Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-09
FOR FOUR INCH TIRES
Width Prescribed in Bill Before
House Of Representatives.
BUSINESS MEN PROTEST
Meeting Held at Board Of Trade
Rooms Yesterday Afternoon.
MATTER UNDER DISCUSSION
Appeal Formulated for Presentation
to Congress-Co Committee Appoint
ed to Have Charge
BUSINESS MEN PROTEST
MATTER UNDER DISCUSSION

A proposition embodied in a bill now be-
fore Congress requiring all vehicles in the
District of Columbia weighing with their
loads over two tons to have four-tnch tires
has caused widespread opposition among
business men who would be affected by
such law.
!. {, This bill is said to have resulted from a
desire to protect the paving of the APP
proach of the new Highway bridge. The
managers Of brickyards in Virginia, whose
product is hauled to this city, desired to
have the old Long bridge kept open for use
another year. that their business might
not be interfered with
The bill originated at the War Depart
ment, and Its purpose is said to be to re-
quire the brickmakers in Virginia to equip
their wagons with wide tires to protect the
approach to the long new Highway bridge,
which is not yet firmly settled. But as 1t
is embodied in the bill it applies to the en-
tire city.
call was sent out by business men for
a meeting in the Board of Trade rooms yes
terday afternoon at o'clock, at which there
were in attendance about sixty men promi-
nently engaged in business here employing
teams. Among those present at the meet
ing were the following p j. Brennan of
the Brennan Construction Company, Archi-
bald Greenlees. J. M. Burrell, V. B. john
son, H. p Johnson. Frank Hume. John l..
Newbold. E. S. Alvord, w. s. Knox, A. C.
Moses, a. Carey, w. Ii. Baum, F. r. Riley,
G. w. Cissel. G. w. Barnes of Potomac
Brick Company. Mr.. Pimm of Warren Bros,
S. D. Lincoln. w. J. Zeh, w. S. Hoge, F. P.
May. l.. e. Smoot. Chas. Jacobsen, Mr..
Green of Corby Bros, A. B. Willis r. F.
Mentzel of Pabst Brewing Company.
Officers Chosen.
Mr.. Archibald Greenlees was made chair
man of the meeting and Mr.. Perry johnson
was selected as secretary. Mr.. John L.
Newbold was called upon to explain the
purpose of the meeting, and told of the bill
that provides for four-inch tires which has
been favorably acted upon by the House
committee on the District of Columbia, and
according to the present plans of the COM
mittee will come before the House next
Monday to be put upon its passage. He
said such law would practically require
the changing of the wheels of all the two
horse teams in this city, as well as many
one-horse teams Such change would in
volve an expense of a million more dol
lars. he said.
Mr.. P. J. Brennan. president of the Bren-
nan Construction Company, which has laid
large portion of the asphalt pavements In
this city, stated that his company lays these
payements under contract which makes
them liable for the good condition of the
pavements for five years, and they have to
give bond that they will correct any defect
IN the pavements occurring in that time
IL
fed sizes rather than tires of four inches
He did not consider that a two-inch tire
would be any more harmful than a four
inch tire What the pavements really suffer
from, he said, Is the lack of travel An
asphalt pavement that is not sufficiently
Travelled, he said, will be in worse condition
than one that is greatly Travelled by teams
carrying tires of different widths
After further discussion Mr. Arthur C.
Moses moved the appointment of a commit
tee or seven to present this matter to the
members of the House in order that the bill
may De recommftted to the committee and
sent 10 the commissioners for q report in
view of the evidence that could be offered
to them. The following committee was an
pointed: Messrs. John L. Newbold. P r
Brennan, A. C. Moses, w. s. Knox r s
Alvord, Perry Johnson and 7. M Rurren
rms committee will proceed to carry out
It's instructions at once.
Appeal to Congress
A paper was prepared and addressed to
Chairman j. w. Babcock of the House Dis
trict committee, which, after it had been
agreed to. was placed in the hands of the
committee for presentation 1t is ss fol-
lows:
we appeal to you and to your commit
tee that II. r. bill 1887 be recommitted
to the District committee with a view to
striking out section 3. We are Informed
that the subject has not been referred to
our District Commissioners, and that I'M
officially they are opposed to its provisions
we respectfully ask for hearing before
your committee before this bill is again
reported to the House; for should IL become
law Its enforcement will cause the great
est hardships.
BY expert testimony that we herewith
briefly submit. in advance of the hearing
asked for, We show that the enforcement of
THIS measure Will be more damaging to the
asphalt streets of the city than beneficial
The paving companies now give a guar
antee, which is made good by large deposits
OF money in the hands of the District Com
missioners, to make good all defects in the
concrete paving for term of five years
and these companies further beg to state
will necessitate their making bids that will
cost the District a greater expenditure In
view OF the law which compels them to
guarantee the work for five years.
Standard Width in United States.
I'VE are credibly informed that the stand
ard width of tire for all two-horse vehicles
throughout the United States is 2k inches,
and II the result of using such q tire is
satisfactory to all commercial cities In the
United States, where the percentage of
hauling Is far greater than in this COM
munity, then it seems to us conclusive evil
dence that there is no need for putting this
hardship upon the citizens of Washington,
when no benefit Of any sort can be OBJ
tanned
I'VE beg to state that one of our COM
mittee manufactured wagon with carry
ing capacity of two tons, and put thereon
a four-inch tire, and 1t required four
horses to handle the wagon instead of two,
and 1t became necessary to rebuild the
wagon.
I'VE also beg to state that this matter
hoe laz, ~, r<.Fax ~