The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-14
THE STREET.PAVING WAR
MORE ENGAGEMENTS TAKE PLACE
IN THE WORKS BOARD OFFICE.
Mr.. Kenyon Files Judge Elliott's Opin-
ion and George j. Marott Files
Remonstrance-CityA Affairs.

Two more engagements took place yester-
day before the Board OF Public Works in
the street-paving war. Clarence a Ken
yon, OF the regulars filed the opinion
furnished the Hoosier Construction Com
pany by former Supreme Judge Elliott
holding the block specifications including
the establishing of creosote oil of the
grade Of kreodone." valid and competitive
George j. Marott. of the insurgents" filed
a remonstrance against resurfacing with
asphalt Massachusetts avenue from Penn
sylvania to East street. unless the specifca-
tons requiring Trinidad pitch lake or Der
mudez asphalt are changed so as to include
any asphalt While these demonstrations"
were being made before the board S. H
Shearer and others interested in the paving
business were in the corridor "peeking"
in at the scene.
Mr.. Kenyon, in filing the opinion said
he was not sure that IL was in the interest
of general public welfare or good govern
ment for interested persons TO go among
inexperienced property owners with false
hoods as TO the conditions under (which
paving is being done. He expressed con-
tempt FOR such methods as will cause prop
erty owners TO send notice that they will
contest assessments after the work has
been begun. This was true in the case of
/ East Mlchlgan street. He also said that he
was bound oy heavy bond 10 do the work
and that this forced him 10 proceed. II he
stopped work the city would default his
bond. and II he finishes the work the prop
erty owners will resist payment. Mr.. Ken
yon said IL was not hard TO speculate where
he would be at in either case. He said
he had notified all the property owners who
joined IN the nonpayment notice 70 him that
the opinion was in the boards office for
their use.
FOLLOWS PRECEDENT.
/ The board received the opinion and or
dered it filed II is understood that its con-
+ illusions based on the same reasoning
+ the law department of the administration
has followed for several years the discre-
/ ton of fixing the standard being left to
the board. II is pointed out by the in
/ surgents" that IL Mr.. Elliott's opinion is
\ the law II does not mean that il would be
invalid 10 widen the scope Of the specifica-
\ lions and admit all asphalts. They also as
/ sert that though the present contracts may
/ be valid II will not be invalid TO build
streets in the future OF something else than
/ pitch lake or Bermudez asphalt.
/ George j. Marott's remonstranee bore the
name OF only one resident property owner
I his own. There we're several other signers
I Before presenting II Mr.. Marott said the re-
! surfacing was Objectionable TO the property
owners. first because they deemed resurfac-
ing absolutely unnecessary. and. second
i because they thought the speciica lions
should admit greater competition for either
I reSurtac cling or repairs. Mr.. Marott is the
only resident property owner in the whole
section of Massachusetts avenue that the
I board proposes 70 resurface. and he claims
residence by a doubtful fact He lives on
North Alabama street. but his lot. which
| has not been divided. runs through 10 the
! avenue. The property is az business prop
! erty and none OF the owners live on the
/ street. II Mr.. Marott is held 20 be a legal
resident. then he will be not only the ma
/ Jority- but az the resident property owners
II he IS held not 20 De. there will be none 10
| demonstrate effectively.
ATTRACTING ATTENTION.
The paving war in Indianapolis. especial
~ its asphalt interest is attracting atten-
ton elsewhere. The American Asphalt
Journal. printed in Chicago. which appears
TO be giving all phases Of the asphalt ques-
ton. prints on opposite pages of It's last
issue photogra apis OF the Indiana-avenue
| pavement above West street and Washing
ton street west OF Senate avenue. The In
diana-ayenue pavement was laid In 1897. In
the fall and Is OF so-called "Germo-Ksn-
lucky" rock asphalt. a combination of Ger
man imported and Kentucky rock asphalt.
! The photograph. which IL stated as having