Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-03
B|TUL|TH|C WAR
CAUSE Of CLASH
IN WORKS BOARD
CiIlen's Fight on Fifteenth ST.
Pavement Brings Stir
at Meeting.

Commissioner Gillen's propaganda
against the "bitulithic trust" re-
suited in another clash at the meet
ing of the Board of Works yesterday
Heated arguments characterized the
session. For a time it appeared as
if the commissioner and Emil Hoeh-
mann, president of the Fifteenth
Street Improvement Association,
would come to blows. Commission
ers Denman and Biertuempfel were
the others who Chased with Mr.. Gill
len.
Commissioner Gillen has sent out
a number of letters condemning btu
: 1.-the paving as expensive and con-
trolled by a trust. The letters were
sent to every property-owner who
had signed petitions asking that btu
lithic be used.
The Fifteenth street association
has Endorsed bitulithic for Fifteenth
street Mr.. Hoehmann also favored
it
Several property owners on the
street received the Gillen letters and
Immediately requested tn works board
to withdraw their names from the
bitulithic petitions.
That riled Mr.. Hoehmann.
The withdrawal letters were read
IN the meeting yesterday. Mr.. Hoeh-
mann jumped up and asked if he
could say word or two,
Bituiithic or Nothing.
I'VE want bitulithic paving or
nothing" said the association presi-
dent when he was granted the floor,
Immediately behind Mr.. Gillen.
What rakeoff are you getting
from the bitulithic company?' asked
Mr.. Gilen, turning around so that
the noses of the two men almost
touched.
None of your d--n business"
shouted Mr.. Hoehmann.
What right have you got to write
letters to our members inducing them
to withdraw their names from btu
Hthic petitions?"
I'll write all the letters | want"
said the commissioners
Just before that tilt when the let
ter Mr.. Gillen sent were read to-
gether with one from the Fifteenth
street Improvement Association, pro-
testing against the Gillen letters,
Commissioner Denman arose and, in
quiet voice, addressed Mr.. Gilen.
What particular brand OF asphalt
are you agent for, | would like to
know" he said
What do You mean?' demanded
Mr.. Gillen. Then he continued. Let
me say this in answer to this con-
temptible question from the cham
pion of the bitulithic trust. He knows
that ] am an agent for no paving
company. When we put in our own
asphalt repair plant the repairs to
city paving cost only $4,000 yearly.
previous to that the bitulithic
company charged us $4,000 for $32. 00o
worth of repair. They robbed the city
of $4,000. | got this information from
good authority.
There are just two champions of
the bitulithic paving in this board;
Commissioner Denman and Commits
sioner Biertuempfel Commissioner
Biertuempfel has boosted this pave
ment all over the city. ] don't know
whether it's because he thinks it's
such a good pavement or not.
-----l1'&it~ 4efoTe Commissioner Denman
had attacked Mr.. Gillen, Commission
er Biertuempfel criticised the com
missioner for writing the letters. He
raid he had investigated the figures in
Mr.. Gillens letters and found that
they We're not correct. He said it did
not look good for commissioner of
the Board of Works to conduct such
an active fight against a paving
company.
The Gillen Letter.
Mr.. Gillen's letters in part read:
Fore more than one year ] have
been fighting this bitulithic trust.
When btulithic is specified only one
firm bids, and that is the bitulithic
trust itself. 1t is a patented ma
terial and no other contractor can
use it or lay it There is no competi-
ten, and they charge 1927 yard
for the pavement. ] have been fight
ing for open specifications which
would prevent the laying of pat
eI4ted pavement, and would give the