The San Francisco call., 1895-07-19
THE STRANGE TALE OF THE RATHER TEST.


it remains to be and will be told.
1t is also true that the RATHER test was
inaugurated by the former board-out-
rageous monopoly that it is.
1t is also true that Immediately upon
the passage of the original order Great
ing that monopoly, the price of the
blue rock of Gray Bros two quarries
went up in price until there is clear mar
gin above the producers profit on every
load delivered, and every load of pavement
laid, which is figured conservatively at
$500 a month.
1t is also true that this outrageous mo-
nopoly was very carefully revived and fos-
tered in the specifications prepared by
Superintendent of Streets Ashworth at the
instance OF the majority OF the present
board.
For concrete work it is admitted that
clean, hard rock is essential, but it is not
true that the rock has to stand this re-
markable test in order to make the very
best of concrete.
For macadam roads it is just as en-
phatically true that this hard rock is
wholly unsuited. To make good mac
adam road the components must ANAL
gamate. For that purpose Superintendent
of Streets Ashworth says that nothing is
better than the ordinary red rock.
Mark you, Superintendent Ashworth
says that 1t was Superintendent Ash
worth, you remember, who prepared these
specifications that fix this outrageous
monopoly upon the impatient people. He
did so in response to a motion made in the
open board by Supervisor Hughes-the
motion simply being that the Superinten-
dent be requested to prepare specifications
under which the City could secure the best
possible streets. That was all. Nothing
was heard OF the matter until couple of
weeks later, when Mr.. Ashworth presented
his specifications, in the body of which
stands the above clause, with its ironclad
provisions.
A CALL reporter visited Mr.. Ashworth at
that time and asked him if he really be-
lieved in the Rather test.
~ do not" said Mr.. Ashworth, with his
characteristic emphasis. "For macadam
thing at all. The red rock is much supe-
rior, because it packs together and makes a
hard, solid surface.
But you prepared these Specifications
they forbid the use of red rock"
"Oh, yes, that's true" said Mr.. Ash
worth; "but l did that at the instance of
the board"
But the board left the whole matter to
you. The board relies upon your knowl-
edge and experience to perfect specifca-
tions that will give US the best of streets.
These specifications, you say, will not do
that"
"Well, these are old specifcations-the
result of the experience of the former
board"
There it was again, you see, the old
story; it was sufficient that the evil had
once been done to repeat and perpetuate it.
That was the best and only explanation
Mr.. Ashworth had to give. But how trans
parent it all is. He was, of course, told to
incorporate that clause or he would not
have done so while holding the opinion
that it did not make good pavement. Why
did the majority of the Supervisors tell
him to do that ? Need the question be
answered.
Why should they favor a single business
firm with an exclusive monopoly that
costs the people $500 month, when by
so doing they do an actual injury to the
streets? Does not the question answer
itself?
This has been going on for months; why
is it brought up at this time? Because the
people of large and progressive section
of the City have made special pleading
before the Supervisors to be relieved from
this great tax and handicap, which pre-
vents them-because of it's great cost-from
improving their streets.
The Point Lobos improvement Club sub
mitted the following which was consid-
cred at the meeting of the Street Commit
tee last week. Don't be afraid of tit is
interesting reading in this connection:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors Of the
City and County of San Franctsco-GENTLEMEN:
Your petitioners, the Point Lobos Improve
ment Club, respectfully call your attention to
order 2760, amendatory of section IL of order
2146.
This order refers to omacadamized roadways,
and specifies particularly that all the rock used
shall be of such quality es to stand what is
designated as the rattler test.
Now, as regards the Richmond district repre-
sented by your petitioners, we state that in
this district there is abundance of rock of the
been abundantly proved by the construction
of the Point Lobos road, which is now thirty
years old.
In point of merit for construction and wear
ing surface it is second to none in the State The
roads in Golden Gate Park are constructed of
this material, which we are told will not stand
the rattler test as well as that furnished by
Gray Brothers, which, as far as we can learn, is
the only rock in this City said to stand the test
satisfactorily.
We have to say that this test does not point
out the only good and sufficient quality for
macadam rock. The test of time is in favor of
the rock supplied from the quarr1es of this dis
trict against others which has been used in
this City and County.
Your petitioners respectfully request that
your honorable board will cause said order to
be further amended by inserting as follows:
These specifications regarding the quality of
rock used for macadam shall not apply in that
section of the City of San Francisco lying west
of Central avenue and north of Golden Gate
Park. Respectfully submitted,
7. G. PARKER, President.
EiMembers of the club appeared in num-
bers at the hearing before the Street Com
mittee, and backed their petition with per-
sonal pleading and explanation, but the
committee inscribed on the back of their