The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-24
LOUD IN PRAISE
 OF BIRMINGHAM New Orleans Officials Pleased
 With Trip ALL FAVOR BITULITHIC
Highland Avenue and Fifth Avenue Attracted the Especial Attention of the Visltors-The Fire De-
 partment We'll Equipped.

The following is from the New Orleans Daily States:
 Mayor Martin Behrman was back again at his post of duty in his parlor at the city hall today after his trip to Birmng- ham with the council committee which went on to inspect the bitulithic pave ment in the Iron City. He declared that notwithstanding the fact that he was thoroughly tired out after the inspection of the streets, he enjoyed the visit inn mensely and found all of the Birmingham people whom he met exceedingly cordial, affable and princes of good entertainers.
 The committee which visited Birmng- ham was composed of the following city officials: Mayor Behrman. Councilmen Charles O'Connor, Goebel Seymour, Junk CT, Barrett, Cahill, Brandao and Kelly, and Chief Thomas O'Connor of the New Orleans fire department. They were &C., companied by Richard M. Hyams, the New Orleans representative of the Bitul- ithic Pavement company. and numerous other New Orleans residents who were Birmingham bound on business.
 The party left New Orleans on Friday evening via the Louisville and Nashville road, and on their arrival in Montgomery (Alabama's capitaD, on the following morning. laid over for several hours, vs- iting the state capital, paying their re- spects to the governor. and looking over the city. Arrived at Birmingham they were met at the central depot by R. N. Ingram of Nashville and John E. Done- son. representatives of the Bitulthlc Pay inc John M. McCartin. After the party had gone to their quarters fin the Hotel Hill 1naIl and "cleaned up," they were taken out to Birminghams splendid Country club, where they were entertained at lunch. after which the tour of the streets paved with bitulithic were toured. includ- ing those in both the business and the residence sections. When the tour of the streets was finished the New Orleans party was entertained at q dinner at the Hotel Hiilman.
 Among the streets paved with bltulithlc which the junketing party visited were Highland avenue, one of the finest most beautiful drlveways in the south, and one which Mayor Behrman pronounced per feet in every respect: Fifth avenue, which compares more than favorably with any similar thorcLghfare in any city of the south. and vdrious other prominent streets in Birmingham.
 The plant of the Bitulithlc company was visited and here the party was shown how the rock is crushed into three different sizes and mixed with the as- phalt, oils and sand. ready to be laid From the plant they were taken to d street which was being paved, and shown how the mixture, composed principally of the largest crushed rock is put down first; then the next sized composition of smaller rock put on, and finally, after coating of hot asphalt oil has been applied, the final layer of the smallest crushed rock is laid on the surface The soil of Birmingham does not necessitate the laying of a concrete foundation, as does the soggy soil of New Orleans--it is laid on the sag foundation which is natural to Birmingham, and which fuin- ishes what. practically, is a stone foun- dation.
 Mayor Behrman and Chief O'Connor both pronounced the pavement most excellent one. They inspected It. with