Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-15
SEE CHANCE TO
HIT TAXPAYERS
IN REPAIR WORK
Surface Heater Contract Paves
Way for False Show of !
Paving Economy.
JEWETTs o. X. IS GIVEN

Persons who. have had an opportunity
board of public works and approved by
Mayor Charles w. Jewett, with the EQuit-
able Asphalt Maintenance Company of
Kansas City. Mo- for the leasing OF two
''Lutz surface heaters" to be used In re-
pairing streets, are wondering IL GER
tain clause does not pave the way for
the saddling of property owners wi h
expense which rlghtfully should come
out of the asphalt repair fund.
The contract, which has been before
the city council for ratification since IXly
10, was negotiated by the board Of pub
lie works on July and had the council
ratified in time would have gone into
effect Aug. /.
The heaers are machines with which
asphalt pavement may be heated and
narrowed to a point from which rolls
and holes may be smoothed out with a
steam roller.
MACHINE PRoLoNGs
LIFE OF STREETS.
Members OF the board of works say
that its use on asphalt pavements
which are not entirely worn out will
prolong the life Of the streets as much
ass five years.
anee Company is the exclusive owner Of
the patent rights TO the machine and
since The company refuses TO sell them
outright IL is necessary for municipal
tiles TO lease them.
BY the contract of Luly indianapolis
would lease two OF the heaters for a
period of two years from Aug. l at
rental of 10 cents per square yard for
the first $4,000 square yards OF repair
work done by each machine and cents
per square yard thereafter during the
life OF the lease. provided that should
these rentals not aggregate at least $500
per year for each machine the city will
Pay the minimum amount.
The clause which those who have had
an opportunity to look into the matter
believe may give the board Of works
the opportunity TO do repair work with
street repair fund so as 10 make
false showing Of economy at the end OF
the year, reads as follows:
1T is further agreed by the party Of
the first part (the company that The
party OF the second part (the city) may
suhlet the machines 10 contractors for
work to be done under the supervision
Of board of public works IN the city
limits Of indianapolis, with the under
standing that the machines are to be re-
turned 20 the city as soon as the work
is completed"
For what, II is being asked. does tho
board Of works propose TO sublet the
machines 10 contractors II not for the
purpose OF repairing the streets9
In what way can the contractors get h
city job II not through the submission
Of bids and award Of contracts in the
regular manner1
PROPERTY OWNERS
VITALITY AFFECTED.
Furthermore how can bids be received
and contract for a street Job be let
II not through the regular channel Of
adoption and furtherance OF resolu-
tions?
This Is the point at which property
owners become vitality affected.
II the board OF works grants con
tracts for street work with the leased
heaters under the regular resolution pro-
eedure. then the board legally may assess
the cost Of the improvement against the
property owners with lots abutting the
street.
Thus the board could get a tremen-
dous amount of highly expensive srepair
work done directly at the expense OF
the property owners and at the end Of
the year hardly have touched the street
repair fund, ouS OF which actual repairs
legally are supposed to be paid for.
To. put over a deal like this II would
be necessary, It IS said. for the board