The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-16

lithic' and this is readily demonstra- ble; also that more power is required in mixing Bitulithic. Our Bitulithlc plant will mix in a given time and with less labor and power about one- third more Sheet Asphalt or Topeka than it will of Bitulithic. We will be glad to prove this.
 "10. The best grades of materials should be specified in any type or pitu- minous pavements, but this is not be- ing done. Cheap inferior materials are admitted in competition with the better grades under the present open specifications in use in Boston and under such conditions the cheapest materials complying with the speci- fications will be used.
 I'll. The members of the Finance Commission in a booy last year exam incd brick pavements laid in Roxbury by Mr. Emerson as Superintendent of Streets of Boston in the year 1908 and 1909. This was before the making of the recent extensive repairs. We leave it to the members of the Fi- nance Commission to state whether the brick pavements referred to were
 
 now claimed by MT. Elm erson. We also refer to the membef Is of the Fi- nance Commission the question of the condition of Morton street and other as good as Bitulithic' pavements laid during the same period. It is unkind of MT. Emerson to shift the blame to a subordinate of the Street Depart ment' when he was warned and per- son experienced in the art would have known that the specifications were themselves at fault.
 "12. We reitera' that as Superin- tendent of Streets, hir. Emerson abol- ished the previously used specified tions for Bitulithic pavement and sub- stituted a specification for Asphalt pavement. The specifications are of record and speak for themselves. We at that time protested against the dis elimination. but without avail. We did not bid on Bitulithic because we were given to understand such bids would not be considered.
 "The principles under which Bitu- lithic pavements have been laid dur ing the past fifteen years have not been changed. In some details the earlier construction has been improv- ed upon. We no longer use bitumi- nous cements made from coal tar be- cause suitable grades of tar are not available in sufficient quantities. "In constructing Bitulithic pave ments we have never used a mixture of coal tar and asphalt asc laimed by MT. Emerson. and, if experienced with bituminous materials. he should know why. His statemen, is untrue. "The use of Portland Cement con- crete base for Bitulithic pavement is not necessary, and except under extra ordinary conditions of subsoil we have not advised it. Where concrete base has been specified, it has generally | been done without our being in any | way consulted.
 "As, to the various newspaper clip pings from several cities referred to by MT. Emerson, and with which some of our competitors have doubt less copiQusly supplied him. we can simply state that we are not respon- sible for the public press or what it says. Many of the clippings are doubtless paid for or instigated by our similar to the controversy in Boston and for which we are not responsible.
 "As to the situation in Nashville, we are pleased to enclose a clipping from Municipal Engineering. issue of August, 1916. giving a transcript of the matter, and will be pleased to furnish the full report if you so de- sire.
 we do not wish to burden you fur ther with replies to MT. Emerson's in- situations unless you desire us to do so. We are sending copies of this let ter to the Mayor, members of the City Council and to the newspapers of Bos- ton. Neither this nor any of our for mer letters to your Honorable Board have been furnished exclusively to any newspapers.
 Respectfully submitted, Il WARREN BROS. co. II By RALPH D. WARREN, II General Manager