The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-05
ROTTEN PAVEMENT
Street Work Does Not Suit
Supervisor Denman.
RED ROCK IS NOT GOOD.
Some Pavements That Break After a
Few Months Use The Street
Committee investigating.

The present Board Of Supervisors Is mot
satisfied with the work accepted by its
predecessors in offiee-at least, so far as
street-paving goes. At the meeting Of the
board GU Monday night Supervisor Denman
was very severe on the contractors who had
done the asphaltum paving for the city, and
claimed that they had not done their work
in proper manner nor furnished material
that met in any way the requirements of
their specifications.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Denman and
some others of the Street Committee went
on an investigating tour of the city. Every
pavement that has recently been finished.
and that the contractors are waiting 10 have
approved, was rigidy examined. and,
according to Mr.. Denman, the large major
ity of them were found defective.
When asked the result of his investiga-
tiOns. Mr.. Denman said, last evening:
THE proper word to be used to express
the condition of these new asphaltum pave
ments Is that they are rotten. The fault is
principally in the foundation, which is
made of the red rock that had so much to
say about on Monday night.
This red rock is unfit 10 use In such way.
IL Is almost impossible 70 obtain 1t free from
dirt, and if any dirt Is mixed with cement
all the effects OF the cement are nulified.
NCAhGHb WILL HOL oblCh " lHuut anu tile CUuoc
quence Is that an open space is left between
the pavement and the foundation. AS the
asphalt is very brittle, the weight of horse
stepping en- the weak places breaks through
the pavement and ii is ruined.
This afternoon we saw pavements that
were accepted only last December. They
have great holes in them. caused by the
using OF this same red rock. In many
places the asphalt itself is only two inches
thick. All the specifications for pavemeBts
ufaNNNr ~ H11r h
half in thickness, but OF course it is much
more money in contractors pocket il he
can save one-1ilth of his work and get full
pay.
The Street Committee is going to try and
force the contractors to live up to their
specifications. If they cannot do good,
honest work for the prices they charge we
certainly will not approve It. The usual
cost OF paving is II cents a foot. Some
times 1t Is higher, but l believe that is about
the average.
with such a pavement as these men
agree to put down our streets would be
paved with material that would last ten
years instead of three or four months.
Il have been accused by some Of the con-
tractors of having an interest in compelling
them 10 use blue rock as foundation in
stead of red. l have no possible interest in
the matter, except that Of giving the city
the best pavement possible. There is
plenty oil such rock right near rs. Tele-
graph 1lll is made OF IL, there is plenty IN
the Mission and at South San Francisco,
and there is no need of the cry being raised
that it is hard to get. 1t Is clean and free
from mud or dirt and makes perfectly
satisfactory foundation"
The committee will report next Monday
evening at the regular meeting of the board
what their IDEAS are as TO accepting the paw
ing in the streets now finished. Unless
things change between now and then some
OF the contractors who have been filling
their pockets at the expense of the city Tor
some time past will find that their work
will have TO be done over again and in a
satisfactory manner. Mr.. Denman espe-
eially is trying TO improve matters in this
respect and says that the board is back of
hi Iii and will see him through.