Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-07
BOARD OvERR|DES
HAUSSL|NG VETO
Commissioners Decide on Wood
Block Pavement for
Broad Street.

wood block in accordance with the
wishes of the merchants and prop
erty-owners along the thoroughfare.
In deciding upon this style of pave
nlent the Board of Works yesterday
was forced to override the mayors
veto. This they did by vote of
4 to l, Commissioner Ryan still
standing for grouted granite block
Commissioner Kraemer, who had
previously voted with Ryan. changed
his vote and decided the question. as
two-thirds vote was necessary
Under the provisions of the resolu-
ton Broad street will be repaved
from Belleville avenue to Pointer
street. The resolution, however. will
probably be amended next week, so
as to make the southern extremity at
Camp street. Specifica tions will be
prepared and adopted on Thursday.
As the vote was called on the ques-
tion the scene bordered on the dra-
matte. Commissioners Denman, Bier
tuempfel and Gillen. who were called
in the order named, stood firm for
wood block, reitera ting what they had
said ON previous occasions, that the
merchants and property-owners along
Broad street were entitled to say what
sort of pavement should be laid on
that thoroughfAre. When Commits
sioner Kraemer was called there was
a momentary pause and all eyes were
focused in his direction
The commissioner, though occupy
ing the centre of the stage was de-
iberate. He was prepared for the
emergency and read a prepared
speech setting forth his reasons for
voting in the manner in which he did.
His utterances, however, left doubt
until the very last moment as to
which way he would vote. His
change from grouted granite block to
wood block was the signal for a
demonstration on the part of the
Broad street merchants who occupied
prominent seats in the board room.
In explaining his vote Commissioner
Kraemer stated that his stand for
granite paving was solely caused by
desire to have Newark's streets
paved we'll but as economically as
possible. He declared he had devoted
his entire time since last Tuesday To
Investigation of the question and hal
consulted such eminent engineers as
George Tillson, of New York, and
was convinced by his investigation
that grouted granite was not as yet
a proven pavement and that no per-
feet pavement had been found. lie
said that having found so per cent
of the property owners along the line
of the proposed pavement were in
favor of wood block was an argu-
ment that became an important fac
tor. and that another factor was the
doubt as to whether one pavement
was better than another.
81 further have been convinced"
he continued, that the sentiment in
various sections of the city is. if any
thing, changing, and a general idea
prevails that no better place to test
out the question can be found than
Broad street. where every citizen can
convince himself of the durability of
wood block pavement as against
stone
Commissioner Kraemer then made
the statement that he was compelled
by preponderance of evidence to lay
aside his personal views as a layman
and vote for trying out all classes of
pavement as the occasion arose. lie
also talked of the benefit from a
medicinal standpoint which a noise
less pavement contributed.
On conclusion he said:
"I therefore will be compelled in
Justice to myself and those whom I
represent, to vote to override the
Mayors veto and sustain the resolu-
ton
Just prior to taking the vote the
merchants made last plea that they
be allowed to select the material with
which to repave Broad street. Moses
Plaut. president of the Broad
Street Improvement Association, de-
clared that the merchants did not feel
satisfied that the Mayor was alto
gether right in his declaration that a
majority favored grouted granite
block. He said further that many
who had been quoted as being against
wood block had withdrawn their OBJ
jections. He presented petitions
tending to show that "a per cent of
the property owners from Central
avenue to Walnut street, and so per
cent. from the Lacllawanna Railroad
to Camp street were in favor of wood
block
Tt was also shown through General
Joseph w. Plume, president of the
Manufacturers National Bank, that a
majority of the directors of that in
stitution favored wood block. Others
who were said to have made choice
during the past week were Forrest F.
Dryden. Colonel Edward S. Edwards,
president of the Road Horse Associa-
ton; former Governor Franklin Muir
phy, of the Newark Motor Club, and
a number of other property owners.
Frederick t. Ward, of Aaron Ward
& sons and vice-president of the
Broad Street Improvement Associa-
ton, also urged that the mayors
veto be overridden.