The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-30
IT'S LAKE ASPHALT
THEY WILL LAY
Decision of Dunn Brothers with Regard
to Monroe Avenue.
LAND ASPHALT IS NOT so GOOD
That Is the Opinion Of Thomas Dunn
Who Recently Inspected Pavements
in Many Other Cities..Savs That
They Were Misled..Will Use the
Standard and Take No Risks..In.
tcrview with Thomas Dunn.

Monroe avenue will be paved with
Trinidad Pitch Lake asphalt. The
DunnS have come to the conclusion
that this Is the only safe course for
them to pursue, in view Of City Engi-
neer Phillips refusal to approve Of the
other kind of asphalt which they had
proposed to use. The work will be
commenced this morning, after the
Dunn's present the city engineer, with
a certificate from the Trinidad Asphalt
company. that they are furnishing the
material for Monroe avenue and that 1t
Is the genuine stuff. Thomas Dunn,
when seen by a Tribune reporter yes
terday said:
Il have travelled through good many
cities during the past three weeks and
l myself have come to the conclusion
that land asphalt is not as good as the
lake material. We therefore propose
to use the Pitch Lake asphalt"
Then it was land asphalt you intend
ed to use?" was asked.
Yes; we believed 1t was equally as
good as the lake product and hoped to
be able to convince the city engineer to
the same effect. Now that we have
found we were misled as to. the quality
of the land asphalt we propose to use
the standard and thereby take no
risks"
Can you lay lake asphalt for the
price you bid?"
1--WE can: but we will make nothing
on the contract"
CAUSE FOR SURPRISE.
The surprise of the reporter at the
Dunns' conversion will no doubt be
shared by all. when 1t Is remembered
that at Monday nights meeting of Null
berry street property holders the senti-
ment was almost unanimous for land
asphalt. This Is u 100000 job, and by
ptheir confession, the Dunns' virtually
leave the field free for the Barber peo-
pie as it is not likely the Dunns' can
compete with the Barber company in
laying Pitch Lake asphalt. although
they say they will put in a bid.
City Engineer Phillips will now most
likely remove his interdct and allow
the Monroe avenue paving to proceed
with his approval. The concrete and
binder which are already down, have
have been laid according to specifica-
tions. No asphalt has been used as yet,
the material entering into the compo-
sition of the binder being pitch and not
asphalt as many were led to suppose.
1t was only In the matter Of asphalt
that there was any misunderstanding.
The specifications called for Trinidad
Pitch Lake asphalt or asphalt proven
equally as good" Dunn Bros. on q bid
of 1928 per square yard as against the
BARRIERS s2.5S. secured the contract and
when the time for beginning the work
arrived, submitted n sample of the ma
teral which they proposed to use. They
did not say that 1t was Trinidad Pitch
Lake asphalt, nor would they say just
what it was, except that 1t was equally
as good MS the Trinidad lake material
and "beDer than the Barber people
were using"
STATEMENTS DISPUTED.
The city engineer disputed both these
statements and after consulting experts
in New York, Philadelphia and WASH
ington became firmly convinced that
the Dunn material was not Of the
standard required and refused to ap-
prove 1t. Despite this and the fact that
the specifications, the contract and the
ordinance clearly state that no ma
n \ 1T 4.