The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-18
Decide Against All New Paving
Contracts This Year.
BLOCKS UNFINISHED.
Behind in 80 Blocks
in 1909 Council Grants.
Petitions Will Be Filed Away
Until January, 1911.

1t was decided by the city commits
sioners this morning that there would
be no contracts let by the city for new
paving in the year 1910. The petitions
for new paving will be filed until the
first day of January, 1911, when ac-
ton will be taken on them. To clean
up the present paving conditions in
Topeka and complete the unfinished
work at this time is the idea of the
city commissioners.
The movement to take action of this
kind was headed by Commissioner
Tandy, who has been figuring on such
plan for some time. He presented
his plans to the city commissioners
the other day and this morning a vote
was taken on the matter. Not a COM
missioner held out against the plan
and it became law. The petitions to
curb and gutter several streets will
also be turned over and filed with the
paving petitions.
Contractors Are Behind.
1t is contended that with the unfin-
ished paving and sidewalk work in
Topeka left over from last years con-
tracts, the contractors will have
enough before them to keep them busy,
and keep the streets open until next
winter. Blocks of open streets, piles
of bricks. excavations and muddy
holes are spelling the traffic in the city
at this time. Clean up and start out
right is the slogan of the city COM
miSsioners and they make this their
first move.
From the report given 70 the mayor
and commissioners by Mr.. Tandy. there
are about 33 blocks of unfinished paw
ing staring the people of the city in
the face at this time. There is
enough work in this one lot to keep
the contractors all busy this summer
and the city commissioners hope to
h he old lot ~
fall.
Contractor Ritehie has 20 blocks to
finish and Contractor Gilf1llan has
II 16 block under construction or I'M
of curbing and guttering to be con-
structed in the Elmhurst district. This
contract is still in the air and will be
let by the city board of commissioners
at once.
Besides all of this work there is the
Melan bridge. The work on the Fill
more street bridge. The building
of the garbage crematory. The solu-
ton of the drainage problem on the
North side in the vicinity of Fairchild
street, where the water runs three feet
deep in rainy weather. The drainage
problem on East Sixth and East
Fourth streets, where the creek has
been filled with dirt and the immense
drainage trouble at Brooks and Elev-
enth streets in Lowman Hill.
Are Short of Men.
"More than this, the contractors are
short of men, said Commissioner
Tandy this morning. ''They complain
unable to get teams. They are doing
their best to catch up with the work
but it Is impossible for them to do it
if they take on more contracts-and
we let more paving contracts this year.
If we wish to clean up Topeka we will
have to make this a red letter year in
paving. If we want to stay in the
present condition we will let more con-
tracts
Then the city street department is
overloaded with work They are ut
terly unable to cover the whole city
and the paving work ha held them
back If more paving were added they
would be in worse shape than ever. is
the opinion of the commissioners.
There are all the dirt streets in the
city which should be graded ard put
In good condition before the heavy
ing up on them. they will be unable
to do it-thus the argument for no
more paving.
Commissioner Tandy is also of the
opinion that the people will not kick
on this decision. IT have made it a
point to talk to many of them about
an action of this kind and they have
all been broad minded ercugh to see
of the rut." said Mr.. Tandy. 81 know
that there are lots of people who want |
paving, but not as many as last year
and the year before"
Comm isSioner Miller thought that |
the Tandy scheme was the right thing
to do. I'VE should clean up the city |
and place it on a good business basis |
said Mr.. Miller. 1T is up to US to |
put things right and now is a good |
time to start" Mr.. Miller is hotfoot !
after business
The rest of the commissioner and |
Mayor Billiard agreed with Mr.. Tandy |
and pa SSed the resolution