The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-06-29

Here are the most sensational
city political facts of the year.
The cost of asphalt pavements
hammered down from $2.34 n
square yard to SLAP. Yet all
the Milwaukee daily papers sup
press and ignore the important
facts. Why? =
How the Trick Was Worked.
On page 8 of the printed specifica-
tions in the asphalt paving contracts
of the city in 1909, the materials are
specified as follows: For the binder
course. the asphaltic cement shall
be composed of a mixture Of 100
parts by weight OF refined pure as
phalt and about Is parts by weight
of heavy petroleum OIL" 1t is later
stated that the crude asphalt must
| contain at least 80 to 60 per cent of
bitumen, soluble in bisulphide of
| carbon Further it is specified, THE
alsphatic cement shall be composed
of refined pure asphalt 100 parts.
heavy petroleum oil IL to Is parts
The asphalt surface of paving mix
ture shall be composed of IA to Is
per cent of asphaltic cement" There
are few other physical properties
designated which, altogether make
the material called for Trinidad Lake
asphalt.
This is the trick of the game.
These are CLOSED specificat ons"
Too Late for Last Year.
fou can't get asphalt such as is
called for in these words except
from the asphalt trust, which
handles Trinidad Lake asphalt. 1t
was absolutely impossible for any
body who did not have connections
with the Barber Asphalt Paving COM
pany tthe trlst) to get n ''look-in.' -
The trick by which the swindle
was worked was uncovered by Supt
Mullen. 1t was found out last year
too late to be attacked
This year. however. the specifica-
tions were changed. They were
made open. They were fixed so as to
permit other asphalts aside from
Trinidad to be used.
| Best Pavements Ever.
The specifications prepared by
Supt Mullen were the most complete,
detailed and thorough thus far ever
issued from the Milwaukee public
works department.. The tests
|
pass are SO described that with the
inspection which will be instituted
Milwaukee is this year going TO get
the best pavements ever laid in this
city. 1t is seldom that the cheapest
! is the best. But this is an exception
| al case The graft and the velvet
base been cnt out. There is now
only Legitimate profit" in the
work. 1t is nearer cost than any,
thing in street work that Milwaukee
has ever bought.
Goodbye. Trinidad.
| When the contractors assembled
to watch the opening of the bids on
the morning of May "a. Commission
or Briggs gave them copies of the
Old specifications used in 1908. 1909
and 1910. He asked them what
KIND OF asphalt they would have to
use under those specifications.
They replied, "Trinidad."
All in the Open.
Then more questions were asked
And 1t was brought out that all OF
the bidders except two were against
the old specifications. The two who
were not against them were the
Badger Construction company and
the White company. These two com
panieS have been among the favored
in the past. Through their Milwau-
kee political connections. these two
have carried away all asphalt jobs in
recent years. They were the only
ones among the bidders who admit
ted that they could get the trust as
phalt- The other four of the bidders
stated that it would be impossible
for them TO bid on the jobs if they
were compelled to work under the
old specifications calling Tor trust
asphalt. They stated that they en-
pected to use California or Cubar
asphalt
Down Near Cost Now.
1t was this opening of the specifi
Catlons by Supt. Mullen which i:
chi ehy responsible for the low prices
| that Milwaukee, zef IA rene