Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-26

i of which | have, shows that TRINIDAD
lake asphalt pavements have been
maintained in that city for from two
to ten years, since the expiration OF the
guarantee period at an annual cost per
square yard of 6-6-10 cents for the
highest, and that much of the pavement
has been maintained, some of it for ten
years without any cost whatever, the
1 average being 1-44-100 cents per square
yard per annun.
| Mr.. j. NJ. Lewis, city engineer OF
Sioux City, writes that they used only
LAKE asphalt, and that it gives the
best of satisfaction. Their first pave
ment was laid In 1896. No comparison
can be made in their city as land as
phalt is not used.
Mr.. G. II. Benzenberg. consulting en-
gineer of Milwaukee, and an acknoW!-
edged expert on pavements, writes
Il don't believe pavements laid with
land asphalts are as good or des,r-
able as with Trinidad Pitch Lake as
phalt" He referred me To some en-
gineering society reports, which | nave
sent for but have not yet received.
ID. w. H. Moreand, commissioner OF
public works, Detroit, Mich, writes:
We have had experience here with
Pitch Lake asphalt, and also with land
asphalts, and we decidedly prefer the
| first named one"
| II E. Beasley, city engineer of Pc
oria, H., and n. A. Stephens, of Joliet,
| Ill, both write that they have no opin-
ion that can be given as to the cost
and maintenance of asphalt pave
ments.
4 7 n-- icto MT
of ST Paul, writes: The best pave
ments here have been laid with the
| Trinidad Pitch Lake asphalt
| The letter OF Frank E. Murphy of
Green Bay. Wis, while giving no defin-
! lite figures as to the cost of mainte-
nance, is SO much to the point that
quote it in full as follows:
Sir: In reply TO your letter of Jan.
| 81, relative to the merits Of Trinidad
lake. Trinidad land, and other land as
phalts, l have to say that what infor-
nation am able to give you was game /
by the same method you are employ
ing, l. e.. by correspondence.
Our city but recently let a contract
of about 10000 yards OF asphalt to the
| Barber Asphalt Paving Co., for the lay
| ing of Trinidad Asphalt. This will be
the first asphalt street in the city
Prior to the letting of the contract the
committee having this branch of the
work under its supervision, made a
very thorough research into the relative
merits of the different asphalts. and
we closed our specifications in conse-
quence, SO as to exclude all but Trim
idad lake asphalt. before the bids were.
| opened, representatives of the land as
| pllalts invaded our city and attempted to
convince property owners of the equal
merits of their products. In consequence
of this we made a still more thorough
research into the matter, giving to the
streets of Chicago our personal atten-
| ton and our council as we'll as the cit
liens of our city are satisfied beyond
any question of doubt that Trinidad
lake is the best.
II might add that as to the cost of
maintenance you will find that lake as
phalt can be maintained after the guar
antee period for less than 10 per cent
of the cost of maintaining land as
phalts--this / gather as the experience
of the mAny cities turnout the United
States, to the officers of which l per-
sonally addressed letters.
In cities OF from 10000 to 10000 in
habitSnts l believe it is to be unwise
to experiment in asphalt pavements--
the best is what your property owners
are entitled to.
IF can be Of any further assistance
in this matter, you have but to address
me and l Will eheerfully assist you.
Respectfully
"FRANK L. MURPHY,
Chairman"
I have written the Hon. Robert e..
Cousins, also the inspector of asphalts
in the city of Washington, ID. c., both
Of whom sent me the annual reports Of
the engineering department OF that
city. They do not, of course, take up
the relative merits of the different
brands of asphalt, but do say that Trim
idad asphalt imported by the Barber
Asphalt Co., has been markedly uni
form in composition as in former years.
In the face of the experience OF the
engineers writing me in reply to the
letters sent OFT, l certainly can not
change the opinion l have held ever
since this question has been agitated
in the city of Marion, but am more
firmly convinced that there should be
no hesitancy upon the part Of the
city council to decide emphatically In
favor of Pitch Lake asphalt. The let
tiers received are in the hands of the
mayor, and may be examined at any
time.
AS to the question of competition in
bids, l have been assured that if suf-
ficient time is given to investigate the
local conditions as to the price of stone,
sand, ETC.. that number OF companies
using Pitch Lake asphalt Will bid on
the work in the city of Marion.
I wish to assure you that l stand
ready to carry out the wishes of the
council in regard to this matter ire
spective Of whether they adopt the
recommendations l make In regard to
the kind OF asphalt to be used or not.
Respectfully,
J. D. MARBLE,
Engineer for the city.