The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-21

street car company states that asphalt
has been repeatedly tried between the
tracks and found to be impractical,
causing no end of trouble. The vibra-
ton of the cars breaks the asphalt. it
is said, and repeatedly calls for re-
pairs One way out of the difficulty
suggested at the meeting Of the board
yesterday was to let special contract
to the street car company which will
have nothing whatever to do with the
of the rest of the street.
But this suggestion did not meet with
the approval of the board.
There was a great deal of wrangling
at the board meeting yesterday and
the proposition involved several fine
legal points which caused many heat
ed debates. w. P. O'Neal cast bomb
shell ir1to. the proceedings by stating
in a very positive manner that he
was in favor of brick pavement and
would never authorize an asphalt
pavement asshe did not think it prac.
tical. He stated that he might just
as well show his attitude first as last
anu Luc Sl&tASk IOoh III lIS AhoSCCh.
Mr.. O'Neal stated that he had studied
the situation thoroughly and was firm
ly convinced that brick pavement
was the only kind that could stand the
rough usage of that street.
Not in the Trust?
S. S. Saxton, asphalt contractor of
Chicago. who submitted a bid for the
work to the board. then stated that
he was sorry so much difficulty had
arisen oversthe proposed improvement
and that he would not force an asphalt
on the property owners II
he had made a personal canvas among
all the residents along that section Of
the street which is to be improved,
and, with the exception of two, all
were in favor of asphalt instead Of
brick pavement. Here he turned and,
his remarks to the report
ers, stated he wanted it plainly stated
by the press that he was absolutely
in the business for himself and was in
no way connected with the trust. He.
stated that he wanted this fact known
positively by the people, as he had
been unjustly accused of being in the
combine and such was not the case.
He then went on to state that he was
very desirous OF putting an asphalt
street in his home city where he
would soon establish an office. He
dwelt at length on the servicability Of
the asphalt pavement and said that
cities where he had made asphalt
streets couldn't be given brick pave
ments now. He cited Muncie and Ft.
Wayne as illustrations of his point.
At the latter place, he stated, asphalt
pavements placed fifteen years ago
were in Just as good condition today
as then and were giving excellent sat
isfaction. In closing Mr.. Saxton stated
that he was aware of the agitation
the proposed asphalt improvement
was creating among the property own
ers and would withdraw his bid were
it not for the fact that the majority
of the residents seemed to favor as
phalt and he was acting for their in
terests.
Harrington Gives Views.
Nj. O'Neal responded by saying
that he bore no prejudice against Mr..
Saxton or the company and his only
interest was for the property owners,
and the welfare of Richmond. Mr.. J..
]. Harrington stated that he had made
a personal investigation of the matter
among the property owners and found
that practically all of them were
strongly in favor of a brick pavement.
He stated that the congestion at the
corner OF Eighth and Main streets was
so great at times that an asphalt pave
ment would not be at all practical and
He stated that accidents would result
when the street became wet and slip
perry and that he did not think such a
street would be for the best interests
of the city Mr. Harrington declared
that all of the property owners were
in favor of purchasing the very best
brick that could be bought and the
asphalt pavement was not objected to
because of financial reasons. He gave
New York as an example of a city
where asphalt pavements proved a dis
appointment and a great expense to
the city and were being supplanted
now by brick which would stand the
hard usage subjected to it. Mr. Saxton
stated that while the law required that
10 percent of the contract price be
withheld for repairs or provide a
maintainence bond, he would gladly
give up this 10 percent guarantee and
let the board take the matter under
advisement. The meeting then ad-
journed until this morning when it
was decided to begin all over again.
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