Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-21
PAVING MAY CONE CHEAPER
Omaha Likely t. Benef: Through II.
Asphalt Competition.
HUGH MURPHY in NEW CONSERVATION
Independent Asphalt Association
Formed by A. l.. Barber Will he
Locally Represented by
His Former Foe.

Sharp competition in brick and asphalt
paving is presaged in Omaha this year.
Reports from Kansas City Indicate that new
BIDS there shave the old price about 40
cents yard on asphalt. Dispatches an
nounce the formation of the independent
Asphalt association in New York, OF which
Hugh Murphy of Omaha is an executive
committeeman.
In Kansas City the cut which runs from
- v to as low $1.71 yard, is accounted
for by the employment of open specihca lions
and the entrance of a new firm, the Cleve-
land-Trinidad Paving company into the
field. Heretofore the Barber Asphalt Paw
ing company and the Parker Washington
Paving company have been alternating on
contracts In Kansas City. The opening of
bids for larger quantity of paving re-
vealed new state Of affairs.
Hugh Murphy's New Field.
The news about the Independent Asphalt
Association of the United States and Can
ada confirms the statement that Hugh Muir
ply, for many years heavy contractor in
Omaha, Denver, Lincoln and other places,
would represent the interests of the new A
l.. Barber Asphalt company in this territory.
The A. l.. Barber company is separate and
distinct from the Barber Asphalt Paving
company, which is headed by John Mack.
A L. Barber was one of the founders of
the latter, but was forced out through
some of the mysterious processes of the
asphalt trust methods. Now he is leading
new company of his own and very vigor-
ously. He has not tried to operate in this
part of the country to date, but much is
promised for 1906
Mr.. Murphy has not yet returned from
the ia wit
His present affiliation with A. l.. Barber
recalls the fact that In 1896, when Barber
was the controlling genius of the Asphalt
trust. Murphy made a desperate fight to
break into the Omaha field. BY means of
litigation, led by City Engineer Rosewater,
open specifications at last were obtained.
Murphy got into the running and is reputed
to have made a great deal of money
thereby. But in the shifting of personals
ties and interests he now finds himself
buckled up with his old foe.
Grant VIII NOT Retire.
Friends of John Grant say that he will
not retire from the Omaha paving business
at least until after the close of the year. If
he stays, or provided the interests of the
Warren Bros. in Nebraska merely change
hands, three competing companies will exist
here to fight it out over a large amount of
work to be let this year 1t is said that
the Warrens have about decided they must
either quit Omaha or go after the business
here hard and furious. In the latter case
prices will drop with variegated thuds 1t
is thought.
Omaha got the prices Kansas City is now
obtaining in 1905 principally because of the
open specifications insisted upon by City
Engineer Rosewater and at last put into
effect after the legislature abolished the old
Board of Public Works. These same speci-
fcations with a few small notifications,
thought to be improvements, will be SUBJ
nitted to the council by the engineer So
far no active opposition has been launched
against them. ..-,-