The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-29

Wy no IS the goat IOE IuS POOE 1cN ed out roadway in Fairfield avenue? At the investigation before the alder manic street committee in the Com mon Council chambers yesterday af- ternoon as many phases of the art of road building were brought into play as there are holes in Swiss cheese.
 The aldermen have got to look into each Of the holes to find the goat.
 State Highway Commissioner James H. Mcdonald said the road was one the city contracted to build for the state. After being on the witness stand for two hours he did not wait to hear what Former Director of Public Works c. F. A. Biltz, the foren1en on the job, or the experts called in on the matter had to say. He just vanished leaving his secretary Charles G. Nichols on the job to take notes Of what was said.
 MT. Biltz told the aldermen that the road was built according to spec1hca- fions. that 1t was no kind of 3 road to stand the travel that passed over 1t. It was 9 water bound road and MT Mcdonald had refused to allow him to use oil upon it.
 In answer to Attorney John M. Pull. man, counsel for Biltz the state high way commissioner said that he was working pursuant to the policy of the state, he had a limited amount of
 money to spend, and could not build 4han another. tsThe little town of Un-s ion don't look any different to me than the big city of Bridgeport" he said.
 Phillip W. Henry, consulting engi- neer of New York City and official representative of the State of New York at the International road con- gress held in Paris, France. in 1898 was of the opinion that the water bound macadam road was no kind or a road to stand the travel Of 450 horse drawn vehicles and 225 automobiles as Fairfield has to do every day.
 City Engineer Robert A Cairns of the city of Waterbury said he would not advise the kind of pavement he had found in Fairfield avenue for 1horoughfare that had to stand the would pay the city to attempt to keep Fairfield avenue paved with macadam. Any of the so-ca1led permanent pave nents would be cheaper after ten or twelve years. He would recommend bithulithic pavement for the job. It would cost $1.50 a yard against 85 and 50 cents yard which IS uSaa14y pa4o for Inacadana.
 City A tforney Thomas M cullinan conducted the investigation in a very masterfuf manner and showed a keen insight in road construction
 Foremen James Graham who had charge of that part of the work built in 1908 said that some of the stone anee with the specifications but there had not been enough variance to make any difference in the wear.
 In his opinion as an expert road builder. the road was too flat, it did not shed water as it should.
 Foreman Allan Thomas who had charge of building q section of the road in 1909 also said the road was too flat. All of the section he built, he said, was up to the specifications. and Director Biltz all concurred with the foremen that there was not enough crown or contour to the road in Fair field avenue.
 Attorney Pullman said he could show that there was even more crown given to the road than was originally Intended by Commissioner MacDonald's specifications, as the latter had con- sented to a change in the per cent of the grade upon advice of City Engineer McKenna.
 having left the room before the testi- i1aony that the road bed was too fiat the evidence was all one way on that subject.
 that he did not want to be put in the light of criticizfng MT. Biltz as the latter had built many miles of the said that he knew that the former directors duties were so numerous that he could not be on hand to in spect every. load of stone carted on to the work. He put it up to the 6oremen on the job.
 Former Alderman Frank W. Beers who was the states inspector on the work was not up to specifications but that the 1909 part was all right.
 Engineers Cairns and Henry as well as the two foremen were of the opin- ion that the 1909 job would look as poorly next year as the 1908 part looks this year.
 Much interesting detail concerning road building was brought out at the hearing and if no financial benefit is reaped by the city there is no doubt that the city fathers gleaned a great l