The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-01
WAGON WHEAT, 91C
ACME MILLING CO.,
Old 352 West Washington St.
TIMES HAVE IMPROVED
MAYORS OF MANY CITIES THINK
PROSPERITY HAS RETURNED.
Effect of Heat and Cold on Asphalt
Pavements-EIectiOn of Officers
Protest Against Mr.. GiIkison.

COLUMBUS o., Sept. 30.-Twenty-eigh
of the mayors attending the convention of
the Municipal League here were inter
viewed to-day as to whether prosperity had,
or was returning, and the answers were
unanimously to the effect that times had
and were improving. Among those inter-
viewed were Mayors Gustav Tafel, Cincin-
natl; Lnxweiler, Dayton, o.. Andrews,
Roanoke Va; Leitch, Wilmington, Del;
Doran, st. Paul; Foote, Washington, D. c.;
Johnson, Fargo, n. D.; Stephens, East ST.
Louis. and Quincy Boston.
The attendance at this forenoon's session
of the mayors conference was unusually
large. S. F. Peckham, an analytical chem
ist of Ann Arbor, Mich, read a paper on
How to Obtain Good Asphalt Street"
In discussing the effect of heat and cold
on asphalt pavements and proper outdoor
temperature for laying them, Mr.. Peckham
referred to the extremely cold weather in
Minneapolis and the laying of asphalt there
during the month of December. This
brought Delegate Soye, of that city, to his
feet in defense of Minneapolis climate, and
to state, by way of correction, that his city
had never laid any asphalt later than Oct.
10. A general discussion of asphalt fol-
lowed, participated in by a dozen or more
delegates and many interesting facts in the
experience of various cities were brought
out. Delegate Rand, of Minneapolis moved
that this conference recommend to the
municipalities of the country that they es-
tablish their own asphalt plants purchase
the materials and lay their own pavements,
but some opposition was provoked and the
motion was withdrawn.
BY its action this afternoon in the election
of permanent executive secretary, the
conference struck the rock which, in the
opinion of many of IT'S most conservative
and far-seeing members, seriously threatens
its possibilities for usefulness and may
wreck 1t at the start. B. F. Gilkison pub
Usher of City Government, was the recipient
OF the honor, and in presenting his name
Mayor Green, of Binghamton, n. Y, de-
clared that If his candidacy should provoke
any considerable opposition he would not
permit himself to destroy the unity and the
harmony of the new organization at the
outset, Up to midnight. however. Mr. Gil
kison has not resigned the office. There was
no objection to Gsilkison as to character or
ablllty, but those opposed TO him felt that
with MIN as secretary and executive officer,
the organlzatlcn would be hopelessly tied
up TO his publication as its organ and thus
be charged with the responsibility for the
policy of the magazine and all its utter
anCes. The fight was a sharp one and in
tersely interesting at times and exciting.
Alderman John W. ID. Arey, of Joliet. III.
declared that, with Gilkson as secretary
the league would invite the criticism of al
most the entire newspaper press of the
country and subject itself to ridicule and
opposition everywhere. City Government.
1t is charged, attacks private ownership of
municipal service plants end is generally
hostile TO all corporate interests.
The new constitution provides that the
name of the organization shall be THE
Leagne of American Municipalities" Its
objects are the general Improvement and
faciitation of every branch of municipal
administration ANY municipality in the
United States or Canada may become a
member. the anual membership fees being
as follows: Cities under 25000 population
500 between 900 and 500 $50: between
50. 600 and 10000 $40; between 100000 and 20O-
600, $50;over 2000 $50 Every citizen holding
membership shall be entitled To send its
mayor and as many members of it's gen
eral t'ouncii and its Board OF Aldermen as
II may desire as delegates TO the annual
meeting.
The secretary is 10 conduct a bureau of
information and Will receive a salary
John McVscar. OF Des Moines. Ia. was