and by a rigid inspection of the
material before it is laid down.
l do not believe that Topeka is so
much richer than other cities that she
can AFFORD to have inferior brick pave
ments laid down and then have the
same destroyed by ignorant bungIing
workmen. NORRIS q GAGS