The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-27
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
Street and Water Board
Adopt Chief Engineer
Van Keuren'S New
Specifications.
ALL WORK TO BE sCRUTlNIzED
Greater safeguards Around the
Construction of Sewers and
Pavement of Streets.
ALL WORK TO BE sCRuTINIzED


The Street and Water Commissioners
held a special meeting this morning ana
adopted specifications, prepared by Engi-
Moor Van Keuren, for the construction OF
sewers laying of macadam roadways,
and the paving of streets with blocks.
The new specifications are rigid and will
insure the city good work. All contrac-
tors are to be made to live up to them
in every particular.
In future as soon as an application LOT
public work is made the engineering de-
partment will have maps of the proposed
work prepared. In that way the COM
missioners will be able to ascertain JUST
what is wanted. 1t will also serve as a
guide to contractors Any deviation from
the plans or specifications will result IN
immediate suspension of work.
In regard to extra" work, not a dol
lars worth will be allowed except by
resolution of the Street and Water Board
When extras are allowed it will have
to be by the Board and not by the Chlef
Engineer as was the custom heretofore
The new specifications require that all
bids shall be made on the percentage
basis, a schedule of prices regulating the
several kinds of work.
In street improvements where blocks
are to be made the carTiageway has TO
be excavated twelve inches below the
finished surface of the street All spongy
and vegetable matter is to be removed
to depth of "a inches and the space
filled with coarse sand or gravel and well
10 Y
cavation to the depth of one foot must
be done. No house ashes will be allowed
for filing Where filing in to the depth
of FIVE feet must be done no pavement
can be laid until after an investigation
by the engineer and a written notice to
proceed is given by him. All stones must
be removed from the sidewalks to half
foot below grade. Sidewalks are to have
half inch slope to the curb.
All curbstone must be bluestone, equal
in quality to North River bluestone and
at least 20 inches deep, 5 inches thick
and 312 feet long.
Flagging is to be bluestone at least 4
feet wide and inches thick. Crosswalks
are to consist of either one.or two courses
of two foot stones, course of paving
blocks to be laid between them. When
foundations for pavements are laid they
must be rolled with a steam roller weigh
ing not less than ten tons. If the founda-
tion yields it must be remedied before
work proceeds. Upon this surface six
inches of coarse sand must be laid. Foun-
must be prepared one block in
lfyance of work Only regulation paving
, .sbcks will be accepted.
All blocks laid must be well rammed.
9 My two PAYERS will be allowed to one
etmmer. Two layers of sand must be
st 4aced on the blocks after being laid, the
iFhoie to be at least seven inches in depth.
The material required for the work must
PINOT be brought and deposited in the
necessary for convenient working. It It
must be deposited so as to cause as little
inconvenience as possible. If any person
or persons employed by the contractor
they shall be discharged by the engineer.
From December Is until April no pub
lie work is to be done unless otherwise or
dered. No work is to be done at any
time when the ground is frozen.
The contractor will not be allowed to-
assign or sublet his contract without per-
mission of the Street and Water Board.
The Board reserves the right to inter-
pret the meaning of specifications. No
proper resolution has been passed by the
Street and Water Board. Inspectors had
no authority in that direction.
Contractors must keep their work in
good order for at least nine months after
Its acceptance.
All claims for damages arising while
work is being done shall be borne by the
contractor Payments for work are to
be made only upon the recommendation of
the Engineer. That official is to make
all measurements of quantities of mater
ials used. If the Engineer considers work
is being delayed he has power to appoint
as many extra men as he may consider
necessary to complete the work in speci-
fled time
Contractors must protect all water and
sewer pipes in making improvements.
Contractors must give people along the
streets "a hours notice before breaking
ground for work. Semi-monthly pay
ments are to be made for work in sums
not less than $500.
In relation to macadam pavement the
specifications are about the same as
those for laying blocks except that after
the foundation has been rolled with
ten-ton roller the top surface shall be
rolled with threeTton roller. The pave
ment must be rolled at least ten hours
to every thousand yards.
In the construction of sewers no tun-
neling will be allowed. All foundations
for sewers must be made at the proper
pitch. Where stone crosswalks are dis
walks, three feet wide, must be provided
for the convenience of pedestrians. No
trench longer than 200 feet can be opened.
When quick sand is encountered. work
must be prosecuted day and night until
1t has been passed or built over. When
rock is met with 1t must be excavated
at leaSI one IOOI pelOW the DOIlOm OF
the sewer and sand filling used. Good
burned bricks only can be used in build
ing sewers. Only full joints will be al
fore being used. Portland cement must
be used and in the proportion of one bar
rel to two barrels of clean, sharp sand,
free from loan.
In making concrete foundations for
sewers only Pinch stone will be allowed.
When piles are used they must be at
least six inches in diameter at the small
er end. When vitrificd pipe is used it
must be of the best material without
cracks or imperfections of any kind and
must be salt glazed.
Contractors who have looked over the
specifications say they are very stringent.
They declare, however, that they will in
sure the city a better grade of work
than 1t has had heretofore.
DoN0HUE LOSES HIS CASE.