The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-04
RESURF
Many Cities Adopt 1t to Re-
place Worn Pavements.
At Fraction of First Cost Ideal
ROadways Secured.

of pavement in Topeka IS such that
early action is advisable, not TO say
necessary. This IS true of certain por-
lions of Topeka avenue between
Sixth and Tenth streets at least, with
the block on jefferson street, between
Fifth and Sixth streets, block or Two
on East Eighth street, the block on
Kansas avenue between Third ana
Fourth streets, the block north OF
Crane street near TIE south approach
to the Melan arch bridge; and there
are others.
The condition of the blocks above
named is such that traffic, especially
tbst of automobiles, is being diverted
from those streets
Onwer of automobiles, and they are
Loo,oi,,e very numerous il Topeka,
Sislike to ride over these Harllcstiaar
blocks on which the surface Is a'iiee
uneven + , fa1v
focts on this subje ct may station nm
celf at the corner Of Kansas avenue
and Second street ard see the coh -
ol1s line of automobiles leaving Hah
e.,s avenue at that point, or reacIliIs
Iansas avenue at that point, to go
west on second street and south oil
jackson street, to avoid Inc 80
granite blocks between II1iru ; Ct.
Fourth streets. This aiso 1INetu
traffic which would ordinarily 80
along Kansas avenue between Secoii"
and Third streets of
Vehicles are avoiding portions VI
ToneLa avenue in this same way.
MANY progressive cities are meetins
+bie situation by resurfac1nS the
navements by preparation OIL tai'
which has stood the test TOT solile
wears in other cities. This lredtiieie
gives a good smooth surface anu al a
cost of from ten to forty cents PEI PEI.
ro,,are ward instead of " more VI
less, for new paving OF the DOCKS.
on the block on Kansas avenue pc
tween Third and tourth se les;es
where there is a considerable oechV-
itv. it is suggested that a space ABOUT
twelve feet wide, on either side OF the
car tracks. would be all tnat Is nee
essary to provide a smooth roadway
for automobiles. Heavy traftlc as
now could go over the present granite
blocks. the avenue having ample
width.
IF is understood one of the con-
tractors handling this tar preparation
is ready and willing, If the city VIII
permit, to treat an area way OF Pol
lion of the street to show just what
can be done.
In this connection, the following is
pertinent and worthy of note; oe
w. J. Rickenbacher, chairman OF
the city plan committee, working out
that part of the city plan made re-
Gently relative to parks, Fairgrounds
and boulevards, makes a very inter-
esting discovery for Topeka taxpayers.
while investigating the construction OF
roads and boulevards.
In his report to the members OF the
committee, he states that old, worn
brick pavementS are being resur-
faced with tar product in several
eastern cities and that the life of old
brick pavements is thus prolonged
with comparatively little expense, and
in addition the street is transformed
from an undesirable rough street for
vehicles to fine smooth boulevard.
Such streets can be seen in ST. Louis,
Mo.
In Joplin, Mo-. they have even gone
further by putting a light tar-filled
dressing old dirt and gravel streets
at a cost of only ten cents per square
yard. Mr.. Rickenbacher has a letter
from ]. B. Hodgore, commissioner of
streets there, who goes into detail de-
scribing how this is done. They ex-
pertinent with one block and in
short time found it so good that the
city has contracted for surfacing about
100 blocks.
Thousands of dollars can be saved
the property owners here if we will
cover our brick streets in this way and
our gravel and rock roads in the coun-
try. Our so-called good roads can be
made like boulevardS at a cost of ten
to twenty cents per square yard as
against 81 to 81 per square yard for
new roads.
Our brick streets are now costing
from $3.50 to 81 per square yard.
Why levy a tax on the abutting prop
erty for relaying these old worn brick
streets when resurfacing at a cost
from ten to forty cents per square
yard will make a better street and
last longer than brick with the proper
maintenance, which can be done for
less than the interest charge would be
on the difference of the cost of new
brick streets.
'Brickmakers' organizations try to
make US believe that brick is a per-
manent street In all my unbiased in
vestigation have failed to find any
kind of road construction that does
rot need maintenance. That part of
the walk and drive in the state house
grounds which is black and in good
shape is tar bound, laid in 1905.
I'm several eastern cities they have
used refined tar for resurfacing old
worn brick and stone streets. A part
OF our proposed boulevard system in
cludeS some of our present brick
streets that are very badly worn. In
the city commissioners would reSur-
face these streets, as West Sixth street
is now being treated, these particular
streets could be made to be much
more pleasant to drive over and the
expense would be very small as COM
pared to repaving, which, no douRt,
will be necessary in a few years.
Here is a comparative cost of b4<ild-
ing rotds Is feet wide of the different
materials above mentioned.
Brick on concrete base which is
this only safe way. $4,000 per mile.
Concrete, seven inches thick, with
smooth wearing surface, $4,000 per
mile.
Asphalt on inch concrete base.
$4,000 per mile.
Tar macadam with ;Nch crushed
stone base, and inch wearing sur
face. with 20 lbs. Of refined tar per
square yard, $4,000 per mile.
THE interest at AZ per cent which
paving bonds bear. on the difference
of the cost of brick road and of tar
macadam will mVre than maintain
the tar macadam. and we would al
ways have a fine, smooth road"