The Detroit times., 1911-08-10
NJ 'CAbE'S BRICK
TESTS VALUELEss
~. J. HAARER-
Samples From Same Load Will Show
Different Results When Ratified,
Commissioner Declares.

Public Works Commissioner Haarer
declared, Thursday morning, that the
rattler tests OF paving brick. now be
ing made by Boiler Inspector McCabe
under instructions from the common
council, were valueless, as are all rat
tier tests, In his opinion.
You can pick an assortment OF
brick from different sections Of the
same wagonload. say few from each
end few more from the middle, and
each batch will show different re-
suit when ratified" he said.
Mayor Thompson. however, who is
the real boss behind the McCabe tests,
is taking no advice from Commissioner
Harrer. The bricks being used In the
tests are being selected by men pick
ed by his honor. and the real purpose
of the tests Is to provide the mayor
with information that will guide him
In vetoing the brick bills.
II regard II as a duty I owe the
taxpayers Of the city to see that they
get as good brick as are furnished
other Cities" said the mayor, Thurs
day. Il don't want to do the brick
manufacturers any injustice. | want
TO give them all a fair chance. I'll
not be satisfied with one or two tests
Of each brand OF brick. I'll take an
average OF 10, and IL that average
comes around 20 or FL per cent abra-
sion, the bills will be released for
payment, but l shall continue to veto
bills for brick that do not pass the
test. Because Commissioner Haarer
says the tests are worthless does not
make them so. | asked C. H. Doan,
the agent for the Jacksonville brick,
how many cities he sold brick to use
the rattler test. His reply was:
"'All of them except Detroit.
The mayor, Wednesday night. mall
ed his reply to the communication OF
the Massillon Brick and Fire Clay
Co.. asking for the release Of their
bills. He made some very pertinent
inquiries as to the company's ability
to supply brick In the quantity called
for In its contract. The letter fol-
lows:
Gentlemen--while II IL trueThat
your brick Massilion. has shown
satisfactory results In all the tests
reported to me, wish to call your
attention to another phase OF the
relations between the city of De-
troit and your company under your
contract.
This contract requires you to
furnish one million brick. more or
less. Nevertheless, ever since the
beginning of the controversy over
my attempt TO force the brick con-
tractors to ship only No. l brick
OF high grade to this city, and In
response to my demand that as
much as possible should be ordered
from you because of the superior
NmF. hn
dInned into our ears that you could
not by any possibility comply With
the terms of your contract or
agreement to supply approximately
a million brick.
You will admit. / am sure. that
whatever rights you have under
your contract are contingent on
your own faithful observance OF
rights as well, and one OF these Is
that contractor who has bound
himself TO deliver an acceptable
paving material shall not default
and thereby leave the municipality
at the roy OF dealers In an in
ferior material.
feet tmpeffed. therefore, TO ask
you these questions:
Were you. at the time you en-
tered into your contract with the
city In position to undertake
supplying approximately 100000
brick?
II you were not in such posi-
-indnced-You- ou-to- enter
into such contract?
III You were in a position to do
as you agreed. why have you. thus
far, shipped only very small pro-
portion OF the brick you con-
tracted TO send7
Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM B. THOMPSON.
Mayor OF Detro.s.
Six tests were made by Boiler Inspec-
tor McCabe. Wednesday, and In each
of them the abrasion exceeded the
limit fixed by the mayor. Following
were the results: Speedway, 23.47;
Nelsonville, 22.04; Wassall, 1884;
Champion, 1924; Medal, 23.15. In q
second test, Wassall showed an abra-
sion OF 30.S8.