Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-06-25
THE COMMITTEE RETURNS
TWO DAYS SPENT ON RICH.
MOND's STREsETS.
Alderman Reynolds Talks About
the visit Of Ashcville's Commit
tee to RtchisOnd--A Profitable
Trip of Inspection.

alderman ReSnOlOS Talks About
the visit of Ashcville's Commit
tee to RtchmOnd-A Profitable
Trip of Inspection.
Mayor Blanton, Aldermen Starncs,
Reynolds and Leonard, Advisory Com.
missioner Conant and City Building III
spcctOr Burkholdcr arrived IN Ashcvlc
on Yesterday afternoons train.
These gentlemen. with the exception Of
Mr.. Burkholdcr, wLo went on business,
composed the committee appointed by
the board of aldermen to go to Richmond
and inspect the system Of paving in use
in that city.
Alderman Reynolds this morning gave
TIE CITIZEN an outline Of the trip as
follows:
The committee reached Richmond Sun
day morning at O'Clock, and stopped
at Ford's hotel. At II O'Clock they at
tended the Prcsbytcr church ON
Twcnty-sixth street. The pastor of this
church is Rev. J. p. Cannon, who for
; several year was the popular pastor of
the First Presby tcrian church OF Ashe.
vile. The committee enjoyed the
excellent sermon very much.
In the afternoon they were met by City
Engineer Cutshaw, and Col. Adams, the
superintendent OF gas works, and taken
out on drive of pleasure to the city's
beautiful parks, the water works, rescr-
voirs and other points OF interest.
Non Monday morning at 10 O'Clock the
committee were called on by Mayor
Ellyson, Col. Cutshaw, Street Superin-
tendcnt Adams and Major Capers, chair
man OF the street committee, who took
them out in special car to the quarry,
where the material for street paving is
gotten out. Here thev saw large quarrics
OF the most elegant blue granite. and
while there saw the blocks taken out and
shaped.
They were then taken over the streets
and to the water works. The latter,
MIR. Reynolds says, is a perfect system.
The pumps have capacity of 10000,
900 gallons day. and the entire system
cost $3.50 900.
They visited streets which were being
paved and saw the entire process. from
the time the blocks arc cut at the quarry
down through the construction OF the
foundation, "tamping," to the time when
the streets are entirely completed. Be-
gian block is used to a greater degree
than any other kind of paving. rhc
work was being done by two contractors
These gentlemen expressed a desire to
bid on Asheville's work in their line.
The committee also were shown a
street on which the paving had been laid
thirty years ago with Belgian block, and
it was still a very scrviccablc and sub
stantial pavement.
Some of the streets are paved with rub
bic, a sort of second class Belgian block
the only difference being that il docs not
make SO neat street. This is put, Mr.
Reynolds says, on streets where there is
much heavy traffic, as on Depot street in
Ashevillc.
The committee spent Tuesday night at
Old Point Comfort, and returning to
Richmond found City Engineer Lee,
OF Ashcyillc. They instructed Mr.. Lee to
remain in Richmond for several days and
inspect every detail of the paving work
i'll that city. They left Richmond ycstcr-
day and came direct to Ashcville.
The committee. to Il man, are unstintcd
in their praise Of the handsome manner
in which they were treated by the city
officials of Richmond. Everything was
placed at their disposal without cost aud
the officials took great pleasure in giving
their time i'll showing every point tn It
could have any possible bearing ON the
work to bc done by the committee.
The city officers they found to bc men
OF thorough education and highest stand
ing, and enjoying the unbounded conf,
dcncc OF the people they serve. Aud OF
the CITY itself they speak highly. The
,, parks and monuments were taken in and
enjoyed. The streets are wide and well
paved and kept.
Altogether, Mr. Reynolds says, the com.
mittce could have done nothing better
$ Tor the city's good than to take this trip
They laid up a store of information that
will bc invaluable in the great work that
is about being begun in this city.
The committee OF which alderman
= Starncs is chairman, will report to the
Joint meeting OF aldermen and advisors
next Monday afternoon at q clock.
ia Richmond.
y In an article on the visit of the com
mittce to Richmond Tuesdays Dispatcl
says:
"Thc gentlemen expressed themselves
. as highly pleased with what they hat
: seen, and while no definite action will b,
taken until they return home and hav,
had a private conference with the re
mainder OF the city brotherhood il wal
generally understood that they are unan
imously in favor OF Asheville's streets
being just like those of Richmond.
Mayor Blanton. in speaking to a Dis
patch reporter yesterday about his visit
said every gentleman of the delegation
felt deep appreciation Of the kindly man
. ner In which they were received an,
treated by the Richmond authorities.
Referring to Ashevillc he was loud il
its praise, boasting of its hotels, its eli
mate. it's people, and its prospects.
Mayor Blanton is ono of the youngcs
city executive officers of the country. H
was elected to his position in MAY. 1889
over republican who had filled the chic
Office Of that city for several years, an,
his majority was the largest Ashevill
- has ever given any candidate for the may
orality. He is about % years of age
with a keen gray eye and light blond
moustachc, and altogether typical ma
for he hiph DositiO he holds -