The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-26
MERRY JESTER TELLS PAVING
 COMMISSION
Was Just Kidding" About Time When Special Work Would be Finished-Later Promise Isn't a "Kid," Says Mir. Field

'Just kidding" them along, ''to keep l.. F. Field, representing the Barber & Stockwell Co.,, steel contractors of Boston, explained to the members of the Paving and Sewer Commission, last evening, the reasons for telling the Connecticut Co. that the special work for Main and Congress streets would be here by Sept. 20 at the lat est. MT. Field said his company was taking a Hong chance when they imparted this information to the Con- necticut Co.,, and did it just to "joly.''
 The commission has become almost exasperated at the holding up of the Congress street work, and sent word to the Connecticut Co., several days ago that they would be called upon for an explanation as the work was promised to arrive Sept 20. In the meanwhile the Connecticut Go. com munlcated with the contractors who sent on representative to this city to explain the conditions. He caught the commissioners in a bad humor and was put through an hour of con- tinuous quizzing. He stated that be- cause Of the warm spell in July his company was about six weeks behind Tn their orders. He ought to have known better than to have put up that warm weather story, as that is old stuff to the commissioners. But being pressed for the time of delivery from the Connecticut Go. they answer ed Sept 20, really knowing they could not make the work by that date. MT. Field said the order for this work was placed with his, company the fore part of June. There were other troubles, such as the manganese castings secur- ed proved bad and others had to be obtained. MT. Field made a promise that the work would be shipped by Oct. 10, and when questioned as to whether that date was another ''kid," he re- piled that it was not
 By allowing MT Field to be ques- toned first, Supt Chapman of the Connecticut Co., escaped the grilling which had been promised him. He informed the commission that about two weeks would be consumed in plac- ing the special work. He stated that as much as possible his company would have all their work in the street, with this exception, completed when the special work was received so that there would be as little delay as possible.
 Bids were opened for paving the much discussed street. The Hildreth Granite Block Go. of Boston were the lowest bidders, securing the contract for furnishing the granite blocks at $1.64 square yard. For construct ing the foundation and laying the block the contract was awarded to A. J. Langenfeldt Both of these con- tractors did the work on the approach to the Congress street bridge. A time limit of 30 days has been placed on the contarct. The granite pavement will be extended across Main street and short way up the Congress street hill The wooden block pave ment in Main street will also be com pleted at this point
 The commission received report from the city attorney in regards to the grade of the spur track running ing different from the grade in the street. He reported that no grade had been given the company so that they were liable for the change. The clerk was instructed to notify the company to restore the grade, being given until Saturday to send their re- ply under penalty of having the mat ter brought before the council at the meeting next Monday evening.
 The commission will shift the water trough at Park and Fairfield avenues from its present location to the south west and surrounded with a granite foundation with gutter. Water from the trough now gets under the wooden block pavement, causing the blocks to buckle.
 As yet the Wycloff Paving Block Co have not made the repairs they promised in the wood blocks in Fair field avenue near Park These are the blocks which buckled following the heaSy rain in August, but which have been untouched since that time. As the guarantee for the work was given by the committee to a committee from the Common Council, the commission turned the matter over to the council. Secretary Heating stated that he had received, word from the Wyckoff peo- pie that 2,500 blocks were on their way here for the repairs, which will be made at the company's expense.
 The contract for, the construction of 300 feet of 10x15 sewer in Boston ave- nue was awarded to the Pierce Mfg. Go. at $1.42 a lineal foot. A time limit of 30 days was put on the work.