Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-20
CITY-HALL BRICKS.
LENGTHY DIscUssroH IN The COUNCIL
COMMITTEES.
Has the Contract Been Complied With
That's the Question; But Kew
Start Made, Anyhow.

IIhL Tho AucobAou, O0h % ANW
Start Made, Anyhow.
A special meeting of the Committee
on Grounds and Building was held last
night at 7 o'clock in the Office of the
City Engineer to consider the contro-
versy that he's arisen between the City
Engineer and the Chester Clay Working
Company in regard to the brick for the
City Hall. There were present Messrs.
Philips Cchairman), Higgins, Crenshaw,
and Snead.
Mr.. James r. Werth, the general
manager of the Chester Company, ap-
peared before the committee and sub
mitted the following report
Seeing that tho City Engineer. after visitirg
the brick-yard, IS Of tho opinion that the only
aucs ion betwcen myself md the City-haH au-
thorities is the culling. in which fully concur,
and that this Ia turn raises tho qnesion "a To
what constitutes coed brick. an1 OF equal
quality 20 those now laid IN the building" hope
Il will be the order "a the committee--tirss, that
before any more Of my bricks are delivered Il
the CITY Hall specified rules for inspection shall
be formulated by your Engineer and accepted
by mo. Second. Desiring ~ arrive az sette-
menf. AMI IN Wow OF Ilt itfh NlA hup cbhtfAN
brick which the City Engineer approved could
only be delivered sixty Jays after sgnng the con
tract, and that have been further delayed since
the Sth September on account OF mrs coniro-
vcrsy es to color, mat the matior Of the time
allowed for the delivery Of tho whole number OF
brick required undcr contract be likewise lett
20 the City Engineer subject 70 my acceptance;
and third that All sums due me- by tho city for
accepted bricks al nll be pad now. and that this
settlement shall be In fun Of all claims 10 daie,
each % the other. aud on every account what
soeyer am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
JAMES r. WERTu
CLEARER UNDERSTANDING.
Mr.. Werth stated that he submitted
this report because the contract between
the city and himself was so open that 1t
was hard to determine the exact charac-
ter of the brick wanted, and he thought
the old contract should be abrogated aud
clearer understanding entered into. He
showed several samples of brick which
he desired the committee to inspect,
which he said had been sent back from
the City Hall IS rejected. He insisted
that the color OF the brick had nothing
TO do with the quality. He was anxious
for a rule of specifications to be set down,
SO that he would know what to DO.
HARD BRICKS.
Mr. G. p. T.. Burgwyn, civil engineer.
appeared before the committee and
stated that he had tested the Chester
bricks and found them TO be OF practi-
cal building quality. He wanted Colonel
Cutsbaw to test the crushing strength
and absorbing power,of their brick, and
ne thought that they could satisfy him in
the color if he was satisfied with the
other qualities.
CITY HALL FOREMAN.
Mr.. Lyshon, the inspector Of the
bricks at the City Hall. said be had a
sample to go by, and when the Chester
bricks were sent he tried to select them
as near as possible like his sample. lie
declared that if the bricks shown by Mr..
Werth had been rejected and returned 1t
was done through mistake. He would
not have rejected them, as they were
like great many used on She hall.
THE CONTRACT.
City-Engineer Cutshaw said he was a
friend 10 the Chester company and was
anxious to see their bricks introduced
into the city, but that the question OF
quality was not one for the committee,
~ the contract provided that in case OF
n difference of opinion III regard 10 the
quality of the bricks the decision OF the
CITY Engineer should be final. lie had
been over 10 Chester and seen the brlck-
works and they were now better pre-
pared than before for operations and had
a many good brick.
The Engineer stated that the question
Of delivery was one to demand the atten-
ton of the committee.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Mr.. Werth said that as whole loads
of brick, which they thought to came up
to the sample, had been rejected, they
thought it useless to deliver any more
until the committee settled this matter.
A PROPOSITION
After long discussion, engaged in by
Messrs. Werth, Burgwyn. Otley, and
Wilson, of the brick company, and Colo
mel Cutshaw and Messrs. Lysh0n and
Conrad, in behalf of the city, Mr. Snead
stated that he though the committee had
all the information they wanted, and as
Mr.. Werth sad that his company could
furnish as good brick as the samples no
had shown, and the city authorities were
satisfied with them, the only thing for
the committee to do WAS to let the COM
pany furnish the brick and the city ac-
cept them.
THE DELIVERY.
Mr.. Werth was asked if he could de-
liver the brick as required in the con-
tract. He replied that he had about
1000 now on hand and the capacity OF
the works was very large. There would
be no trouble about not getting the
brick in time, as he would commence de-
liyering them to-day.
Mr.. Snead's suggestion was then adopt
ed, and at 9:l5 o'clock the committee
adjourned.
Major Patton ~ Coming after Yea.
The Hon. John 5. Barbour, chairman
OF the State Democratic Committee, has
reapponted Major James D. Patton a
member Of the Executive Committee,
and has requested him to proceed to col
lect Richmond's quota Of the campaign
fund.
The Major will start out at once to
fulfil his duty.
Money is needed to pay for printing
and circulating documents, for paying