Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1911-08-18
Council Takes More
Time Before Paving

Last week We printed the petition
presented by the Business Mems IN.
len 70 the city council in regard TO
the paving OF the streets of the CITY.
NJ the regular council meeting
Monday evening TWO petitions were
presented asking fur paving with BIZ
animated concrete OF Kemp Averuc
from the Great Northern tracks to
Sixth St. East, also Second St. East
from Kemp Avenue to First Avenue
North.
The petitions were promptly refer
red by the mayor 10 the street and
alley committee after which His Hon
or made some remarks on the lropo-
Sltlon that evidenced his displeasure
that the petitions should come I'D to
the council in the particular form
that they did
Explaining his action in referring
the petition to the committee he
said that he thinks there should be
time to look into paving; that such
a course is not only the right OF the
council but also its duty.
He stated that he thinks the proper
ty owners should have petitioned for
Iaving, and permitted the council
to use its discretion and Judgment
in selecting the kind of pavement.
The mayor said that the signers of
the pavement petition have not in
vestisated bitumenated concrete
pavement, and that at least five OF
the members of the Business Mems
union committee which considered
paving, personally had told him that
they did not know anything definite
about the specified kind of paving.
In summing up the mayor said:
This council does not want its
hands tied, and is not going to eth
err"
Mr.. Slower being present was cali
ed upon for information as to the cost
CT the illuminated concrete, and al
so as to its merits and the way it
was regarded in cities where it was
in use as pavement.
He stated that the amount of BIZ
Illuminated concrete pavement being
laid this year all over the country
was more than all the other kinds Pit
together, mentioning several cities
where it was in use. The speaker
also asserted that creosoted blocks
were controlled by trust who fixed
the price.
Mr.. Slower then went on to tell
of the merits of concrete, and It's
nominal cost in comparison to the
price of creosoted BLOCKS.
Referring to the petition MI. Slower
stated that the people that were pay
ing for the paving were the ones that
had the right to name the kind to be
used, and that the price was an i'm
portant detail with them, and the
council should 60 ahead and pave
with what the property owners ask
ed for.
He said that he did not know who
had suggested illuminated concrete
to the property holders, sbut that #
The city council mad any idea that
they could get a petition signed for
any other kind of material they had
better try to do SO.
Mr.. Cool, representative of the Ket-
lie River Creosoted Block Company |
ot Minneapolis, took the floor and re-
'uted several of the statements made
BY Mr.. Slower.
He then gave talk on the value of |
;reosoted blocks. In the discussion
hat followed between Mr.. Slower
ind Mr.. Cool, the argument became
luite warm and the mayor was fore
ID to interrupt and ask for order.
What action the council will now
AXE regarding the petition is mys-
cry. AS we understand it they must
either accept or reject the petition as
t is now before them, having NO aa.
.hority to alter or amend.
That they will reject it as it now |!
stands is to be inferred from the re-
aarks made by His Honor last Mon
lay evening as he no doubt was
'peaking for the councH.
II this Is done 1t Will bring about