Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-01-30


the prices of asphalt pavemerfts In
this country. Prices have steadily
declined in the past four years, and
this new move, therefore, deserves
the serious consideration of every
taxpayer in the United States.
"Amzi L. Barber, organizer and
president of the new organization, by
his methods of management as officer
of the Barber Asphalt Paving Com
Ipany, prior to 1900, brought that
company into disrepute, largely by
the company's practice of obtaining
extortionate prices for paving con-
tracts through agreements with nom
inal competitors.
"Mr. Barber was responsible for
the reckless fnanciering which threw
the Asphalt Company Of America
and the National Asphalt Company
into bankruptcy in 1901. He was
also in league with President Castro
in the illegal seizure of Mermudez
Lake, Venezuela, in 1904, and has
been openly exploiting that property
ever since.
"On January Il, at the invitation
of Mr.. Barber, forty-four asphalt
contractors are reported as having
met in Mr. Barber's office in New
York City and organized themselves
into a combine known as the indie
pendent Asphalt Association. It's
objects were set forth by r. Y. Fill
bert, president of the Filbert Paving
and Construction Co, of Philadel-
phia, in an interview published
broadcast as follows:
1T has been said and printed in
the newspapers that we are establish
ing an asphalt trust There is no
truth in this statement. On the
contrary, we are made up of firms not
now in the asphalt trust, and we have
organized for mutual protection
against the trust
"But the so-called trust had
been invited to join in the new move
ment, as will be observed from the
following letter:
II Batter PLACE, New York, Jan. 8,
1906.
John M. Mack, Esq, President the
Barber Asphalt Paving Co., Land
Title Building, Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Sir:-The, present conditions
of Asphalt paving in most of the cit
les of the United States are notori-
ously unsatisfactory. y
Contractors are getting low prices
while property owners and cities are
too often getting poor work. -.
To carefully consider this subject
and to find, if possible remedy for
these troubles, you are invited to
meet with others interested, at Room
No. 1906 in the Whitehall Building,
No. II Battery Place, New York, at
IL a. NJ, on Wednesday, january II,
1906 Automobile week.
[ desire also to have the pleasure
of you company at dinner at the Ho-
tel Astor, Broadway and 44th and
45th streets, on the evening of the
same day, at O'Clock.
Any one or more associated with
you in the business will be welcome
at the meeting and also at the din
ner, especially if you can not come
yourself.
Will you kindly reply at your ear.
hest convenience. Yours sincerely
! (Signed) Al. Barber.
"The Barber Asphalt Paving Co.
paid not attention to this letter. i
is highly significant, however. tha
on the day before it was written
January Sth-the press reported
from Caracas that Mr.. Clyde Brown
treasurer of the affiliated New Yorl
& Bemudez Co., who had been sen
to Venezuela to seek an adjustment
of the pending dispute, had failed t.
induce Mr.. BARRIERS ally, Presiden
Castro, to agree to any reasonable
basis of settlement. Barber evi
IDENTIFY thought that we would, il
view of this fact, be in mood t.
deal with the American end of tn
Castro conspiracy.
"The following concerns are re
ported publicly to have joined Nh
Barber's organization:
Brennan Construction CO., o
|
Washington, D. c., represented by F
J. Brennan.
Constructing and Paving CO., o
Toronto, Canada, James Pearson
president.
Trinidad Asphalt Paving Co., o
/ Cleveland, Ohio, represented by N
F. Brandy.
+ Continental Paving Co.. branch O