The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-05-05
Board of Public Works Will
Not Take Oiling of Streets
of the City in Its Own
Hands.
HOWEVER, PETITIONS
WILL BE CONSIDERED
Matter of Appointing an In
spector is Strongly Oppos-
ed by Street Commissioner
Gem.

The members of the board OF works
this morning, refused TO act on the
suggestion of City Attorney VIII Bond
that resolution for oiling certain
streets of the city be adopted and bids
advertised for. Instead, Mayor Zim-
norman ordered the city attorney to
prepare a resolution for the oiling OF
streets under the new law in case Pc
titions are presented. Members of the
board refused to take into their hands
the oiling of any streets unless res
ident property owners signify their
desire for this means of allaying ths
dust by presenting a petition signed
by a majority of the resident prop
erty owners.
City Attorney Bond stated to the
board that the members should act
on the matter at once. He asked that
a number of streets where oil Is most
and bids for the work be advertised
such an action TO the city would be
the cost of advertising for bids. Mayor
Zimmerman refused TO accept the sug-
gestion. saying that the city did not
have funds to take the matter in hand
this year.
Act on Petitions.
I'VE will act on any petitions which
are presented TO u.s." said the mayor,
but we will not take any steps to-
ward oiling any streets where we don't
have to. The board has already spent
more money than was allowed in APP
preparations"
The matter of appointing an inspec-
tor from the street department to
make an inspection OF the streets be-
fore the oil is put on them. was
strongly opposed by Street commits
sioner Gem who says that the con-
tractor should charge enough TO pay
an inspector and should agree that
the inspector be appointed by the
boar dof works. The damage from
the floods has drained our appropria-
tions heavily" said Mr.. Gem. "and /
expect before the summer is over, to
be out of funds. We are under q
constant and heavy expense, first in
the spring cleaning OF all the streets
of the city and later in the repair
work which is necessary for many OF
the streets. / do not feel that the
members of the board, knowing what
a small amount OF funds / am allowed
should ask me to furnish an inspector
to see that an oilning ontractor has
his work done right"
The street commissioner stated that
it would cost between two and three
dollars TO properly clean one square
for oiling. He stated that all the
streets will have been scraped before
a contractor starts work on them. thus
reducing his cost OF cleaning He stated
that the city has paid an average OF
$1.9S per square for the scraping of
the streets this spring.
II was stated at the meeting that
many persons complain OF the dust
which is raised while the streets are
being swept in preparation to oiling.
Many persons demand that the street
been sprinkled.,. said City Attorney
Bond. This is wrong. as the streets
can not be properly cleaned for oiling
while they are wet. They should be
cleaned dry. and the people should be
willing to stand a few hours of dust
in order to have the dust allayed for
the entire summer"
The members of the board did not
take any formal action on the matter
of oiling the streets, and they state
that they will not Amy petitions for
oiling streets will be acted upon in
the same manner as a street, alley
or sewer improvement petition The
matter viii be discussed again Thurs
day.
Engineers Letter.
Mayor Zimmerman today presented
TO the board letters received from gov
ernment engineers relative to the dam
being constructed at North Seven
teen street A set Of plans and spec
ifications was asked and these will be
sent II was also stated in one of the
letters that means of affording protec-
ton against floods in the drainage of
the Ohio valley will be taken up at a
meeting of government engineers at
Cincinnati Tuesday. Several of these
meetings later on will be attended BY
city officials. The engineers asked to
what extent the dam which is being
built would protect the valley below
from foods.