The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-17
W~EST.STREET PAVEMENT
BLOCK AND ASPHALT FACTIONS BE-
FORE COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
Active Part I'm the Controversy Taken
by AIIen-CayIor Asphalt
Has Advantage.

About thirty property owners on West
street, between North and Fourteenth
streets. were before the Council committee
on sewers, streets and alleys. last night,
to give their views of the proposed i'm
provement of that street with asphalt or
wooden block. The Board of Works sent
an ordinance to the Council for asphalt,
but a majority Of the property owners
favors block, and it Ia necessary for the
Council to decide.
Those in favor OF block about equaled
the number in favor OF asphalt at the
meeting and there were many harsh words
spoken by the members OF each faction.
There are forty-four signers TO the petition
for block pavement, while only twenty
two signatures are on the petition for
asphalt.
A curious thing noticed about the petition
circulated by the asphalt supporters is that
IL sets out hat the street must be paved
with Trinidad asphalt from Pitch lake.
This is said to be irregular as contractors
using other kinds of asphalt would not be
allowed to bid. The street-railway COM
pany uses Trinidad asphalt In paving be-
tween its tracks.
Allen Caylor, who circulated a remon-
STRANGE some time ago against the i'm
provement of the street, then secured
signers for a petition for wooden block
and spoke in favor Of asphalt last night,
was instrumental in getting up the asphalt
petition. z. III. More said he was invited
TO a meeting at Mr.. Caylor's barn not long
ago and he sent word TO Mr.. Cayl6r asking
him how much he was TO get for making
the change from wooden block to asphalt.
Caylor made no answer TO More's remarks.
Caylor spoke In favor of asphalt. He
said those who are now in favor of block
were signers to the remonstrance against
any Improvement. He said he was first In
cheaper, as he was told the combination
OF asphalt people held up high prices. but
he ascertained that asphalt is cheaper and
is now in favor of that material.
j. W.. Gibson became quite pointed i'm his
speech In favor OF block and said the man
who circulated the remonstrance came out
a short time later with a petition for as
phalt. He says he has ninety feet and a
crossing to pay for and will not be bull
Attorney Frank McCray was before the
In behalf of many of the prop
erty owners who favor wooden block and
he said the Improvement should be con-
structed by disinterested people with no
a~ntagonizing interests running parallel
with the street.
1t was charged by one of the speakers
did so in order to kill the Improvement.
| The committee held an executive session
after the open meeting and after discussing
the matter some time. Munro Evans and
Moriarity were in favor of the ordinance
calling for asphalt pavement and Spiegel
held out for block. The majority of the
committee VIII report In favor OF asphalt. it
is said. while Spiegel will make a minority
report in favor of block pavement. He said
he would take this course I'm view of a ma
Jority of the property owners being i'm ia
vor OF block. Megrew was not present AT
the meeting and IL is not known whether
he will go with the majority or sign the
4 Tntn0TffX ranOrf The IDrrnlfl -II -.
the reports OF the committees Monday
night.