Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-04
ENGINEER INDICATED IN
PAVING INVESTIGATION
]. }. Smith s. Co. Fail to Sustain
Charge That Inspectors Dis
eliminated.
STONE CAREFULLY CULLED
Contractor for Broad Street Work
Complains OF Rigid InSistencc OH
specifications, but Fails to Get
Sympathy From Administrators.

Evidence adduced by !. j Smith & Co.
contractors. 10 show that city inspec-
tors had Disseminated against them III
enforcing rigid adherence to spccif-
cations in the Broad Street pa wing con
tract. failed utterly a, the hearing
given the matter yesterday afternoon
by the Administrative" Board. to provo
the charge. According to his own
statement Mr.. Smith had never before
IN his ton years experience lived up
10 specifications as laid down in all
tn" contracts for street paving he has
made with tn" city.
20 far as the hearing is concerned.
II resulted in complete viniication for
city Engineer Boiling. Assistant En-
sineer Taliaferro and all the street
paving inspectors. some OF whom have
served the city. withou, other com
plant against them. FOR twcnty-six
years
There was much countoring between
Mr.. Smith and City Engineer Boiling.
and at several stages of the hearing
tho contractor offered to bet $500 il
Mr.. boiling would designate any three
streets in the city. that he would dig
MP space twenty feet square and
prove that other contractors had not
lived UP to requirements. and then re-
pave the torn surfac. AT his own cx-
pense. Mr.. Boiling asked quietly if Mr.
Smith would Include in his bet streets
he had paved himself. Mr.. Smith agreed
and TIL" City Engineer expressed his
Willingness To accept the wager. At
the same time. Mr.. Boiling expressed
, his thanks to Mr.. Smith for bringing
a complaint which showed that the
/ inspectors were performing their
duties SO thoroughly. and said that he
considered it a compliment to them
WOULD GIVE MEDALS
no FAITHFUL. INSPECTORS
Acting Chairman John Iirschberg
thought that II w,sIld be good idea
, to have on hand a supply of medals so
that the inspectors could he properly
rewarded. COMMISSIONS Mccarthy
said tina; il was a distinction for men
Ia have worked SO long for the city
and agreed that come regard should be
shown them for their faithful service
AZ the closing OF the hearing Com
missioner Beck asked Mr.. Smith by
whom he being discriminate ted
against. The contractor replied that IL
was the City Engineering Department.
+. but declined to go into details or to
give specified instances, and said that
he had nothing more to say. The meet
! ing was adjourned without action be-
| ing taken. and with the prepondcrancc
OF evidence In favor Of the City Engi-
! neerinc Department
In an opening statement, Mr.. Boiling
/ said TO tho board that Mr.. Smith was
not asked to do more than the specif-
cations required. that the contractor
l.
tions possible in the Broad Street
{ work. but that even then some de-
/ fciencics must necessarily occur He
read the contract, signed on December
10. 1914. showing that the contractor
was obligated to fulfil all require
ments. whether inspectors were pres
ent or not. and that Mr.. Smith could
not relieve himself of these conditions
3 COMPLAINS STONE: is TOO
SCRUPULOUSLY CULI.ED
/ In reply, Mr.. Smith said that his
complaint was brought because the
: inspectors We're living closer to the
I specifications than they had ever done
before and told the board that 1t was
the first time in all his experience that
I his stone had been so scrupulously
cullcd. Il can't complete the work il
I my stone is so closely culled." he said
B AVA II am required to do what IS
! not I<luired OF other contractors
/ we have nothing to do with the
! quarrying of tho stone" replied Act
/ ing Chairman Hirschberg. The work
VIII be completed. Tho board will see
to that. Remember. you are bonded to
finish tho work in q specified time"
/ Are YOU required TO do anything
/ not called FOR in the contract" in
! CURED Commissioner Mccarthy Mr.
Smith replied In tho negative. and said
/ that he did not have TO pay for the
stone cullcd. that this expense was
! borne by the quarry. Mr.. IIirschberc
! said that the thanks OF the hoard were
| due to Mr. Smith for his proof that the
! City Engineers Office required contrac-
! tors To follow specifications
| You say" interrupted Commissioner
1 Mccarthy. that this work you are
! doing now is the best done in ten
years. Did you do some of that other
work in which the specifications were
| not follower"
Yes replied Mr.. Smith
Well" asked Mr. Mccarthy "oupbt