The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-01
GOODBRICKPAVEMENT
Plans Adopted for Improve
ment of Front Street.
DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME
Ola Sewers TO Be Repaired and Solid
Foundation Laid-PIoneer Place
to Be Curbed.

TIL. mans and specifications for the
navirr OF Front street. from Yesler ave-
nue. 70 Madison street. prepared oy lily
Engineer Thomson were signed py
Chairman Alexander and secretary
yeachau. Of the board OF pubic works.
ana had the boards seal affixed. yesisr-
dav. after being under consideration Tor
two DAYS. and August Is at noon was
sat a. the time for opening BIDS. Be-
sisss several large sheets Of detail plans
and drawings. the specifications contain
over forty pages OF typewriter details.
The paving VIII be oeset with many oll
6culties. which have been encountered
in former work of the kind, and Ar.
thomson candidly admitted yesterday
that he did not consider the specincauons
nerfert but added. in talking with n
Post-Intelligencer reporter:
They are as near perfect a. 1 am
able 10 make them at present ] have
shrrrns from preparing Specifications for
Front street as never did from any duty
before. A considerable portion or the
street Is made ground. and some or IL IS
sustained by very poor retaining waAs.
The Improvement reaches from Manson
street 10 the south margin of Iesler ave-
nue.. and eastward along the avenue TO
South Second street. Under James street,
reaching from Second street TO a point
in YeS.er avenue. near Commercial. Is
great wooden cavern. 80 by % inches,
built eleven years ago for sewer. ana
running along Yesler avenue, from South
Third street to a point far west of Com
mercial street. Is similar structure.
Both OF these are SO decayed that have
expected them 70 cave IN any day or night
during three years past On fesier ave-
nue.. abreast Of South Second street, and
reaching about fifty feet from both mar
gins OF that streets. the roof Of the-Yes-
ier avenue sewer. which should be five
feet above the floor, Is so decayed and
broken down that 10 is fmpossibie TO
either see or crawl through 1t. or course.
We could not think of paving over such
things as these, and 10 provide for per-
manent and yet cheap repair or recon-
struction has been difficult study. How
ell we have mastered this only time can
tell.
THE sheave wheel of the James street
road also sets in Yesler avenue. in the
line of James street extended. away down
towards Commercial, and the cable plays
in a great canal, as 1t were. which
reaches from opposite the face of the
Pioneer block out 10 this wheel. Over
a year ago the board Of public works noti-
fed this company to remove the wheel
TO where it should be. a little east or
Front street. in James. In some way
the company secured stay OF proceed
ings, but the wheel will have to go now,
and the canal in which the cable plays
be filed up.
Each of these items. defective retain
ing walls, cavernous and deceitful sew
ers and upland canals for tramway ca
bles. serve TO make the preparation of a
permanent and unyielding foundation diff
ficulty. / believe We have provided for
these dangers fairly well, and that when
done, the work will be approved. During
construction. however, / dare say that
engineering advice win be abundant In
der our plans quite plat OF ground in
the center OF Pioneer place will be en-
cirled by heavy granite curling. This
will add somewhat to the appearance OF
this spot, but should delight to see this
tract further enclosed. and a suitable
monument erected there In commemora-
ton Of our pioneers. making IL indeed
Pioneer place, or falling in that. let it be
converted into a bower OF flowers. No
doubt steam heat could be had for fore
ing vegetation at very trifiing cost"
In answer to a question as TO whether
he thought there would be delay on the
part of the Front Street Cable company
in adjusting it's tracks TO conform to the
paving, Mr.. Thomson said: THAT mat
ter will be looked after by our legal de-
partment. / suppose our corporation
counsel will be able to apply such legal
remedies as VIII cause the company 10
improve as ten city does. Anyhow. that
trouble is on him.
In answer TO question as to detail Of
construction and an approximation OF
quantities, he said: THE first step will
be TO make secure or rebuild defective
retaining walls and sewers. We will then
take off OF and out of the ground all
wood or other substances which would
be unsuitable in foundation. The citys
twelve and a half ton steam roller will
then be put on and the ground rolled
until 1t is thoroughly compacted. About
six inches OF gravel viii then be put on
the surface, and this In turn thoroughly
rolled. over this will be LAID six inches
OF concrete, made OF basait macadam
bedded in matrix OF Portland cement
mortar. Over this will be spread a sand
cushion of about two inches, on which
will be placed the yitrihed brick, consti-
tuting the wearing surface OF the pave
ment. These will be tamped down onto
and into the sand cushion, with heavy
hammer. until the hammer will rebound
from the brick. Every smallest crevice
will then be filed by pouring very fine
sand. heated quite hot This hot sand
runs like water. Over this will be swept
a coating OF clean sand, which will be
left on a short time. The end sought TO
be attained is TO make such rigid foun-
dalton, and 10 so solidly and compactly
set our brick over IL. that there Will new
er be either settlement or sag in the
foundation, nor the least possible move
ment OF the individual brick. Such a
condition favors the long life and cheap
maintenance of the pavement. We viii
not attain perfect ideal on Front street,
but we will come as near it es existing
physical conditions admit OF, with a rea-
scnahle financial outlay. When IL is done
/ think IL viii give satisfaction"
About 1000 cubic yards OF earth will be
moved in shaping the foundation, about
$500 feet OF granite curb will be set. $500
feet OF drain tile laid. and 5000 square
yards of finished pavement laid. No de-
fined gutter win be made. but very great
care will be used 20 take the water from
the surface OF the street as quickly as
possible. Over half a million brick win
be used IN the improvement. and nearly
two thousand casks OF Portland cement.