The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-03
THE DIfgF EzRErIEE BETWEEN PAVING
 Ef5NFFkACTS MADE IN COMPETITION
 AND THOSE WITHOUT COMPETITION

 sBoH Queens, as The Farmer
 has shown, let contracts for more than 100 niles.of bitunninous concrete or bituminous nnacadam, in 1912. at prices ranging as low as 9S oenfs per square yard, and at an average price Of III per square yard
 No patented pavement was admitted to this enlbdsEtion 18ea opIs soT New York deeming fs against public policy to close competition in this notorious way. The law forbidding con- tracta. for patented pavements was the eonse- ouencesof this opinion
 The Farmer has obtained a copy of the contract under which the bituninous concrete paqenents were erected in the Borough of Queens Also copy of the contract which Mayor Wilson has attempted to arrange be- tween Warren Bros for the patented pavement known as Warrenite.
 mere glance at the two contracts is enough to show the inferior protection furnish- ed by the Bridgeport contract
 There are several steps necessary to the laying of q bituninous macadam pavement. The surface of the old road has to be scarified, it's depressions filled iIl, coat of binder put down and-sthe whole tight rolled to "a grade The future of ths work depends as much on lhe care and skill with which this work done as it does on the method By which the top dress ing is put down.
 The New York contract requires the con. tractor to perform all of the work of preparing the grade, filling up the depressions and the
 
 included the costsof bringing manhole heads of sewers etc., to grade.
 But the Bridgeport contract makes the cost of preparing the grade a charge against the cftv- Warren Bros gre to receive $5 a cubic yard for binder They are to receive the ac- tua1 cost of labor and materials plus five per cent expended in the preparation of the grade as directed.
 These extras amounted. last year, to more than 46 cents on the square yard and 4rJev41f 1Sf 7h fFe to $196 q yard, and more if the facts about certain things furnished by the city were as certafned.
 Comparing this figure with the average rate of $4.41 in New York, the difference is g eeuts on the yard which means that Bridge port is paying about $36,OOO more on the War renite contracts than the similar pavement sVouIdSc cost at the New York price
 Here and there the pavement is guaranteed to$last for five years. But if it does not last longer thansffve years it would be dear pave menE The city has keen interest in see ing that the pavement is laid in the very best
 The New York contract is immeasurabl, superior to the Bridgeport contract in the pro tection it gives, by insl1ring the best stone the best asphalt, and the best workmanship. The New York contract specifics in detail the qual ity of the stone provides for the correction oi depressions, against work in wet weather, how the scarifcation shall be done, the weight o the rollers that shall be- used and much more
 The quality of the asphalt is protected by every requirement known to science. Its grade must be that suitable for best sheet aspnal pavement; its specific gravity shall be greate than .99 at TT degrees F.; it's penetration is fix ed; it must be free from decomposition pro ducts; it must not flash below $50 degrees F There are ten tests prescribed each one impor tant in securing the quality of the product.
 The Bridgeport contract provides fo crushed trap rock, with or without sand. That is all.
 The Bridgeport contract specifics War renite cement That is all.
 Now Warrenite cement is asphalt with suitable flux just as in any other bituminou concrete.
 The veriest Iaymen can see the advantage in a contract which prescribes the very asphal to be used, and requires every precaution to in sure the best of that asphalt, and another con tract which prescribes Warrenite cement
 The five year guarantee is protected in tn New York contracts by bond and by fun of ten per cent. of the contract price, fror