The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-28

inches in thickness and that the earth sand shall
be faithfully rammed as the work progresses. IN no
twice the number OF those rammng.
As no ramming had been done on recent WORK thus
commission is of opinion that in that respect ~ Is not
in accordance with the specifications.
QUALITY PIPE.
a., No pipe was being laid during the exami-
nation OF the work by this commission. Inat winch
had been laid covered and its examination was,
consequently, omitted.
BRICK MASONRY.
Fonrtee,'0t-This was also nearly all covered.
CEMENT.
FIfleenth-None being used at the time of the
examination of the work The tests. stated by the
experimenting engineer, not such are used on
public works
PAVEMENT OF wHEEIwAY OF DRIVE.
Sixteen-The contract provides for 1.-THE road beds
to be shaped to the lines OF grades directed and then
whenever directed rolled with rollers weighing not
less than two tons, sufficiently to compact the
teral to the satisfaction of the engineer" No large
amount of roadbed has been prepared, and upon
o large portion of it stone has been placed. No
roller has been used at any place. This commission,
in reporting .the condition of the work. reports
that the road bed has not been in any case rolled,
although it is In some places upon high embank-
ments and in others in cuts through earth Of such
character would, in its opinion be better COM
paced and fitted for road construction by rolling
The experimenting engineer states that he has not
directed that the roadbed should be rolled at any
point. As the contract provides that it should be
rolled whenever directed and as it has not been di-
rected anywhere. this commission reports that in
this respect the work is not done in violation OF the
contract s8.4
FOUNDATION STONE.
o. The provisions of the contract as TO the next
point in road construction that the 'stone for
foundations is to be sound and durable quarry stone
from seven to ten inches in depth. not to exceed
fifteen inches in length and generally from three to
eight inches in width. These stones are to be de-
posted upon the roadway and evenly adjusted. so
as to form pavement in which the stones
well and compactly brought together to the salts
has been placed npon the roadbed. They gener-
ally sound, but there are among them many Of in.
feror quality which ought to be separated and used
only for general cmbankment The size Of the
stones approximates to that mentioned in the
contract. They have been deposited upon the
roadway and have been somewhat adjusted, but
has not been taken to keep the depth of the
stones from to ten inches nor has the limit of
fifteen inches for length been observed. 1t is the
opinion the commission that in its present condition
pavement is not formed III which the stones well
and compactly brought together; but the superin-
tending engineer states that they to his satsfac
tion and in this respect that is the measure of COM
pliance with the specifications
these stones to be spread finer rubble and quarry
chips sufficient to fill and smooth over the inster-
stices of the surfaces but must be taken net to ill
mp the cavities OF the lower portion OF
the rubble bottom, which must have cellular
character to facilitate drainage. With this
material is to be intermixed quantity of gravely
earth hardpan to the extent that shall be directed
and the whole, moistencd by sprinklng, is to be
rolled with rollers of weight that shall be directed
The rolling shall be thorough, and continued so
to close all inerstices of the surface OF the rubble
foundation"
Some finer rubDle ana quarry cnlpS nave been
placed top Of the stones and over large area OF
roadway gravel and sand have been placed, but
rolling done at all. The present condition of the
work shows that has not been taken to prevent
the filling Of the cavities of the lower portion OF
the bottom, to preserve its cellular character.
In fact the intermixure of the gravelly earth or
harsipan, the moistening by sprinkling and the
rolling provided for in the specifications one
operation, are mentioned together without separa
ton, and to what the specification calls for,
the gravelly earth or hardpan should be sprinkled
and rolled when put on. Then, by the compactng
result of rolling. there would be, as speclhed, .
closure interstices OF the surface of the rubbe
formation.
The result Of what has been done is that the grav-
ely material has been filtered down through and be-
the bottom stones, and i'll the opinion OF this
commission the present roadway is in wise in
cordance with specifications. No gravel has been de-
PAVEMENT OF RIDE.
Seventeenth considerable roadbed has been pre-
pared for the ride, but place rolled and the
marks heretofore made to the bed for drive are
alike applicable in this f
Some material has been placed upon this roadbed,
but it has in part been rolled and is therefore
finished. tt tt~ 4Nht
PAVEMENT OF WALKS.
EiqhteenLh--A large amount of walk surface has
been brought to subgrade, but none OF it rolled.
Over considerable portions of it quarry stones have
been filled in.
As the larger part Of these walk surfaces are over
obanknents close to the wall and therefore specially
liable to settlement and the surfaces have been in
cases already settled this commission reports
that the omission of rolling the subgrade in such
places is. in its opinion, injudicous; but the Super
visins Engineer states that he has not directed it..
and in this respect the commission reports that the
work is not in violation of the contract.
CUTTERS.
NinetecnN--Some two miles in length OF cutters
have been laid This commission reports that the
present condition Of these cutters Is unfinished in
every detail They are not rammed to Arm bed
and their surface does not yet conform to any
regular lines curves and to conform to the spec
hcations must be relaid.
GRANITE CURB.
TtcentietA-Nono has been used.
GRANITE CURB ANGLE
Twenty, 80 of the compact pro-
vides that Eat the ends OF the plots and at such other
points shall be directed, the granite curb will be
provided and set in special lengths. with joints cut to
the angles shown on plan, and with faces dressed as
directed"
The drawings exhibited at the letting include plans
for such granite curb angle stones. None have been
delivered set and in their stead have been substi-
tuted curved blue stone curbing. The superintend-
ing engineer states that ii escaped his attention that
granite was required IN these eases and that ne
mated at the price for circular The subst;
tuition of blue stone for granite was not warranted
the specifications.
T,centysecond-Oyer eight thousand lneal feet of
blue curb have been put in place. and has
been delivered. This curb Is generally OF the spec-
have not fair end joints as specified, but are slack
from the bottom to within few inches of the
top. Quite number of stones are cracked
through. The joints in many cases are
much wider than the tlrec-cighth inch specified
large portion of the curb has been set in such a
and vertically. The backing up does not seem in
many free from clay loan nor does 1t appear
to have been well rainmed, specified This,
therefore, is not finished In accordance with
specifications, but win require resottng
and refining before it should be finally accepted
fully estimated. Very many OF the curb stones in
lengths of less than three feet but the superntend
ing engineer states that these many instances in
accordance with his directions special lengths which
can be ordered under the contract
BLUE sroSE EDGIsGs.
1irtf--Morc than nineteen thousand lineal
feet of this material is delivered and put in place.
Tho end joints in many instances not squared
and dressed from top to bottom in accordance with
contract, but slack tor part OF the height. As
in the OF the curb very much OF the
edging has been set in such way that IL is out
OF line both lontudinaly and vertically. The back
ing is often not free from clay loan. has it
been ranmed specified. This therefore. is not An
ised in accordance with the specifications. 1t will
require rcsettng and refining before 1t should be
finally accepted or fully estimated.
rLAGetvU.
T,ccnty fourM-Over twenty thousand square feet of
Tagging have been delivered and laid III place. Much
OF this tagging shows fair upper surface A num-
1,cro OH 1pse hp ina1