Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 204, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1911 — WILL BE OBJECTION TO STREET IMPROVEMENT. [ARTICLE]

WILL BE OBJECTION TO STREET IMPROVEMENT.

Many Who Signed Petition are Now Talking of Withdrawal—Expense Too Much, They Say. There wHI be a lot of objecting to the building of the proposed brick street and asphalt-macadam street and road contemplated in the petition that has been circulated the past week. Whether it will be enough to defeat the movement or not can not be told at this tllhe.'but there will be a large number of freeholders ready to sign a remonstrance whenever one is circulated. The leaders among the petitioners have been feeling very well pleased with the liberal response the petition has met and many have signed it that it was presumed would oppose the movement. Some, on the other hand, whp had signed the petition readily, are now taking a negative view of the matter and will ask to have their names removed from the petition. The objections are mainly because of the cost and because a number believe that the business property, at least, should take care of the improvement of its own streets. Another objection and one urged by about all property owners who have been to the expense of making their own improvements and who do not have property along the streets that it is proposed to improve by general taxation, is that they coftsider it right to be assessed for improvements for other property.

The Republican has been making some investigation about the cost of streets and there is no doubt but the proposed brick improvement will' be very expensive, probably costing close to $40,000 from the new depot to the river bridge. The tarvia-macadam, Which it is proposed to use from the bridge to St. Joseph’s, would be less expensive, and would probably cost about 610,000. . Some are suggesting that the tarviamacadam be used for the entire improvement, others that brick be used only for the business section and that the tarvia-macadam or asphalt-maca-dam be used for the balance of the Improvement This would materially reduce the cost and probably give U» a streat that would last for a long time. A rather careful investigation of the asphalt-macadam street at Delphi leads ns to believe that it should prove a mighty fine and lasting street, almost as good and in some respects better than brick. The tarviamacadam is less expensive and said to be just as good. From what we are able to learn, the various kinds of pavement cost about'as follows: \ Per sq. yd. Bithulltic 63.00 Creosote blocks 4.00 Brick 2.50 Asphalt-macadam 1.60 Tarvia-macadam 1.10

The new assessment sheet for Rensselaer shows that exclusive of the railroad, the American Express Co. and the telegraph and telephone lines, the totaf assessed valuation is 61,276,771. In Marion township outside of Rensselaer the assessed valuation is 61,477,684. The auditor has not yet made the distribution of assessment for the railroad and other corporations. This would probably make ..the total assessed valuation About 63,000,000. On this basis, if (he improvement cost 645,000 it would mean a tax of 1 % per cent, which would be distributed for payment over a period of ten years and carry an additional cost of about 6 per cent interest If the tarvia-macadam road should be built, the cost might be reduced to about 622,500, which would make a big reduction in the taxes. , If the Washington street property owners should pay for the street in front of their own property, the cost could be considerably reduced for general taxation. Another thing that enters into the discussion is the obligation that the county should have to bear the expense of building half way across the street in front of the court house and not having that cost borne by Marion township. It would be a pity not to have both Cullen and Washington streets improved, 'and the pavement selected should be something that would add to the permanent advantage of the city, but the opposition are offering many contentions that should be token into consideration while the movement is young. L ■_ sa_ ; .

George Gorham has been putting on a little style the past few days at his watchman’s shack at the Main street railroad crossing. It was given a coating of paint and there are about twice the number of visitors that formerly stopped (here. George ia said to be quite swelled up about his rejuvenated quarters. T*