Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-04
WOOD BLOCKSFOR
SECOND AVENUE
Sentiment of Owners Seems to
Favor That Material and
Asphalt Is Second.
BRICK IS A POOR THIRD
Want Best for Thoroughfare anil
Smooth, Noiseless Surface Only
Can Give That.

scientific discourse on the treatment |
of wood blocks by A. E. Hageboeck, a
letter from z. r. Robbins. superintend- |
emit Of the Rock Island bridge, and talks
by property owners, sentiment was ex-
pressed by Second avenue property
owners inrfavorof creosote wood blocks.
The meeting at which this action was
taken was an adjourned session held
Yesterday afternoon at O'Clock in the
Rock Island club, and at 1t owners Of
LOGS feet Of property frontage express
ed their preference for materials. Greco
sote wood block was favored by own
ers Of $50 feet, asphalt by owners OF
400 feet, and brick by owners OF so
feet. As the meeting was not attend
ed by all the property owners, the
committee which has been investigat-
ing the situation for two weeks was
continued and has been called upon TO
ascertain what the preference OF 9TH
ers is.
NOT FINAL CHOICE
Though the expression of sentiment
yesterday afternoon was in favor Of
WOOQ II WAS uOL llldlt III Iuc
views OF owners along both sides Of
the avenue for six blocks must be IN
cluded in the final discussion. At the
opening OF the meeting the committee
reported its findings as the result Of
interviews with AZ property owners,
representing total OF 1880 feet front
age, and based on these Investigations,
showed the choice as follows: First
choice. asphalt, 16; second choice,
wood block. IA; third choice, brick, 6,
and no choice, 4. By frontage, this
vote shows S9s feet for asphalt, 5S2
feet for wood block. and 800 feet for
brick. A second choice given to the
owners shows asphalt 1872 feet, wood
block 302 feet, brick 20s feet.
NO PRIVATE CONTRACT.
Further, the committee reported that
# would be impossible to carry out
the improvement OF the avenue by pri.
vate contract, because Of the fact that
some of the owners have objected OF
those interviewed. owners of LAO feet
frontage are for it. $40 against 1t, and
341 feet undecided. Since there are
DIRECTORS, the scheme has TO be dis
carded. and the work will be carried
through it's regular course In the mu.
nicipal bodies and courts.
HEAR FROM OTHERS.
Letters we're received from 16 cities
telling Of practical tests that had beer
made with different materials and I'm
der different conditions. Included il
the list of cities are Springfield, Min
neapolis. Washington, Wichita, Joliet
Kansas City. Kalamazoo, Baltimore
Cleveland. Dubuque, Buffalo, Atlanta
Aurora, Rochester, Sioux City, anC
Rockford. Based on the letters from
these cities. the average cost for tn,
different kinds OF materials is as fol
lows: Asphalt, $1.7S per square yard
wood block, $2.65 per square yard
brick, 1913 per square yard: granite
$3.50 per square yard; bithilithic. 1910
MEETING WELL ATTENDED.
Present at the meeting. beside
large number OF owners. were Mayo
II. NJ. Schriver and City Engineer Wal
lace Treichler. f. II. Guyer. who call
ed upon Major Charles f. Keller O
the United States engineers office. t
inquire into the merits OF creosot
wood blocks, reported that Major Ke
Ter had detailed Mr.. Hageboeck. IN
spector in charge Of creosote opers
lions for the government, to represen
him at the meeting. After he was II
troduced, the expert gave an Interest
ing and scientific treatise concernin
the process OF creosoting blocks. H
said he did not represent any materis
concern, and gave merely his ow-
view OF the process. His report We
very interesting.
LETTER FROM ROBBINS.
Mr. Guyer read a letter from NJ
Robbins. superintendent of Rock |,
land arsenal bridges. in which NJ
Robbins says that he has seen WOO
blocks in use for years. and highl
recommends them as paving materia
Mr. Guyer said he is IN favor Of block
regardless Of price. for he wants Sc,
ond avenue to hold its own in III
standing in the community. John I
Beecher spoke in favor Of asphalt wit
brick cutters, as did L. P. Best. Phi
Mitchell spoke in favor OF wood block
over good foundation as the be,
material. The expressions Of l. S
mon, DR.. Joseph DeSilva and Eli Nj
schneider were in favor of wood block
The latter stated that any maten,
laid under best specifications and be,
mode OF construction can not be &c
good for Second avenue. and that thel
is not better advertisement than
first class street surface. After the.
discussions. a poll was taken on m
ton of DR.. DeSilva.
BRICK GETS LITTLE FAVOR.
Unquestonably the sentiment b,
turned to wood block and asphalt. ar
brick is poor third II seems that
smooth. noiseless surface is the desiI
OF the vast majority and nothing CT
be accomplished by resorting TO o
material. except as was stated by
lew OF those present, in its use (,
gutter paving.
Complainant Gone.
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