Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1911-02-13
CITY COUNCIL TAKES ACTIVE
STEPS FOR MUch-NEEDED
IMPROVEMENT

I
two days, made a very interesting talk
I last evening before the city council
and about fifty representative citizens
OF both sex on the condition Of the
trees in parks and how to improve 1t.
Mr.. Gibson said In part:
II have examined the trees IN the
three parks and those In the parking
In tho center OF Third avenue. / found
the trees had not been satisfactorily
trimmed so as to give them sufficient
breathing space and to produce sym
metrical growth.
II found fully one-third too many
trees but would not advocate their
removal until they can be utilized for
Improvements in other parts Of the
city.
"As to insects I find the trees are
in fairly satisfactory condition, how
ever, there are FIVE kinds OF pests
working on them which II not eradi-
Gated soon, Will eventually cause their
destruction. Many OF the trees are in
need OF vitalizing."
Upon request of the council Mr. Glib
son submitted bid to trim, vitalize
and spray the trees belonging to the
city, those in the three parks and in
the center of Third avenue, for the
sum of $3.50. He also stated he would
give the same attention to the trees
belonging to private individuals for
40 cents per tree. He also guarantees
to keep the trees free from insects the
coming summer. but he did not advise
the council to have the city trees
sprayed unless some action was taken
to make 1t compulsory for property
owners to spray theirs.
Mrs. w. G. White stated that the
Civic club had $25 on hand to pur-
chase n sprayer and would later have
in the neighborhood OF 5000 to assist
the city In carrying on the work. How
ever, the club desired some assurance
from the council that the property
owners would be- required to give their
trees the necessary attention.
After a somewhat lengthy discussion
Of the best method to bring this about
the city attorney was instructed to
draft an ordinance making tree spray
ing compulsory and to embody in this
a clause relative to the weed nuisance,
making 1t compulsory for the owners
of vacant lots to keep them free from
these eyesores. The different mem
bers OF the council assured the Civic
club the ordinance would be passed.
On behalf of the council the mayor
thanked the members of the Civic club
for the financial support they had
promised and for the special effort
they had put forth to preserve one OF
the city's most valuable assets.
| Mr.. Marshall of the Barber Asphalt
Co. addressed the council on street
paving. He stated our streets con.
tanned an excellent sub-base OF sand
stone and boulders which was almost
equal to one of concrete. He advised
using for base Stag crushed with a
seven to ten ton roller, for top dress.
ing a two-Mch asphaltic binder.
This paving, would he stated, meet
our traffic conditions and give maxi
mum service for a minimum cost 1t
would last for a period of from flf-
teen to twenty years and would not
require an expensive maintenance
plant to keep 1t in repair.
AS S5 per cent local material and
nearly all local labor would be util-
lied the cost of construction would not
exceed $1.60 per square yard or $l12.50
per lot of twenty-five feet. the latter
estimate does not include the inter
section area
AS to sheet asphalt with concrete
base he does not consider the traffic
here Of sufficient weight to sustain 1t.
The form of construction he suggest,
ed would not disturb the street rail-
way as 1t would neither pecess!tate
the taking up Of the ties or rails
|, The company Mr.. Marshall repre-
sents would, II awarded the contract.
arrange for placing the bonds.
) City Engineer Goodman agreed with
Mr.. Marshall that this form OF paving
was best adapted to local conditions
}, Mr.. Marshall signified his willing.
ness to promote the forming OF the
paving district in any way possible Ii
he had the assurance he was to have
the contract. The company, he stated,
expect to do the work in such salts.
factory manner that they will receive
all future paving contracts in the city
He said they did 81 per cent of all
paving in New York in 1909, IS per
cent in 1910 and they expected to do
100 per cent In 1911.
The city attorney and engineer were
instructed to draw up specifications
along the lines recommended by MIR.
Marshall and the petition put in circu-
lation.
Adjournment was taken until Tues
day evening, Feb. IA.
i
FLORIDA MESA ITEMS.