The San Francisco call., 1898-06-18
ITS ACTION NOT IN FAVOR
COST OF STREET BUILDING IS
 INCREASED.
Citizens Complain Because They Are Compelled to Put Money Into the Pockets of the
 Combine.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 over the action of the City Council in striking out Folsom rock in street work, against the opinion of the City Engineer and those officials best in formed upon the subject of street build ing.
 During the year 1896 and the earlier months of last year Stockton built four miles of beautiful and substantial streets, and the burden fell lightly upon property owners, thanks to the extremely low figure at which the prod uct of the State plant at Folsom was delivered to contractors. The power of the quarry monopoly was effectually broken and this city was the first to reap the benefits. After the defeat of the Quarrymen's lobby in the last Leg islature, the efforts to discredit the rock were continued, but so long as the for mer City Council, consisting of Messrs. Quinn, Koch, Lang, Martin and Bur ton, remained in office the efforts to change the specifications on street work were of no avail
 A new Council, consisting of MessrS. Wagner, Neumiller, Harrison, Williams and Quinn, came into office last July, pledged to the most rigorous economy. 4AC AcSI ludl NLlc 1OuI 1OIIleI UleIll- berS are responsible for an attempt to discredit the Folsom rock is a joke which property owners can hardly ap- preciate.
 The majority of the Council began the attack on the rock and played into the hands of the quarrymen shortly af- ter assuming the municipal reins. On October 30 a local paper, which, before that time, was friendly to the Coun- oil made tha fnllnyVi1pr ar1f.
 The amended specifications for the im- proyement of American street, between Weber avenue and Main street, were adopted at the meeting held last evening. This work will make an opening for the hungry quarrymen who have tried for two years to break down the State rock crushing plant at Folsom, but failed because resolute State officers stood against them and thwarted their efforts to change the laws to their ends.
 The provision in the specification which openly declared that Folsom rock should not be used was stricken out. but the new requirement. just as effectually prevents the use of the State rock. Councilman Quinn. who, at the previous meeting, had opposed the change and upheld the State Industry, was absent last evening.
 Councilman Quinn, who is beyond doubt the best acquainted with the va riouS qualities of rock, says the main objection urged against the Folsom product is that upon thoroughfares travelled to any considerable extent the rock grinds and eventually blows away or leaves Impressions in the crown of the street which permit of accumula- tions of water, and this in time under mines the entire base MT. Quinn con- siders this no argument against Fol- som rock, and contends with City En- gineer Compton that the fault lies in the manner in which the rock is put down. This was done in the follow NV1s mo vNVN 1,.- rock was spread and rolled. This was followed by a layer of smaller rock, perhaps averaging an inch and a half screen. Upon this came a layer of fine rock, almost dust Under the heavy rolling 1t became dust and, al- though assuming a hard surface under the roller it ground under heavy traffic, just as any other rock would do, and the surface contemplated by the speci- fications was not in every instance ob- tained
 It is contended that this third Qual- ity has no place on the street and in its place the rock used in the middle layer should be allowed to fill up the required depth and it would have suf- ficient resistance to allow the packing process to become complete.
 City Engineer Compton Is a firm friend of Folsom rock, but it would seem there is an influence stronger than his professional opinion at work in the Council.
 The Council has not been content to strike blow in favor of the rock mo- nopoly. The cost has been saddled upon the people by increasing the cost of street building about s210 a block.
 Reference has been made to the American street job. The street is finished and at present 1t appears neither better nor worse than the Fol- som-rock streets.
 As figures talk" a comparative statement will best show the injustice the reform" Council is doing the peo- pie of Stockton. Illustrative of the cost of Folsom rock one may take Park. between Harrison and Madison streets, which was done with Folsom rock. This cost $1.1512 per front foot. A lot of fifty feet, accordingly, about s57 56. The straight rock work here was 3s.39 feet wide, and the cost of the block, of double 300 feet without inter- sections, etc, was $690 72.
 Now take the street and make the width 55.55 feet, so as to make the con- parison with American street true. This width would have cost $1.623 a foot, $S1 15 a lot and $973 so for the block
 Now take the American street block where the Benicia quarry rock was used. This cost $1.96 foot, or 34 cents more than Park street. The cost was SIT more on the front of a fifty-foot lot and something over S204 on the block, not counting intersections.
 All of the contracts let this year, with the exception of some work on San Joaquin street, has called for rock other than that obtainable at the State quarry, this, too, in face of the fact that this rock can be laid down here at 79 cents per yard. Center street, from Mormon Channel to South street, is being done by Clark & Henery with the Cordelia rock; Madison, from Oak to Flora, by w. J. Comfort with Be- nicia rock
 It is alleged these contractors are the sole agents for the rock they are us- ing, and that some understanding ex- ists among the quarrymen whereby only favored ones can find the rock re- uuisite for the work under the new specifications. George w. Bidwell put in a bid upon some work recently and made arrangements to get the Laundry Farm rock, but somehow the owners found 1t impossible to supply the rock. Every advantage has been taken by the rock dealers of the action of the City Council. It has been valuable to them as an entering wedge and the libel on Folsom rock Is being circulated in other places with view of discouraging the I1ae of tha Folsom product.