Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-01-07
MAYORS MESSAGE
CONTINUED from page 81

with the wing walls which have been
constructed as a part of the bridge, and
the fill and riprapping there should be
no further necessity for the expendi
ture of any money in connection with
this particular stream crossing on
North Mill creek. The work has been
well executed by the contractor and
the design is very satisfactory. 1t is
in marked contrast to the concrete arch
bridge on Commercial street just be-
low.
The permanent concrete abutments
and retaining walls put in on Cheme-
keta and Eighteenth streets as a part
of the street Improvements is a very
substantial and excellent piece of work
and while the bridge could not be fin
ished in permanent form owing to the
lack Of money available, nevertheless
the work is in excellent shape and Of a
permanent nature. One other excellent
thing which the bridge committee de-
serves credit for is the ingenius method
by which il has rendered the South
High street bridge presentable and
satisfactory structure and at the same
time made it possible for the city to
escape the consequences of suit for
damages by the abutting owners above
the grade of the street. I think the
whole expense of remedying this diff
ficulty was something under $75.
Second. Street improvements. | shall
deal only briefly with this and for de-
tailed information / must refer you to
the engineers annual report which has
just been presented to the outgoing
council.
The total length Of pavement of diff
ferent widths including macadam, con-
crete and bituminous surfaces, laid dur.
ing 1913, due allowance having been
made for pavement laid in 1912, in
some Of the projects enumerated, in the
engineers report amounts to 1854
feet or little over eight (S) miles in
length The total yardage of this pave
ment with the same credits to the 1912
work, the engineers report shows to
be l47,592.97 square yards and the total
cost approximately 100000. The great.
er portion Of this work has been con.
crete six inches thick, thirty (3O) feet
between curbs. OF the total length
little less than 1900 feet has been ma.
cadam. There has been little strictly
bituminoous surface such as Church
street and two oil macadam streets.
Good Work Done
My information indicates that the
prevailing price on all of the pave.
ments laid has been less than in any
year hereafter and think | am safe
in saying that the quality of all of the
streets laid which have been accepted
and paid for, has been equally as good
as the best laid in any year heretofore,
and in some cases much better
All Of the projects begun during the
year except two, are completed and the
assessments on all the projects have
been levied and docketed.
The Market street improvement Of
oil macadam is still incomplete as well
as the South High street job from Bush
street TO the south city limits and the
contractors have both accepted with
the consent Of their sureties, as an OK
tension Of time to August T. lOll to !
complete these two streets, There has
been some misgying as TO both Of |
them but as the character Of the work |
is comparatively speaking a cheaper
class Of Improvement and to some ok.
tent an experiment in this climate, the .
council has held back sufficient money
to protect the property owners in n
proper completion Of each job and ! be.
lieye, and ! think my belief is shared
by the council generally which has just
gone ont Of office, that the two streets
will be all right after the final work
is done upon the same next summer
during hot weather
AT the present time We have two
streets which are involved in litigation,
South Twelfth street which is being
by John Albert on the ground
that the remonstrUnee which he filed
In lNl2 when the contract was entered
into for the improvement Of tho street,
was sufficient to defeat the improve.
ment, ( such is the case whom this
suit is finally settled, It win result in
Ihe city being compelled to pay for q
very considerable portion, IL not all,
lf the Improvement of this street The
south High street assessment has also
Deen attacked by one property owner
,n the ground that HIS assessment Is
unjust, and | am informed h
hat the Lord estate is contemplating
litigation ON the same street but no
iuits have yet been filed, Both Of
hose streets are matters which thisl