Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-07
ASPHALT STREETS.
Thursdays Proceedings OF the Conference
of Mayors.


of Mayors.
Columbus, O., Sept. 30. AT to-day's
session of the Mayors conference S. +.
Pockham. an analytical chemist Of Ann
ATbur, Mich, consumed nearly an hour
in the reading of paper on How to
Obtain a Good Asphalt Street" A
general discussion of asphalt followed,
participated in by dozen or more
delegates.
Delegate Rand OF Minneapolis moved
that this conference recommend TO the
municipalities of the country that they
establish their own asphalt plants,
purchase the materials and lay their
own pavements, but some opposition
was provoked and the motion was with
drawn. BY it's action this afternoon
in the election Of permanent execu-
tive secretary the conference Of Mayors
struck the rock which, in the opinion
Of many Of its conservative and far
seeing members, seriously threatens its
possibilities for usefulness and may
wreck it absolutely at the start. b. y.
Gilkeson, publisher of City Govern
mont, was the recipient OF tho honor,
ana in the presentation of his name by
Mayor Green of Bingbamton, n. ", it
was disclosed that il his candidacy
should provoke any considerable OPP
position he would not permit himself
to destroy the unity and harmony OF
the now organization at the outset.
Up To midnight, however, MIR. Gilke
son had not resigned tho office.
The fight was shnrp one and in
tnnsely interesting at times and excit-
ing. 1t was pTecipitated early in the
session, when the legislation was under
consideration. The fourth article pro
vides that all tho Offices except the sec
rotary shall be an officer ut munci.
pality, holding membership 10 the or.
gauization. Mayor Quincy OF Boston,
moved to strike out the exception. and
the fight was on.
Mayor Quincy was supported by
Mayor Jones OF Toledo, o., and Alder
man John W. ID. Arey Of Joliet, H.,
the latter declaring that with Gilkeson
ss secretary the League would invite
| the criticism OF almost tho entire news-
paper press Of tina country aud subject
| itself to ridicule and opposition every
| where. The legislation provides that
| the name OF the organization shall be
| the League of a merican NJ municipalities.
John McVirar of Les Moines, Iowa,
Was elected president; Mayor Collier
OF Atlanta, weep president; Mayor
| black OF Columbus, treasurer. and the
following trustees Mayor Warner OF
Peoria. ILL.,, Councilman Walker of
Trenton, N. j., and Councilman Rand
of Minneapolis.
Mayor johnson OF Fargo, N. D., pre-
sided at the afternoon session. Detroit,
| Mich, was chosen as the next place of
| meeting, the other candidates being
st. Paul, Niagara Falls, Binghamton,
| N. y, and Atlantic City, N. D.
Wilmington has the largest delega-
ton, % city officials, and the oldest
delegate, Councilman U'Neill, who is
70 years of age.
President of City Council O. NJ.
Leitch, City Solicitor Conrad and City
Treasurer Curry, who have been attend.
ing the convention Of Councilmen and
mayors at Columbus, Y. returned homo
ON Saturday. having left in advance
of the remainder of the party. Col.
Leitch. in speaking of tho convention,
stated that the delegates had an enjoy
able time and obtained Il great deal of
information, as the papers which were
read aud the subsequent discussion
was highly instructive. Mr.. Leit:h
was elected trustee. There we're to
be three trustees and there wore many
nominations. Councilman Robertson,
who was extremely anxious that Will
mington should be represented, made a
great fight and his oloquence is proba-
bly, responsible in great measure for
the selection Of Mr.. LeitGh. One of
the other trustses is from Trenton, N.
j., and the third is from Western
city.
Col. Leitch stated that one OF the
| most enjoyable features of the side
issues was n visit to the penitentiary,
where $500 prisonera were confined.
The institution is provided with a
school and the instructor informed the
visitors that Loo persons were taught
to read aud write there last year. The
delegates were shown two men who are
to be executed next month by the elec-
| trio process and the death chair was
also exhibited and explained TO them.
| The also saw the gallOws, uron which
there had been ~ executions. All of
the executions are private.
On Thursday afternoon tho citizens
Of Columbus gave the use of their pri-
vate teams, in which the delegates were
shown about the city and enviruns.
There were some magnificent turnouts
anu the scene was magnificent. Every
place of interest was shown and OK
planned.
On Wednesday evening the delegates
we're tendered reception by the
Masons, Odd Fellows and knights Of
rythias. The headquarters of each
order was visited and refreshments
were served at each place, In fact the
citizens of Columbus could not do
enough for their guests, and no stone
was left unturned that would add to
their pleasure. There were about 500
delegates.
Col. Leitch stated that special atten-
tion was paid to Councilman O'Neill,
on account of his age and the agility
with which he got about. The re.
porters. not TO be outdone by the dele.
gates were exceedingly courteous.
| Walter Alexander Dead.
Walter Alexander died ON Friday at
/ h;a raaiIanon NJ 10 Wacf 1imapfv