Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-04
RESOLUTION CALLS FOR INQUIRY
Highways and Sewers Committee is
Directed to Ascertain Facts Con-
cernirq Sand Foundation Under
Brick Pavement, for Purpose OF
Making Deduction in Payment.

In for severe grlling at the hands
of several of the members o. the com
mon council last night for his alleged
derelction in failing to enforce the
provisions of the contract requiring
that sand base, four inches in thick
ness be laid under the vitrihed brick
pavement put down in various parts
of the city by Contractor J. w. DAVIS.
The trouble started when Councilman
T. f. Christie, of the Second ward,
charged that less than two inches OF
sand had been put down under some
OF the pavement laid on Twenty-eighth
street near Jefferson avenue.
Mr.. Christie explained that he saw
the sand on Twenty eighth street on
Sunday and that he. did not measure
the thickness OF that under the
bricks. The sand that he measure d
was about a foot in front of the brict
that had been laid. He made his
statement. he said. so that h could
be fair to all parties concerned.
When called upon to MAKE IN eX
PLANTATION, the city engineer admlttos
been used in some places because ne
found that the pavement would not
roll smooth when laid on a base ioui
inches In thickness. This was due.
he said. TO the fact that the dirt at
such places was soft and the brick
would sink down be cause the sand
YVES ground down into the soft dirt
underneath.
Had Right to Make Change.
In response to a question from Mr.
Ford, the engineer said that the spec
ifications gave him the right to chang
the thickness of the sand when IN
his judgment a thinner or thicker base
than that called for in the contract
would give a better pavemf Mt.
Mr.. Ford asked why ne had noi
reported this to either the counc !
committee on highways and sewers
or to the council and he replied thai
h did not think il was necessary and
that If he could not have changed the
specifications without consulting the
committee he would have been iorceG
to tie up the work until a meeting oil
the committee could be called.
Here Mr.. Whitley took a hand IN
.he matter, saying that he thought
the city ought TO be able 10 get the
payemen; put down according 20 the
specifications as II had two engine rs.
three rodmen and two inspectors Oh
the Job and that the city should de-
mand a rebate if the specifications
have not betn lived up 10.
Engineer Pensioners"
''If We haven't got enough enSl
neers-pensioners should saw,
ought to pick up some OF these tel
lows of the street and put them l.
work." he concluded
Mr.. Pearse arose to make further
explanation, saying that in some
f.aees il had been necessary to re-
move considerable mud. or muck.
iron the streets and tn these Mole
wese filed with sand, 50 that in som,
places tn sand is a loot thick. where
as in others IL is less than two inch
es.
Then ysu ought TO have come L.
the council and told Us that the spec
if1catlons would have to be changed,
rejCined Mr.. CHRISTIE.
Mr.. W. +. rSpruiil. OF III highway.
and sewers committee. after consult
ing with the engineer. sad tina.
the specifications allowed the city IN
glneer to ohanS the thickness Of tns
sand at his discretion.
Chairman N-& 4 the committee
on highway and sewers, said that
the FIRST time be- knew less than ioui
inches OF sand was being us. d Wa
on yesterday when the CITY engineer
told him
Mr.. Harris. q the Third ward. sait.
that he thought the contract cailei
for two inches Of sand and that ina.
amount was rs d on Cbes nut avenue
enough. And | believe We have
better pavement with .hc two inche.
Of sand than we woald have had vit
four inches he addsd. Il don't thiL
II would have been wise u nave dis
furbed the dirt 20 put In four inches
OF sand
Should Have Come 70 Committee.
Councilman Fsrd made . vigorous
speech. declaring that Mr. Pears.
s1cnld have come 10 the committee
20 get bis Instructors on this mat.
ser 20 that the members q the cum
eli uculd have known ab5ui ~. Nov
be said. people could ten the council
nh that fhcy paid Tor four inches o.
sad. whereas they got only two
~Hcw would We explain that b.
ASKED. The engineer says that q
j. alright and ! suppose Il -. but u.
not he rikht way 10 DO Business.
cont IKE 70 cri1cise any man, Du'