Evening journal., 1913-10-09
STANDARDFORM
OF PAVING Is
DECIDED ON
Excavation, Base, Curb and
Wearing Surface, Basis Of
Future Bidding
CITY BUILDERS
on AUTO RIDE


took action this morning towsrd
long-looked for universally desired
reform, that OF establishing stand
ard form for paving in cities. For
many years engineers and contrac-
tors and city governments have been
In a quandary over plans and specit-
cations, No price and no plans meant
the same in different cities and many
Misunderstanding and much litiga-
ton has been the result. For sew
eral years each convention OF the so
ciety has had the matter under con-
sideration, but nothing was ever ac-
complished until this. morning, when
the committee on stand forms made
its report, which was received and its
recommendations concerning base.
excavation, curb and walking surface
we're adopted.
The committees report was made
BY j. c. Hallock, Of Newark, n. J.
The report recommended the adop-
ton OF certain units. which shall be
the standard specifications for max
Ing all bids. These units shall be
used universally. The report was a
long one, dealing with many tech
nicalities and Of little interest to
the public.
Mr.. Haliock also presented the re-
ports OF subcommittee on street
paving, street cleaning. street light
Ing bidding blanks. street cleaning
and refuse disposal. The reports of
the subcommittee were also tech
nical.
Discussion followed the reports, IN
which George Warren, OF Boston,
participated. Mr. Warren argued
that contracts for paving should be
done on the cubic yard basis He
said that II the proposed blanks with
q blank for application 70 the mem
bership of the association are csent
20 the engineers in every city Of the
country that a great many men
would become members Of the society
because Il would show them that they
we're getting something for their
money. The question OF standard
specifications and forms is an import
ant one, as II will establish certain
unit for bidding all over the coun-
nv and will allow cities TO compare
heir cost OF paving and doing other
work with the cost IN other cities.
E. A. Kingsley. Of Little Rock, up
leld the square yard basis and allow
ng percentage 10 contractors when
hey do extra work. This plan, he
said, worked in Little Rock TO perfec-
ton and was satisfactory to the con-
tractors as well as the city. Mr..
Kingsley also said that all items that
enter into a contract for paving should
be entirely separate and distinct items
20 avoid Misunderstanding and con-
lusion.
The discussion settled down 10 the
determination Of four units upon
which to base forms for paving. The
convention adopted the following
units: Excavation, base, curb and
wearing surface.
The secretary was instructed "a
prepare a pamphlet based on the re-
bort OF the committee and letter on
The subject which is 10 be sent 70
every municipal State and highway
engineer IN the United States and
canada. Membership application
blanks, asking the engineers TO join
the society and adopt the blanks for
their own use. will be inclosed with
the pamphlet
fhe reports Of the subcommittee
were adopted
William A. Howell, Of Newark, n J..
read an interesting paper on The
Standard Abrasion Test for Paving
Bsicll-How It Works in Newark, Y. j.
Mr Howell said that last year Newarl
laid more than l25,000 square yards o
paving brick or more than 5,250-0c'
bricks, and made more than thirty-foui
tests, which were entirely too many.
He took the stand that a few good test
made carefully by competent men arr
better than O large number Of tests b,
men who know little about making
tests.
Necessity Of Good Sidewalks.
A paper on the Control Of Sidewan
Construction" was read by A. Prescott
Folwell. Mr.. Folwell said in part;
"As q matter OF fact, in too man
,ases little attention is paid 10 the side
walk. Volumes are written about road
rav pavements, out only an occasiona
page about sidewalk paving; but We
% one person who uses the roadwa
there are probably ten who use the side
walk. The additional property rights o
quasi ownership which IN some cities ar
5eld by the abutting owner over th
sidewalk need not interfere with th
municipal control any more than the
interfere with roadway paving IN thos
states or cities where such ownership
constructed AZ extending TO the eente
i)f the highway.
1T seems to us inevitable that mos
Of the highway construction whic
Is performed in small sections sea-
tered over the town cannot receiy
as effective supervision by the cit
engineer as coud few contracts eac
covering an entire block or NOR
There certainly would seem TO
little question that construction
rs OF 50-foot sections must be quite
little more expensive and in man
respects ,ess satisfactory than II n
entire block we're constructed at or
time. In addition TO this. even whel
the work is well done the patchy al
pearanco of a street where old an
new sidewalks alternate and indet
where brick. nag and concrete ms
ell be found on one black and in VI
rious stages OF repair. is far fro
pleasing to the eve and is unpleasai
for the pedestrian.
THE sidewalk Is as fully a part
the public highway as Is the roadwa
so far as its use is concerned. Il
free TO the general public and is q
should be) no more used for priva
purposes by the abutting owner, al
we can therefore see no reason WI
the two should receive different trea
ment"
An invitation was received fro