The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-04-19
URGE COUNCIL TO
USE UTAH ASPHALT
George 7. 0deII Offers Plan to
Break Monopoly Held
by Moran.
FIGHT OF LONG STANDING
USE OF CALIFORNIA PRODUCT IN
SALT LAKE PROTESTED.

Efforts are again being made to force
the use Of Utah asphalt upon the streets
OF Salt Lake, instead Of the California
product George T. OdeH has addressed
letter to Mayor John S.. Bransford.
which was submitted to the council last
night with note from the mayor to the
council. Mr.. Odell says that the Pitts
burg-Sait Lake Oil company is now in a
position to furnish any quantity of as
phait to Salt Lake at Sc. % a ton less than
the California product is shipped here for
the streets. Mayor BransfOrd suggests TO
the council that careful consideration be
given the matter and that the Utah as
phalt should be given a fair trial.
Other efforts have been made to have
Utah asphalt used upon the streets of
Salt Lake, but they have failed in most
instances. One of the most recent and
we'll remembered instances was in the
paving of First South street from Second
East to Thirteenth East streets When
petitions were sent to the city council
for the paving of the street, about three
years ago, they demanded that Utah as
phalt be used.
The fight not only became warm in the
council, but property owners along the
street took a hand in the battle and in
sisted upon this material being used. 1t
was after Moran had induced the Barber
Asphalt company TO stay out Of the Salt
Lake field in paving contracts, and Mo-
ran insisted that the pavement on First
South street be of the California prod
uct. The fight was interesting and was
closely followed.
Moran Switches Sentiment.
Finally, Moran induced some of the
property owners along First South street
to make plea for California asphalt,
material. And, after hot fight in the
council and board of works, a contract
with Moran went through which put it
up TO the property owners as to the kind
of asphalt to be used. The contract read
that II property owner insisted upon
Utah asphalt, the Utah product must be
laid on the half-blOck upon which the
property frOnted. For weeks nothing
was done on the work. while agents OF
Moran solicited tbs property owners TO
change their stan4 and accept the Cali
fOrnia product. 1t was then charged that
Moran had a large interest in the Cali
fornia asphalt beds and therefore OBJ
Jected to the use of the Utah asphalt.
After weeks of work, all of the prop
erty owners along East First South street
signed up for the California asphalt, |
with the exception of Rev. E. 1. Goshen, |
who stuck to his position that the Utah |
asphalt must be laid. Because OF this |
stand, Moran left the half block be- |
tween Fourth East ana Fifth East streets |
for more than year without pavement, |
after the rest of the street had been |
paved with the California product as far |
as Thirteenth East street. The street |
had been marked out of the work ana |
was MADE storage ground TOT signs /
and material used by Moran. This stood |
there all winter-an eyeSore and disgust |
ing sight for the public. Protests were |
made to the city council, but no action /
was taken to force Moran to finish the |
work.
Has Long Held Monopoly.
After this long wait. work was started /
on the block and Utah asphalt is said to /
have been laid. But Moran was more than /
10 days behind the contract time and no |
forfeit was demanded by the council for /
the S25 a day stipulated IN the contract. |
For more than three years, until a few /
months ago, Moran had received every /
asphalt paving contract in Salt Lake, at
prices more than % per cent in advance
If the prices which maintained when there
was competition. -Four years ago the |
Barber Asphalt company underbid Moran
IN a piece of work here, but the board Of
works decided that the bids had not been
properly drawn. The work was re-adVer-
Used. On the first bids, the Barber COM
oany was $1,000 less than Moran. but
when the bids were opened the second
line II was found that Moran was $1,000
n excess of his first bid. And the Barber
did not present bid at all.
A few months ago bids were solicited
or the paving Of Third South street and
ater for Ninth East street. On the Third
south street job Strange & Mcguire, new
ess than Moran. Moran, thinking the
lew firm intended to also bid on Ninth
East street, put in q price $4,000 less
han what 1t would have been without
he advent of the new firm, arranged on |
, mar with the prices submitted for three !