The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-27
THEY VISIT SEDALIA.
Several Members of the State
Executive Council
Inspect the Pavements of the
ellison Asphalt Company.
a. Pleasant Trip to the Enterprlslng
Missouri Town-Jonathan myers
as Host.

Since the executive council has dec1d-
ed that the yellow mud walks at the
state house must go the people of To-
ueka who have been in the habit of
crossing them in their daily trips to
and from their business have concluded
that the council knows what it is about.
Now that is has been decided that the
walks shall be replaced with more sub
stantial material the state officers are
trying TO discover what shall be used
The present walks and drives have
been such dismal failure, said sec
rotary Bush. that We want the best
that can be found in their place: am
in favor of putting down the right KIND
OF material and 1 shall exercise care IN
deciding what it shall be"
It was this disposition to find the best
pavement to be had that led the mem
bers of the executive council to make
trip to Sedalia, Mo, on Thursday Ihe
party was made up of Secretary OF
State w. +. Bush, Auditor Morris, state
Treasurer Hefiebower. Secretary 4 {.
Little. Councilman John Elliott Police
Ccmmissi nar Wilson Keith and jour
nal r porter. The members of the party
were the guests of Mr. Jonathan MY
ers. who was inspector of pavements in
Topeka under the Metsker administra-
ton but who is now agent for the GIL
son Asphaltum company of ST. LOUIS
which is becoming a powerful antagOn-
ist OF the Barber company.
Mr. Myers headquarters are a 202
Shedley building. Kansas City. Mo.
Mr. Myers took the state officers to
Sedalia because his company had put
down several blocks of pavement in
that city year ago and he wanted
them to inspect the pavement in practi-
cal use.
It was noon when the party reached
Sedalia where the people had been
given q tip that some distinguished ViS-
itOrs would arrive and there was quite
a party at the depot to welcome the
Kansas delegation. 1t was reported
that Governor Leedy would be mem
her Of the party but he decided TO send
his private secretary at the last mo-
ment and his absence was disappOint-
ment- Auditor Morris was evidently
the most distinguished appearing mem
Der Of the party for every once in
awhile some gaunt. hungry looking
Missourian would pluck him by the
sleeve and inquire; BE you Governor
Leedy2"
was once a mayor of Topeka met the
party. and Mayor P. D. HASTEN of Sc
dalia. and Mayor P. D. Hastain of Sc
kindly face. also arrived soon after and
joined the party at the table which had
been especially arranged for the visi-
tors.
The meal was well under way when
a young man with a light muStache and
long WaVy hair rushed into the room.
w here are the Kansas people? Where
is Ed Little?" he exclaimed excitedly.
The young man was H. Y. Rice who
was connected with the Fort Scott
Monitor for some time and he was
hungry for the sight Of the Kansas Of
hcers- He was a member of the young
crowd" with Mr.. Little and hence his
inquiry for the secretary.
As soon 5 young Mr.. Rice reached
Mr.. Little he almost fell into his arms
Then he began Gliding the Abilene
statesman because he had left the Re
publican party "Oh Ed why did you
do 1t, why did you do it?" said he. Mr..
Little made no effort to explain.
Then Mr. Rice explained to Treasurer
Hehebower how he had once harvested
oil.
he lived in Miami county, but Treas
urer Heflebower said he was not the
only one who had that sin to answer
for, and he forgave him on the spot.
After Mayor Hastain had made a
short address, which was responded to
by Auditor Morris. the party was taken
to carriages by Mr.. Myers and started
on tour of the city.
At Ohio and Fourth streets two street
intersections had been put down, one
by the ellison company and the other
by another asphalt company. The pave
ment of the ellison company evidently
had the better of the comparison and
George Faulhaber, cashier of the Mis-
souri, Trust company, left his desk to
tell the state officers that the sample
put down by the ellison company had
given much better satisfaction than the
other. After the gentlemen had been
satisfied about the comparison the car
riages were again started
This time the driver stopped on sew
enth street. which, by the way, is one
of the most beautiful residence streets
in Sedalia. stretch of beautiful
smooth pavement greeted the eyes of
the members of the party and it was
not necessary to give a second invita-
tion to get out and walk over it, In
the five long blocks which the party
walked over not a single crack was
found and there was absolutely no evil
denCe of wear.
Mayor Hastain. who had accompa-
MED the party on the tour, said: There
was a great deal of opposition to the
ellison company when they came here
and asked to be given contracts for
pavement. They We're, however. given
this contract and I tell you frankly
that the result has been very satisfac-
tory and the people are very well
pleased. The pavement is all that
any one can ask. and l do not believe
that we made a mistake when we gave
the contract to the ellison company
Mr.. Myers told the state officers all
about his company and the pavement
as he walked with them down Seventh
street He said: This pavement is
constructed from bituminous sand and
lime rocks from the Chickasaw nation.
The pavement does not crack under the
severe cold OF winter and does not mark
under. the heat of summer. All the