The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-01
PIKE STREET PAVING.
Bids Opened For Laying Brick
Surface on 1t.
CONTRACT TO BE LET TO-DAY
Work May Begin at Once-TrafIic Not
to BE INTERPRETATION the Pave
ment VIII Be Laid.

Four dds for the paving OF f'ike street
from the east line of FronS 10 the west
line OF Seventh were opensf at the reg
ular weekly meeting OF the board OF
public works yesterday afternoon. The
boards chambers were crowded when
Secretary Meacham opened the bids.
After they had been examined the three
commissioners and City Engineer Thorn
son held short conference II was then
announced that the board would act on
the bids at 10 O'Clock this morning. The
reason for deferring action was that
there is a probability of at least two OF
the bids being found irregular.
The city In calling for the bids did
not specify any particular brick 10 be
bid on, but simply required that Tire
quality be first-etass. Two of the bidders,
James Spur & Co. and StirTatt & Getz.
bid ON Denfy clay brick and Seattle Brick
and Tile Company brick. and il Is believed
that in SO doing they raised the ques-
ton as TO the regularity Of their bids.
The four bids received we're as follows:
t. w. ProSsh & Co, saS.s40.l4.
j. W. Fits. So i52. As.
James Spur & Co, with Denny brick,
s21.93s.5o: with Seattle Brick and Tile
Srirratt & Getz. with Denny brick.
s2s.7i2. 50; with Seattle Brick and Tile
Company brick. s2i,0is.55.
The city engineer estimated in round
numbers that the Improvement will cost
about $4,000. $4,000 OF which will be paid
BY property owners and 5000 by the city.
Spur 4 Co. put in the only bid agree
ing to accept bonds in payment, the
others requiring that the bonds should
be sold and the money In the treasury
before the work shall be commenced
The highest bid OF Stirratt & Getz ex-
ceeds the city engineers estimate by
ss.7io.
Should the board of public werks de-
eide that the bidding on two kinds OF brick
does not constitute an irreguiarity, the
contract for the paving of the street will
likely be awarded to Spur & Co, their
bid being the lowest. In that event
work would be commenced at once and
pushed with all possible speed, for the
reason that labor can at present be Sc
cured very cheap and for the further rea-
son that ii will be OF great advantage
10 the contractors TO hasten the improve
ment during the summer months, thus
escaping the rainy season. Under the
contract which the city will make with
the successful bidder the latter will be
required 10 do the work within $50 days,
but City Engineer Thomson thinks that
the street would be completed long before
the expiration OF that time.
Under the franchises granted them the
street railway companies-the Front
street cable line aud the Seattle Consol-
idatef-must at the time the city work
commences, pave between the tracks and
one foot on either side. The Front
street company will have TO pave foot
on each side of one track for about one
block. but the greater burden will fall
on the Seattle Consolidated. which ore-
rates quite extensively on Pike street
The street Is forty-six feet wide from
curb to curb and this company will pave
a space about seventeen feet In width
While the work of paving is In pro-
gress general traffic will not be interfered
With on the street. The contractor will
be required not to blockade the sidewalks
and the work will proceed only on one
side OF the Street at time, leaving the
other side entirely free. for the passage
of vehkles and the other ordinary travei.
All telegraph. telephone. electric railway
or other poles now within the street will
be removed and set along a lire within
the sidewalk space. The city expects the
contractor 10 remove these poles at such
| n time and in such a manner as not 10
interrupt the business of the companies
There VIII be mnci, detail work in con-
neciIen with the paving. The contractor
will be required 10 take up and remove
the present planking. sllls. wooden curb
| and gutter and any other pieces of tim
Der. All the material which, In the fadg-
| msnt of the city engineer, Will not be
| proper to remain I'm the sub-foundatio
viii also be removed. and IL sinking spots
| develop the board OF public works may
| require excavation made 10 a depth OF
| twenty feet in order TO determine the
I cause of the sinking.
! After the street has been cleared OF all
the objectionable material. ii Will be trim
! med 10 uniform and even surface. The
| surface will be rolled with the city's new
| roller unni a hard and uniform surface
| has been obtained
| After the s9bgrade has been thorough
| iy prepared ard rolled there will be ex-
cavatea holes six feet in diameter in
| which catch basins will be constructed
The foundation floor OF the basins VIII be
OF coFscrete ara the brick walls
| OF haTd~Surnsd brick laid tn cement
mortar. The cutters will be connected
WITH the basins by inlet pipes. and outlets
from each basin into the street sewer.
| Then drain tiles will be lad in order fhat
the foundation can be properly drained.
TIE pavement will consist OF ore layer
or screened gravel rot less than six
inches thick, ore layer OF concrete no,
less than six inches thick a layer OF
SAND or sand cushion not less than one
inch AMI not raore than one and ore
haf inches thick and surface pavement
| of vitriflei brick.
The layer 81 gravel will be spread over
the prepared subsou and be thoroughly
TNiied ard cou,pactsd By the use Of the
| roller. snd sts surface. when so cognpac et
"3a D" AZ depth or about twelve inches
below the surface OF the finished pave
meat. The gravel used in the sub-founsia-
fiSn VIII he screened and entirely free
/ from dirt ard sand. the smallest stones
| not hefng less than - OF an inch in diam
ster ana the largest no; more than three
inches. The concrete for the pavenen;
| foundation atll be composed Of broken
stone sand sad cement. the stone to be
broken sasaii raek IN CUBES Of two inches
faee and under. The brick setting VIII
commence whoa me concrete shah have
become wei set. TIE bricks will ne ses in
| vet sAnI layer and shen iaulpea down
80 unisorRs surface. The crevices. toan,s
and spaces rama zlag after the brick have
BEEN SET. isrnrea and graded VIII be alled
With hot sand