The evening times., 1898-12-21
REIGN OF AN ASPHALT
MONOPOLY In NEW YORK
EvAsIoss OF CONTRACTS CHARGED
One Concern Only Said to Be in Control OF
the Manufacture and supply of Paw
ing Material.

New York, Dec. 21.-Messrs. Hertie and
Owen, commissioners of accounts, in
report submitted to Mayor Van Wyek
yesterday, explained how the city has
been at the mercy of a block asphalt
paving monopoly The commissioners
recommended that an inquiry be started
at once by the city into specific evasions
of the terms of contracts before further
payments are made for asphalt blocks
contracted for in 1897.
The department of public works had in
use specification for repaving work pro-
viding for the laying of asphalt blocks
on concrete foundations. On its face
these specifications would appear to be a
document drawn up within the law for
the purpose of inviting public competi-
ton in this particular class of paving.
The manufacture of these blocks is
monopoly, however, the commissioners
say.
The manufacture and supply of these
blocks TO New York city, the commits
sioners say, is exclusively under the con-
troll of the Hastings Pavement Company,
the iicensee of the International Pave
ment Company, of Maryland, which con-
trolls the patents in the machinery and
tract covering the supply. More than
III. 900 square yards of this block pave
ment were laid in 1887, costing more than
$3.50, 900.
''The extensive use of these blocks in
the years 1S95-ls97 under the existing Con-
ditions,' suspicious circumstance. and
their desirability. as shown by their rec
ord in other places, would not justify
their extensive use in this city. The fact
IIaA IL
could have been readily ascertained at
any time by the reform commissioner OF
public works.
What is asserted 10 be ''palpable eva
sion of the plain terms of the specifica-
tions on the part of the manufacturers
Of these blocks is also pointed out.
Chemical analyses of asphalt block laid
lead TO these observations Phe speCiti-
cations say that the blocks must be COM
posed of paving cement, eight TO twelve
parts; crushed trap rock. ninety-two to
lightweight parts, and the paving ce-
ment must be composed of one hundred
part of pure asphaltum and ten parts of
petroleum oil.
The analyses Indicate that the highest
percentage of bitumen found in any in
stance was 1.iSS per cent, the lowest be-
ing about per cent, and the average
6.72Si per cent, whereas the minimum
quantity allowed by the specifications is
S per cent.
The commissioners have ascertained
from the finance department that in n ne
out OF the ten pavements in which the
blocks were found to be below the stand
ard required, payment has not Yet bsen
made. They suggest that an inquiry be
made at once by the department of high
ways, with reference TO these specific
eyasions of the plain terms OF the
contracts. and that such action as may
be deemed necessary be taken before fur
ther payments are made.
The samples which were found defec-
tive were taken from the following
streets: Claremont Avenue 1l6th TO
127th Street; 1Z7th Street, st. Nicholas
Terrace TO Lawrence Street; Convent
Avenue. 12Ith to 141st Street: 1lith Street.
Amsterdam Avenue to Riverside Drive;
10Gth Street. First To Third Avenue; 10th
Street Amsterdam 10 Eleventh Avenue;
Audubon Avenue and 11Sd Street; 166th
Street, E6gecombe 10 Amsterdam -
nue..