The morning call., 1893-04-14
Piled THE PICK.
How the Street Committee
Tested Cement.
DIsGUsTED WITH POOR WORK.
The Material Falls to Pieces Under
Sturdy Blows-Half a Dozen
Streets Rejected.

There was a sensational close to the
meeting of the Street Committee of the
Board OF Supervisors yesterday.
TIE committee mem bers went out into
the Corporation Yard. where a number of
specimens of rock had been laid out for
their inspection and testing.
The tests we're made by Superintendent
Of Streets Ackerson at the suggestion of
Supervisor Denman. During the afternoon
Ackerson had stated that as the committee
had declined 10 indorse his recommended
tions in several instances, he did not intend
to recommend any more work for accept
anee TIL after 1t had been examined by the
committee, but that he did not think the
latter could form fair opinion Of a pave
ment by examining small portions of the
work.
Denman thought differently, and when
the committee reached the Corporation
Yard. half a dozen blocks were placed in
row ami Superintendent Ackerson attacked
them with brand-new pick.
The first specimen was blue rock concrete
from Twenty-sxth street. A single blow
of the pick caused it 10 crumbIe In all direc-
tions as so much dirt or loose gravel would
have done.
The second specimen. block of red-rock
eement from COrbett road, also broke at
the first blow and the Super visOrs smiled.
Sample No. g. also of red rock. made ac-
c0rding To the specifications of the engineer
of the City Hall, was no better than the
others. The first tap of the pick did the
business.
The fourth specimen contained one
fourth more sand than the preceding and
stood the blows of the pick well.
The fifth and sixth were bituminous
blocks. and the test was considered salts
actory.
The committee decided to reject the work
on The following streets: Eddy, between
Pierce and Scott; Farren. between Eddy
and Ellis; jackson, between Taylor and
Jones Fell. between Fillmore and Webster;
crossing of O'Farrell and Scott; crossing of
Steiner and Sacramento.
The contract for laying bituminous side
walks on Clay from kearny to Brenham
place was awarded to the Pacific Paving
Company at ii cents, and the same company
received the contract to pave Washing gton
between Walnut and Laurel avenue at q
cents.
The committee reported favorably on the
petition Of pr"pertv-ow owners for the paving
OF Green between Polk and Larkin, and also
recommended the paving of the crossing of
Seventeenth and Guerrero.
The petition of the Lakeview and Sunny
side Improvement Company for the con-
struction OF sewer on Joost avenue from
Congo to San Jose avenue was favorably re-
ported.
nc Cuuilil ltee utclueu 10 revoke the per-
nit granted to the n. 7. Perine Contracting
Company to pave the block on Steiner street
between Pine and California and to have
the work done by private contract.
Street Superintendent AckersOn, reply
ing TO protest from property-owners
against the paving of Twenty-sixth street
between Valencia and Mission with btu
men, said that the Mission sewers were
choked with the washings from macadam-
lied streets. l. was decided to inspect the
block In question and report accordingly.
The committee will hold r special session
this afternoon to consider the protests