Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-02
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The Irish Relief Ship Proposed by the st
School of Forestry-DetroitR River Bridge
Street and Sidewalk Paving-Aesthetic
improvements, etc.
At the meeting of the st. Paul chamber of
commerce yesterday letter was read from
Senator Mcmillan, acknowledging the receipt
of memorial and bill for school of forestry,
stating he had presented it in Senate. He also
stated that the memorial of the st. Paul cham
Der of commerce resulted in Congress immedi-
ately authorizing the secretary of the navy
to send ship to carry supplies to Ireland.
Letters were also received from the president
of the University of Wisconsin, at Madison,
from Gov. Gear of Iowa, and from the pr sdent
of Cornell University, warmly commencing the
proposed school of forestry.
Resolutions of the New York board of trade
and transportation favoring extending term of
President for six years, also favoring the Regain
bill and opposing the bridging of the Detroit
river, were referred to the committee on traDs-
portation.
The committee on transportation reported
against a memorial favoring the bridging of
the Detroit river on the ground that the cham
Der has already declared decidedly against such
bridge. Adopted. %
Communication from Toronto in regard to
reciprocity of trade was referred to the mer-
camille committee. -
ASPHALT BLOCK PAVING.
The committee on minerals, by Mr.. Nc
Caine, chairman, reported, with reference to
the specimen submitted at last meeting of paw
ing made by the Asphalt Block company, of
Providence, r. l., describing, the process of
making the blocks, saying that asphalt blocks
thus manufactured will make a clean, noise
less and durable pavement-easily removed
and replaced-which would not be easily
| broken at ordinary temperatures. But at the
low temperature of thirty or forty degrees
below zero it would be liable to chip
or break under heavy loads. The
pavement could be manufactured about as
cheaply in st. Paul as in Providence. The
machinery for making the blocks would cost
about S25, 900. 1t is represented that the cost
of manufacturing is about $1.75 per square
yard of surface and the manufacturers sell the
blocks at 90 per yard. To this the cost of sur
facing and laying must be added. The wood
paving of Third, Robert and jackson streets
did not cost over Sl.33 per yard, completed.
The Third street paving laid six years ago is in
good condition now. Therefore, although the
committee endorse the asphalt blocks as one of
the best substitutes for stone, yet on account
of the cost of starting the manufacture and
the more than double cost over the wood paw
ing we have SO satisfactorily tested, they can
not now recommend the adoption of the
asphalt.
SIDEWALK PAVING.
"a matter of more importance to the city at
the present time, although not legitimately be-
fore your committee, perhaps, is the qeestion.
what shall take the place of lumber for side
walks? Something better and more perma-
nent should be found. We have no stone in
this vicinity-hardly in the State-suitable,
unless it be granite. Our bricks are too poor,
soft aud porous; and in the meantime we are
fast becoming the champion city for dilapi-
dated wooden sidewalks. On our business
streets We build large stores, warehouses and
business blocks that would be creditable to any
city of five times our population; put in plate
glass windows of the largest size, and regard
less of expense, ard then i'll front of all
this are obliged. for the want of proper
material, to build plank sidewalk, that
cheapens the looks of the whole structure, and
that after twelve months use perhaps, would
disgrace any we'll regulated stable In the city,
and, if one-half as dangerous, would be i'm
mediately replaced from wholesome fear OF
the society for the prevention of cruelty to
animals.
1--WE have no doubt that compressed asphalt
brick, two or two and one-half inches thick,
might be made of the materials and by the
process described at price that would, in
many cases, especially on our principal bust
ness streets, practically solve the difficulty.
The expense would be much less for machinery
than in making the larger blocks and we have
little doubt the manufacture would amply re-
pay the investment"
After some discussion the report was adopt
ed and the same committee was requested to
make further and particular report upon
available material for construction of side
walks.
MIR. McClung spoke of the Importance of
improved drive ways and aesthetic improve
ments, and the subject was referred to the
committee on roads and bridges, with request
for a report thereon,