The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-26
Even the Street Superintend-
tendent Finds Fault With
a Contractor.
CEMENT sM0THERED IN SAND.
Bitumen on Frederick Street That
Is Too Soft-The Mayor Called
On to Act.

1uS people WHO i've Oh SOTIlanu dV0nu0
have asked that the avenue from where it
| is intersected by Folsom street down to
| San Bruno road be made passable for
teams. The Supervisors ordered the ave-
| nue. macadamized, let the contract to T. H.
| Norton, and the specifications required
| that there shall be course of rock not
| subject to the Rather test six inches deep,
broken into pieces as near as possible six
| inches each way, a course four inches
| deep of uniform size smaller than the first,
a stratum of two inches of still smaller
| rock, and a top dressing so small that it
will pass through half-inch screen. 1t is
also provided that each layer shall be well
| watered and rolled before the next course
is put on.
Recently complaints have been made
that the work is not being done according
to specifications. An examination of the
work for two blocks south of Folsom street
shows that the rock used is much larger
than the specifications call for and that no
water nor roller has been used.
"That will be all right when the last
course is put on and it is rolled, =" remarked
Superintendent Ashworth, when his atten-
ton was drawn to the matter yesterday.
"But, the contractor is required to roll
each COURSE" remarked. Mr.. Ashworth's
chief deputy.
"Wen, I'll look into this" added the
Superintend ent; still l have deputy, Mr..
Clark. who is looking after this work every
day. The rock you speak of certainly
should be of the size required, and it shall
be. Now I want to say that in a block be-
yond the two mentioned. samples of the
| cement he used in laying the gutter way
| was shown me. 1t was so poor that on
last Saturday sent Norton this letter:
You are hereby notified that the work being
| done by you on Cortland avenue must con-
| form to the specifications under which such
work was ordered. IA, strict compliance with
will not accept the work if it is done other
wise.
| 1 have been furnished with a sample of the
| concrete work done by YOU, which find very
inferior in quality. shall positively refuse to
accept the concrete. work unless the same be
OF the proper character and in conformity with
| the specifications for the same.
In answer to question as to the in
| feriority of the work, Mr.. Ashworth re-
piled: "Too much sand; too little &C.
| ment."
| George T. Gaden, the Mayors expert,
said that he has had his eye on this work
for some time, but that it had not yet
been brought officially to his notice. He
added:
| 81 shall look into this job and the lay
ing of the sewer, which has been COW
cred as rapidly as constructed. I have not
| had any opportunity to examine the sewer
work as it progressed, because all kinds of
| distractions have been placed in my way
of ascertaining if street and sewer work
are properly done. The Office of the Su-
perintendent of Streets has refused to
advise the Mayors Office of work, and Mr..
| Elder, who represents Supervisor Spreck-
els, has been denied the right to examine
books and documents in that office that re-
| late to stree twork."
To-day the Mayor received a letter from
w. n. Shaw, as follows;
Would you kindly send one of your experts
| to look at block between Washington and Clay,
| on Broderick just asphalted by Raisch & Co.
| It is very poorly done, entirely too soft. Last
! Saturday 1t was badly cut up by teams, and on
| Sunday steam engine had to roll over it to
| remove the cuts and Iuts in it. By attending
to this promptly you will oblige the property
| owners who have to pay for the work.
Mr.. Elder examined the block in the
| afternoon, and his report is that the pave
ment is too soft and has been laid with
bitumen in violation of the rule that such
pavement should not be placed on grades
that exceed per cent.
e. l.. Hempel, who owns property at the
corner of Clay and Broderick streets, said
''This is bad piece of work, and the ma
lority OF the property-owners, If not all,
will protest against its acceptance. The
pavement is so soft that when wagons rest
on it the wheels sink, and it was so badly
cut up on Saturday that on Sunday the
contractors had to roll it down to hide
the poor work. When the work was COM
menced l, with the consent of the prop
erty-owners, asked Superintendent Ash
worth to appoint me inspector, but he re-
fused. He told me that as property
owner could look on.''
Yesterday afternoon an express wagon
passed along that block and in making a
turn the wheels turned up portions of the
FINN md hoI oh = l.
! level, leaving deep rut.