Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-09
PROPERTY MEN SAY PAVE
Interesting Meeting to Consider
Substantial Improvements.
An Almost Unanimi'y Of Sentiment
in Favor Of Permanently Establish.
Ing second Avenue REPORT ana
Resolutions.

Pursuant to the notice appearing III
the city papers there WAS large meeting
of property holders at the rooms OF the
Citizens Improvement association In
Hsrper's theatre building, at $50 yester-
day afternoon to consider the matter of
paving Second avenue, from Sixteenth to
Twentieth streets. and nearly, if not quite
all the property affected by such inn
provements was represented. And what
Is more, the sentiment was. with, possi-
bly, one exception. in favor OF having the
thoroughfare paved.
The meeting organized with the cleo
ton of Mr.. B. ID. Buford as chairman,
and Mr.. Phil Mitchell AZ secretary. Mr..
VIM. jackson, chairman of the Citizens
Independent association committee on
paving of Second avenue. explained
what the committee of which he Is chair
man, had learned conce ming paving. and
the materials used for such purposes,
including the exhaustive report made
before the last meeting of the association
and the salient features OF which were
given in the ARGUS at the time. Mr. j.
stated that since the last meeting OF the
association his committee had received
letter from a granite pavement company
at Sioux Falls. Oak, stating that granite
pavement could be laid in Rock Island
for S. per square yard. or perhaps less.
Also a letter from the 3alesburg Pressed
Brick & Tile Co, stain G the prices of the
paving brick and enclosing the report of
committee made ct Lincoln, Neb., on
the subject of brick for pavement, strong
ly indorsing the Galesburg paving brick
and recommending Its adoption at Lin
coin after examinations made by the
committee at st. Louis, Peoria. Quincy.
Bloomington and Galssburg. Another
letter of interest which Mr. jackson has
received is from company at st. Paul.
in which this is said:
We are now making preparation to put
in an extensive crushing plant with ref
erence to doing this sort of work on
streets. We lay down first about eight
inches of broken lime stone or Stag as a
frost vent. placing thereon cheap con-
crete made of Milwaukee or Louisville
cement. 80 as to give bed for the JAS
perite. which will be made two inches
thick. We feel exceedingly confident
that 1t will supply the missing link in
street pavements; viz: Give street cal
culated to withstand heavy teamug and
at the same time smooth enough for fast
driving. Exclusive of The excavating in
the street we estimate that II will cost not
to exceed S2.25 per square yard laid in
Rock Island; that 1t viii last as long as
the granite pavement. and unlike asphal>
tum, will not wear in holes and need re-
newal. The severest possible test to
which it can be put is between the street
car tracks, for there the horses tread in
the same place constantly. We put II
between the car tracks last June in Sioux
Falls and next adjacent to it the Sioux
Falls paving blocks; it is pronounced an
unqualified success. and the property
owners of Sioux Falls are saying that it
is the coming psvemerl. | should not be
surprised if we can lay it in Rock Island
for less than $225. We would certainly
be willing to make Test of IL at very
little over cost and can probably do it for
81. We expect to lay some Of in st.
Paul the coming season and also In Chi
cago. 1t can never wear smooth nor can
it ever be rough. and upon examination
of the sample which will he sent you, we
are sure you will not be long to discover
its terrific resistance 10 wear. When we
applied for a patent upon it, it WAS re-
jected, but upon further test made by the
department at Washington they gave US
an iron clad patent strongly recommend
ing the material
Gen. w. A Schmidt of the Sun Acct
dent Insurance association, and former
resident Of Quincy. was present. upon
invitation. and. being requested to do 80.
gave his views and experience in paving
taking the stand that vitrified brick,
properly laid, Is the cheapest. healthiest
and most substantial pavement.
The attention of the meeting was called
to the fact that Architect schuremsn had
discovered in quarries not far remote
from this city, species Of rock that
has the appearance Of possessing the
qualities of endurance essential to good
paving material. Mr. Schureman ex-
hibited specimen of the rock, and stated
that 1t was his intention to take 1t to
Cincinnati today to have 1t examined by
experts in granite institution there, and
will report upon such Investigations up.
on his return next Wednesday.
On motion committee was appointed,
consisting of Messrs. A. c. Dart, Phil
Mitchell E. Il. Guyer, T. ]. Robinson
and FL j ,Lowrey to act in connection with
Mr. Schureman and report if the rock
seemed durable for paving purposes. to
an adjourned meeting to be held March
20.
DIR. E. H. Guyer offered the following
resolution action upon which. was upon
motion deferred a special order at the
adjourned meeting of the property hold
ers, March %, with the request that IN
the meantime it be published:
Resolued, That while it is the sense of
this meeting that all permanent street
improvements should he made by special
taxation. yet we are not in favor of any
system which shall require the consent
of the owners of the majority of the
property effected. but desire that the city
council shall be the sole judge of the me-
cessity of permanent improvements and
shall order the same whenever in the
judgment Of the council it is for the in
terest of the whole city.
1t is also the sense Of this meeting that