Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-14
COUNCIL HEAD
WILL ASK FOR
PAVING INQUIRY


why the Jewett administration has
been unable so keep the streets of In
dianapolis from going to pieces and why
many repairs on downtown streets made
under the supervision of Street Commits
sioner A. o. Meloy have lasted no longer
than three weeks will be sought to be
disclosed by an investigation which
Gustav G. Schmidt, president; declared
yesterday he intends to try to persuade
the city council to inaugurate In the
near future,
II want to see. an expert engineer
hired to make a thorough analysis of
the street troubles which are costing the
taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dol
lars every year." Mr.. Schmidt said, "and
l believe the majority of the councilmen
stand with me-
At the same time that the street inves-'
tigation is in progress, Mr.. Schmidt said
he intends to have introduced an ordl-
nance re-routing all street cars which
now traverse the congested district In
loop through Ohio street, Capitol ave-
nue., Maryland and Delaware streets, and
to push through with all due speed
changes in the traffic ordinance which viii
solve the problem which has grown stead
lily more serious during the last year
Approximately S400 900 has been spent
on street repairs during the last year,
the council head said, without the re-
suits which might be expected.
Il do not believe that the city is get
ting % cents on the dollar in value or
street improvements and l think the big
gest single responsibility facing the coun-
eli is to find out why.
"It is not fair to the taxpayers to
compel them to pay for putting down
a street which lasts less than ten years
FRA xx-1f 1h
last at all.
THE council has been observing some
of these repairs from time to time and
has discovered many startling things.
For instance, we watched a patch
which was made on the asphalt pave
ment In the Circle and found that 1t
did not last three weeks.
IF this is the kind OF work that $4OO,-
600 per year is being spent on l think
we should have some competent inyesti-
gator to tell us why.
Payment OF sn unbiased engineer
to make such an investigation would be
very good investment, 1 believe.
yves got to get a better system OF
street building and repairing II we are
TO meet the responsibilities imposed by
the ever increasing traffic
my idea would be to have such an In
vestigator go through the whole street
department including the asphalt plant.
Then l think that the care Of streets
should be put in the hands of man
t,sined for the work"
Street Commissioner Meloy got his
training" as q bailif In one Of the
county courts and as a Republican poiit-
zeal worker in Wayne Township. It is
said.
Mr.. Schmidt said that he realized that
he would encounter considerable oppoSi-
ton from certain interests when he
brings I'D the matter OF establigEing the
new street ear loop.
II introduced an ordinance to establish
such a loop more than a year ago and
withdrew II because OF the financial
plight Of the street car company. but the
time has come when the solution OF the
traffic problem can not be put off longer
when the interests OF the whole dty and
not Of just few citizens must be con-
sidered."
YOCKEY DRAFTS
NEW ORDINANCE.
Meanwhile Assistant City Attorney
Harry p. Jockey is drafting new ordi-
nance to replace the present traffic lave
which will embrace several important
changes discussed by the board Of pub
lie safety and the council some time ago.
One OF the most important changes
contemplated is the establishment Of fat.
instead Of 30-degree parking on some
downtown streets clear through the con
gestpd district.
The board OF safety was TO go over the
new ordinance at its weekly closed con-
ference this afternoon
Before II Is brought 20 the council
officially. IL is understood, another con-
ference viii be held evith the legislative
body for the purpose Of ironing out az
| ferences before the measure becomes
| public
Mr.. Schmidt said that he did not
know when this conference would he
/ held.
He also stated tpat the board Of pub
| lie health has requested n conference
upon the proposed expenditure OF $780,
coo for the construction OF a nurses
home at the city hospital. but that he
did not know when this could be held
The special meeting Of the council.
at which these and other matters were
to come up. will not be called until after
the conferences. Mr.. Schmidt said.