Arizona republican., 1910-05-29
PHOENIx, ARIZONA, MAY 2s, 1s1C
The suiIdinq of the Bridge.

The Building of the Bridge.
 The question of the supervision of the construction of the Salt River bridge has been raised Reports have been floated that the county super visors were not satisfied with the supervision, and that they would place somebody on the ground to directly represent the county. The super visors, We understand, deny these re- ports and say they are well satisfied with conditions as they are; that there is a man on the ground who represents the architect, and they are confident that the agent of the archi- tect will see to it that the construc- ton is done according to the archi- tects specifications. Besides. they say, they have some right to rely upon the integrity of the contractors, inasmuch as the contracting firm has an excellent reputation.
 Nevertheless, the supervisors of Maricopa county will make no mis- take if. from abundant caution, they will employ men to supervise the con- struction of this ge-independently of the architect To take this course would imply no suspicion of the good faith of the contractors, nor any sus- picion as to the integrity or efficiency of the architect; but it would prove to the people that the supervisors of the county are looking after the pub lie interest with zeal and with de- termination that no mistake shall be made.
 Concrete construction calls for the closest supervision. This supervision, to be of value, must be constant. After a given section of work is com pleted it is impossible to tell-until disaster befalls-whether the construc- ton was properly done or not. It is impossible to tell from superficial eX- animation whether, in the use of ce- ment. a proportion of "one to six or a proportion of 'one to ten" was used in the mix" And failure to use the required proportions of ce- ment, while it would inure to the profit of the contractors, does not always indicate a lack of honesty on result from inability of the contract ors to be on hand every hour, and from careIessness of laborers.
 The county supervisors would make no mistake by following the course adopted by the territory in the con- struction of the new penitentiary and the hospital for the insane, both of which were built of reinforced con- crete There was n0 doubt on the the integrity of the contractors. nor was there any question of the integ- rity of Architect Fitzhugh, whose duty it was to provide supervision of the construction-it was known that he was scrupulously honest. But the architect suggested, and the board agreed, that it would be wise, and would remove all possibility of ques ton in the future, if the territory also would furnish men to watch the cement as it went into construction. The result was, that TOT a little ad- ditional expense, and by frequent visits by the board of control to the work, the territory obtained at the lowest possible cost the construction of buildings which will stand for all time.
 The Salt river bridge has been as- sured at heavy expense to the busi- ness men of Phoenix and the tax payers of the county. It is of suf- | ficient importance to demand the closest supervision during construc- tion.