The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-19
MUST SHUT DOWN
Action Of City Officials Cripples
Topeka Industry.
Out Of Town Brick Bought for
PaVements.
KEEP A LARGE FORCE
Nearly 100 Affected by the
Closing of Plant.
Controversy Over Quality Of the
Brick Is the Cause.

The city is apparently discriminating
against Topeka made brick The re-
suit viii be that the big brick plant
west of Topeka, employing nearly 100
men, will be closed down indefinitely
and nearly 100 men will be thrown out
of employment.
The Capital City Vitrified Brick d
Paving company has been making
brick west of the city for q years. At
this time there are more than 100000,
600 made by this plant in the Topeka
streets. In the last 20 years there has
not been a question raised as to the
quality of their brick until now. Now
the city commissioners have introduced
a RATHER test Of brick and have set
the percentage of loss just low enough
to throw out the Topeka quality.
Many of the brick paved streets in
Topeka are in bad condition. Some of
the city commissioners claim it is due
to the bad brick. Others insist that it
has been caused by the foundation I'M
der the pavement settling or where the
street has been dug up for water and
gas service pipes and mains.
There is much discussion going on
among brick manufacturers and en-
gineers as to what kind of tests show
up the qualities in brick. Some
maintain that brick that is hard and
brittle. the kind that make a poor
S4AOWlIS III d Rather, Is d better DITCH
Tor paving purposes. Others main
tain that the softer and tougher brick,
the kind that makes a good RATHER
showing, is the better
Mr.. Meade Talks of Tests.
]. NJ. Meade, engineer of the eastern
lines of the Santa Fe, when asked of
brick quality, said:
The accepted order of effectiveness
of the destructive forces on brick be-
ing the action of frost, first, followed
by toughness to withstand blows of
horses toe calkh; hardness to resist
abrasion of wheels and strength for
heavy loads.
"A brick with high per cent of abb
sorption would indicate porOusness and
softness and such brick would not be
expected to answer a very good RATHER
test.
In view of the above would favor
a brick with the least absorption espe-
ctally for use in changeable climate
as we have here. would sacrifice the
few per cent rattler tests for the brick
with the least absorption
The Capital City people have sold a
large number of brick paving blocks
to Contractor Ramsey but the CITY re-
fuses to allow their use because of the
rev per cent average below the RATHER
test. The brick have been hauled to
the streets and are now lying on the
parkings. The brick blocks used on
West Sixth from Topeka avenue west
and on West Eighth from Kansas ave-
nue. to Harrison are Topeka made
blocks.
Young Stands by Guns.
City Engineer Young claims that he
will not reduce the RATHER percentage
in order to allow the Topeka brick in.
He says the Topeka plant has the right
kind of clay and they are able to make
the proper quality of brick.
st will mot chance my snaoffipa fiOn
unless the commissioners order it, he
said.
Can't Change, says Tandy.
W. G. Tandy, city commissioner. says
he is in favor of Topeka brick and he
is anxious to have the Capital City
people furnish the material for the
city streets.
But I don't see how we can change
our present rules on the RATHER test
he said.
Commissioner stotts is in favor OF
the Topeka, product.
Il don't think such a small percent
age in this RATHER will make any diff
ference" he says. 1--WE have found a
good quality IN the Capital City brick
for 20 years and see no reason for
deserving the company at this time
just because a. new RATHER has been
shipped to town and the Topeka brick
don't stand as good a test as another
make. 1t is the hard usage that
counts-and not the banging of q rat
Ting machine"
1.-The city engineer seems to be par
tial to Buffalo blocks said a director
of the Capital City company. while
they do show a better RATHER test their
plant has only been in operation four
or five years and they cannot point to
a street in the country where their
brick has been down 20 years and can
show evidence of quality