The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-21
CHARGE NOT SUSTAINED
Commissioners Conclude Investigation Of
Atascocela Road Matter.
CONTRACTORS MADE NO wILLfuL OMISSIONS
They Were Directed, However, TO
supply slight NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Made by Three Engineers.

The county commissioners resumed their
investigation OF the Atascoceta road mat
ter yesterday forenoon and after a two
hours session arrived at an understanding
in the premises. The findings OF the court
were in effect, that the charges of County
Treasurer John Farmer were not sus-
tanned; that there was no willful omission
on the part of the contractors, but that
there was a slight deficiency OF material
on the road, which deficiency the contrac-
tors were notified to correct.
The three reports heard at Mondays
session were ordered spread on the min
utes. These reports, 1t viii be remem-
bered, were made by Messrs. John w.
Maxcy employed by the court; James H..
Berry, employed by the contractors, and
County Surveyor VIM. Bradburn. They arc
as follows
To the Honorable Judge and Commission
ers Court of Harris County.
Houston Texas, June 9.-GentlemeD: |
herewith submit report on the survey OF
the north two miles of the completed
AlaSCOGetd TORI IN tHlb county.
will say for the benefit of all concerned
in this contract that ] have made my in
vestlgations in my own way, with
out prejudice and without suggestion or
interference from any one whomsoever.
The following table shows detail of sur
vey and the average results from twenty
three soundngs taken from the north end
to tho south at the distances Indicated.
AS these soundings were taken at random
they do in my judgment, show the true
condition Of physical facts throughout the
entire length of the road:
tThen follows the table mentioned. the
averages shown being as follows; Width,
1913; depth, left side, 057b depth, center,
0520; depth right SIDE 0,555 An at
tached notation Is to the effect that all
measurements and soundngs were taken
in the presence of The country commits
aoners and the county engneer)
Continuing, Mr.. MaXcy says
find upon measuring out the entire
four miles OF road an excess in distance
Of 1876 feet or forty-two yards more than
contract calls for, In estimating the final
measure Of failure. l have allowed the
contractors full credit for the excess.
find upon sounding the cross Sec
ton of the aubgrade not to have been done
In worlSman-like manner; being badly
mutilated by ruts improperly rolled and
Systematically exploited by proper instru-
meutatlon
without authentic data from which to
work, l have conceded this to the contrac-
tors and do not include it in final est-
mate
find the mixture OF shell, sharp sand
and small gravel to be compact to a hard
eervceable mass, where the sub drainage
is good but where defective drainage exists
as on either side from the center, IN,
metal viii require much time to bind
which causes much loss through the wine
and other agencies.
The contract calls for a gravel Width
from side to side OF twenty feet, while
from twenty-three cross measurements,
find the average width to be 1913 feet
as shown in table. n failure of 4.S5 de
grees.
The specifications call for an averag,
thickness Ct ten inches which was ex
planned TO me by your county engineer Il
mean twelve inches In the center an,
eight inches on tho side. on this basis
submit the following estimates
According to contract and specification
each lneal yard OF road should have
money value OF $500. | find throughou
the length of road an average thickness
CT 0.515 feet with center 0.590 feet on lief
and 0.bb5 feet on right side which gives M
average depth Of road metal per cross sec
ticn Of o.b56I5 feet, a failure OF 33t7 pc
cent, but i,35 per cent OF SS17 per cent
l'54 per cent is to be also added for short
ago on width making q total failure o
~ per cent from contract.
In money units the total failure OF con
tractors en- material and labor 10 place It
would be as follows:
Total value of $500 yards at 1890, si3.
I2Si total failure of 34.71 per cent on same
sHe4e9; less 42 yards at $3.50. SiBs so
II per cent, S56.s5, siO6.95. Total
s465S04
In fairness to all I conceded ever,
doubtful point to the contractors, as ia
as was compatible with absolute impair
tiality
| am Indebted to Major Bradburn, you
county engineer, for his personal assist
anee In making the investigation complete
Respectfully submitted,
John w, Maxey Civil Engineer.
To the Honorable Commissioners Court O
Harris County;
Houston, Texas, June 15.--whilst as.
sisting Mr.. Maxcy in his investigation o
the paving of the second two miles of tn
Atascoceta road on June s. 1899, hndlnl
that by the methods employed by him