The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-03-30

+ paving. Contrast To-Day the con-
and the dirt roads.
ty opposed cement sidewalks and
! kered up.
D board walks!
G cts or impossible mud holes?
I annual instruments rather than in one
lump sum when the work is complat-
ed, it is we'll to note that the first in
terest payment on 25-foot lot will
be 1895; that each succeeding inter-
est payment will be less, until the
| last instalment on the first cost, when
there will be no interes: to pay.
The owner of an inside 25-foot lot
may expect, therefore, if he wishes
to spread his obligation over 20 years.
to pay s1S.49 in 1918 and a smaller
amount each succeeding year until
1898, when he will pay only the final
instalment on the principal, or 1884.
Corner Lots Cared For.
These figures are based on the as
sumption thar the board Of special
assessors will follow the common
practice of assessing corner lots dou'
bile, instead of for all IF :heir actual
| frontage on both streets, and prO-rat'
ing the balance over :he block, and
that 20 per cent of the cost of street
intersections and paving abutting
public property will be covered over
the entire city, as required by law.
The figures quoted, therefore, repre-
sent the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM
cost. The cost for inside lots may be
less; it cannot possibly be more.
Quick Work in No. 1.
The contract with Hanlon & Okes
provided for the beginning of work at
once in district No. 1, and within two
weeks after the contract was signed,
operations were under way in the
downtown section, and, thanks to fast
work and unusually favorable weather
two-t thirds of the paving was complet-
ed last fall. The contractors plant
remained on the ground during the
winter, and is ready to resume opera
tons at an early date. The entire
downtown district should be paved
not later than July 1. The first $780,
900 worth of bonds covering this dis
trict sold for a premium which will
bring the interest rate down to 5.85
percent.
| Business Transaction.
1t is universally admitted that these
contracts were let without political
preferences of any kind, and with no
considerations except the best inter-
ests of the city. Good business judg-
ment dictated the transaction, and
there never has been an intimatiOn by
anyone that there was the veriest
shadow of irregularity in the p.o-
ceedings.
In order to make certain firstclass
job in every respect, the city has en-
ployed as consulting engineer James
A. Farrell, of Duluth, for 20 years
connected with the department of
public improvements in the Zenith
City. Engineer Farrell visited Bis
marck several times while the work
was in progress last fall, and gave
the paving his close personal super
vision. He endorsed the work of Han
lon & Okes in district No. 1 as en-
tirely satisfactory and expressed the
belief that the city is getting a we'll
built and enduring pavement.
In addition to his personal SER
| VICES, WI. + Gil 1ul OIL AHOPSS
tor who spent every hour of every
day on the job while the paving was
in progress, and every yard Of btu
lithic which was laid had first to pass
under his eye. No possibility was al
lowed for any error or mistake upon
the part of the contractor. The COM
mission left undone nothing which
would tend to insure the taxpayers
full value for every penny they are
called upon to invest in paving, and
experts assert the city has been sue
cessful to an unusual degree.
City Engineer T. R. Atkinson had a
force of five engineers detailed to in
spect the work throughout its prog
ress, and the same precautions will be
taken in the completion of district
No. and the paving of district No. 2
this spring. All engineering fees. both
for expert consultant and assistants.
are paid by the city engineer out of a
commission which he voluntarily re-
duced One-percent from the specified
amount, effecting another important
saving to taxpayers.
This important work has only be-
gun. The retiring members Of the
commission in conserving to run for
reelection do so principally because
, they feel they are responsible for the
commencement of this great UNDER
taking and will be held responsible
> for its completion. They are familiar
with all details of the work, and they
may be depended upon to see that It
is carried through honestly, efficiently
and economically. Taxpayers general
ly agree that the present commission
has given proof of it's ability to handle
capably an undertaking of such great
magnitude, and that it would be folly
at this important point in the city's
progress to transfer the management
to the hands of men who cannot be
so thoroughly familiar with all that
must be done during the coming year.