Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-12
BRICKMAkERS PROTEST
Tho Exchange Wants the Sewer speci6.
cations Materially Altered.
Local Firms Are Now Shut on From
the Contracts-The Different
Kinds OF Sewers.

There was some plain talk at the Dis
trict building today, and q delegation of
washington brick manufacturers entered
vigorous protest against the manner In
which sewers are being constructed In the
District under existing specifications, which
virtually barred these gentlemen and their
associates from furnishing brick to the
District
The delegation consisted Of VIM. H. West
president Of the Washington Brick Makers
Exchange: T. L. Holbrook. president Of the
Washington Brick Machine Company: VIM.
A. Richards. representing the Alfred Rich
ards Brick Company; w. c. Morrison Of the
Morrison Brick Company. John OMEN Of
the John E. Herrell & Co. brick works and
VIM. T. Walker OF the Walker & Co. brick
works.
Mr.. I. l.. Holbrook was the spokesman of
the party. He addressed Capt. Derby OF
the engineer department first. and stated
mat at meeting Of the Brick Makers
Exchange last night a committee was APP
pointed TO wait upon the District Commits
sioners and present a preamble and resolu-
ton unanimously adopted at the meeting.
The preamble states that as the Com
missioners were urging the issue OF 81
3J0.Uo worth of bonds to carry out q sew
erage system that the exchange In order
to protect Its interests adopt a resolution
providing that the Washington Brick Ex-
change, which has a membership of four
teen individuals, firms and corporations,
representing several millions of capital en-
ployed In the manufacture OF brick 0he
largest manufacturing interest In the Dis
trict of Columbia), whose members directly
and indirectly pay tens OF thousands OF
dollars annually In taxes for the improve
ment and expenses Of the government OF
the District, We respectfully protest against
the specifications now used for brick for
sewer work and their rigid construction.
which prevents the use Of hard burned
LII
cracks or flaws. thus practically excluding
us from furnishing brick for sewer work
flor the construction OF which our taxes
are applied. because such perfect brick as
sand more than arch brick. as good
for the purpose. In our opinion. all
sewer brick being laid solid In by
draulic cement over centers. which
the wearing parts of sewers 8he invero
being faced with stone and vitriied brick.
and We respectfully ask for the modihca-
ton of said specifications for any new
work"
Against Experiments.
Mr. Holbrook continuing said:
Captain. we are here to protest against
the specifications for brick in the construc-
ton OF sewers and also to protest as citi-
zens and taxpayers against any expert
ments in the construction Of sewers. We
believe and our experience tustifies it. that
brick sewers are superior to concrete
sewers. They have stood the test for years.
and there exists no coed reason why they
should be substituted by concrete. This
delegation represents a good many hun
dreds of thousands OF dollars and pays an
nually in taxes tens Of thousands of dol
lars to this District. As brickmakers We
protest and as taxpayers and citizens We
are opposed to experiments. The expert
ence We gained from one OF your brother
officers in the tunnel fiasco is enough for Us
in the nature of experiments. The District
today is paying too much Tor Its brick. and
every one of us will give guarant-e that
We will furnish brick at 81. 80 per rhouisan
that will make as good and maybe better
sewers than those for which the District
pay IS per thousand. If such things are
allowed to continue we will be Obliged %
use our influence to defeat any proposition
looking to a bonding Of lie District to the
extent Of three or four millions Of dollars"
Capt. Derby said he was not weddel to
either the brick or concrete sewer. All he
was anxious to do was to obtain for the
District the very best sewers
A hearing before the ooard OF Commls-
sjnners WAS ARRANGED for next Friday,