Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-01
DISCUSS CAUSE
INSHORTCOMINCS
OF THEPAVEMENT
Claim That Cement Is Wasted
Before 1t Reaches the
Ground.
CHARGE INDIFFERENCE
To Create Prejudice Against Asphalt
inspector Holt on speeid-
cations.

THE trouble with the concrete in /
the foundation for the Second avenue I
pavement" said a citizen this morn
ing, who, knows something about ce-
ment, lis that the cement is ;lot mixed
on the ground where it is useG. 1t
is carted for some distance. with the
result that most of it runs out of the
wagons on the way, with consequent
loss to the contractors and the prop
erty holders who are paying for it
according to specifications"
Another citizen expressed il as his
opinion that the contractors are not
particularly anxious TO make a good
JOB OF asphalt. 1T is the old struggle
against which Rock Island has been
waged for years" said this citizen.
r 1T is the brick trust, which has fought
step by step every move that Rock
Island has made for modern pavement.
Years ago this trust fattened
on Rock Island and il has not
let go since. The contractors for the
Second avenue pavement constitute
subsidiary concern to a larger con-
tracing company which holds the con-
trolling stock in brick plant.
TO PREJUDICE THE PUBLIC.
Now the point that make is this:
II the job of asphalt paving now be-
ing put in Rock Island and whfeh en-
braces the main streets of the city,
falls down and prejudice is created
against asphalt, can you not see that
brick would become all the more
strongly entrenched, and the profits
are so enormous in brick that con-
tractors could afford to lose ali that
they might make in asphalt to kill
off the material and have it repudi-
ated Ia the public mind. This may
not be the case here. but IL does not
look as If the contractors were strain
ing themselves 10 put in job that
VIII stand up. wear well, and shine
as an example of upto-date modern
pavement II the work. being done
In Rock Island now. does not come
up toswhat the people expect, II will
not be the fault of the material, il
will be due TO the way it is being put
down"
DENIES JOB II NOT GOOD ONE.
\ gentleman VINO is in touch with
the contracting company that is put
ting down the Second avenue pave
meat stated this afternoon, when
shown the statement that the COM
pany might not be particularly intcr-
ested in making an attractive job of
asphalt that any experienced con-
tractor would know that nothing is
ever gained by skimping u contract
for asphalt pavement. 1T shows up
TOO SOON the gentleman said. land
the contractors here are under a
heavy bond TO do job. Besides they
live right here in the community, and
could not afford TO do anything but
first class piece Of work. They
know that the pavement must stand
o five year test. and they kaow further
that a job that will stand a five year
test is good for 10 years As &c
skimping asphalt in the interest OF
brick IL is absurd on the face OF IL
The company that is putting in this
pavement, has just finished paving
with asphalt practically the entire
business section of Davenport. to say
nothing OF what the company has JUS
completed in Moline with the same
material Furthermore, II has bu
recently invested $4,000 in an as
phalt plant in Davenport, with the
view TO undertaking as many con
tracts OF asphalt pavement as IL car
get
Beyond this there is 40 incentive
to skimp on the concrete. as cemen
was never so cheap as II was recent,
when al contracting firms includin.
this company laid in an abundant sup
ply at so and 20 cents a barrel fo
the same material that formerly cos