The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-30

Through an opinion of the city
attorney and the energetic action OF
Alderman Powers in occurring thar
opinion. together with the pressure
brought to bear by the Broad street
merchants and other citizens, the
council committee on streets last night
rescinded its action Of two weeks ago
and adopted a resolution offered by
Mr. Jones. by which recommenda-
ton win be presented to council at
It's next meeting, which Will be to-
night. that Broad street be paved with
asphalt blocks. to be furnished and
laid by the Washington Asphalt Block
and Tile company Of Washington, d.
G..
In the final vote on the question
six of the original advocates fer as
phalt blocks staod solid, one man who
had voted for the bitulithic paving al
the last meeting switched over. and
one Of those who had voted for bitu-
jithic declined to vote for reason that
he was now interested IN the /. ].
Smith company's business.
The 1--WE votes registered in favor
of bituIithic were Of the original
eight. while Dir. Miller was absent.
Attempt Eiiibnster.
BEFORE the vote was taken 1t was
apparent that the bitullthic people
had lost. hut IL was not certain, and
in order TO put the matter to more
certain test. Mr.. Pollock strove for
twenty minutes TO hold the committee
on a vote. pending the arrival OF AL
derrnan Biiley. who was looked upon
as an advocate of bitulthic,
There was some interest at the
time, for 1t was thought that either
Mr.. ADAMS or Mr. Gunst. or both.
10 III ExEr fEa
neither case was there positive assur-
ance. So. in order TO make things
look better for the bitulIthtc folks.
Mr.. Pollock borrowed some time from
Mr. Sullivan wha- had the feer-ana
spoke for twenty minutes on nothing
In particular.
Finding his efforts apparently fu-
tile. at fifteen minutes to midnight MT
Pollock sat down. and, "a MFR. Sulli-
van had played himself out, the pend
ing question. which was that of
substitute offered by Mr.. Sullivan to
the motion made by Mr.. Jones, was
voted upon. on motion OF Mr. Pow
ers. The substitute was lost. on the
vote hy which Mr Jones original mo-
ton to award the contract to the
Washington people was carried, to s.
After Chairman Adams had called
the meeting together. It being appa-
rent that the question Of Broad street
paving was mocing up, although no
advance notice had been given. some
little preliminary business was trans
acted.
Many interested Present.
The chamber was filled with Broad
street merchants headed by w. II.
Sehwarzsehild, l.. o. Miller and Fred
Jurgens There were others present,
tat al ma In tho mat
ter, together with the representatives
Of the two companies under fire, and
several local politicians. President Pc
ters. of the common council. was In
the room, and l.. o. Wendenburg, rep
resenting the bitulithic company, was
on hand to look after the interests
OF his company. j. II. Johnson. of
Washington, representing the Wash
ington company, and j. r. Walk. repre-
senting the Atlantic Bitulithic COM
pany. We're there.
. These gentlemen cast a few .hasty
glances at each ether at various times.
but that is as far as the show or
fight went, although at one time 1t
looked like there might be some heat
ed debate.
Alderman Powers. of the anti-bitu
lithic forces, seemed confident from the
start. His colleague in the fight, Coun-
Gilman Jones, was equally as confident
But they had few tremors at times,
and II was not until alderman Moore
Switched over that it appeared to be
clear sailing.
Even at that 1t WAS no sure thing.
Councilman Haddon made several
frantic stabs at figures as to the rela-
tives cost OF the two paving mate
rails. and showed that the city will
have to pay something like $1,000 more
in the change of front of Che COM
mittec
Mr.. Gunst Was Thinking.
And Mr.. Gunst allowed the meeting
to go through moro than three hours
without making speech He was
thinking, as was also Mr.. Adams.
All the members but Mr.. Pollock and
Mr.. Haddon and Mr.. Sullivan Sat still
In the boat, with that formidable ar.
ray from the Broad street merchant
ranks. together with petition OF more
than $50 other merchants and property
owners, asking the committee to give
them asphalt blocks and nothing but
asphalt blocks.
Mr.. sullivan presented letters from
many cities, showing. to his mind. that
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