The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-13
BRICK CONE SLOWLY.
Hence Paving of Streets Can
not Be fastened.
MUD WILL LAST TILL FEBRUARY.
It VIII Take Eighty Days to Get tho
Supply From the Two Yards
The Work Is Durable.

The people OF this city who have been
entertaining the hope that Front and Sec
end streets would soon be paved. and that
they could be kent comparatively free 81
winters siusA and mud. VIII have 10 give
up that hope ard help out the shoe men
by purchasing hish-topped cvershoes. for
according TO CITY Engineer Thomson the
Improvement viii not be completed until
next February. TIE condition OF the
streets during tbs late rains Is but an ex-
ample OF what they viii be during most
OF the winter The inability OF the con-
tractors to get brick fast enough is the
reason for the long delay that IS expected.
Mr.. Thompson said yesterday:
The slowness with which the work on
Pike street was completed and the poor
progress made on both Front and Second
streets has been very disappointing.
from the present outlook, I DO not feel
there IS any assurance that either Front
or Second street VIII be completed before
next February. The reason for tbs IS the
fact that DO not believe ii TO be possible
for the brickmakers TO furnish the proper
amount OF suitable brick for the entire i'm
provenent within that time. Up TO the
present time less than "a per cent. or the
brick necessary for Second street has been
brought upon the ground and. according
10 my estimate OF the probabilities, eighty
DAYS VIII elapse before the last brick can
be delivered and laid upon that street
This is going 10 require the exercise OF
considerable patience upon the part or
the public. but every effort VIII be made
TO hasten the matter so far as possible
To Begin at James Street Today.
'Tt Is expected that tomorrow morning
Sterratt &. Getz will begin work on Second
street at the north margin OF James, on
the railroad portion This IS a strip sew
enteen feet wide along the center OF the
street. As soon as they reach Cherry
street the contractor for the property own
ers' portion VIII be required TO begin at
James and follow up the other work. IT
viii be necessary TO cover some OF the
concrete with plank and 10 put in tempo
rary wooden crossings over the railway
tracks 50 as 10 accommodate traffic, but II
is better 10 do this and relieve our citizens
Of the mud now in the street than TO wait
for two months simply for the brick Gov
ering.
ION Front street the contractors are
much further behind than was expected,
and they viii be delayed by the scarcity OF
brick for a considerable length OF time.
We Will prosecute the work OF laying the
concrete foundation as rapidly as
- judlcious, and Will make cross
inCs at every street intersection so as TO
relieve the traffic, and We will do every
thing IN our power TO make the street
passable.
Due to Scarcity of Brick.
LAS have said, the delay results prin-
cipaIly from the shortage of brick. II Is
certainly not 10 the interests OF the con-
tractors to prolong their work into the
winter and il is not In the interests OF
the public that IL should be prolonged, but
I do not see any hope OF completing the
improvement before the date set The two
streets VIII use a total OF 2,17 $50 brick.
Il as n Z
portion of Second street, 10li,Ol9; IN the
street railway portion, sos, 800; on Front
street, In the contractors portion, go, 100;
on the street railway portion, 1l0.1a0. In
asmuch as at the time this Work began
there were 100000 brick to be furnished to
complete the street railway portion on
Pike street. the total draft on our yards
from the time OF the letting of the contract
on Front street amounts TO 23l7,S05 brick
Ii has taken the Seattle Brick and Tile
Company thirty days TO supply the rail-
way portion on Pike street. and that yard
IS also attempting 10 supply the brick Tor
Front street and a greater part or the
brick for the railway portion on that
street. This would make the demands on
the two yards (the Seattle Brick and Tile
Company and the Denny Clay Company
about equal about 1eS5,oo0 brick to each
yard. The Denny Clay Company hopes TO
be able TO furnish Zoo brick day, but
understand 10 VIII not guarantee TO denver
over 1890 a day. AT that rate II viii re-
Quire seventy-two days for the furnishing
OF the entire amount Some have been
furnished already, but there are always
accidents that delay the progress of work,
and therefore I have estimated eighty
days.
Good Work Is Being Done.
80 far as &C has progressed. the work
on Second street is very satisfactory, and
] believe II VIII prove durable We believe
we have found the proper method Of lamp
ing these brick. by using the city's steam
roller II IS admitted al over the world
that the durability Of a brick pavement
depends very largely upon the manner IN
which the brick rests upon the foundation.
II the foundation yields, or IS irregular
the brick settle irreguiarly. and are there
fore soon worn and broken by travel
Heretofore we have attempted 20 settle
these brick upon their foundation. which
is sand cushion OF two inches depth
everything SIX inches OF concrete, by driv-
ing them with heavy Tammer. This
broke a great many brick. We also tried
rolling them with the steam roller, and
this broke a good many brick. because the
surface Of the roadway is built To a true
curve and the surface OF the roller IS a
Eraas 20 aud