The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-10
LETTER T0S. II. SHEARER
BOARD or WORKS ASKS HIM TO SUB
NIT A PROPOSITION.
Ii Says All the Talking Has So Far
Been Done in the Newspapers-
Municipal Affairs.

The Board of Public Works has taken
step that is likely 10 bring the trust and
antitrust question sharply before it. The
step" was the following letter to Samuel
H. Shearer. former city civil engineer and
for fifteen years connected with various
so-called trust" asphalt companies:
Through the medium of the public press
and mention by citizens appearing before
the Board of Public Works remonstra-
tors against proposed improvements, we
are informed Of your desire to do work in
the asphalt line at remarkably low figures,
and. while this information has not been
vouchsafed the board other than above
mentioned. yet the board desiring to OBJ
tain the best possible results at the lowest
possible cost, would, If opportunity were
offered. be pleased 10 consider any PROPOSE
ton you may have TO submit to this point.
Board meetings are Monday, Wednesday
and Friday mornings"
This letter. signed by all the board. was
sent to Mr.. Shearer yesterday.
Members of the board say that, while Mr..
Shearer has been making some display of
his attack on trust" asphalt in newspa-
peTs, he has not yet been before the board
board thought it would be we'll to have Mr..
Shearer appear before it and explain how
he would build asphalt pavements cheaper
than they are now being built.
For some weeks there has been an agita-
ton faVoring the opening of the asphalt
specifications which the city has adopted
as standard for the construction of all
pavements of this material The specifica-
tons require the use of Trinidad lake as
phalt or Bermudez asphalt. These prod
ucts, IL is claimed. are controlled by the
asphalt trust. which maintains an exces-
siVe price upon them which makes the
paving expensive for property owners. Mr..
Shearer, who has organized a company
which uses other asphalt than Trinidad
lake or Bermudez. alleges that the specif-
cations exclude him from bidding, or other
wise he would be able to greatly reduce the
cost of asphalt paving.
NOT A NEW CONTENTION
The contention is not new to the city.
Five or six times boards have pondered on
this problem and have yielded TO the ex-
pert advice of city engineers and others
10 continue the specification for Trinidad
lake and Bermudez asphalt, the last having
been admitted in 1898.
Trinidad lake asphalt is that which is
mined in the asphalt lake In the little
island at the mouth of the Orinoco. while
Bermudez is mined in Venezuela The other
asphalts are Trinidad land" or overflow
asphalt. and rock asphalts mined in various
parts of the world. All the citys engineers
including City Engineer Nelson, have been
committed TO the use OF the two kinds now
in the specifications. They have held that
the others are inferior in chemical and
other qualities. Mr.. Shearer has cited
many cases where the overflow asphalt
has been used in the construction of excel
lent pavementS.
The boards action is looked upon as
opening anew the investigation of the
asphalt question.
While the board is facing a contest as to
the asphalt specifications from Mr.. Shearer
another involving the treatment of wooden
blocks for paving with creosote ''of the
grade of kreodone' is making ready Yes
terday seventeen residents of Michigan
street. between Noble street and Pogue's
run. signed a notice to the Hoosier Con-
struction Company not to begin work as
the contract will be attacked in the courts
Mcbride & Denny have been retained to
bring suit for injunction declaring the
contract to have been let without COMPETE
ton. This allegation will be based on the
language quoted and which, il is further
alleged. prevents competition because only
one company-the Hoosier-may use the oil
so designated. This action was suggested
by the decision OF a Kansas City court
which held that assessments for improve
ments and bonds issued therefor would not
be valid if the specifications excluded gen.
eral connection.