The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-28
MCDONALD EXPLAINS
 FAULTY CONSTRUCTION
 OF FAIRFIELD AVE. ROAD
state Highway Commissioner
 For Purpose of AscertaininI

State Highway Commissioner James H. Macdonald, the first witness called at the investigation of the highway construction in Fairfield avenue, to- day, said to the committee charged with the inquiry, that after the sub grade. of the highway was prepared the appearance of the road as it lies today would really indicate that it was not constructed according to specified tions. His main objection to the highway, ehe said, was that the road bed was not properly filled, or bond ed.S He said he could denonstrate his opinion by giving a demonstra- tion.
 He then displayed two large jars. one of which was filled with two inch stone of uniform size and the other with stones of various sizes ranging from three-fourths inch up to two inches.
 He pointed out the large number of voids in the jar containing the large stone, as compared with the other jar, showing how in the latter jar the stones lay more compactly.
 He said that the condition present. the highway being investigated if it were not sufficiently rolled, if the stones were not properly graded as to size before they were put down.
 Commissioner Macdonald then sug- gested to the committee that it should inspect the road in person, making an the presence of voids in the road bed / had let it down in many places, caus- ing hu1npy condition.
 He declared that he had always maintained that the only way to get a good road was by the use of mixed stone, that if the voids are not filled, road will jar force down the surface.
 He told the committee that if they will inspect any of their roads in condition. due to the fact of their not having been a proper mixture. He said that in his Is years of experi- ence as roadbuilder he had never seen a road that showed the lack of proper construction so much the Fairfield avenue job does.
 The commissioner continued, saying, that this was the first hearing of this kind at which he had been asked to appear. He inquired to the req son. City Attorney Cullinan told him it was to determine who is responsible for the condition of the roadbed in Fairfield avenue. where the city finds it necessary to spend several thousand dollars to put it into shape.
 MT. Macdonald then referred to the fact that the road had been built be- tween a tri party arrangement with the city, the Connecticut Go. and the state as parties.
 The city was the lowest bidder for the right to do the work.
 The Connecticut Companys part consisted of 1e foot strip, con1pris- ing the space between the rails and two either side
 The states part was 10 feet on either side of the strip to be built by the railway.
 Between the curb and the states part was the city's part.
 The entire road was to be built on his specifications.
 The specifications, among others things, called for the building of a sub grade, the shaping of the same, the removal of all material likely to settle, the rolling of, the sub grade and the application of prescribed courses of stone. He submitted the specifications.
 Commissioner Mcdonald also found fault with the way the stone was placed upon the highway, be- cause it was dumped, a load or more in a spot, instead of being spread from the carts.
 President John H. McMurray is presiding at the hearing. The alder men sitting are Jackson, Con1in, Mey- CT, Clampett, members of the com mittee on streets.
 Mayor Buckingham is present and