The Indianapolis journal., 1890-02-28
IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD
Commercial Club Begins It's Work by
Helping on Street Improvements.
Proposed Exhibition on a Large Scale of Paw
ing Material-Free Gravel Roads Favored
The Club Increasing Its Membership.

occurred 1t WAS very Iuliy attenGeO, anu
the topics discussed were all of Importance
to the city. Several committees auxil-
iary to that on membership had met at
the clubs rooms earlier in the afternoon,
and many of the members of these were
interested listeners at the directors meet
ing. Mr.. Eastman's committee on retail
dealers, Mr.. Fosters on manufacturers and
Mr. Conduitt's on wholesale dealers held
interesting sessions, at which great spirit
and interest in the proposed work OF in
creasing the membership was shown.
At the directors meeting President Lilly
presided, and the room was crowded with
the directors and committeeman. L. l..
Griffith, chairman of the special committee
In reference to the proposed gun factory. In
connection with the Arsenal. submitted the
report of that body, the substance of which
was published In yesterdays journal. Mr.
Griffith was decidedly of the opinion that
the factory could be secured through proper
effort. and the committee was continued,
with instructions to act in concert with q
similar committee from the Board of Trade.
President Lilly then submitted the follow
ing:
of over thousand squares Of streets in the city
of Indianapolis in the near future, at a cost OF
several millions OF dollars TO its citizens 1t Is OF
the utmost Importance that complete and relia,
BILE information as to materials, construction anu
cost be at hand; therefore,
Resolved, frst-That the Commercial Club OF
indianapolis undertake to hold an exposition TO
be called. "The Street Paving Exposition OF In
dianapolis," at as early date as possible.
bSted maarias az sed n S Of asnhat
brick, macadam, medina stone, wood block and
all other kinds OF street pavemeEts.
Thlrd-That paving companies and individuals
be invited 10 present materials and drawings
showing sections of construction; TO exhibit
actual construction showing methods OF work,
with estimates OF the cost of each construction
set forth.
Fourth-That collection of Indiana stones
adapted for paving, and broken stone suitable
for foundation for paving, together with collec-
ton of the clays of Indiana suitable for making
paving bricks and bricks made from such clays
be made o special feature.
kinds OF paving be exhibited, indicating by col
ored lines the extent of use of such paving, and
in reference to the same be collected and shown.
Sixth-That methods for cleaning and preserv-
ing paved streets be shown and considered.
Seyenth-That the cities and towns of Indiana,
and other States be invited to send delegations to
inspect the exhibits. and avail themselves of the
information collected-the same being, also,
open to the general public.
Eighth-That a complete report be made at the
close of the exposition, and that, SO far pos
sible, the material collected be placed in g per-
manent exhibition for reference.
Resolved, That TO carry out the above plans
a committee of nine members Of the Commercial
Club Of Indianapolis be appointed to take charge
of, super1ntend and make report OF such eXposl-
ton.
In presenting the resolutions. Colonel
Lilly said he thought the matter referred
to was the most important step the club
could take as something like one hundred
miles of new streets and improvements
were projected and would be put down.
The first thing to be considered. he said.
was the best kind of street pavement The
movement proposed was not merely local,
as the resolutions contemplated participa-
tion by the representatives of other cities
In the exposition suggested.
The resolutions were very favOrably re-
ceived. AS originally introduced they pro-
Yided that the date of the proposed exposi-
tion be fixed by a committee to be ap-
pointed to consider the matter, and that the
Exchange Hall of the Board of Trade be Sc
lected as the place. Mr.. Foster therefore
asked to amend so as TO leave to the COM
mittee the choice of the location Of the ex-
hibit He suggested that some companies
treet-paving, and in that event the Ex-
change Hall would not be Buffi-
ciently cOmmodiOus. Otto Stechhan, be-
ing o member of the Common Council,
suggested that that body be asked to CO.
operate and bear part of the expense: He
thought the Council would be willing to do
SO, the matter being of as great Importance
to the city as the citizens. Nathan Morris
opposed this idea He considered it un wise
for the club to ask of the Council co-opera-
tion in any movement the former might
undertake. Let the club" he said. 'act
on its own responsibility. The Council
should not be asked for a cent to further
any action We may inaugurate. The
We will have ample funds with which to
defray any expenses incurred In the pro-
posed work"
Charles Z. Coffin thought Mr.. Morris's
ideas were correct in general way. but in
the matter under consideration, he said
a ri InfqrpGfpd
citizens, and under the circumstances he
thought the Council might with propriety
be asked to participate In the expense. Al
bert Lieber also thought the request
the Council was to be asked. 1t was not a
question affecting public affairs, but a sim
pie business matter. L. f. Griffith said
he did not think the proposed exposition
would require as great space as other mem
bers seemed to anticipate. bnt believed the
Board of Trade hall large enough. In thai
event the club could easily defray all ex-
penses. 1t was finally decided to leave all
the details to the committee provided lOr.
Another important matter considered was
proposal to make free the gravel roads OF
the county, as suggested in Wednesday s
Journal. This proposition was embraced iir
the following, introduced by President
Lilly:
Whereas. 1t is necessary to the prosperity Of
the city Of Indianapolis and Marion county that
the gravel roads of the county OF Marion be free
to the public.
Resolved, That committee Of five, of which
the Mayor OF the city shall be chairman, be ap-
pointed to cooperate with the people of Marion
county in the matter and report progress from
time to time to this club.
The resolution was received with evil
denees of warm approval and was adopted
unanimously. without extended discussion.
The committeeman to act with the Mayor
will be named hereafter. Mr. Coffin next
introduced the following:
Resolved, That a committee of three members
of the Commercial Club be appointed to consider
the interests of the city of indianapolis and the
State of Indiana In relation to the worlds fair to
be held in Chicago, and report i'll what manner
the city and State may be most benefited thereby
and point out our duty in relation thereto.
1t was deemed best to defer action on the
resolution for the present, but it will prob
ably be considered at subsequent meet
ing. The secretary was instructed to re-
quest the chalrmen of tie various auxiliary
membership committees to report the prog
ress OF their work from day to day. The
bonds of the secretary and treasurer
were submitted and approved. COM
munication from q. b. Wiley, editor of
the indianapolis Trade Journal, prOffering 9
to the club page of that publication
gratis. to be utilized in advancing the in
terests of the city, was read and accepted
with thanks.
A. l.. Mason's auxiliary membership CON-
mittee on professional mon met yesterday
morning, and transacted important busi-
ness. Mr.. Collins committee on real estate
and insurance agents and contractors will
meet this afternoon at O'clock. Louis III.
Gibson, Henry q. Spann and Harry Eaton
have been added to the committee. Mr..