The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-15
DIDN'T FOURFLUSH
TO PLEASE BOARD
Smith Denies That Dummy
Workmen Were on Bridge for
Formal Inspection.
LAID OFF TO MAKE REPAIRS
Breakdown Will Cost Contractor
About $1,200-IIigh Water
Reports From Columbia.
LAID OFF TO MAKE REPAIRS

Reports which reached the Admins
trative Board yesterday that certain
extra workmen had been taken on the
Mayo Bridge job on the day of the
last formal inspection by the board
for the purpose OF making n busy
showing, were emphatlcally denied by
Contractor l. j. Smith last night. Mr.
Smith says as many men are being
used on tho bridge as can be worked
to advantage. 1t is true that some men
were laid off last week. because of an
accident which stopped the pouring of
concrete but all OF these will go back
to work AS soon as the present freshet
recedes.
AS the story reached the ears of Mr.
Hirschbcrg. certain well known con-
crete inisher who Is we'll known to
Mr.. Hirschberg, was summoned to the
bridge on the morning of the last for
NAL inspection, week or two ago. and
asked TO bring az many men as he
could set, and to be on the job by
noon. as the Administrative Board was
coming down The board found the
bridge bee hive of Industry At
every turn it's members had to get out
OF the WAY of overhead cranes and men
rushing about with the ingredients
for mixing concrete. II was a busy and
enthusiastic scene. \ few nights later
Mr.. Hirschberg encountered his friend
the concrete tinisher. at a labor meet
ing, when the statement was made in
a public speech that after the formal
inspection and approval OF the work
the extra men were laid off indefinite
ly. leaving the impression that the
bridge contractors were merely try-
ing to make show of speed having
for exhibition purposes force much
larger than that actually engaged from
day to day.
Mr.. Smiths Account.
Mr. Smiths account differs. There
L. a
crete mixer. he says. and number of
men had TO be laid off until rcpairs
could be made That there was such n
break down is borne out by reports at
the Engineers Office. and incidentally
the bridge contractors lose from 81 900
To $1,000 thereby. The plans for the
concrete arches call for continuous
pouring of concrete during the con-
struction Of each arch, making il n
solid monolith, which will harden as
the years go by. Just at the critical
time. when a large part Of the concrete
had been poured into the framework.
the breakdown occurred, and work had
TO be suspended. After a personal iu-
spection. city Engineer Boiling direct
ed that all of the green concrete pour
cd INTO that arch be removed. and the
monolith started over again, which
was done. the contractors saving their
reinforcing iron and frame work So
1ar as the arch had gone the concrete
was good enough, but the specifications
ala not permit n joint in the arches
which must be OF continuous concrete
from pier TO pier and Mr. Boiling was
unwilling to take any chances Of
weakening span by experimentation
IN joining new concrete to old.
Contractor Smith said last night
that his reports indicated rise Of -
iect in the river at Columbia He did
not anticipate serious trouble here
Ia al
piers arc now up out OF the water An
extensive freshct. however, might car
ry out some OF the false work under
the new arches