The Detroit times., 1911-08-23
COUNCIL ORDERS
BRICK BILLS PAID
Releases Those From Which Mayor
Lifts Veto-McCabe Gives Re-
suits of Rather Tests.

While bands played and gay throngs
OF visiting Moose passed to and fro
in the streets below, members OF tie
common council wrestled with the
brick and other problems for two
hours and half, Tuesday night. Sew
eral scraps" enlivened the session,
but they were purely verbal and no
damage was done.
The spectacle of 36 aldermen listen
ing intently TO the reading OF a tech
nical and voluminoul report on brick
tests, by Boiler Inspector McCabe, who
made the tests under the councils
| direction, was In rather marked con-
tract to the care-free manner in which
the same legislators, a few weeks ago,
we're wont TO ignore the mayors
vetoes OF brick bills and pass the
accounts over his head.
The mayors wishes with respect TO
brick, as expressed In his messages,
were carried out to the letter, Tues
day night, except that no action was
taken on his suggestion that the city
buy guaranteed brick from contractors
not now supplying the city, other
than to refer II to the committee on
streets. This matter probably will
come before the committee, Thurs
day. The bills for Bessemer, Nelson
Vile and Massillon brick, long held
up. we're ordered paid. as requested
by his honor, these brands having
passed the test. No attempt was
made to pass the bills vetoed Tuesday
over the veto. Aid. BroZo objected
to the payment OF any of the bills I'M
less all were released, but he stood
alone.
Mayor Brown, of Kansas City, who
Is here attending the Moose conyen-
ton, was visitor TO the council
chamber He came, he said, to get
some information on the brick ques-
ton, in which his city Is interested.
Called on for a speech, he said that
his city, last year, fixed II per cent
as the limit of abrasion for paving
brick, and all brick that exceeded that
limit were rejected. As result, st.
Louis now has the finest brick pave
ments II has ever had, he said. Some
OF tie manufacturers are protesting
that the percentage is too low, he
stated
summary of Mr. McCabe's test
shows the following results:
An average of six tests on Cham
pom block gave 26.12 per cent; three
on Massillon, 1904; seven on Medal,
2515: two on Townsend, PATS; one
on Collinwood. 26.71; one on Big Four,
27.61; one on Metropolitan, PLOT; four
on Bessemer 1929; IL on Nelson
vile, 1878; nine on Speedway, 24.25;
five ol Wassall, 2S02: four on Nov
city, $3.50; four on Wooster. PAPA;
t., on Granite, 23.0S.
Mr.. McCabe, although not claiming
to be an authority on brick, went into
the subject exhaustivoly and gave the
aldermen his best Judgment as to the
cause OF the failure OF many OF the
city's brick payements. The greatest
factor In their destruction, In his opin-
ion, was failure to provide for inter
nal stresses, due TO changing tempera-
ture, HIS report also showed that the
greatest loss by abrasion in the rat
tie. test comes from the knocking OF,
OF the corners, which happens In the
first Is minutes of the test. while the
wearing face of the brick shows prac-
t.cally no wear. The inference to be
drawn was that the rattler test would
b, of more value IL the material that
enters into the composition OF the
brick were nodded into a spherical
shape for testing purposes. He sug-
missioner of public works consider
the ACCESSIBILITY of adopting method
OF testing that will give a result ex-
actiy like that produced by everyday
street traffic on the pavements. He
said:
Il would suggesC the construction
of an experimental pavement In one
OF the yards where the effect of frost
and heat can be studied, together with
the comparative value of brick under
actual wheel wear, etc. With this
method the relative value OF several
brands OF brick can be tested at the
same time, and the results obtained
would be a true measure OF what could
be expected in actual service.
There was spirited debate over
the payment of bills aggregating S.
600, due the United States Wood Pre-
serving Co.. represented in Detroit by
Thomas Bros. for creosote block
Complaints had reached several OF the
aldermen that the teamsters employed
by C.. c. Craven, who does hauling
for Thomas Bros. and one or two
other contractors. had not received
their money, although, IL was claimed,
Craven had been paid by the agents.
Aid. Skrzycki championed the cause
of the men and put up stin night 10
have the bills due the manufacturers
held ND. Assistant Corporation Coun,
sci Edmund Atkinson gave an orai
oninion that the council had no iegai
right to hold up the bills, out ala