The Cairo bulletin., 1909-06-29

1itlZeHS OF w dInut street Nuo pro-
tested against brick paving for their
street before the Board of Public I'm
provements lost their cause last night
after a hard fight in which they
seemed TO have a good chance TO win
for a time and in which they We're
ably represented by John s. Ais
thorpe Hon Reed Green J. B, Ma
gee and others
The Board met last night in al
iourned session. His Honor Mayor
Parsons had returned from his east
ern trip and was present and the
other members in attendance were
Aldermen Ferguson, Magner Cannon,
Scullin. Koehler and Williams
The meeting was called to order
after O'Clock and it was u o'clock
midnisht before it adjourned al
though the actual work to be done
could have been disposed of in half
an hour. The time was taken up in
discussions, in a patient hearing of
arguments on brick and asphaltic
concrete pro and con, and the merits
of both sides were strongly presented.
In response TO an invitation by the
mayor to citizens, that they present
| their objections TO the improvement
as proposed John S. Aisthorpe spoke
| for the Walnut street property own
ers urging the Board to heed the re.
quest made upon it by the citizens
at their court house meeting by de-
laying final action on Walnut street
until they could inquire INTO the
merits of asphaltic concrete. He
cited Michigan avenue in Chicago
where this pavement had been laid
and where 1900 vehicles passed
daily, more in a month than would
pass over Walnut street in year, II
every vehicle in Cairo passed over
that street daily. He asked that
Cairo be given one easy driving
street such as asphalt paving would
afford.
Hon. Reed Green said the question
was according to his view, whether or
moi the people on Walnut street had
made a sufficient demonstration
against the proposed plan of improve
ment to justify the Board in delay
ing action further. He believed they
had: they were honest in their posi-
ton desiring only that the Board in
vestlgate and find out whether or not
the pavement proposed was what 1t
was claimed to be. II, after such in
vestigation the Board found that It
was a good pavement, the citizens
wanted il: if the Board found It net
good then they wanted brick. The ,
people of Walnut street wanted a !
good pavement they did not want 10
get stuck. Nj Green referred to the
bond offered by Mr.. Burton Of the
FL Oso" company, saying it would
be a sure protection 10 the people
T. ] Kerth said property owners
on Walnut street were not all for
asphalt He had visited a number of
cities and seen many street pave
ments. The majority of the asphalt
ne had seen We're patched.
Mr.. Kerth read a letter from a rela-
tive in Evansville who strongly
favored brick.
j. b. Magee presented letter from
a friend in Natchez where number
of streets We're paved with asphalt.
declaring that no mistake would be !,
made II streets We're paved with that
Mr. Magee also cited St
Louis. Peoria and other cities where
asphalt had preference over brick for
residence streets. even some granite
pavement in the first named city 4
being paved over with asphalt Citi-
zens on Walnut street who we're for
brick would not say the Board should
not investigate Opponents of brick
asked nothing more
z. A. Smith asked for brick on that ,
portion of Walnut street to be occu- ,
pied by the Cairo & Thebes railway. !
He personally favored brick for all
the street. because he feared delay
and wanted to get the street out of
the mud
Short talks We're made by A. s.
Fraser. VIM Kluge. J. H. Woodward. I
and Messrs. Carr and Burton repre- !
senting asphalt companies presented
their views briefly more especially as to
the bonds they were prepared to give