The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-31
POOR STREET PAVEMENTS,
Ernest Mccullough Tells OF
the Causes and How to
Remedy.
THE PEOPLE INDIFFERENT.
Many Honest Contractors VIII Not
Bid Because Of Faulty
Specifications.

The public demand for better streets and
street pavements has brought to the front
many who have for years past been making
these matters study. The investigators
have furnished a number OF interesting
papers, which from time to time have been
published In the CALL, and which contain
valuable data of Investigations and expert
ments in other large cities. AT the annual
meeting of the Merchants Association,
held Wednesday evening, Ernest McCul-
Tough, the consulting engineer OF the asso-
citation, read an interesting paper on
Causes and Remedy for Poor Street
Work" Mr.. Mccullough, while still a
young man in his profession of civil en-
glneering, is recognized as an authority on
such matters. A year or so ago he pub
lshed small work upon street grades,
sewer systems, pavements, etc., which was
received with great favor by civil en-
glneers all over the United States. Requests
for copies of his pamphlets have been
made by people in Europe and Australia.
The paper read at the merchants meeting
was favorably received. 1t was as follows:
In the question of street improvements
which are now being considered there are
three main points of interest: First, Are the
streets of San Francisco in need of improve
ment, and can they be improved? Second, If
they are not all they should be why is 1t, and
can the blame be properly placed and remedy
found? Third, What is the proper permanent
remedy?
The first question is answered by the fact of
the existence of the Merchants Associa ton
and other organizations for the purpose of
remedying the existing condition OF affairs in
that respect. The business streets and some
OF the older residence streets in this city are
not first class or such as a man proud or his
native place can take any satisfaction in. The
second point Is answered by the statement
that the only season bad streets exist is be-
cause the people are Indifferent Good streets
have never really been demanded, therefore
they have not been provided. The cry OF boss
ism and political control OF public affairs is an
excuse for all lack of interest in questions con-
corning the best welfare OF the community.
Governor Mckinley in recent speech made
the following remarks: zone of the greatest
problems in the country is that of municipal
control. In my opinion the chief cause OF the
Ills OF municipal government arises from the
TACT OF the Indifference of the citizens. 1t is very
encouraging to note that within the last year
or two there has been an awakening OF interest
on the part OF the people generally upon the
subject OF municipal government and 1t is par
t1cularly noteworthy that the efforts of some
OF the ablest Dublicists OF the country are now
being directed to the solution OF municipal
problems" San Francisco has been suffering
in the past from the evils Governor Mckinley
has spoken OF. The people have gone through
the form OF elections every Jew years and
elected men to office. Their duty was consid-
cred done when the offices were filed. Such
thing as cooperation with the men elected
was not thought Of If sometimes mistakes
were made or i'm proper men gained control
growl took the place of an honest effort at re-
form. In the construction OF streets the people
have secured all they ever asked for or really
expected to get II dissatisfaction is now OK.
pressed it must not be all directed toward the
officers in charge at the time the work was exc
cuted. but a fair portion should be placed
wherever it belongs.
AS result of my investigations for some
time past find that two prime reasons for bad
work on the streets lie in faulty specifications
and faulty work under those specifications.
There has been no proper supervision Of the
work OF preparing the specifications and no
preaTanged plan for amending them. In
short, there has been no systematic considera-
ton OF the problems involved. Each Board of
Supervisors has been approached by friends of
certain materials, or certain fads in construc-
ton work, and the specifications have been
altered from time to time as the influences at
work moved here or there. Whether with
honest or dishonest purpose the specifications
change frequently and not always to the bene-
MT 81 those most directly concerned, the tax
payers.
With all due respect to the newspapers, it
must be said that they err oftentimes in this |
matter by taking up some man with fad at a |
time OF public agitation like the present and |
accepting his opinion as that of an expert. An
honest well-meaning official will sometimes |
accept this free advice and unintentionally |
make matters worse than before.
With all the faults possessed by the specifca-
tons there is still an opportunity to secure |
good work which is neglected. / refer to the |
selection OF competent men to see that the |
work is properly done. Some sort of civil ser
vice regulations should apply in the selection !
of the inspectors of street work. To ineom- |
petent and sometimes dishonest inspectors we |
owe, to certain extent, our bad streets, and |
more care should be taken in their selection. !
With good men good streets can be obtained, !
even though the specifications are not all that |
might be desired.
1t has been said that even if good specifca- |
tons and competent inspectors were obtained |
the work would be bad, as contractors are prone |
to slight a job. Personal experience with con- |
tractors leads me to believe that in general |
they Will give good job as is eXacted of them.
AS 1t is a question of making or losing, they |
Wlll take every chance given 10 increase profits |
ana IN this respect are not different from the |
generality OF mankind. While there are men |
who do not take any pride in doing good work,
there are others who do and all efforts should |
be made to retain them. With the ordinary |
contractor great deal depends upon whether |
the inspector is incompetent or dishonest.
AS a general proposition it might be stated
that the old adage of honesty being the best
policy is very true one, and when given fair
show the ma ority OF men are rather inclined |
than otherwise to act honestly and contractors
are no exception. Can any one explain why
there are so many really honest contractors in
this City who refuse to bid on City work? A
guess might be hazarded that it is because
they cannot afford to do q good JOB at the fig
ures unfair competition has compelled bidders
to submit, and sooner than do poor job they
let the public work entirely alone.
While some of the structures upon contractors
nave been deserved, there is no doubt as a class
they have received great deal of unmerted
blame, and it is time some steps were taken to
prevent contractors from doing bad work, if
such thing is possible. 1t should be borne in
mind that before the work is paid for it must
be acce pied by the Street Superintendent. He
accepts the work after being assured by the |
inspector he has appointed that the specifica- |
tions have been fully complied with. So it may
be seen that the work is done in manner
satisfactory to some one and is not forced upon |
the people. Care should therefore be taken |
that the superintendent employ competent
subordinates.
There are other streets which the property |
owners themselves are directly responsible for |
and 1T is wrong to lay the blame on any one |
else, After street is improved it is accepted |
pv the City and the owners of property fronting |
on IT are relieved of further expense and care. |
AS they pay for the work done preliminary to |
us acceptance by the City, it is always de-
slrable thing to have the work done as cheaply |
as possible. Consequently private contracts |
are let and work done which the City accepts |
only to find soon after that it was not at all un