The Detroit times., 1911-06-07
COMMUNICATIONS.
From the Mayor.


| sion OF May 3ist, 1911, which approves
the following accounts:
bessemer Limestone Co.. esu- "a, =.
DecF@an Duty brick Co. esti- ;.
Massiion stone q Fire Brick -
Nelsonvilie Brick Co. esti- -, :.
innate '............ s9o So
Detroit vitrined Brick Co. es- :.
The above items, as understand II
| are for brick purchased by the De
partment OF Public Works under ths
existing contracts for furnishing paw
| ing brick to the City OF Detroit. My
reasons for vetoing the payment Oh
the above claims are as follows:
on February 2lst. last. when the
confirmation or the contracts for furn-
ishing paving brick during the year
ending January 81. 1912, was before
you for consideration, i addressed
communication TO your Honorable
Body. which was In part as follows;
But do wish now TO emphasize the
opinion that in order TO prevent any
suspicion OF unfaFness In the future
on the part or the Commissioner, the
Council or the Mayor. the city should
purchase the proper machinery tor the
RATHER test OF brick, and that. In con-
nection with absorption, these tests
should be made not only before the
during the delivery OF brick under
contract. You will thus create a sys-
TEN OF testing and inspection that Will
protect you against inferior brick. In
addition to the good Judgment or the
Commissioner.
After a conference between the Com
missioner of Public Works and my
self this morning the Commissioner
has agreed to these tests being made
on brick purchased under this year ;
contract This test will practically be
part OF the bidding specifications.
and will demand that the brick shall
stand the .rattler and absorption test
as specified by the National Brick Ma
kers' association. to-wit: The loss from
abrasion shall not exceed 20 per cent,
and the loss from water absorption
SHAH not exceed three per cent. and
that the test shall be made frequently
on delivery from cars. and on each
street after the prick Is delivered"
Based upon the above understanding.
/ came 10 the determination not 10
veto the proposed brick contracts for
the current year. and so stated In the
aforesaid message.
When the paving season opened
took occasion TO make inquiries as 10
whether or not the proper machinery
for the RATHER test OF brick had been
works; and having satisfied myself
that nothing had been done I'm that
regard, and having personally observ-
ed that large quantity OF brick
city without the agreed test being
first-applied to the brick. / came TO
the conclusion that 1t would be proyi-
BRICK myself and instructed sI nv secrel
tary to take steps TO properly and
fairly carry out that purpose. The
manner In which these tests were con-
contained in the enclosed communica-
lions OF. Mr.. Kurz to myself. and in
the report Of Professor Edward Orton,
Junior. r. NJ, OF the Ohio State Univer-
sity. Columbus, Ohio.
Honorable William -Thnrnpson,-
Mayor OF Detroit
Detroit. Michigan.
Dear Sir-On May 18th, Just prior
to your departure on the ]. J. Barlum.
II was directed by you TO gather as
complete data as possible on brick
instructions authorizing me also to
collect samples OF the various manu-
facture and have the same tested. Alb
solute impariaiity was demanded In
That same afternoon visited vari-
Gus streets In the company OF Officer
James Walsh OF the Police Depart
ment Samples OF the following manu-
Novelty. on Humboldt. Warren to
Grand River;
wassail. on Beecher. Baker to Sub
way:
Wooster PAYER, on Lysander, Twelfth
TO Wabash:
Bessemer. on Rivard. Forest to Har-.
per;
Townsend. on Moran. warren q
Medal Block. on Mt Elliott. Mack to
Gratfot.
In every instance twelve blocks were
piles as far apart as possible. the pick
ing OF the brick-three at a time-be-
ing left to the chauffeur, stranger
to US A pile was pointed out, and he
When such brick happened to be chip
ped. marked or of apparent poor quail
ity, coming under the term Gull" they
were rejected and others substituted
was conveyed 20 the carriage office OF
william ]. Sheahaa, corner OF Mack
and Townsend. and placed under his
personal care. Name OF auto taxicab
driver. I G. Dimmick. 106 sycamore
street No 20. Detroit Taxicab Col
Each separate lot OF brick was care
fully Grated under Mr.. Sheahan's direc-
lions, and all were shipped on May II
ward Orion, Jr., OF the Ohio State Uni
yersity. Columbus Ohio Professor Or
ton was notified the same day OF the
office on arrival OF the cases. On May
20th the undersigned called on Pro-
lessor orion at his laboratory, and af-
ter identifying the packages and as
surfing ulmselI tnaI tney Were IN INC
same condition az they were when they
were sent, instructed the professor to
subject the brick TO the standard rat
tier test. The tests were performed
under regular conditions, I'm my PRES
ence. with the following results:
Townsend block, abrasion 2s.42;
Bessemer block. abrasion 20. go;
Novelty block. abrasion 2Ibs;
Wassall block. abrasion 37.1s;
Wooster block. abrasion Isl
Medal block. abrasion 1922
A duly certified report OF the test
was made by Professor Orton.
Immediately on my return 7 sent the
New York, Cleveland. Buffalo. Cincin-
natl. Toledo. Indianapolis. Akron Bal
timore. Mansfield and Boston:
DO your brickpaving specifications
demand standard RATHER test, II so.
give maximum percentage OF abrasion
Mansfield. Ohio. replied: Maximum.
Is per cent;
Cleveland. 20 per cent;
Cincinnati, 20 per cent:
Ohio State Highway Com, 20 per
New York State Highway Com. 10
per cent:
indianapolis, IS per cent;
Akron, Ohio. 20 per cent:
Boston. 20 per cent:
Baltimore. % per cent
In every instance nearly. the various
cities mentioned. at my request. con-
Armed their telegram by letter
on MAY 23rd, the undersigned to- |
Rether with officer James Walsh. again |
Visited the same streets and collected |
from each street ten samples under the |
same conditions as previous. The au-
Al Johnson. No. 72t West Grand Bou- |
Ieyard No 10 Detroit Taxicab CO The