The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-05
Fred Klopfer of Muncie States
That He Regards This Kind
Of Street Paving Absolute
Failure.
ARE IMPRACTICAL IN
BUSINESS DISTRICTS
President of the Muncie Board
OF Public Works States
That He Is Opposed to As
phalt Paving.

Muncie, Ind. Sept 4.-Fred Klopfer.
/ prominent carriage manufactures OF
this city. when interviewed concern
ing asphalt streets. said emphattCAl
": Il regard asphalt streets N q COM
plete failure. Especially is this % In
the smaller cities where the facilities
are lacking to attend to their repair ~
needed. There Is absolutely nothing
to be said In their defense when eon-
structed In the business districts of q
city where the traffic IL great and
where heavy hauling is necessary"
Several years ago Mr.. Klopfer Wa .
of . volunteer committee that
visited Dayton, Columbus and Spring
merits of asphalt and oth-
er paving materials. At this time
there was no board of works In Nun.
Gle that had definitive charge Of the
street department Mr.. Klopfer noted
that all the up town streets In these
three cities were paved with brick.
There was some asphalt paving In Oo-
lumbus but heavy hauling on these
was prohibited by . city 0rdi-
nance and this ordinance was dgidly
enforced. Mr.. Klopfer was told at
this time that the greatest life of the
asphalt street even under these favor
able circumstances was seven years.
He Lived In Berlin.
Mr.. Klopfer formerly lived In Ber-
lin. Prussia Asphalt was used ex-
tensively In thu country. but the great
est care was taken to preserve the sur-
face. The streets were daily cleaned
and at night were, flooded with water
and then mopDed. In the winter
when snow fell. a gang Of men was
kept busy sweeping 1t off AZ fast - 1t
fell. Water causes asphalt to decay
rapidly and the SHOWS of one winter
II left to lay on the surface cause
process OF decomposition to set In that
soon results in the formation Of holes
and the spoke-like cracking Of the sur
face from these holes.
In Prussia. the government instead
of pensioning the ex-soldiers. employs
them on the streets at nominal wages.
and thus reduces the cost Of repair
and maintenance to a minimum. Mr..
Klopfer regards the proper care OF as-
phalt streets I'm this country n q prac-
tical impossibility In view Of the fact
that the cost OF labor is so much great
er than In Prussia
George E. DUNCAN. the president O(
the board Of works is OF the opinion
that an asphalt street In one Of the
most beautiful thoroughfares that II
built today. Notwithstanding this
opinion, Mr. DUNCAN ID also o( the
opinion that an asphalt street II I'm
practicable for Muncie because Of the
great cost of construction and majntc-
nance Mr.. DUNCAN said: This city
has never built an original asphalt
street since the first were constructed
over ten years ago. The asphalt
companies have never gained q foot
hold here and have intimated manv
times that their failure is due to their
inability to impress the superiority OF
asphalt upon the city officials. There
Is no sentiment In the whole city I'D
ministration In favor Of asphalt
"The people here are opposed to a.
phalt because the Barber Asphalt COM
pany has failed to care for the streets
properly Many citizens in Muncie af
first fought brick. but they have With
out exception. reversed their opinions.
I'm my judgment" Mr.. DUNCAN said.
brick il the best paving material for
Muncie. First. because the originsl
cost Of brick IN less than asphalt or
bithulithic: secondly. the repair OF
brick streets can be done by the regu-
lar employees of the city and no spec
ial mechanics are required n with a.
phalt or bithulithic: thirdly. becauss
asphalt and bithulithic are % expen-
sive that although q few property own
ers might be able to bear the fncreAsed
cost. the majority could not afford to
be nut to the increased expense OF con-
efruction and maintenance"