The Detroit times., 1911-08-12
BRICK MEN,ANXIOUS
FOR MONEY, FLOCK
TO DETROIT
General Manager Wilcox, Of Speed
way Concern, Calls on Mayor
Thompson, and Secretary Blair,
Of Manufacturers Assn Arrives.
Jacksonville Passes Test and Bills
Will Be Released -Rattler Out Of
Business Temporarily.

AS result OF mayor lnOmpbOnb ,
determined efforts to secure good
paving brick for the city OF Detroit.
all the paving brick interests OF the
country appear TO be greatly interest
ed In this community just now. An.
early arrival In the city hall, Saturday
morning, was Will p. Blair, of Cleve-
land, secretary OF the National Paw
ing Brick Manufacturers association,
who came here In search OF informa-
tion regarding the brick situation. he
said. This visit, he declared, was
made entirely Of his own accord. Re-
Gently he received an invitation from
President McRae, OF the Board OF
Commerce, to come here and discuss
brick. but no date has been fixed yet.
Mr.. Blair manifested great interest
In the tests Boiler Inspector McCabe
is conducting for the mayor. Asked
IL he regarded the limit OF abrasion
fixed by the mayor. 21 per cent, as a
fair standard, he replied:
my personal opinion is that II is
not. think 1t ought to be little
higher. But no one can say definitely
what should be a proper limit OF abra-
sion. We brick men do noe know.
Nobody knows"
do you think standard will ever
be established?"
II don't know"
Mr.. Blair declared that one per cent
of abrasion I'm the rattler test repre-
sented only 98-10.000 of one per cent
of actual wear, and argued, from that,
that difference Of a few points be-
alx m init frna aI
as far as the wearing qualities are
concerned.
"The finest brick will make rot
ten pavement, II not properly laid" he
said.
Mr.. Blair was invited to visit the
mayor. but pleaded lack Of time.
The brick men whose bills have
been held up by the mayors vetoes
are getting anxious. ]. B. wilcox,
secretary, treasurer and general man
ager OF the Alliance Clay & Fire Brick
Co., OF Alliance. o., manufacturer OF
the speedway block, called on the
mayor. Saturday morning, IN company
with f. B. Holmes. local agent for the
Speedway. The company has about
1000 coming. and Is anxious to have
It's bills released. Mr.. Wilcox told the
mayor that his company was sending
to Detroit brick Of the best quality II
manufacturers and showed results OF
several rattler tests averaging around
20 per cent. In the two tests OF
Speedway that have been made by
this city to date. the brick showed
an abrasion In excess of 20 per cent
and under 25 per cent.
you send US brick that will test
around 20 or 21 and you'll get your
money" the mayor told Mr.. Wilcox.
What we want Is good brick, no mat
ter what II costs"
No Official tests of Speedway have
been made as yet. The mayor assured
Mr.. Wilcox that no favoritism will be
shown. Ten tests of his brick will be
made, and II the average comes with
In the limit all the bills for that brand
of brick now held up will be released
for payment.
Boiler Inspector McCabe reported to
the mayor, Saturday. the results OF
IL tests of Nelsonville block, which
showed an average OF 1880 per cent.
Mayor Thompson prompt ywfred the
manufacturers that their brick was
o. k. and that they would receive their
money. He will recommend to the
council. next Tuesday night, that
these bills be paid.
Mr.. McCabe's tests have been sus-
pended temporarily because OF the
breaking down of the rattler. the lin
ings having worn out The Innings are
supposed to be good for only 20 tests,
but these stood so or more. New lin
ings have been ordered and the rattler
will be In operation again early next
week, II is expected.
Mr.. Wilcox believes that a limit OF
21 per cent abrasion Is too low. II
should be 25 per cent, in his opinion.
ANY city that adopts q standard OF
less than 25 per cent win shut out so
many-b brick manufacturers that n will
be obliged TO pay good dearmore
for brick to the few who are able TO
meet the standard" he said.
'T understand there Is gentlemen's
agreement among the brick manufac-
turers whereby you do not get In each
others way any more than you can
help" said the mayor to Mr.. Wilcox.
I'VE have no understanding with
any other brick concern" was the
reply.
Come to think OF II, guess you're
the only outside concern that maii-