Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-31

months owing to the failure Of the supply
of brick from Illinois, the contractors say
their work will be completed by the end
Of the year. Other great contracts are ex-
pected for the ensuing years 1t is com
monty known that all the districts Of the
metropolis are seeing an agitation among
property owners for paved streets, which
is likely to be followed in due time by
many petitions for the work.
The big contract which Is now under way
was brought about directly by recent act
OF the legislature which gave the council
power TO let lump paving contracts for
work within a radius of $500 feet Of the
city hall without submitting the question to
the property owners. Before that much
delay was caused and considerable ragged
ness in the letting OF contracts experienced
through the necessity of getting up a petl-
! ton with a majority of property owners
signed upon them before the contracts
could be let. When the general downtown
contract came up before the council several
other districts took the opportunity Of put
| ting their petitions into action and the
result was a single order upon the paving
men for ten miles of new surfaced streets.
Under normal conditions the paving con-
Germs keep their men at work nine months
of the year, the contracts being dropped
only during those months In midwinter
whom the paving work would be impossible.
More Next Year.
| It IL generally expected in paving circles
| that the contracts for city paving next year
will reach nearly 100000 square yards in
extent. The allowing of next years inter-
section fund of 100000 will give a great
stimulus to the work, This appropriation
was entirely drawn from the present year 8
work.
Besides the main streets and thorough
fares to be paved, a number of alleys are
to receive paving operations next year. The
alleys will be paved with stone block.
There will be about 1000 square yards of
the stone block paving in alleys accom-
plshed this year.
From the property owners standpoint,
popular favor has been given by a wide
margin to brick blocks as material for city
! streets. According to the apportionment of
the work under way now, asphalt is vastly
behind its competitor to an extent that
makes 1t insignificant as q street material
The paving was apportioned for the two
kinds OF material with the following fig
ures: 202, 3S9 square yards OF brick block
| S7,7S0 square feet Of asphalt.
Wood blocks do not figure at all In the
present operations, though a movement wai
on foot for awhile to have Sixteenth street
paved with that material.
The cost Of paving with the popular bricl
blocks averages about $40 per square yard
The other materials do not vary in cost
far from that figure
Experienced Contractors.
The present contractors have been In bust
ness here for the most part dating from
twenty years ago. though several change
and trades between them have marked tn
history Of the industry. The principal con
tractor entered the field on a strong basi
twenty years ago, and after few year
sold out to the National Construction com
pany. Later he re-entered the field on
vastly increased financial basis and hs
, remained in the industry while the outsd
corporation has almost entirely droppet
out of 1t.
1t has been found that present day pavint
methods with the use OF any of the variou
materials, by reason of the great improve
ment insures absolutely level streets an
as durable ones as possibly can be devised
Omaha demands the best there is TO be ha