Shall It Be Brick Or Asphalt On Liberty Street Paving?

The Liberty street paving came up Monday night In the council meeting. A petition by John R. Miner and 64 others was read, asking that Liberty street from State to Ashley be paved with asphalt block. 

Ald. Douglas presented a resolution declaring the paving necessary and directing the board of public works to submit plans, specifications and estimate of probable cost. 

Ald. Clancy inquired if there were signers enough to the petition. 

Ald. Fischer said that the council ought to be sure whether there was a sufficient number of signers. Much time had been lost through a failure to have a large enough petition and he thought the petition ought to be referred to a committee for investigation. 

Ald. Schlenker wanted the board of public works to advertise for brick as well as asphalt block. 

Letters were read by the clerk from William Aprill, Florian Muehlig, Mary and C. R. Walker, Wm. F. Stimson, [Susan] Hardy, Magdalena, Louisa W. and Emma M. Kapp and Martin HalIer asking that their names be taken from the asphalt petition. On motion of Ald. Johnson this was done. This left the petition with 55 names. 

Ald. Hutzel, in his maiden speech, said he believed the majority on the street desired some kind of paving and the sooner the council acted the better. He advocated advertising for both brick and asphalt bids to see what the difference in price would be and then let the people take their choice afterwards. After the streets were washed recently he noticed that the asphalt block had roughened up a little. The question was one not only of price, but also of durability. 

Ald. Clancy said the city had gone ahead once without finding out whether the petition had enough signers and had been enjoined. 

Ald. Johnson said he understood that a petition was out for a brick pavement on this street and that about 40 had signed it. 

The street committee was finally directed to investigate the petition.