The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-04-04
LAKE ASPHALT.
Many Companies Can Get it Or
Bermudez.
Agents of Paving Companies Deny
Statements in Injunction
Papers.

ception to the statements made in the
complaint of John Diamond, in the
injunction proceedings, in which he
says that Fitch lake in the island OF
Trinidad is owned and controlled SOLE
ly by the Barber Asphalt Co, and the
"Bermudus' asphalt by the Der
mudus Asphalt Co."
j. d. Thomson of the Western Paw
ing and Supply Co. of Indianapolis
said to a Free Press reporter: 1.-The
Barber Asphalt Co. does not own,
neither does it control, Pitch lake or
its product. The New Trinidad Lake
Asphalt Co., Limited, holds a conces-
sion from the British government,
covering all the asphalt in Pitch lake,
and some half dozen paving COM
panies have contracts with that COM
pany for asphalt. Among these COM
panies is the one that l represent and
also the Barber Asphalt Go. All of
these half dozen companies get their
asphalt from the lake through the
company holding the concession.
"The New York and Bermudez
Asphalt Co., Limited, holds similar
concession from the Venezuelan gov
eminent for the Bermudez asphalt,
and paving companies get their
Bermudez asphalt from the company
holding the concession.
There is no restriction placed by
the British government on the taking
of land asphalt, and anybody can go
to the island of Trinidad and dig this
asphalt. 1t is therefore cheaper than
the better grade. The land asphalt is
supposed to be an overflow from Pitch
lake, occurring centuries ago, and it
is Overgrown with trees and vegeta-
tion, covered with soil, and mixed
with soil and vegetation. For this
reason the land asphalt is very IN
even. The whole secret of good
asphalt paving is in the mixing. Elk
perience has brought this to a science,
and the asphalt must run evenly tc
bring the best results. With land
asphalt, no two barrels are likely to be
exactly alike, and it would be too slow
and expensive work to test every Bit
of asphalt before using it. My com,
pany does paving with land asphalt
where this is called for, but the best
paving is made with the Pitch lake OF
Bermudez asphalt
sin this climate, less sand should
be used in the pavement and more
asphaltic cement than further south.
This makes softer pavement in sum-
mer and one that will not crack in
winter. If you get pavement laid
here that does not show the impress
sions of the horses shoes in summer,
you can depend upon it that the pave
ment will crack in winter. With the
proper mixture, asphalt paving will
stand this climate as we'll as it does
further south.
THE specifications upon which bids
are asked in Mankato are such as
cities usually have, and are almost
exactly the same as Indianapolis
uses
The Western Paving and Supply Co.
has never bid on work in Minnesota
before, but has done a great deal of
paving in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan.
Wisconsin and other states further
east.
Chas. NJ. Carpenter, representing the
Barber Asphalt Co., made similar
statement to the reporter in regard to
the new Trinidad Lake Asphalt Co.,
Limited, holding the concession foI
the Pitch lake asphalt and disposing
of 1T to a number of paving COM
panies He said that there is nc
''Bermudus'' asphalt, as mentioned in
the injunction papers, but that what
was probably meant was Bermudez
asphalt, which is also sold by the
company holding the concession.
Mr. Carpenter states that in Mason
City, Iowa, where his company did
some paving last year, residents on a
number of other streets are now petit
tioning the council to have the paving
extended this year.
Green Bay. Wis, has taken up the
paving question and awarded the
Barber company large contract.
Some Of the property owners are
threatening to bring Injunction pro-
ceedings, and an assessment per front
foot is being raised among the oppo-
nents of paving to pay attorneys fees.
The effect of the injunction proceed
ings on public sentiment was largely
discounted by previous publications
in the local papers. Some of the city
officials say that the complaint is not
as strong a document as they had
looked for.
City Attorney DALEY declined to
speak for publication, but the answer
that the city will file will not be pre-
scented before Monday. It will
probably deal mainly with the law
points involving the authority of the
council to order the improvement
made and to levy the assessment there
for.
The opinion is expressed that the
court will render a decision next
week, and in case it should be favor
able TO the city. but little delay will
have been occasioned by the proceed
ings. In ase it should be adverse to
the city, the latter is certain to appeal