The herald., 1897-03-07
ANOTHER TRIAL TO BE MADE
The Proceedings Before the Special Com.
mittee Yesterday Afternoon
The Mayor Has Decided to Sign the Ordinance
Fixing Water Rates
He Thinks That They Are Now Just Absut
Right-Board Of Health VIII Make
Fight to Retain Their Places
Committee Reports

The special committee on the Main
street pavement, consisting of Council
men Nickel, Toll and Blanchard, with
Street Superin tendent Drain and City
Engineer Dockweiler, met in the COM
mittee room of the council yesterday
afternoon to consider the report of the
chemical analysis of the asphalt used in
the paving, and formulate a report for
submission to the council on Monday.
Besides the members of the committee,
President Silver, Councimen Mathuss,
Ashman, Baker and Hamilton were also
in attendance, as were Mr.. Field and one
or two others of the protesting property
owners. The contractors were repre-
scented by ex-Judge ]. w. Mckinley as
attorney.
The report OF Price & Son, as publish
ed in The Herald yesterday morning,
was not read, and there was some infor-
NAL discussion before the committee was
called to order. City Engineer Dock
weller, after looking over the specii-
cations, said that he had been mistaken
the previous evening when he had
stated that the analysis showed that the
samples came within the specifications
as to the required percentage of BIZ
tumen; this was 1920, instead of go
as he had stated. 1t also came out that
one of the samples submitted for analy-
sis was asphalt furnished by the Con-
solidated company, and is the same as
that used by the city in all of its work.
After the report of analyses had been
submitted, Superintendent Drain called
attention to the fact that under the
specifications the contractor was re-
quired to furnish a sample of the mate
rial to be used in the work, and a chem
ical analysis, and he asked that they be
produced
Mr.. Dockweiler went to look them up,
and another long wait ensued. The en-
gineer finally returned with his arms
full of jars, boxes, bottles, etc., and
these were set on the table, and, when
all the preliminaries had been arranged,
Chairman Nickel called the meeting to
order.
Mr.. Nickel briefly stated that so far
as the committee was concerned, all
they could do was to report to the coun-
Gil what they had found, if the con-
tractors did not desire any further in
vestigation. They wanted to be per-
fectly fair, however, and would listen to
any suggestions that might be made.
Judge Mckinley. on behalf of the con-
tractors, said that in view of all the
circumstances of the case, he thought
that another analysis should be made.
AS to the chemical analyses submitted,
Judge Mckinley said that he did not at
tach so much Importance to them as
these analyses were always uncertain,
and chemists differed widely, even on
identical samples, but 1t was to the re-
port of the physical tests. that he most
strenuously objected. AS to these re-
t1tt r1nra1ia h1a f0r
If the material in the street had been
as shown by these tests, it was utterly
worthless, and would have been worn
out long ago. The pavement has now
been in use for over two months, and If it
would have pulverized when heated up
to so degrees Fahrenheit, it would at
least have been full of holes at this time
That such was not the case was ap-
parent to anyone who would take the
trouble to make an investigation. Judge
Mckinley said that the contractors had
entered their protest as soon as they
heard that the analyses were to be made
by concern that had at least aff1lia-
tions with another asphalt company.
and the fact that the protest was JUS
titled was proved by the report of the
physical tests. which read more like the
report of a rival asphalt company than
that of an unbiased chemist
Judge Mckinley called on Mr. Dock
weller for an opinion as to the physical
condition of the pavement. but that
gentleman declined to go on record, say
ing that all of them had inspected the
pavement and knew as much about ii as
he did.
There was some further talk to the
effect that if the material was as re-
ported by the chemists, at least the soft
places would be showing up, when
Councilman Toll remarked: 1T is re-
ported that the pavement is already
being honey -combed."
who reports this?' asked Judge Nc
Kinley; land where are the places? We
have never been able TO find any of
them"
Councilman Nickel again called at
tention to the fact thae the committee
could only report to the council the act
ual findings The committee did not
want to work a hardship on the con-
tractors, but they wanted to be perfectly
fair and impartial to both sides. If the
contractors desired more time tks re-
quest would be considered.
Judge Mckinley thought there ought
at least be another chemical analysis.
As to the physical tests, any practical
engineer could make them. He was
perfectly willing to leave these to the
city engineer, who was certainly as
competent and much fairer than Price
e. Son.
Chairman Nickel asked what was the
pleasure OF the committee, and Mr. Toll
said that he would certainly not favor
any further ANALYSIS unless all parties
agreed that it should be final. This
thing might continue indefinitely other
wise.
Mr. Drain then stated that he had sug-
Gested Price & &son to make the
analysis because he thought they were
reputable men. He had made a motion
in the committee that two analyses
be made. but this motion did not receive
second. Mr. Drain denied that he
was prejudiced in this matter as had
been reported. He further deried that f'e
was a brotherin-iaw Of Mr. Fairchild,
aud said that he had never bought a
dollars worth of Alcatraz asphalt; he
had bought twenty tons of asphalt only
last week, but it was not of this brand.
All he wanted was a fair deal.
Judge Mckinley said that the con-
tractors wanted another chemical analy,