Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-16
ASPHALT FAVORED
Fifteenth Street Property Holders
Express Preference for
That Material.
MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL ROOM
Matter Finally Referred TO Board of
Local improvement
and Council.

turned out en- masse Saturday even
ing TO the meeting at the city coun-
ell room To discuss the paving of that
thoroughfare. The subject of con-
sideration was not whether or not to
pave, for the petition for the improve
ment of the street has, as is well
known, been signed by owners rep
resenting considerably over the
requisite amount of frontage. but
whether to use asphaltum or brick.
In the petition circulated, names of
those favoring asphaltum and those
favoring brick had been placed sep
arately and the former greatly out
numbered the latter, expressing n
decided preference for asphalt. \
canvass of the situation Saturday
evening bore out the spirit of the pc
tition. Those favoring brick set up
the claim that there had been a mis-
take in placing some of the names.
The lists were accordingly gone over
and il was shown conclusively that
all who had signed for asphalt adj
hered to their preference. so that the
question of material is now consid
cred practically settled.
\ number of gentlemen, including
W. {. Maucker. Daniel Corken and c.
+. Johnson, addressed the meeting,
all favorable to the asphalt PROPOSE
ton, and the question of cost was
discussed. 1t was shown that the
difference will amount To only about
so cents per front foot, or S21 on a
lot of so feet frontage, brick costing
approximately S2.75 and asphalt
$3.25.
Owing To the announced plans of
the Tri-City Railway company in re-
gard to building the loop to the bluff
district, which, according to the
route planned, will be laid on Fiji
teenth street, it was decided to refer
the question of material along with
the general proposition. to the board
of local improvements and the city
council. with the petition represent
ing the preference of the property
holders. An endeavor will be made
to learn the intentions of the street
car company before further action
is taken. and another mass meeting
will probably be called in the near
future.
e--.-- Asphalt Should Have a Trial
The virtue of asphalt as "A paving
material has been demonstrated
wherever it has been tried in other
cities, nearly all of those that have
given it thorough test having
abandoned brick and other materials
in it's favor. While the preference of
the Fifteenth street property hold
ers is plain. it is understood that
there is still a movement fostered by
the interests of brick paving con
tractors to exert an influence in be-
half of brick before the council On
one other occasion the wishes of
majority of land owners on certain
street in this city in regard to ma
terial used in its improvement were
thwarted an this manner, and it is
hoped that n second instance of the
kind will not be permitted.
Railway Company no Preference.
j. +. Lardner, general manager of
the Tri-City Railway company. said
this afternoon that the ordinance for
the proposed loop to the bluff district
which it is desired TO place on Fiji
teenth street. will be prepared as
soon as certain matters pertaining
to the eastern part of the route are
settled. 1t is hoped that this will be
attended TO in time to- bring the or
dinance before the meeting of the
city council three weeks hence. He
also stated that the company has
absolutely no preference as to the
material used in paving the street,
and will be willing TO abide by the
wishes. of the majority of the prop
erty owners on Fifteenth street.