The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-23
merchants WANT
TO DELAY ACTION
CONTINUED from First Page)

bitulithic, and in favor of asphalt
blocks, and this movement resulted IN
the meeting of yesterday afternoon--
MIR. Cohen Prcsides.
w. IL. Schw1zchild called the
meeting together and asked Samuel
Cohen to preside.
In accepting the place, Mr.. Cohen
said that he had been to many cities
in which bituiithic had been used, and
that there were few people VINO
thought 1t was as good as asphalt
blocks.
We have had asphalt blocks for a
number Of years In Richmond, SAID
Mr.. Cohen, "and l can't see why we
should make III experiment with
something about which we know moth
ing. was in New York not long
ago, and was In the city hall with
some friends. In looking out the win
dow, ] saw them tearing up the
streets. What is all that?' l askeuA
why don't you get asphalt blocks here
like we have in Richmond The New
York man in the party took us TO
another window and, pointing out 20
a big stack Of snoVels ana u oks an
things, said: See all that? Each
one of those picks and shovels means
one man. We have sheet asphalt on
slant attention and repairs, and we
give that bunch of shovels and picks
some work to do.
Good for Politicians.
And that is the whole story con-
tinued Mr.. Cohen. This bitulithic Is
the same. If we have 1t on Broad
street. the politicians will have work
for their men to do in repairing the
streets all the time. We want some
thing that won't necessitate the tear
ing up OF the streets SO much, and
when they are torn up the repairs
may be made so that there Will be ne
disreputable-lookin patches left.
Others who spoke along the same
line were Messrs. Charles T,s Norman
Horace Wright and Fred Jurgens.
William c. Schmidt. of Herman
Schmidt. said that he did not know
which style of paving would suit min.
He wanted 10 know. although he had
understood that the oituiithic was oct
ter for horses than asphalt blocks,
because he had been Informed that the
bitulithic was little more porous
than the asphalt blocks. and that
there Was less chance for the horse
slipping and breaking his leg than II
would be on asphalt
You have seen many horses snip
and fall, and many OF them have been
injured in going around the city hall
during bad weather" said Mr.,
Schmidt. Il am afraid that might
happen on Broad street
This is getting to be the day Of
automobiles" explained Mr. Cohen,
and there are few horses now de-
livering heavy loads"
"Still." responded MIR. Schmidt,
there will be plenty of horses for
many years to come"
Ask for Po~tponcment.
After several gentlemen had eX-
pressed themselves as being opposed
to bitulithic, Mr., Schwarzschild pre-
scented a resolution asking the city
council to postpone the whole matter
until next year, because there was lit
tie time to get 1t through the present
council. and. even II II did, the State
Fair would be here while the streets
were all torn up. and that would in
terfere with business OF all kinds
''In presenting this resolution, said
Mr.. Schwartzschild Il express the
sentiment OF most of the Broad street
merchants. They do not want the
streets torn up at this time. and when
| the street Is torn up we want nothing
| but asphalt blocks. Our city engi-
neer has recommended that; We know
what IT is ourselves. and ! nope thai
we will get it,
L. O. Miller. Of Miller II Rhoads
was una BILE to be present, but he SEN
| word that he favored the asphal
block, and he hoped that the city
| council would hold over the whole
proposition until next year, SO that tn,
| tearing up OF the street would no
Interfere with the fall business and tbs
great crowds that are expected hers
during the State Fair
Mr., Schwartzschiid's resolution wa
adopted. and the body adjourned.
Before the adjournment, however
Councilman Carter c. Jones, of Wash
ington ward. stated that he would pre-
sent a minority report at the mex
meeting OF council asking that thu
ma jority report be voted down anC
that the paving of Broad street b.
with asphalt blocks.