The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-04
Bitulithic People Lose,
Contract Going to
|. j. Smith & Co.
FOUR MONTHS TO
COMPLETE WORK
Available Appropriation Will
Garry New Paving From Tenth
Street Westwardly to Third.
Boiling Shows Why AS
pllalt Block Is
Best.

Asphalt block similar to that here
tofore used in Richmond was selected
FOR me paving Of Broad street b.
the Council Committee ON Streets yes
terday afternoon. An award OF con-
tract. subject to approval by the city
Council. WAS made to /. J. Smith q
Co. OF this c!ty. for paving with
block manufactured oy the " ashing-
ton Asphalt BLOCK and Tile Compan,
at s:.oi per square yard. the paving
10 be laid on siX-inch concrete base.
:or which the city viii furnish the
cement II is estimated that the
available app opriatlon OF $1,000 ~!!i
carry the Work from Tenth street
westwaroiy To about Third. the Viz
gInia Railway ana Power Company
paving with the same material be-
,ween i:s tracks ana tor Two feet on
either SIDE at its own expense.
,nderhid the Makers.
A curious feature OF the bidding
was that smith. a local contractor. in
his proposal underbid BY 50 cents per
square yard the Washington Asphalt
BLOCK and Tile Company. which makes
the block. Soma members expressed
the fear that Smn'. might not be able
10 secure the block. but IL was ruled
that since his propose: carried u bond
TO complete the work Ia l2O days, 1T
was the business OF the bidder TO Sc
cure the material.
The fight throughout Was between
the asphalt block and the bituiithic
paving. an able review OF the various
classes of paving OF which bids were
submitted being read by City Ensineer
Boiling. VINO strongly reccmmen ded
the asphalt block.
Each OF the bidders was heard in
support of his proposal Mr.. McGrath,
representing the United States Wood
Preserving Company, told OF results
obtained by the use of creosoted wood
block paving. which he held would
prove the cheapest. not in first cost.
but In durability and service. j. j..
Curly spoke for the Washington AS
phult Block and Tile Company. and /.
J. Smith for his proposals on asphalt
block, wood block and granite paving.
Charles Gasser and J. Z. Wcinbrun also
spoke. M. Crawford. OF the Crawford
Paving Company, Washington. appear
was closed by Mr.. Woke and Attorney
L. o. Wendenburr., wno appeared for
the Atlantic Bitulithic C,mpany.
boiling Reviews situation.
In a written statement reviewing HIS
experiences with various pavings in
Richmond. his observation in other
cities and his Judgment from engineer
Ing reports received. City EnCinees
Boiling took up each class of paving
on which bids had been invited. Gran
its block he held to De the most dur
able. but was objected TO because OF
the noise. rough surface and dust
created by the accumulation OF dirt in
the joints. Wood block paving he char
acterized as a good paving when made
Of long leaf yellow pine properly treat
cd and laid. The obje ctions were it's
slippery surface and the disagreeable
odor OF creasote, noticeable for the
first twelve months after it is laid. In
the opinion OF the City Engineer. 1t is
neither SO durable as asphalt block or
granite.
The bitulithic paving Mr.. Boiling
discussed at some length. saying that
it was neither so smooth nor slippery
as asphalt Or wood block. but that II
would have 10 be Dated every four
or five years at cost OF 10 to Il cents
per Square yard. His most serious OBJ
lection was the excessive cost for cut
ting and replacing the paving in ex-
cavatins for pipes and conduits. and
the necessity of purchasing plant and
n stock OF material in
order to make such replacements.
The improved asphalt paving was
open TO essentially the Same objections.
Favors Asphalt Block.
or the asphalt block which was
selected. tho City Engineer said that 1t
would make n smooth. hard and dur
able paving when properly laid on
1t is slippery. but not so
much so as wood block or sheet as
phalt. He described the method by
which the blocks were made and their
formula, and said that from experience
here, when taken up to replace pipes.
from 90 TO 9s per cent. OF the blocks
can be reused. Some OF this paving
has been In use in Richmond for seven
teen years. and is now iii good order.
Mr.. Boiling reported that there was
now 2i6.T75 square yards of IL In Rich
mond. laid at cost Of S4S7.Ti3.15. Dur
ing the seventeen years that more or
less OF it has been In use. the total
amount expended by toe city for re-
pairs has been s575.s4, or one tenth OF
| per cent
Mr.. Boiling concluded his report:
where the proper grade of blocks are
used and they are properly laid. re-
gard the asphalt block as the best Of
all smooth pavings have ever seen or
examined"
Paid His own Why.
In closing Mr.. Boiling expressed his
thanks to the United States Wood Pre-
serving Company and the Atlantic BIZ
tulithic Company for many courtesies
o nthe recent tour OF inspection. He
made it clear that on THAI trip he had
6 one by direction of the Street Com
mittee and had paid his own expenses.
III order to be under no obligations,
since whatever contract is awarded the
work will be done under his supcrvis-
ion.
Moses Thalhimer. representing the
Hetail Merchants Association. urged
that the, street be given smooth and
ornamental paving. a communication
from the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals protested against
- ICanfinnaa a.. r,IriIL -