The herald., 1897-02-11
THE MA|N.SIR[ET PAVING
Investigation Continued by
the Committee
OTHER pROP21Y-OWNERS TESTIFY
A Personal Examination of the
Street Made
WHAT WAS DISCOVERED
WHAT WAS DISCOVERED
The Asphalt q TrifIe Below Speclilca-
tious in Some Places
While Ia Others II Measured Ia Excess of the
Thickness Required
Concrete Was Found to Be Unif,rmly Good.
Though In Places the Rock Was Larger
Than Specified Contractors
Side Of the Controversy

The hearing of protests against the
acceptance of the Main street pavement
was resumed before the special commit
tee Of the city council having the matter
in charge yesterday morning. The hour
set was 10 o'clock, but 1t was twenty
minutes after that time before the mem
bers of the committee, attorneys, con-
tractors and other interested parties all
put in an appearance. The attendance
was almost as large as on the opening
day.
Mr.. Barclay of counsel for the prop
erty owners said that they had several
additional witnesses that they wished
to examine, and Mr.. Nickel told them to
go ahead, but to be as brief as possible,
as the committee wished to get through
as soon as possible.
A. c. Shafer of Twenty eighth ana
Main streets was the first witness. HIS
principal objection was against the con-
crete, which he said was of an inferior
quality. In one instance he, with others,
took out portions of the concrete with
his fingers. and were so engaged when
Mr.. Long and Mr.. Widney objected.
He had told Mr.. Long that he should noe
object to his removing such concrete
as he could take out in that way. The
concrete was not mixed in water tight
boxes as required, and at least one-third
Of the rock used was larger than re-
Quired, and was not crushed. A portion
of the asphalt work was not satisfac-
tory. On the west side Of the street from
Adams to about Thirtieth street. the
asphalt had not been laid properly, as
the contractors, the Smith brothers, did
not have proper mechanical appliances,
and their machinery was too light. Mr..
ehafer gave several specific instances
where the work was defective, but
which had been repaired.
Alois Smith of Thirty-second ana
Main streets objected to the manner in
which the concrete was put in. The
work was rushed, and not sufficient time
was allowed to properly mix the ma
terials. The rock used was too large,
and not more than a fifth or sixth of
the whole amount used would pass
through a two-inch ring; he also saw
many large boulders, and not more than
a third had been crushed. He also OBJ
5ected to the asphalt work. The cover
ing had been laid while the concrete was
too wet, and 1t was not thick enough,
being from quarter to half inch short.
line KuIIeT6 were IlOl cdtlSldCtoIy thc
rocks we're grOuted with sand instead
of asphaltum, as was required. This
work was done at night, and he would
not have noticed the defects had not
his attention been called to it by the in
spector.
Daniel r. Rozell, property owner,
considered that the manner in which the
concrete was put In was anything but
satisfactory. 1t was put in too wet, was
not properly tamped, and much of the
rock used was too large and had not
been crushed, being smooth pebbles.
The concrete was not properly mixed in
water tight boxes, as was required by
the specifications. He did not think the
asphalt had been properly laid, as 1t was
put down while the concrete base was
too wet. No attention had been paid to
the wishes of the property owners. and
their ideas were swept aside. The In
spector on the street was AL Lindley,
and on the gutter w. A. Bosqui was the
inspector. He denied that the people
who were opposing this paving were op-
posed TO the pavement Of the street in
the first place. The cutters were not
satisfactory, as he did not consider that
enough grouting material had been
used.
Samples were submitted of materials
taken from the cutters, and also sam
pies OF the materials now being used by
also asked that the various reports
heretofore made be considered in evil
dence, together with the various anal
yses. This closed the hearing for the
property-owners.
THE CONTRACTORS SIDE
p. b. Felts, one of the inspectors on
the work, was the first witness for the
contractors, and inspected most Of the
concrete work on the street. He is now
n 20 T. .tk H. .-~A-
He described in detail the method of
mixing the materials, and the proper
tons OF each. AS to the quality of the
crushed rock used, he said that the first
used was somewhat coarse, but that Mr..
Howard instructed him to reject any
that did not come within the specifica-
tions. He then notified the rock con-
tractor, and the quality improved. Not
more tnan b per cent of the rock had not
been crushed. On the whole, he consid-
ereo the concrete work to be very good
he had mad considerable experience in
cement work, and thought the concrete
was satisfactory. There was but little
waste Of cement, as they We're very care
MI. The tamping had been properly
cone, as required by the specifications.
he had been instructed to enforce the
specifications to the letter, and he did
so. There was no disposition on the
part OF the contractor, Mr., Long. to
cheapen the job. He was there most Of
the time, and repeatedly told him to see
that the work was properly done, He
considered that the work had been done
as we'll as any practical man could do
1t. He had seen teams drive on the
concrete. which broke the bands and
caused soft spots. He had also been at
the asphalt works and saw that the ma
terial was properly mixed. AS a prac-
teal man he would say that the work
as g whole was good, and in accordance
with the specifications. There were
other inspectors of concrete work be-
sides himself. The work was done bv
sub-contractors.
Ex-Superintendent Of Streets p. A.
Howard was the next witness. He stated
unqualifiedly that the work was done
Just as near according to the specifica-
tions as 1t was practical. He had eiven
the Job his personal attention. and had
instructed all Of his inspectors to prompt
y stop any bad work and notify him
He had put his brother on as inspector,
because NJ knew that he would carry out