Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-06-17
ALDERMAN IN
HOT WRANGLE
Subject of Street Paving
Caused Argument Between
Mr.. Seaman and Colleagues
0RDINA kCES CHAN GED
Give Property Owners Chance
to Request Any Kind of
Pavement They Desire
0RDINA kCES CHAN GED

Some hot shots were exchanged
between Alderman f. A. Seaman and
other members of the council at Its
regular meeting last night when Or
dinances to pave streets in the south
ern part of the city were reintro-
duced to allow the property owners
and council to choose from all kinds
of payements.
The ordinances, which wero for
paving portions of Paterson street,
Catalpa avenue, First street, Lewis
street and Brighton avenue, provided
for the exclusive use of Amecite sur
face. In fighting for this kind of
pavement In preference to others,
particularly asphalt block, Mr.. Sea-
man accused the contractors who
have constructed asphalt block pave
ments here OF having q monopoly and
making outrageous profits on their
work. Then he grew indignant and
stated 1t was q shame the contrac-
tors on Water street had bid seventy
eight cents for excavation work and
paid but fifty cents for 1t. In the
same breath he asked the other al
dermen If they were at the mercy of
the asphalt block people. In con-
cludtng that portion OF his argument
he stated he had been outvoted 80
many times that he was getting sore.
Upon hearing what Mr.. Seaman
had said, Chairman Henry w. Sand
beck, Jr,, leaped to his feet and de-
manded to know why he, Seaman,
had not "come out with it" when the
contract was being let for the Water
street work. Mr.. Seaman pointed to
the committee room and said the pa
pers were on the table at the time.
So on throughout the major portion
of the meeting, the aldermen took
turns in rising to give their views
All seemed to oppose Mr.. Seaman in
his contention that Amecite should
be used exclusively as first agreed
upon.
Ordinances for the pavements in
question were read a second time, af-
ter which an amendment was in
serted to section one, providing that
the streets be paved with Amecite or
whatever other kind of pavement
property owners and the council
might decide upon. AS the amend
| ment was adopted each time by
vote of five to one the ordinance was
read over with the amendment and
again passed upon a first reading.
Mr.. Seaman doubted the legally of
that procedure, contending that all
of the work incident thereto should
be done over again. Mr.. Clark said
he and two other members had inter
viewed City Attorney Hommann yes
terday and were given the impression
that the course as taken was correct.
He called upon Messrs. Sandbeck and
Kutcher to verify that. They said
their Interpretation Of the city at
torney's opinion was the same.
The heated discussion began after
the city clerk had read an ordinance
for paving Paterson street, between
Madison avenue and First street with
the amendment. Hold on. That Is
not the fair thing" cried out Mr.
Seaman. He went into the history
of street pavements In the southern
section OF the city.
Mr.. Clark stated It was under
stood that the new Paterson street
pavement was to cost about half as
much as asphalt block. Mr.. Seaman
replied that the question Of assess
ment was no proof of what pave
ment cost. Mr.. Clark wanted to
know why 1t was not possible to esti-
mate the exact cost Of street i'm
provements for the benefit of proper
ty owners before the work was per-
formed. He read a list of charges
for twenty-five feet of pavements as
follow: Paterson street, 1929; Me-
chantc street, $3.50; Market street,
$3.50; State street, $50 and Fayette
street, 500.
Mr.. Seaman replied that the street
department was responsible for the
putting down of pavements, but not
for the the assessments upon them. |
He said the council had fixed $40
as q ratio for assessment on pave
ments.
Alderman William C. Wilson here
spoke, stating he was a warm ad- |
vocate of Amecite for the streets in |
question, inasmuch as it was service
able and no expensive pavement was
needed there. He declared 1t was |
lasting and cost practically 81 less
a square yard than asphalt block. |
He stated that he was willing to let |
the people choose the kind of pave |
ment they desired and would vote |
for asphalt block the minute he was
assured there would be sufficient |
competition In bids for it. He fay-
ored Amecite for the streets in ques-
tion for various reasons, one of |
which was that 1t could be easily |
repaired.
Alderman r. william Hilker stated
the people should be taken into con-
and therefore he favored
the amendement. A vote on the Pater
son street ordinance followed.
Others for Amecite or other pave
ment on the streets already men
toned were reintroduced and passed
upon a first reading.