Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-23
A QUESTION OF BRICKS.
SHALL NEW OR OLD ONES BE USED IN
REPAIRING STREETS?
A Repair Job Stopped By the B. P. ". Yesterday
MOrning-Gradss Of Several Streets Fixed.
Other City Matters.

Two little squabbles arose yesterday
concerning the repair Of the brick-paved
streets. One was with the contractors
for the telephone conduit ditch, and the
other was with the Street Railway Com
pany, tina Board of Public Works hav-
ing hand in each of the disputes.
For good while back there has been
dissatisfaction, both among members OF
Council and the Board OF Public Works,
regarding the repair Of brick-paved
streets, a notable example being in the
case OF the Street Railway Company,
whose repair work, done last fall, was
extremely bad. After good deal of
trouble had resulted, Council, at its last
meeting, passed resolution, to the
effect that no further permits should be
granted to persons, firms or corpora
tions TO tear up brick-pave streets un-
less the repairs were made with new
brick, TO the satisfaction of the Board
of Public Works. The contractor for
the telephone conduit had been relay
ing old brick Cd Main street, and con-
tinued to do so on Market street, hay-
ing the understanding that the resolu-
ton could not effect permits Issued
prior to the passage OF the measure,
but would only affect permits SUISSE
quently issued. The old permits al
lowed the opening of the street as far
south as Twelfth street, and Mr.. Ham
ilton, the contractor, thought he was
all right until he got down to Twelfth
street. Nevertheless the Board ordered
the repaving on Market street with old
brick stopped, whereupon Mr.. Hamilton
arranged to have new paving brick on
hand this morning, and will lay
them down. He brought up the matter
at lest nights session OF the Council
Committee on Streets, Alleys and
Grades, and the ordinances and the res
olution above referred to were exam
ined and discussed, but no definite de-
cision could be arrived at off hand. Mr..
Hamilton's statement that he intended
to use new brick seemed to solve the
problem so far as he is concernea, how
ever. In addressing the Committee,
Mr.. Hamilton said:-
81 want to repudiate the statement In
the evening paper that l invited the
Board to go to a warm climate. l SAID
nothing of the sort and have no quarrel
with either the Board or the city. AS
to the paving, soma Of it on Main street
has sunken. and will have to be fixed.
Tue objection to the old brick will also
apply to the new, for this reason. The
streets wer9 paved with ordi-
binary fire brick, which run
two and three-eights to two and one
half inches thick. The brick we get
now are paving brick, and run in width
from two and one-half inches to two
and five.eighths. The old brick, being
coated with tar, won't run in with the
rest of the street, and we have to break
course every ten or fifteen feet.
The new brick, being wider, as / have
shown, won't run even either, and there
will be the same trouble. Then, the
new brick will sink just Rs readily
as the old, and no matter with what
brick the repairs are made, 1t will be
patch Just the same. We will CON-
| mence using new brick tomorrow, and
will do the best possible work"
Mr.. Wolff, of the Telephone Company,
was seen last evening, and in reply TO
the reporters question about the
rumored trouble between his contrac-
tor and B. P. W., said:
"No. indeed, there is no tiff between
this Company and the city officials. The
provisions of our ordinance prevents
ANYTHING of that nature. 1t provides
that the rules Of the Board OF Public
| Works shall become part OF the ordi-
nance wherever applicable, and that
the paving shall be done to their salts
faction. Each provision of the ordi-
| nance was thoroughly gone over by the
| different Committees OF Council and the
City Solicitor before its final passage.
| We propose to comply with the rules OF
the Board; don't know anything about
the misunderstanding between the Su-
perintendent of the Streets and the
! contractor, Hamilton, but 1t can't be
ANYTHING more than misunderstand-
| ing. Mr.. Hamilton wants to do what Is
right, and no doubt will follow the In
structions of the Board. Yes, he told
me this evening that he had arranged
for 10000 new brick and would COM
mence putting them in tomorrow.
The other speck of trouble was be-
tween the Street Railway contractor
and the Board. The Railway Company
has a good many street repairs to make,
and Yesterday a force OF their men be-
gan to tear up the brick paving between
the rails of the track, on Market street,
opposite the REGISTER Office. The
BOARD of Public Works, understanding
that the Company did not propose to
repaye a foot on each side of the track,
bpt only between the rails, ordered
the work stopped, and that
the brick already torn up be replaced.