Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-08-21
"The Water Tests"

For fully two hours of last Tuesday nigh
the Council of Butler, with the aid of Mr.
| Porter, of the firm of Smith, Porter d Co.
6re-brick manufacturers of New Cumber
land. W. Va, talked about brick-fire
| brick-the quality of the clay, manner o
burning, vitrifcation, experience Of diff
ferent places with different makes. the
different tests and particularly the efficacy
of the water test.
Engineer McQuistion stated that he had
tested several of the brick that Long d
Doyle are putting down on f. Jefferson st.
and that one brick absorbed ii ounces ol
water in Is minutes, another was full OF
water in a few minutes, another had alb
sorbed S ounces in y hours, another OF.
in same time, all had averaged 4 ounces in
q hours, and some showed water to the
the centre; also that it was the experience
of the Engineers Association, and so pub
lished, that fire brick that would absorb
water would, when laid on the street, be
split by the frost and would crumble.
He cited several cases of brick being
tested and condemned by the water test,
and among them that of Omaha which con-
demned brick that absorbed $40 of an or.
in 36 hours, and stated that he had ordered
Long q Doyle to discontinue the laying OF
the brick.
Mr. Porter denied the efficacy or fairness
of the water test said they were shipping
brick all over the country and had received
no complaints, that their brick were made
of pure fire clay and were properly burned;
that they are shipping the same brick to
Philadelphia, Wheeling and other points
that they are shipping here; though he ac-
knowledged that the brick on Stockton ave.
Allegheny, which crumbled, were from
their kilns, and gave certain reasons for
said crumbling.
Messrs Long & Doyle thought that this
water test should have been sprung on
them when the first car load came in; but
Mr.. Forquer said that the first car load of
these brick shipped here were good ones
and had been tested; also that we were
now receiving the refuse Of the kilns, and
that life was too short to trifle with this
matter, and that the committee had taken
it for granted that things we're going right
until they found they were mistaken.
Mr.. McJunkin suggested compromise
i.e. culling the brick on hands, and insist
ing on better ones to complete that street
and the other streets.
The contract makes the Engineer and
Street Paving Committee the absolute
Judges of the quality of the materials that
go into the streets, and the matter was re
ferred to them and next morning they and
the contractors and Mr.. Porter went over
the street and examined the brick, and the
contractors and Mr.. Porter entered into
bond to the borough in $1,000, security Tor
any damage done to the street by water and
frost for six years.
1t was stated that the Main street as
sessment would not be ready till the next
meeting.
A slight change is to be made in the
grade of West Jefferson st. at crossing OF
W ashington and perhaps also in front of
Mr.. Forsythe's property.
The Sec'y was ordered to notify the peo-
pie on the alley back of Daffy's store to
abate certain nuisances.
The grading of Wayne St. and of Nc
Kean from Jefferson to Cunningham was
let to Jno. III. Mexican at 20 cents square
yd; and Mexican from Diamond ST. to
Wayne to J. b. Mathers at 80 cents, they
to haul the dirt to the bridge fill, and to
give bond and go ahead Immediately or
else contracts go to next best bidders.
Mr. Hughes was voted 50, 400 on his con-
tract for s. S. sewer; and Jos. Bredin, Esq.
notified council of suit for damages for
other big sewer passing through his prop
erty. The Sewer Com. was instructed to
settle with Messrs. Fullerton and Dauben-
speck, or else file bonds.
The grade of S. Main st. next to the
bridge, was referred to the Street Paving
Com. with power to act. The fuss there
seemed to be the result of misunder
Council adjourned till next Tuesday ev-
ening.