New-York tribune., 1902-01-11
TO FIGHT ASPHALT TRUST,
BOROUGH PRESIDENTS RECOMMEND
THAT NONE OF THAT SORT OF
PAVEMENT BE LAID UNLESS
PRICE BE CUT 81.

Presidents Cantor, Swanstrom and Cassidy,
acting as committee of the full board of
porougn presidents, to consider city asphalt
contracts, at a conference yesterday decided
to advise the borough presi lents Mayor Low
and Controller Grout, at a meeting to be held
next Thursday. not to have any more asphalt
ing work done in the city unless the asphalt
combine reduces it's price from 33 to 80 per
cent. When Borough President Cantor was
seen, he said:
'The committee has decided that the prevail
ing prices for asphalt paving are altogether too
high and that the city should not be compelled
to pay them. We shall advise the board of
borough presidents on Thursday that if the
asphalt contractors not willing to
down materially in their prices they should not
get any work from the city"
What do you consider a proper reduction in
price?" Mr.. Cantor was asked.
About 81 square yard" he replied. Asphalt
was laid properly in this city back in 1894 1895
and 1896 for about 81 % or 81 90 square yard.
There is no good reason why the city should be
compelled to pay from 50 to SO 90 for the
kind Of work now. If we can't get the price
lowered about 81 yard then, doubtless it will
be decided by the borough presidents with the
concurrence of the Mayor and Controller TO
nave no asphalting done at all. We not
stricted to asphalting. There other kinds
OF paving that will answer the purpose just
we'll, and they be constructed at a reason
able cost.
AT the meeting this afternoon we discussed
the advisabilty of bringing about three impor-
tant changes. First. we believe that there is
possibility of joker in the prevailing practice
Of requiring a contractor to submit with his bid
for building city paving a certificate setting
forth that he has been a practical layer of
asphalt work for a least two wears Z seenned
TO strike the committee that this requirement
is unnecessary
Second, it seemed TO be the opinion of the
committee that the maintenance guarantee for
ten years is somewhat costly. The contractor
builds and guarantees its maintenance for two
years now at about 50 square yard. For guar
anteeing additional five years maintenance
he gets 30 cents square yard additional. En-
gineers tell us that it does not actually cost
more than Is cents square yard for main
tenance for the additional five years.
The third point tentatively decided upon is
as have stated already. that if we can't get
the price down we will do without asphalt. and
accept some other kinds of paving"
The importance of the stand taken by the
committee Of borough presidents can best be ap-
preclated when II is said that the city has been
paying out 100000 or 100000 a year for
asphalt paving
Prominent officials in the new administration
of the opinion that the Tammany admins
tration was entirely too liberal with the asphalt
combination. and that the lberalIty cost the city
a needless expenditure of several millions Of
dollars in the last four years. IL is said that
Mayor Low and Controller. Grout determined
TO effect vast saving to the city in the laying
and maintenance of it's asphalt pavements
They are constantly receiving communications
from Independent asphalt contractors through
out the country promising assistance in fight
against the asphalt combination. Many of these
offers doubtless are inspired by trade jealousy,
but they have tended to convince of Mr..
Lows and Mr.. CIRCUITS advisers that the city
has been paying nearly twice much for
phalting was necessary.
ExMayor Frederick W, Wurster of Brooklyn,
when informed of the action of the borough
presidents in deciding to have no more asphalt
ing done until the asphalt combination reduced
the price of asphalting 81 a square yard. said
IL extremely wise move. and that the
city could wait long the trust He added
We used to have asphalting done in Brooklyn
for about 81 a square yard. Previously the city
had been paying exorbitant prices. Alfred T.
White Commissioner of Public Works.
brought about competition by getting two
three asphalt companies outside of the trust to
submit bids. I believe these companies have
been gobbled up by the trust, and competition is
throttled.
The action OF the borough presidents is COM
mendable. In the first place l think 1t was a
mistake to asphalt business streets in the
Borough Of Manhattan. Asphalt is not good
for streets where there is much traffic. 1t is
hard on horses. They unable to get foot
ing and cannot draw big load. Good granite
blocks make better paving for business streets
Asphalt is all right for the side streets. II is
supposed TO be used in residential districts, and
there 1t serves It's purpose
The prices that have been paid in the last few
years for asphalt simply outrageous but
that sort of thing is inevitable where there is no
competition.