The Washington times., 1906-01-28
GRANT ORD PAVING
COMPANY GROWTH
Closely Identified With the
City's Progress.
A ESTABLISHED FIRM
Contracts Now Received From All Parts
of the Countrywide Present
Officers.
A L0NG-ESTABLISHED FIRM

erai manager. and II. S. Houghton.
secretary.
Briefly. their business is general con-
tractors But this term necessarily
covers a great deal of ground. In this
case 1t means that they construct any
thing from the smallest structure to
the largest. and from about any ma
terial the contracting parties may wish
10 use, IL means, also that they deal
In asphaltum. granolithic, artificial
stone. vitrified brick. water proohng.
and water proof paints, cements, etc
Ii means, too. that this company has
done about three-fourths of All TIE
asphalt paving that renders the city
streets so attractive and well kept. II
has also placed about one-half Of ali
the cement walks in the city OF
course, this work has been done under
supervision OF the proper city officials
and boards OF public works.
Concrete Work.
For some years builders have been ex-
peTimenting and seeking some substi-
tute for wood and stone. Something
more durable and fire resisting than
wood. and more plastic and easier
handled than great blocks of granite
The progressive ones now decide that
concrete solves the problem in quite
a satisfactory manner.
In this subject this progressive firm
has taken a deep interest and pushed
its use TO q more successful conclu-
sion than their competitors.
The company is now the agent OF
the Simplex Concrete Pning Company
for the District of Columbia. Maryland,
Virginia. West Virginia, North and
South Carolina. Georgia. Florida, Ohio.
and Eastern Pennsylvania. taking in
the city OF Pittsburg in the Iast-named
territory. II may be remarked that
concrete is now used very successfully
as a foundation for great buildings,
massive docks bridge abutments and
any work where grea; stability and
strength are needed. NJ. Crawford
kindly explained that SoEerete plies
could now De cast or rvn- thoroughly
seasoned. and then driven similar TO
wood. But they have a way worth
two Of that. They simply build an iron
casing, sink il where desired. fill with
concrete, lift OF the enclosing shield.
and IL is already driven and as solid
as stone itself.
Among the large contracts lately com
pleted or now under way. may be men
toned the foundation OF thu great Bal
:!more market buildings. a work which
VIII cost about $4,000. One OF the
largest foundations ever laid ia Pitts
burg is THAI of the Pittsburg Terminal
Transfer Company, the concrete and
foundation work placed by the Gran
ford company aggregating over 270 900
lineal feet. And another great beauty
Of the process is the rapid manner IN
which the work can be done. as this i'm
mense job E-aS completed in about seven
had been used IT would have consumed
some six or seven months The company
also has another large Pittsburg con-
tract In the Duquesne freight station
over 5000 piles were placed tn proper
position under the Army school build
ings. the work being done under the
general supervision of Col. John Steven
SeWeil. Government engineer.
Chaplin Sacks Manufacturing Company
also applied 10 the Gran lord people FOR
a stable foundation under their large
new building. Other large contracts
have been the Westinghouse Company,
Of Pittsburgi the Pittsburg Plate Glass
Company, American Steel Wire Com
pany, Cleveland; Dunbar Furnace
Works, Dunbar, Pa; Cincinnati Elec-
trio and Gas Company great building
and retOrt houses; Cincinnati Water
Works, and a long list OF others.
One of the most unique buildings in
the city, if not in the country. is the
Century building, Hamilton q Calvert,
owners. Not piece OF wood enters into
its entire construction. II is concrete
rom foundation to roof. and the only
one in the city built entirely Of that
material. Many so-calied fireproof build
ings melt as wax in a great fire but ii
would be next to impossible to destroy
this building with fire or any ordinary |
force. Indeed the reign of the concrete
king seems lust fairly commencing, and !
In few years. as wood grows scarcer, /
its use viii be multiplied by a large |
figure.
In this connection it may not be out
of place TO refer to an article published !
in the Brooklyn Times. in 1901, con
was subjected in that city. Three sides /
and the roof of the building were con-
structed of concrete. the front of brick |
SandbaGs were placed on the roof $50
maintaining 1850 pounds. A fierce fire
was then started and maintained for
four hours. the temperature of the walls
running UP 10 over 100 degrees, A
against the white hot walls by steam
engine at a pressure of so to 65 pounds
for five minutes. a more severe test
can scarcely be imagined Yet the walls
did not crack and there was only a
slight taking of the ceiling. The roof
under the heavy weight and the severe I
test. only deflectei ] lilo inches. But
Z he brick front could not stand the
wan when the water was applied
The works of the company have Oc-
cupied their present location for over
thirty years. but the new offices were /
only ready for occupancy last Decem- |
Der. this branch of the work having I
beeu previously carried on in suite /
in the Home Life building. Now Office I
and works are i'm close connection 20 !
the advantage OF both departments.
During the summers Dusy season I
a bout 600 men are employed on the var /
touS contracts, the work of which ex-
tends over a large extent of territory. /,
And in this connection il is crafty
ing to note tne steadily increasing trade /
Of this enterprising firm, not only in I
the city where their services are in con-
slant demand. but from many distant /
points In fact their business i'm the /
West seems only in its infancy. Nature (
has not provided a foundation or solid I
rock, or scattered great boulders over
the face of the country ready for use in i
walls and foundations as is the case in I
many Eastern districts. AS a conse- I
quence there are increasing calls for I
and concrete work, the demand |
seemingly only being limited by the /
company's ability TO supply men and I
Material.
The members of the firm are courteous
rflRFneu ready at all tfmas tn stumble