Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-26
THEY WANT TTNOW
ASPHALT THE ONLY MATERIAL
Deemed Worthy Of Consideration 1t .
Meeting Of Property Owners Held
Last Saturday Night.


For the benefit Of those Who are in
cessantly talking of the city of Detroit
40 the "horse-car town. and of Grand
Rapids a. tho Chicago OF Michigan,
the following from the news columns
Of last Sundays Free Press u here
present d;
Al . largely attended meeting OF
members Of the Woodward Avenue I'm
provemen. association, held ye.ter day
afternoon at the office OF the Detroit
Real Est g. board, In the basement OF
the Bull block, il was unanimously
voted - AK the common council TO
pave Woodward avenue this season
from Jefferson avenue to the railroad
crossing with asphalt. X. H. Fyfe,
president of the ass cation, WAS IN the
char. and Secretary Ferry Of the real
estate board kept the minutes. Among
the members present were Mayor Pin
gree, the Hon. Thomas w. Palmer,
Homer Warren. Alderman Coots,
Martin Butzel, B. c. Clark, A.
E. F. White, d. II. Taylor. ]. B. simp-
son. +. w. Haynes. Edward Smith.
William Reid, MAXWELL NJ. Fisher,
David Carter, C. A. Newcomb. Thomas
McGraw, John NJ. Nicol. Alderman
Lowry, Alderman Vernon. William
A. Moore. G.. X. NJ. Collier, and
j. X. Mclaughlin,
Mr.. Fyfe, in calling the meeting to
order, stated the object to be TO have
Woodward avenue repaved this season.
The question 10 not SO much what IL is
to be paved WITH" he said, "as to have
il paved this year. Heretofore this
street has always been paved by asses
ment on abutting property. and we
think 1t is time that 1t was done by
general assessment"
show 10 this paving to be ordered?"
asked ex-senator Palmer.
Mr.. Fyfe-''By vote of the common
council"
Mr.. Palmer-"How are We to get
thst?"
Mr.. Fyfe-"That's one of the ques-
tons to be decided"
Mr.. Palmrr-"Will Aldermen Coots,
Lowry and Vernon undertake to SEQ
that the council orders it,"
VIII Cost Them Moro Than $500 900.
This sally brought out . laugh and
started the meeting OFT in good
humOr.
Chairman Fyfe and Mayor Pingree
were provided with figures showing
tia it would cost not more than $2l7.-
l34 TO pave Woodward avenue with
asphalt from the river to the railroad
crossing; that Medina stone would be
much more expensive; that the pave.
ment would last eight or ten years, and
could be resurfaced At an expense not
to exceed 500. 900.
Ii was evident from the outset that
the members present. were nearly
unanimous IN favor of asphalt. William
A. Moore Was strongly opposed to
brick, as 1t was too noisy, but favored
saplessc cedar blocks on concrete founda-
ton.
Mayor Pingree remarked that sapless
cedar blocks were something that De.
troIt had never been able to procure,
and he was opposed to further expert.
menting.
Mr.. Moore eaid than whatever action
was taken the association should be
unanimous, and he was ready to yield
to the Wi he's of the majority.
Ex-senator Palmer said that in order
| to get the sense Of the meeting he
wonld move that the council be asked
to have Woodward avenue paved with
| asphalt from J., fferson avenue to the
| railroad. This was seconded by Homer
| Warren.
Thomas McGraw said he would favor
| white pine blocks If they could be laid
as they are in London, England, but be
| did not believe Detroit paving contrac-
tors had yet reached the London stand
ard, and the expense under existing
circumstances would be almost fab
| ulous.
c. A. Newcomb favored asphalt on
concrete, aud said he believed it VIC uld
please majority Of the citizens living
| on the avenue.
Alderman Vernon asked what kind
| OF paving it was proposed TO use be-
tween the street railway tracks, and
| Mr.. Palmer answered that cobblestone
seemed TO he the favorite pavement
between tracks in nearly all cities.
allow long, senator. do you expect
horses to travel over cobblestones be.
tween the tracks in Detroit?' asked G..
| Y. NJ. Collier.
Mr.. Palmer laughed. and said he
| would give il up.
| Asphalt suits the Entire Public.
Mr.. Collier then made one of the
| strongest speeches of the meeting in
| favor of asphalt on Wood ward avenue,
and said he believed no other pave.
ment would suit the entire public 90
we'll. This sentiment WAS loudly sp-
plauded.
IL believe" Mr.. Collier added, chat
We will be fifty years behind the times
/ If we 60 back TO the wooden pave
/ ments."
Homer Warren SAID he represented
the property in the vicinity of Grand
Circus park, aud the owners all favored
asphalt. He was satisfied that . ma
| Jority OF the property owners on the
avenue were of the same opinion.
| Alderman Coots said that the present
condition of the avenue vas disgrace
TO Detroit. and ne would fight with all
the power he had 10 have the whole
avenue repaved. In the business part
of the city. he said. the blocks are
worn down 10 a thickness Of two
inches, aud the board Of public works
IL continually making repairs.
Alderman Lowry expressed doubt Of
being able To nave the sntire street re-
paved TINS year. aud thought the prop
erty owners ought 20 he satisfied II the
I. new pavement vas laid from High
street 20 the railroad crossing. leaving
the down town part until ueft year.
! lie was willing. however. 90 act IN
ohSdieace 10 the wishes of the ma
I iority. Alderman Vernon expressed
himself IN the same terms, and ssld he
ttausht abont 1000 nf}n coutd BE- -.
eursd f1r the fspsslnx Of Woodward