San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-16
ROTTEN BRICK
Going Into Our Sewer System.


A LIGHT reporter met Mr.. Hans.
l.. Degener, one Of San Antonio's
best known dealers in all kinds of
building material, and questioned
him in regard to Mr.. Hines inter-
view in the Express, anent the
sewer question. To which Mr.. Dege.
ner replied:
"Mr. Hines states in his interview
with the Express reporter Sept. II,
1895, that the contractors had made
every possible effort to secure brick
made in the vicinity of San Anto-
MO that would meet the require
ments of the specifications and be
acceptable to the city engineer, but
thus far it seemed they had failed.
He farther stated that every time
they had found brick, and with
the permission of the city engineer,
began to use them, somebody had
made kick and raised big row.
Now, Mr.. Hines should have in
formed himself little better be-
fore making such a statement, for
IL he will refer to the books of his
company, he will find that while
they were buying brick Of the Sun
set Brick and Tile company, and
that while they were using the
said brick that there was no one
that made a kick and raised a big
row. The row commenced, and
very correctly so, just as
soon as the contractors COM
meneed to use inferior brick.
AS to. Mr.. Hines statement that
they could not get the brick that
would meet the requirements of
the specifications, would ask him
if he ever made an effort to make
contract with the Sunset Brick
and Tile company for an amount to
justify the said Brick company to
go to the expense of adding more
powerful machinery to this plant
so as to make the brick as required?
Mr.. Hines partners were subse-
lquently, and l am in doubt II he
himself was not personally in
formed Of the fact, that the Brick
& Tile company was in a position
to furnish the brick as required,
conditioned that the contractors
would make an order OF one mil
lion or more. But as yet the
Brick and Tile company has
not been favored with any
inquiry from the contractors.
In conclusion would like to cor
rect Mr.. Hines in his statement
regarding the Elgin brick,
inasmuch, as he says that
Mr.. Kuefner selected the softest
brick that could be found, and car
ried the same to the mayor, which
caused the mayor to make his re.
port to the council that rotten
brick were being used. Now 1
don't think it is necessary for me
to state that the honorable mayor
would not dare to make such a re-
port unless he personally had con-
WINGED himself of the facts, for we
all know Mayor Elmendorf is not
built that way. 1 had the
pleasure to take the mayor to
the work on Santa Clara street,
and in his presence, took two
brick out of the trench where
the masons were working, asking
the mason at the same time: "Are
these brick condemned" He re-
plying, ooh no, sir; they are good"
The brick are now in the office
of the LIGHT, and anyone ia well
come to inspect, and then say il
His Honor, the mayor, was not
justified in making the report as
he did.
The truth of the whole brick
question is, the contractors in
making their bid on the work,
figured on l6 per cent brick, and
IL an inferior brick can be used, so
much the better for the contractors,
. for it Is money in their pocket"