The Washington times., 1894-06-16
BRICKMAKERS WILL FIGHT
Members of the Exchange Object to
Experimentation.
MILLIONS OF CAPITAL ARRAYED
Concrete Must Not Be Substituted for Brick
in the Proposed Sewerage system-Bond
Issue Not to Be Antagonized-Mstter to
BE Appealed to Congress.

The members of the Brick Exchange are in the
Geld to hght the proposed experiments by the
engineering department Of the District by lay
ing The new sewerage system, and have declared
their intention of ultimately winning.
The antagonism displayed by the Brick EI.
change is significant It has a membership OF
individuals, firms, and corporations, represent
ing several millions of capital, employed in the
manufacture OF brick, the greatest industry
carried on In the District, whose members an.
nua,Iy pay tens OF thousands Of dollars in taxes
and therefore their wishes are to be respected
The first step in the protest against the pro
posed experiments was made yesterday when q
committee appeared before the Commissioners
10 state their wishes. This committee was COM
posed OF some of the most prominent men in the
District Il Was appointed at a meeting OF the
exchange held recently. The committee was
composed OF the following:
" liIieul Al. West president of the exchange,
and senior member of the firm OF West a Bro.
al Fifteenth ami c streets; W. 7. Walker. of
Walker S Son, with offices in the Corcoran build
ing: ". < Morrison. president OF the columbia
Brick Company. wi.h oiices III ihe huilcers Ex-
cmanEe: " 4 Richards senior member of the
firm II Alfred richards Il Co, OF South Capitol
aud streets: JCin Neil. manager for D. Z.
Herrell X Co, nf South Capitol and o streets,
and = l. ltolbroos, and president OF tho WASH
ins'on Brick Machine Company, of l420 New
lur- uvenac.
Ihe ccmmi,tcr stated to the Commissioners
tAoir wishes, and to-day will appear before the
Eistric; COmm!.tee OF the House and further
combat the objectionable features of the bill
now before tCHErcsS.
The bil over which the fight is taking place Is
one now before congress TO appropriate 81 ,a5O,-
co 10 give Wash ngton a perfect sewerage
system. This bill is an outgrOwth OF q cCmmis-
sion appointed b. President Harrison in 1890
THIS was joint commission of three sanitary
engineers empowered 10 report to Congress
gfs sNr.aT Ia .~aF,
the city. his commission reported in July,
1899, and gave estimate Of $i,50,00O, provided
that vitriied pic was used iii all sewers Of
tweniy-tour inches in diameter or less properly
laid in concrete; tho larger sewers, the inyerts
20 be made ot concrete, brick stone, and the
arches OF brick
CONCRETE AS A SUBSTITUTE.
It is now proposed by Capt Derby, of the En-
gincering Department, to experiment relative
to aycertaining if concrete cannot be substituted
for brisk in the nverts and Grchs. The attitude
OF the brick manufacturers can be better eX-
planned in their own words. Mr.. Holbrook last
night said:
NO DO not object to the proposed issue of
bonds for the construction of these sewers.
What We most emphatically object to is expert
ments This District has already suffered too
much by experiments that have caused tax
payers hundreds OF thousands Of dollars. In the
first place our government is experimental We
are disirapchised. Then they built a water tun-
mel that YVES failure and tried experiments
with block pavements- Decidedly we have had
enough OF experiments
~ hat is our position, independent of our busi-
ness as brick manufacturers Now we, as the
men who make bricks know the history of the
bric. and its staying qualities. IL is a matter of
historT that bricks have stood the test of time.
Concrete has nos. Therefore IL is TO our interest
TO see that bricks are adhered TO in this work.
~ am willing TO admit that experiments are
all right, but for time, least, want to see
them conducted at some else's expense.
That is the reason that we are combating the
proposed trial of concrete and strenuously urg-
ing that solid, substantial brick be used mate
rial that is not now venture and which can be
relied upon"
MIR William II. West, president of the ex-
change, stated last night that the exchange was
unanimous in declaring against any more ex-
perinents by the government engineers He
said:
The Commissioners seem welded to this pro-
cs-s of experimentation proposed by Capt
Derby. | can readily see how army officers are
coniincally anxious TO find some new plan for
carrying cut their plans as engineers Many
times they fail, and seldom they succeed In
case Of failure they are removed TO some other
district until the taxpayers, who have stood the
cost Of their Jolly. have recovered from the
breeze when the truth Is known"
81 feel that 1t is going to be hard work TO con-
vince the Commissioners Of the truth of our
mIttee Of the House to-day thinx we can show
them the utter folly OF trying any further expert
ments, and prevent Capt. Derby and his co engi-
neers in their costly schemes
ether members OF the Exchange spoke in
like manner, and the unanimous opinion of
the brick manufacturers is that they will be
able to defeat the plan