The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-14
BIDS FOR STREET PAVING
TO Be OPENED TUESDAY
City Inviting Proposals for Largest
Surface Contract in Its
History.
WILL AGGREGATE, s.75, 900
Members of Administrative Board
Express Opposition 10 Paying for
Expensive Patented Formulas.
Wide Latitude Allowed in Kidding.


Bids for paving. apgrcpating in
value $215,eoc, viii hc opened by the
Administrative BOARD, Tomorrow ana
referred to the City Enpinec, for tabu-
lallon ana report The contracts That
VIII hc awarded ns tn" result, of tt!s
competition viii provide for the largest
a.SreGation Of surface i'upTovemcn,s
eve! undertaken by the city at one time
Ihc co:npreh"nsiyc paving program
was made possible by the recent $500
o"o bond issue for surface improve
'nchts- the first bond Issue 81 this Kind
ever authorized By the city. About
l2",ou" of the proceeds from the sale
OF these bonds has already been aDpor-
toned ia contracts for the extension Of
Tue smooth paving on West Broad
street, and for other surface improves
uirpts.
Bids will bc opened for smooth paw.
!n2 many streets in the Yves, END and
Tor the paving, curbing aud guttcrinr
81 a large number OF streets in other
sections Of the city. In the matter OF
paving the bidders have h.Sn given Il
vide latitude. Each has hcsn given
the privilege of submitting Bids for
paving 10 be laid in accordance with
"a" CRY Engineers formula. and for
thc various spcciai ana patented paw
!ugs controlled by tho individual bidder
WOULD AVOID PAYING.
PtIENTt:I'S PROFITS
II Is regarded Is probable that the
Admins tratiNc Board VIII Indulge in
the more expensive forms OF asphalt
raN!uE only where such paving is alb
s"iUtcly necessary. Several members
~ the board have indicated their re-
iuctance 10 pay paten;cc's profits. and
at least one member OF tho board HIS
declared his purpose to vote in every
case Tor non-patent"d paving laid in
accordance with city spocjncationsH
practice OF III" city OF Baltimore. which
IS now engaged ia The most ambitions
paving program in its history. Ac-
t"rdinE 10 Mayor Preston. who DISCUSS
at the paving problem with local au-
thoritics at the time OF Ills visit II. this
city several weeks ago. Baltimore has
found IL most economical 10 lay having
in accordance with Tho C!ty Engincer's
formula. and IL rsidlY barring all pat
ented paviies IS nccdlcssly expensive
ROAD ENGINEER
SPEARS ON PAVING
IN adopting a paving policy IA which
III" selection OF materials and ingrcd.
tents is left 10 the C!ty Eulriuccriut.
Department. the city authorities arc
Endorsed by Charles T. Foot,. OF New
York, road building expert who. on
August IS. delivered a lecture ON the
subject OF good roads in tho audi
torium OF the Mechanics Institute uu-
der the auspices OF the Engineers club.
one ot the first, and the really domi-
mating factor is competent engineer
ing said Mr. Fo9te The city or com
mun!ty which, by reason OF a false no
ton OF $aNiDS money, employs Z cheap
and incompetent engineer will in
variab!y mud, in the long run, Tint the
inferior scrV!ccs rendered haV. proven
very expensive by reason or unncces-
sary amounts or money spent, and in
adequate construction designed and
carried out. The best engineering ser
vices obtainable are always tilc cheap
est in the end
Mr.. Foote is AZ one also with City
Engincer Boiling in designating the
natural lake asphalt for use As u bin
der. on this point MIR. Root says:
considering that the asphalt itself
is simply the adhesive ana cohesive CO
mcnt which binds together the stone
ana sand particles which form tn.
aggregate Of the surfacing material
Of Il pavement. and is therefore but a
small part Of the cost OF a nniaficd
street; considering also that TIE off
terence in cost between the natural
lake asphalts and the imitation as
phaltS Is less than 10 per cent OF the
cost OF the entire pavement. every city
and county official must realize the inn
portancc of tho difference.
Whenever, in so-callcd asphalt roads
ana pavcmcnts. the material has be
come way, that iS, uneven on the
surface. or where the bituInin0us ma j..
teriai has become soft and has gath
cred in lunches, making an uneven sur.
face. or where the rays OF tn. sun
softcns the pavement until ruts form
G: until it ''b!ceds." and where deprss-
aions from cau!ks and tires remain. Ii
may he positively stated that the as
y 'altic material is not true asphalt, but
II a. waste product oC cooked pc
,toleum. ~ genuine asphalt were sub
J"cte" 10 The sam" temperature rs is
necessary &" distil the volatile oils
rom petroleum. II would he unfit for
read or paving purposes
The records OF the wearing ability
of the different forms of asphnitic sur
faces are easily obtainabic by any in
diVidu'l or official. With proper drain
"ge and with an economical founda
ZION, there is no reason why any COM
nunity. by exercising ordinary judy
inont. should not lay pavements which
VIII last score OF years At Il mini
num cost for maintenance"