The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1909-08-27
Local Company Is Organized,
Then the Farce of Fake
Competition in Bidding Is
Gone Through.
HAMIl TON JOURNAL a~~
Is FIGHTING HARD
Sturdy Newspaper Exposes
Methods Used by Great
Combine and Makes Bold
Charges With Freedom.

Richmond is not the only city in
this section of the country where the
asphalt trust-the notorious Barber
combine is trying to obtain foot hold.
Right at the present time the city of
Hamilton, O., Is engaged in a rough
and tumble encounter with the paw
ing octopus. Hamilton is having a
much harder contest than there is any
chance Of Richmond having. as from
surface indications the Hamilton city
council is controlled by the trust, al
though the board of public service.
which corresponds with the local board
of public works, appears to be loyal to
the citizens.
Over the telephone this morning
the city editor of the Hamilton Jour-
nal briefly outlined to a Palladium re-
porter the situation existing in Hamil-
ton. s@-
Like Saxton Company.
Like the Saxton company organized
in this city. corporation called the
Andrews company was organized in
Hamilton. It has no affiliation with
is no disputing that fact. because the
officers Of the Andrews company very
earnestly announced that they had no
relations with the despised and motor
ious trust. However, the Journal.
strange as it may seem. refuses to be-
lieve the statements of the Andrews
company, and is now engaged in WELD
ing a club on it's head with vigor and
enthusiasm.
The Hamilton newspaper man stated
that when bids for asphalting street
were entered there was one from the
Andrews company and one from the
trust. AS is usual in such farces. the
trusts bid, which was entered to give
an appearance of competition, was
much higher than the Andrews COM
pany, so the Hamilton branch Of the
gigantic trust was awarded the con-
tarct
What journal Says.
The Hamilton journal in it's issue of
last evening has the following to say:
Hamilton. O.. Aug. 27.-The board of
public service Tuesday afternoon
awarded a contract for the paving of
three streets with sheet asphalt.
Here Is where the property owners
of South Front street, Millville avenue
and North Tenth street got it in the
neck and have had their pocket books
hit hard belt. all for the benefit of
the asphalt trust.
The taxpayers and property owners
Of these three streets will pay $1.95
for the work and get top of one and
half inch.
Cost at Lima, o.
Now this same company is putting
down asphalt streets in Lima at $1,gl
and is putting on top of two inches
thick.
Who Is responsible for this?
Five gentlemen in council.
All of these members OF council are
candidates for reelection and they are
asking the people to endorse their
work in behalf of the asphalt trust.
Why is there difference between
the cost in Hamilton and Lima?
The reason is plain. The referred to
members Of council put through legis-
laiion for only one material and that
asphalt. These members named sheet
asphalt alone In all the resolutions
and ordinances. This shut out all bid
ding and cheaper prices.
The former council always had three
or four materials in the resolutions
and ordinances so that there could be
competition as to prices and so the
people could take their choice of mate
rial after the bids were in.
Board Poweriess.
The service board members were
powerless to do anything for the prop
try owners. The former council got
bids on three or four materials and
then allowed the people who pay the
bills to say which material they want
- 1nt thA Ahn1s named councilmen