The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-28
Will Ask City Attorney to
See if Compulsory Sprink-
ling Is Not Provided in the
Laws of State.
BELIEVE THAT OIL
IS BETTER METHOD
Hope to Have the Board of
Works, If Law So Permit,
to Pass Resolution Provid-
ing for Sprinkling.

City Attorney A. NJ. Gardner will be
consulted by members of the public
health and steam and electric rail-
roads committees of the Commercial
club regarding his opinion whether
the present state law permits or grants
the city the authority to divide the
city into sprinkling districts, the
sprinkling expense to be met either
by assessment against the property
owners of the amount taken from the
general fund. Should the city attor-
ney's opinion affirm the belief of some
of the committee members that the
present law does grant such authority,
an effort will be made to have the
board of works determine upon such
action, specifying oil as the material
to be used in the sprinkling. This
was the plan of campaign decided up
on by members of the Commercial
y
city of the dust nuisance.
There has been some difference of
opinion regarding the provisions of
the state law relative to the matter,
and an effort was made by the club
to have bill enacted at the last sess-
ion of the legislatures providing that
such plan could be pursued by cities
on 'macadamized streets. AS this bill
failed of passage. the officials of the
club are resolved to attempt to pro-
vide for sprinkling of the streets un-
der the present statutes.
What Law Provides.
The law now in force provides that
the board of works may divide the
city into districts and order streets
that are paved with brick, asphalt,
vulcanite or otherwise improved to be
sprinkled. 1t is the opinion of the
committee members that macadamiz-
ed streets are included under the head
otherwise improved They desire
the city attorney to rule in the mat
lSI. III SdSC lltS SApChSS 10 W NC AhCl
by assessments against the property
owners, the board of works must pass
resolution to this effect. 1t would
take a majority of resident property
owners on the street ordered sprinkled
to stop the action Of the board. How.
ever. if it is decided to use the gener.
al fund to meet The expense the board
need hear no remonstrances and its
decision will be final.
1t is the hope of the Commercial
club committees to secure the sprink
ling of the principal and also the most
Objectionable streets, from the stand
point of dust. with oil, if possible
otherwise water, and it believes that
the property owners generally would
be behind the project if the board Of
works determined to take such ac
ton. AS the administration has re
Gently sounded the warning that the
city's funds are running low, it is not
believed the board of works can be in
| duced to act favorably on the matter
except by an assessment of affected
property owners.
The reason it is desired that oil be
used instead of water is because the
| committees believe it will be cheap
er. But two sprinklings or treatments
| a year will be necessary. it is said
| Also, it is claimed. better results viii
| be attained. Objections to the OF
| treatment of streets were made to the
| Commercial club last year when the
| subject was first taken up on tht
grounds that it placed the streets il
very undesirable condition for pedes
trians and was not as successful as :
| dust eliminator as was claimed. Sew
eral of the committeeman have sivel
| the subject close study and declare
that they find as result OF their in
vestigations that in cases where th'
| best of results were not secured th'
proper treatment had not been made
| They state that the oil should no
be applied until after the streets hav'
been entirely cleared Of dust. A da,
! Or SO is then given for the oil to soai
into the bed of the street. II this il
done. they say, no gummy substance
will be produced. which will be oh
jectionable to pedestrians. Severa
property owners of the city have nc
titled the committee that they are il
favor of the plan. The committee
believe that if the streets Of Richmond
were so sprinkled the dust nuisance
would practically be eliminated.
Several efforts have been made I.
have one or two streets sprinkled I.
been successful.
II the board of works will not en-
| tertain the idea of using oil, ii will b.
asked to order the sprinkling of tn
| streets with water. This is of cours
providing the city attorney holds tha
it can be done under the present Law