The Detroit times., 1911-10-23
MUCH POOR BRICK LAID
IN IN DETROIT IN IN PAST PAS FEW
YEARS, SAY INVESTIGATORS
Board of Commerce Committe'
Declares Conditions Gener-
ally Are Unsatisfactory.
REPORT IS COMPLETED,
Recommendations Include Spe-
cial Paving Department At
tached to the ID. p. w.

The Board of Commerce committee
appointed TO make an investigation
INTO the materials and methods en-
olcyed in paving, the streets of Detroit
has completed tits report and Will sub
gnit l. -to-the common council, Tues
lay evening. The report is complete
and comprehensive and the con
cl,sions reached show careful con
sideration OF the whole paving ques-
lion.
The streets of Detroit surfaced
with brick are in general not salts
factory and this is due TO several
causes" the report states, First,
prick surfacing has been laid on
Natural cement foundations which
have proven Elective. when il would
have been a better plan TO extensive
" repair the foundations or replace
them entirely. Considerable poor ma
terial has been used in the past few
years. While il cannot be said that
Detroit has been a dumping ground
for brick manufacturers, altogether
too much poor brick has been used
In the surfacing laid in the past few
years. The department of public
works has lacked "A wellorganized
engineering and inspection depart
mont. resulting in improper specifica-
tions for laying. inefficient speclhca-
tions for the purchase OF material,
ard inefficient inspection before lay
ing. The streets surfaced with brick
have not been promptly repaired
when the defects appeared because
insufficient funds have been appropri-
\ ated for the purpose of repairs"
The report finds that asphalt sur
facing since the organization OF the
department in charge of il and the
building of the city asphalt plant has
beon generally satisfactory and the
amount required for repairs has been
4 reasonable. The committee recon-
mends granite or medina block Tor
heavy traffic streets and on streets
that are on q grade. The committee
alsL recommends creosote block sur
facing especially where quietness is
desired. II also suggests care in In
specting and repairing natural cement
foundations before any resnrtaeing Is
; placed on them. Nr7t'
The committee finds a want OF CO.
operation between the various depart
monts of the city and the public ser
vice corporations in making cuts ana
openings. which has been detrimental
TO the pavements.
No Evidence of Trust.
committee does not find that
Detroit is suffering from want OF
competition between sellers Of ma
terial used by the department OF pub
lie works, nor any want OF coinpeu-
tion in letting contracts for payins.
The report goes on
t.urAtln hnAn charge OF
financial ifregularity in the conduct
of the department, your committee
feels that IL is n matter of congratula-
ton for the city that no such irrcgu-
larity has been found and none
charged by anyone during the ses-
sions of the committee.
A table of costs OF the dinerert
kinds of pavements laid in 1919, made
, by F. II. Macpherson & Co, shows
that new cedar block paving cost
s2.392 per square yard and resurfac-
ing SO cents brick paving, new $2.747.
repaving $256, resurfacing Sl.76;
sheep asphalt, new paving $2.75i, re-
javing $235, resurfacing $l.30; creo.
sote block, new paving S34l, resurfac-
ing $244, granite block $3.SS, resur-
facing 1912.
tee states that asphalt is being lald
more cheaply than new brick pave.
ment, and practically as cheaply as
49, cedar block pavement. The cost
table further shows that the city
makes a profit ranging from IL TO 4S
cents a square yard on its asphalt
paving as a result of the difference
between the actual cost, and the price
charged 10 property owners on basis
of bids submitted. The committee bo-
lieyes that the assessment against
property owners should be at actual
cost
The chief recommendations OF the
committee are as follows:
Cd The organization OF a depart
uent ih the department OF public
works In charge Of paving. to be di-
by~~H competent engineer ex-
pcriCnced in paving. or by man OF
iDEg, practical experience In ConstEaet-
ing Tayements This department when
SO organized would maze a study Of
the natural conditiong IN Detroit. the
Kind and extent OF foundations requiT-
ed, the surfacing material best adapt
ed TO Detroit's streets, the cost of var
ions kinds OF surfacing material, the
relative service Of the various mater
ials would prepare proper specihca-
items fo+-raEfHe and st4F facing ta-fur
the purchase Of materials, and would
organize a force for the inspection OF
materials purchased by the depart
ment and the inspection OF work as II
progressed. and would undoubtedly
make Use OF Specifications proven by
other cities TO be satisfactory and
winch are without doubt superior TO
those roW in use In Detroit
t2J Tho establishment Of a repair
depaftn,rn. in the paving department
of the department. OF public works. un
der-N hGsc--su supervision the streets
would be Systematically inspected and
repaired before great damage has re-
suited. necessitating in the end larg-
pr eXpCHditure than would be required
-ti;r-FePaiFs were promptly made
when defects appeared. Your committee
-. r. cards IL as matter Of great import
aur.e that the pavements be- promptly
rsrairrd as defects appear.
- That the Board Of Commerce
ca. opsrate with the department of pub.
. lie Works 10 obt8in from the rc mnnn
-eaufteil-aRd- The board Of estimates n
sufficient appropriation 10 carry out
the above recommendations
Mabounuy Strohmcr Piano. 500
nj GVfnUeH Hros Sal. 81