Evening journal., 1913-10-09
STANDARD FORM
OF PAVING IS
DECIDED ON
Excavation, Base, Curb and
Wearing Surface, Basis Of
Future Biduing
CITY BUILDERS
on AUTO RIDE


took action this morning toward a
long-looked for universally desired
reform. that of establishing stand
ara form for paving iu cities. For
many years engineers and contrac-
tors and city governments have been
in a quandary over plans and specih-
cations. No price and no plans meant
the same in different cities and many
Misunderstanding and much litiga-
tion has been the result. For sev-
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
were adopted
The commuters report was made
by J c. Hallock, Of Newark, \. J.
The report recommended the adop-
ton Of certain units which shall be
the standard specifications for max
ing ell bids. These units shall be
used universally The report was
long one dealing with many tech
nicalities and OF little interest to
The public
Nj Hallock also presented the re-
ports OF sub Committees on street
psy ng street cleaning street light
ing bidding blanks, street cleaning
and refuse disposal The reports OF
he sub-committecs were also tech
nical
Discussion followed The reports, in
which George Warren, Of Boston,
participated. Mr. Warren argued
hat contracts lot paving should be
lone on tho cubic yard basis He
said that n the proposed blanks with
Z blank for application 20 the mem
bership Of the association are sent
10 the engineers in ever city Of the
country that a great many men
would become members OF the society
because II 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
init foi bidding all over the coun-
~ and will allow cities 70 compare
heir cost Of paving and doing other
work with the cost IN other cities.
r. A. Kingsley Of Little Rock, up
ield the squard yard basis and allow
ng percentage TO contractors when
hey DO extra work This plan, he
said. worked in Little Rock TO perfec-
ion and was satisfactory 10 the con-
tractors as we'll as the city. Mr.
Kingsley also said that al items that
enter into n contract for paving should
be entirely separate and distinct items
70 avoid Misunderstanding and con-
fusion.
Tho 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 to
prepare q pamphlet based on the re-
port Of the committee and a letter on
the subject which is 10 be sent TO
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, viii be inclosed with
the pamphlet
The reports of the subcommittee
we're adopted
William A Howell. of Newark. y j.,
read IN interesting paper on The
Standard Abrasion Test for Paving
Blirk-How Il Works in Newark, y. J.
Mr. Howell said thnt last wear Newark
laid moro than l25,0Oo square yards Of
pa, inc brick or more than 5.250OC0
hficks and made moro than thirty four
tests, which were entirely too many
!. ~ ~ kru
made carefully by competent men arc
better than a large number Of tests by
mon who know little about making
tests
Necessity of Good Sidewalks.
4 rarer on tho Control nj Sidewalk
Construction was read hv a. Prescott.
FowoH Mr Folweil said in part:
"As matter % fact, in too many
cases little attention is pail 10 the side
walk. Volumes are written about road
way payement-, but only an Occasional
page about sidewalk paving; hut vel
to one person Who uses the roadway
There are prohablv ten who use the side
walk. The additional property rights ol
luasi-ownership which IN some cities af'
ield hv the admitting owner over m
sidcwalk need not Interfere with tht
municipal control any more than the,
interfere with roadway paving m thos'
states or cities where such ownership "
constructed az cxtening to the eente
# the highway
1T seems 10 us inevitable that mos
Of the highway construction whicl
Is performed in small sections scat
tered over the town cannot receiv
ns effective supervision by the cit
engineer as coud a few contracts eacl
covering an entire block or more
There certainly would seem 70 b
little question that construction Il
25 or 50-foot sections must be quite
little more expensive and in man
respects ,ess satisfactory than II n
entire block were constructed az on
time. In addition TO this. even wher
he work is we'll done the patchy az
pearance Of a street where old an
aew sidewalks alternate and indee
where brick, flag and concrete ma
All he found on one black and in va
rious stages Of repair, is far fror
pleasing TO the eye and is unpleasar
for the pedestrian.
THE sidewalk is as fully a part
the public highway as is the roadwa.
so far as its use is concerned. II
free TO the general public and is "a
should bel no more used for privai
purposes by the abutting owner, an
we can therefore see no reason VIII
the two should receive different trea
ment.'
An invitation was received fror