Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-08-29
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

o
T. d. Mitchell of Trinidad is spend
ing a few days in Durango. being on
a vacation. Desiring to become bet
ter acquainted with the people and the
he concluded the best way was to
make tour He stopped day or two
at Alamosa and arrived In Durango
Tuesday evening. Although straight
outand-out Republican, Mr. Mitchell
says when man is elected to office
craftsmanship and favoritism should be
eliminated, party spoils being INDUCED
in only to the extent where all things
are equal and without extra cost to
the taxpayer This is sound Republic
an doctrine in line with Herald senti'
ments.
Mr.. Mitchell has been street com
missioner the past three years under
a Republican administration. Eigh-
teen months ago he was sent east to
study paving and street improvements,
and having made study OF public
matters is qualified to speak advised
ly. Trinidad has something like TWEEN
ty-four miles OF cement walks at the
present time. These walks have been
put In by order OF the council with
out inaugurating improvement dis
tricts. making 1t a cash proposition
and compulsory on the part OF the
lot owners. Not only this, property
owners are simply given the grade
and have to pay expense of grading
down or building up as the case may
be. Trinidad has what they term an
official cement sidewalk contractor
who is under running bond of $1,000
to make good any defects in sidewalk
construction. This contractor charges
uniform price--11 cents per square
foot for cement walks, so realty own
the city holds the contractor respon-
sible instead OF the individual. In
speaking of the price Mr.. Mitchell says
1t can not be taken as criterion for
Durango on account OF the difference
in labor and other conditions. Du-
range pays street laborers $3.50 per
day while Trinidad only pays $3.50. a
difference OF more than rs per cent
Cement proportions are the same as
Durango specifications but the differ
ence In freight is quite an item, SO
1t viii be seen that cement walks at
IL and 10 cents per square foot COM
pared with II cents in Trinidad is not
so much out OF the way considering
the increased cost of labor which not
only applies to street but all kinds OF
labor.
In addition to cement walks Trlni-
dad has four miles OF paving and ex-
poets to add seven or eight more with
In the next year or two. The cost OF
paving Is assessed against the property
benefited. SO far as Durango is con-
| oerned Mr.. Mitchell says First street
and side connections only require paw
ing, that from what he has been able
to see the residence streets will never
need paving because the ground IL OF
the character that packs and becomes
solid. Trinidad is using combina
ton In matter of paving material. 4
base Of about SIX inches of crushed
rock being first used and over this is
poured melted asphaltum which makes
a solid concrete. This method costs
much less and does not require an
asphaltum plant and answers every
purpose.
Mr.. Mitchell expresses general sur
prise at Durango. that 1t is more Of
a cosmopolitan city than he expected
to find and is nicely located. Said
he expected to md an uneven or billy
place. instead Of an ideal location for >
J big city. He expects to continue
around the circle tomorrow.