Evening star., 1909-04-19

been taken into it. and on its reorganiza-
tion In 1909. as the General Asphalt Com
pany II consisted only OF the \. u. bar
ber Paving Company, the Trinidad AS
phalt Company and the New York ana
Bermudez Company which had been Mr.
Barber's contribution TO the combine.
Mr.. BARRIERS return to the asphalt busi-
ness came In 1904 through the trouble
pany got into with President Castro OF
Venezuela. II was alleged that the con-
Germ had contributed S145.OO0 to the Matos
revolt. which cost the Venezuelan gov
ernment 1900 lives and took eighteen
months to subdue.
The property of the company was Sc
questrated and the federal high court ap-
pointed Ambrose III. Garner. who died
three months ago, receiver. He had 10
find a market for his pitch. and he ap-
country. To do this Mr.. Barber organ
ized the A. L. Barber Asphalt Company.
Venezuela Fines Company.
dez company were settled by decree OF
the highest Venezuelan court ordering it
to pay fine of S5.OOO.OOo. Execution was
not enforced. as the Caracas authorities
had a wholesome fear of the view that
Washington might take Of the matter.
Things stayed as they were until Castro
departed last year for Europe and Gomez
seized the government. Then Gomez asked
the United States TO send commissioner
to settle this and all other outstanding
disputes with Americans. and warship
to back up his authority.
Washington took the hint and dis
patched not only Commissioner William
j. Buchanan. but three ships which
would would make Gomez secure from
any attempt to GUST him. The result of
1t all was that February Is the 81 Ooooo
claim of the Venezuelan government was
compromised for $4,000. the RermudeZ
Company. with its property. was re-
turned to the asphalt trust. and Mr.. Bar
ber found himself cut off from the source
Of supply OF pitch for the A. l.. Barber
Asphalt Company.
1t was partly the necessity to find other
supplies of pitch which induced him 10
take the trip to California which led to
his death.
Besides asphalt Mr. Barber was greatly
of the first to take up the business seri-
ously, as he formed the Locomohile Com
pany of America in 1898. At first it
turned out the small Stanley steamer ma
chine 1t was popular in Mexico and
South America. particularly I'm Buenos
Aires. but as steam became displaced as
a motive power by gasoline the company
dropped that type of motor car:
The president Of the company Is Mr..
who married the eldest daughter Miss
Lorena.
Mr. Barber was great yacftsman. and
was a member of the New York. Atlantic.
American and Larchmont Yacht Clubs. as
well as the Royal Thames Yacht Club of
London. His yacht. the Sapphire. was
sold to the government at the time OF
the Spanish war. and has since won fame
as the Yankton. the tender of the fleet
on its voyage round the world.
Ho olS co 10 ret
the Parsons turbine to yacht. In 1902
he had the Lorena built and fitted with
this type of engine. In 1905 he sold her
to George J. Gould. who rechristened her
the Atalanta.
The Ardsley Club was founded by Mr..
Barber and met yesterday afternoon to
pass resolutions of sympathy with the
family of its vice president and former
president. Mr.. Barber bought at Ardsley
36O acres from the estate of the late
Cyrus w. Field and his house, Ardsley
Towers.
The greater part Of this property was
in his possession when he died. At one
time he also owned S71 9Th avenue. but
William c. Whitney, who afterward
parted with 1t to James Henry Smith.
Mr.. Barber was twice married. first to
Miss Celia NJ Bradley OF Geneva, Ohio,
who died in 1870. His second wife was
Miss Julia Louise Langdon. a daughter Of
j. LIE Droit Langdon of Belmot, ". Y.
She survives him. BY his second wife he
had four children-LeDroit Barber. who
died two years ago: Mrs. Samuel T. Da-
Wis, Mrs. Charles s. Vance and Rowland
Langdon Barber