The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-01-21
Robbins Becomes Convinced Public Demands Better Streets
and Improved Sewer System and lnstucts Works Board
to Initiate Proceedings for Extensive Paving on Several
Main Thoroughfares.
Councils Attitude Promise. Order for improvements Over
All Remonsrances Should Opposition Bind Hands Of Board
Plans for Viaduct at North Twelfth Street Delay North
End Sewer

Asserting that while he had at first
opposed the floating Of q bond issue
to provide for a number Of permanent
improvements. he had ascertained
that there was a public demand for
peter streets and alleys. Mayor Rob-
bins today recommended to the board
or public works that an Improvement
program be mapped out at once SO
tnere would be no delays in start
Ing the work as soon as the weather
permits. The board responded prompt
~ TO the mayors suggestion, and be-
fore today's session had been adjourn
ed City Engineer Charles was ordered
to prepare plans and specifications for
the paving of the following streets:
Fifth Street, South A to North A.
Fort Wayne avenue, North A to
North o.
Sixth street, outh A to Fort Wayne
avenue.
Seventh street, Main to South A.
Ninth street, South A to North z.
North sIxteneth, Main to North r.
North A street, North Fifth to North
Sixteenth street.
Bond Predicts Regret.
Although Mayor Robbins made a
radical change in front concerning the
permanent improvement bond issue.
which the city council has endorsed.
City Attorney Bond still stands paf in
his opposition to the plan. After the
board had adjourned he remarked:
They will live to regret the day they
ever did this"
AT the suggestion of City Engineer
Charles the board decided not to out
line any plan for sewer improvements
until the street Improvement work is
under way. The most important sewer
the hoard ccntemplates constructing
is south OF Mafn street, the cost of
Tch Mr.. Charles estimates will be
III the neighborhood of $4,000. 1t is
to relieve the strain on the storm
sewer in South A street, which runs
as far west as Sixth street. thence
south to the river, and the storm sewer
in South c street, which extends west
to Eighth street, thence south to the
river. This section of the city is al
ways flooded when there is a heavy
rain. 1t has not been determined
whether property owners can be as
sessed for a share of the cost of put
ting down this contemplated storm
sewer.
Require $4,000 Issue.
For the Improvements contemplated
it is estimated bond issue Of $12O, 900
will be required.
Plans for a large storm sewer in
North E street, from Twenty-fourth
to Twelfth street. will not be drafted
until some decision is reached con-
corning the construction of a subway
at the North Twelfth street railroad
crossing. because this sewer would ex-
tend north along Twelfth street to the
river. and the city desires to make
the two improvements at the same
time. The board will at once approach
the railroad officials with a proposal
to construct a subway. but 1t is antici-
pated that the railroad will oppose
such an improvement. The board
thinks it probable that it may be three
or four years before the subway can
be provided.
The widening of North Third street
Is another project which has prac-
tically been abandoned for the time
being and the board is inclined to post.
pone paving that street until some
definite decision is reached on the
question of widening the thoroughfare.
Mayor Urges Action.
Mayor Robbins in announcing to the
board today that in his opinion there
vas a public demand for an immed-
late Inauguration of a public improve
ment policy, even though bonds had
to be issued to finance it. also suggest
ed that the board initiate proceedings
to provide these improvements. This
| is a plan of action the board rarely
| pursues, in nearly every instance act
ing on proposed Improvements only
when they are petitioned for.
! 1T is my opinion that the people
want to see as much Of this work done
! Continued on Page Two)