The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-06-01
DISCUSSED PAVING ON STREET GAR
LINE At COUNCIL MEETING FRIDAY
No Action Was Taken Representative Turnout of
Citizens-Fight Has Narrowed Down to Two Kinds Of
Paving Material

son better fitted to select a material
for Grand Forks streets. Mr.. Sorley
believed that some of those who had
signed petitions for the different kinds
of pavement had erred in Judgment in
making such recommendations.
Alderman Carothers followed Mr..
Sorley, stating that he was rather
surprised to hear the speaker make
the remarks he had in light of GER
tain communications he had in his
possession and also in view of certain
legislation enacted by the last legisla-
ture in which Mr. Sorley had acted
favorably. Mr.. Carothers referred to
the city charter amendment bill, which
provides that the citizens have the
right to make recommendations to the
council as to the kind of pavement
wanted. He also said that Attorney
SOrley had told him (Mr. Carothers)
that the people should choose their
own paving, as they were doing the
paying. According to this law Mr..
Carothers stated that the property
owners had right they have never
had before. They could now take the
right of selecting certain kind of
paving from the council and decide
for themselves. The petitions, whether
circulated by agents Of paving CON-
panies or by citizens, were legal and
the council would be obliged to act on
them.
Attorney Sorley again took the floor,
expressing surprise at Aid. Carother's
remarks. He said that Mr.. Carothers
had fought against the passage of the
law. which the alderman admitted. but
now that it was law. he would very
gracefully submit to it. Mr.. Sorley
again expressed his belief in the coun-
ellis ability to select a paving ma
terial. He said that the law was for
those cities wherein the council had
taken little or no interest in the paw
ing proposition. In Grand Forks the
aldermen have been particularly ac-
tive, and he believed that they were
faithful in their recommendations. Mr..
Sorley also made mention of moon
light investigation of paving. which,
during the remainder of the evening,
was the cause of considerable mirth.
Street Railway.
1t was at this time that the street
railway proposition came up. Mayor
the Grand Forks Transit company.
Mr.. Campbell stated that the PROPOSE
ton of extending street car system
through the city had been discussed at
considerable length. He thought that
the best thing to do was to lay the
street car lines before the paving was
done, even if the tracks had to lie
idle for several years. The cost for
the line, complete, including poles,
wire, ties, track, labor, etc., had been
figured at about $4,000. At this time
about half mile of track along Third
street would be necessary before the
paving is laid. This would cost about
$4,000. The present street car fran
chise provides that the company shall
pay for the paving and maintenance
of said paving between the car tracks.
If this feature could be eliminated,
and the citizens pay for such paving,
Mr.. Campbell believed that the propo-
sition could be given big boost. The
cost of paving around the street car
tracks would not be any greater than
to lay a continued paving.
Alderman Carothers thought the
council would find itself up against
the state laws in case it attempted to
make the peope pay for paving be-
tween tracks, believing that it would
be giving assistance to a private cor
poratiOn. He also said that before
such track could be laid, an ordinance
granting the company a franchise
would have to be passed.
Mr.. Lander wanted to know that in
case the property owners along the
Co ho ~ n@
proposition, if there would be any
legal objection. On this question Mr..
Carothers stated that he could not
make definite answer, not being ac-
qua1nted with the statutes on that
proposition.
j. D. Bacon again took up the paw
Ing question. stating that he had come
to the meeting for the purpose of
hearing from the council members on
the matter. In his mind there were
four things to be considered in paw
ing, the features being noise, cost,
durability and slipperiness. NJ. F..
Murphy stated that he would like to
hear from the council members also.
Favored BlOme.
Alderman E. ]. Davidson was the
first to speak on the paving matter.
He said that Blome pavement, which
ne favored, was not slippery, that it
was sanitary. its durability certain
and that is should be good for twenty
years. Calumet people have used both
creosote and Blome, but would not
have another block of creosote laid
even If they were obliged to pay a
larger sum for the Blome He also re-
ferred to creosote as being slippery.
MIR. Barnard, the bidder on creosote
block, stated that in some places,
where southern pine had been used.
that the block was slippery, but that
northern pine. the wood now being
used, was not slippery.
Alderman Day expressed himself as
being in favor of creosote block until
he had seen the Blome pavement, at
which time he changed his opinion.
He was convinced that Blome was lust
what Grand Forks wanted. While he
SAID that horses might not last quite
as long on Blome pavement as on
the creOsote block, he did not think
mere would be much difference. He
said tna1 the Blome was not slippery
Mayor Duis then addressed a few
remarks, stating that he was in favor
OF Blome. He said that in case creo-
soted block is accepted. he did not
want the people blaming 1t on him
when he is again a private citizen. He
said that at one time he had been in
favor OF creosote, but that Blome had
changed his opinion on the matter.
Aid. X. G. Hunter expressed him
self as being in favor of creosote. He
also brought up an incident at Calu-
met where a horse had slipped and
fallen ON a Rl0ma navemant AID