The herald., 1897-03-09
Attorneys on Both Sides Give
Their Views
THAT ANALYSIS BY PRICE
The Claims Made That the Pavement Is
Already Full Of Holes
Dut Q Careful Examination by the CounclImen
Fails to Discover Them
TIE Work Apparently In Good conditlon-Ths
Question sf lts Acceptance Will Prob
sbly Be Settled Tomor.
row Morning

When the matter Of the Main street
61vemeht was called UP as the special
order In the city council yesterday af-
ternocn, there was a large crowd in the
lobby. The protesting property owners
were represented by their counsel, Mr..
Barclay, while the interests Of the con-
tractors were locked after by ex-Judge
Mckinley and John T. Jones, Esq.
The president announced that this was
the time set for the hearing Of the pro-
tests against the action of the street
superintendent In accepting the work,
and asked If the council was ready to
proceed.
Mr. Berclay opened the ball by refer
ring to the proceedings before the spec
ial committee Saturday afternoon, say
ing that he understood from the reports
in the newspapers that counsel for the
contractors was present. and argued his
case at that time. They had no notice
of the meeting, and hence were not in
attendance. He had seen from the re-
ports also that counsel had reflected
on both the committee and the chem
lists who had made the analysis. He had
also seen that the contractors had ask
ed for further time, and that other ana
lyses be made, all of which had been
granted. II this matter was to be taken
up he wanted to introduce testimony
and to present further protests made by
Mr.. Field and other property owners to
the effect that the pavement was already
honeycombed and full of holes and that
the asphalt grouting was washing out
OF the cutters. If any further analysis
were to be made he wanted the samples
taken under such restrictions that there
could be no room for doubt. He claimed
that the specifications had never been
complied with in a single respect; that
all of the work was bad the concrete.
the cutters and the asphalt. and that
he was prepared to prove every allega-
tion alleged.
Judge Mckinley emphatically denied
that he had reflected on the committee,
but he did say that they had been un-
fortunate in their selection of chemist
who had made a report which was a lie
on the face of II. If the character OF the
material had been such as they had re-
ported 1t would have been worn out by
this time. The pavement had been
down for three months. and was in good
and see for himself
Councilman Grider moved that no
more analyses be made, which motion
was seconded by Councilman Hutchison.
Counclmen Toll. Mathuss and Blan-
chard said that the matter was in the
hands of a special committee, and they
should have a report before taking any
action.
Councilman Nickel said that the COM
mittee had been unable to get much in
formation from the analysis, with the
exception of the one by Price & Son,
which had given what purported to be
the result of physical tests. Summing
this UP, II the material was as represent
ed, the street should be full of holes,
and II these holes were there they want
ed to see them, and the best way to do
was to go down In a body and look. 1t
was generally conceded that the prop
erty owners had heretofore failed to
substantiate their allegations. 1t was
also generally conceded that the street
looked to be a good Job. The concrete
and cutters were all right and they had
the word of the street superintendent
that the wearing asphalt surface was
all 4'ight
Both Judge Mckinley and Mr.. Jones
wanted the councilmen to go and in
spect the pavement and If the condition
was as alleged, they could easily satisfy
themselves.
Councilman Hutchison thought the
Price analysis should be read. There
were certain parts Of 1t which did not
agree with the actual condition Of the
street.
Mr. Jones said that II, on inspection.
the street was found to be in the condi-
tion alleged. he would not ask the coun-
oil to accept 1t.
Councilman Hutchison moved that the
council take recess for one hour and
80 down and inspect the pavement and
see these holes, but Councilman Toll OBJ
tected, saying he did not rest the case on
the fact Of whether there were holes or
not; there were other things to be con-
sidered.
After some further talk, Councilman
Hutchison's motion prevailed, and re-
cess was declared for an hour.
LOOKING AT THE PAVEMENT.
Immediately on the recess being de-
clared, the members Of the council, with
the exception Of President Silver, and
accompanied by the attorneys and press
representatives. boarded a Grand ave-
nue. car and went out to Jefferson street,
where they crossed over to Main. Near
the corner of Main and Jefferson streets
Mr.. Field, the most active of the pro-
testants. was found industriously plying
garden hose and washing off a section
Of the pavement for inspection directly
in front of a lumber yard. A careful
examination was made. but nothing like
holes or honey -combing was found.
There were a few superficial scratches or
indentations, evidently made by horses
walking over the material before it had
thoroughly hardened. Pocket-knives
were produced, and bored into the as
rhalt, but the material was found to be
solid. Some of the protestants scraped
UP small particles Of the asphalt. which
they rubbed out in their hands, but
~ 6o " mo
places some Of the grouting between the
granite blocks In the cutters had work.
ed UP above the surface, but this was
found to be harder than 1t was when the
work was inspected several weeks ago,
showing that 1t was hardening grad
ually, as the contractors said It was
The councilmcn walked UP the streets
for several blocks, but as no holes or
( other defects were found. they took the
car and returned to the city hall. Sew
eral Of the councilmen stated that the