New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-28
MISSIONER WILLIS.

INSTRUMENTATION T. WHILE
AN ENGINEERS REPORT TO con-
MISSIONER WILLIS.
The contracts for asphalt pavements to be laid on
parts of seventeen streets under the proposals
opened by City Works Commissioner Wills on May
Is have not yet been awarded. The lowest oiuue'
for all these streets the Brooklyn Alcatrdz
Asphalt Company. which offered to do the WORK at
the uniform price Of 81 yard for the asphalt sur
face ana to provide the concrete. etc, at lower
figure than any of its competitors. Tn's company
has done some work before in Brooklyn and not
all OF 1t has proved entirely satisfactory Inc as
phalt which it uses comes from California and
there Is a keen rivalry between this material ana
that procured in Trinidad and Venezuela.
While Alfred T. White was at the head OF the
City Works Department he did all IN MS power
to stimulate competition between the various as
phalt companies and the result OF MS EFFORTS
the price OF the asphalt pavemen,s was greatly
reduced When he entered the Department al the
asphat work was done by single concern, ana
the uniform price was 81 yard and that 100 ior
asphat laid over coDblestones. Not only was the
price reduced nearly 30 per cent during Coninls-
soner Whites term, but he also introduced the
Improvement Of having asphalt placed on a con-
crete foundation. which makes the wearing SURFACE
durable. 90
The good effects OF Mr. Whites efforts are stu
apparent since the bid Of the Acatraz Company
for the work now In hand Is still lower than those
OF last year, when the price was bot INV" W
few cents over 81. II is expected tnat the con-
tracts for this work will be given 10 the Alcaraz
Company but before this is done the company mas
been asked TO give certain assurances as 10 the
character OF the pavements II VIII lay. since ias'
wear the control OF the company has passed into
new hands and 1t Is believed that every effort VIII
be made by those in control TO do the pest "ork
nossble Some OF the streets in which this asphait
was put last year have been the occasion OF con-
siderable criticism. but on the whole It's contracts
appear to have been faithfully carried out
WHAT Ex-COMMIsSIONER WHITE SAYS.
When ex-Comm!ssoner White asked yester-
dav about the work done by the Alcatra1 Com
pany he expressed the opinion that the contracts
about 10 be awarded should be gwen to the lowest
bidder even II the city had to run some slight fisk
=, doing 40 Naturally Mr.. White Is greatly
nleased that the price for these pavements mas
been reduced to low point. and ne pehe'es
that II Is the duty OF the city officials 10 continue
TO secure az much competition as can be had' 80
that the work Of providing the city with improved
pavements may be carried on as far as poss'o'e
With the smallest expenditure OF money.
..rhe work done by the Alcatraz Company, said
| Mr. White. covered number OF streets III pIoon
lvn and they have also done some In Ne"-forA
| In New-York | believe. all OF 1t was Satisfactory
with the exception OF street. In brooklyn
there has been complaint as TO certain s'lee'S
/ h,, Nth The experience II has had, / am or the
o,,,Ion that the company will be able 70 give
| satisfaction The asphalt which 1t uses Is so're
what different in quality from the irih'uau d'u
| Bermuda asphalts. both OF which come from o''e
r.,,o, in South America and very similar
The principal complaint made regarding II Is that
| =, l., too hard and slippery in cold weather /
| L,,,y that men who drive horses found fault with
! tho new pavement in Schermerhorn-st on 'his ac-
! conn, but IL does not seem to me that the "o"o'o
| IL in the material used. 1t is more likely 10 De Il"
,ho ,n,x,ng ~ the materials which the experience
| terdQ remedy |
SEQ no reason why the lowest bidder III mess
.sos shoud not do the work. In awarding the
! contracts 10 II there will be less risk now 'han
| there was las, year and In my judgment " VIII
be TO the Interest OF the city 10 TAKE ""a' ".o
,,.k may be Involved. with the Idea OF securing
as low or even lower prices In the future.
| 7, connection with this matter 1t Will be OF IN
..r.st N road the report the pavements OF inc
| Acatraz Company recently made by hhsnleet
| Nelson T. Lewis. who has charge OF the "orA VI
street repairs and repavements. me report was
mad. ~ commissioner Willis in consequence OF a
,esolution adopted by the Board OF Aldermen aSN-
INK for Information as to the character OF inc
| ,,,,c,,ai asphalt pavements" laid by this ana
! o,her companies on McDonough-st. hemsen-S'''
S.hermerhorn-st. and Nlnth-aVe
| ,v.ll-lnform.d man said yesterday tha' 'hs
resolution wa. undoubtedly nstigated oy one Vi
! the contractors who did not like to see ms ouS',
moss Gu, into By the asphalt companies ana
| ,bs, care had been taken to pick out those
| ,r.o,s regarding which complaint had been MADE
| .huo M reference was made to streets where the
work o, these companies had proved satisfactory
REPORT BY ENGINEER LEWIS.
,r,e mart OF Mr.. Lewis's report relating to tho
| Alcatraz Company IL as follows
McDonough-st. be.ween Ralph ana E'nanih sts
and Nnth-avo. bctw Third and flttceh,n SIS;
We're repaved by tho Brooklyn Alcatraz Asphai'
COMPANY last st ye ocobe 1875 While that in Ninth
aVc was finished early In January OF me pIesen'
, de,.cis before the final estimate had been paid
! and payment same was stopped. sup i' ,,s
estimate allowing me no siowance Whatever for
| The asphalt wearing surface was paid. IN, NE dc
fects consisted Of slight scahS rha 20 ner cent
Of the area OF the block and It looked at one time as
pInrrs nv the traffic although this was light ,.,
The c9mpany made effort to remedy the d,ni-
HuE p sysph@ or msitha known Grade F. This
| resulted in "A decided improvement since t,e sly NV
nna tho pavement has gradually improved IN
| ann.arance and on March 81 an Inspection was
maze w"i ne.ins on in a few places but that the
general surface was improving very much' was irec
sD9ensss S and yssy ssTq has acted in
what similar way though the conditions ner oid are e
asphalt with safety On this street the experiment
Ssvng with the same material the spaces between
racks and rails Tho wearing surface has failed
| instances IL has entirely broken 10 pieces down 10
| IN. concrete foundation. , -. 4,
| In The main roadway there are a number OF de-
fccts holes varying from few inches 70 severa.
i e Yrable and to lack cohesion. No attempt has
VET been made to repair this street put the derects
ywere seen before the final estimate mad been pad;
| ard navment was withheld until the company had
denosited certified check for sufficient sum 10
| mel The expense OF putting the street IN perfect
| cnndi,ion which Is to be done before May 10
| Schermerhorn-st.. between Smith and Nevins SIS
was paved by the same company curing .ne hd ioi
| ~ The summer This was the first pavement iaid
Win this material in the city, and the principal DE-
tain times which has necessitated the sprinkling OF
| sand on The street While several defects In the
s,,rface have been apparent during the winter, the
navement is row in very good condition. except me
pa 90 half OF the block between Hoyt and Bond
| 80 where several bad holes have recently de-
| yeIo,ned While there some abrasions. the gen
| eel surface is good is not slippery and seems to be