Evening journal., 1917-10-17
declares ALL COULD
BID FOR ROAD WORK
Mr.. Upham Tells Levy Court
Lincoln Highway Specifi-
cations Were Fair
THANK ENGINEER
FOR HIS REPLY

Charles Upham. chief engineer OF the
Lincoln Highway Commission, sent a
letter TO the Levy Court yesterday
afternoon, declaring that the specinca-
lions for the construction Of Sections
3 and 6 Of the Lincoln Highway, con-
! tracts for which were recently let by
the Levy Court to the Warrenite Com
pany, had not been drawn so as TO
preclude competitive bidding. The
court ordered that the letter be re-
ceved, recorded and filed and Mr.. Up
ham was given a special vote Of thanks
by the members for his prompt and
courteous reply to a resolution by the
court requesting a statement from
him owing to published limitations
that changes had been made TO pre-
clude competitive bidding.
The letter from Mr.. Upham follows:
Mr.. John L. VT lht, Clerk Of the Peace,
Wilmington, Del.
Dear Sir: l am In receipt Of your
letter containing resolutions passed by
the New Castle County Levy Court on
October g. wherein the chief engineer
OF the state Highway Department Is
asked II the Specifications for Sections
3 and 6 OF the Lincoln Highway, were
drawn as TO preclude competitive bid
ding. and further. II the engineer Or
dered the same printed.
Replyi\ permit me to respectfully
submit the following:
The New Castle County Highway
Commissioner, Mr.. James Wilson, had
prepared general road specifications.
The State Highway Department engi-
neer was authorized by law to approve
the specifications for the so-called
Lincoln Highway, and these general
specifications were reviewed, changed
In part and added 10 by me. with Mr..
Wilson's approval, so as to prepare
them for the specific case Of the Lin
coin Highway.
The specifications did not in any way
preclude competition. but merely dcsig-
mated several standard types Of road
construction upon which to receive pro-
/ posals for consideration and selection,
viz: Nitrifed block pavement, Port
| land cement concrete, Warren'te. Amei-
site. sheet asphalt and asphaltic con-
crete. In detail the specifications are
more fully ddscribd as follows:
Portland Cement Concrete-On page
are described the Specifications for the
construction of Portland cement con-
crete. This is a pavement that can be
laid by any contractor, there being no
patents on any OF the materials or pro-
| cesses.
Vitrifed Block Pavement - On
Page 70 are the specifications cover
ing vitrifed block pavement. This
also is a pavement that can be laid by
any contractor. The field OF competi-
ton In this pavement Is wide, as any
block that passed requiremets could
be used.
Warrenite-On page IS the speci
lcatiOns describe the Warr0nite. This
lis a patented pavement and laid under
1.-THE patents held by Warren Brothers
Company. On Page II, under the spe
} cihcations for Warrenite there Is q
note stating that the Warren Broth
J ers Company shall furnish any con
tractor desiring TO bid with the nee
! esssry surface material, mixed and
. eady for use. This. of course, allows
any contractor to bid on this type OF
construction.
Ameisite-On Page 10 Is described
b Ameisite a patent pavement CONTROL
ed by the General Crushed Stone Com
pany. II is possible for any oontrac
. tor to purchase the material for the
Ameisite surface from the General
Crushed Stone Company. thus provid
ing for competition in this pavement
in the same manner as In the Warren
tie pavement.
Sheet Asphalt Pavement-On page Il
is described the sheet asphalt pavement
which j. an unpatented pavement AND
Of q very high type of construction The
asphalt used in this pavement could be
either the natural asphalt or the r.
siduum, thus creating an open competi.
tiOn in this pavement.
Asphaltic Concrete-On page "a as
phaltic concrete Is described. This
pavement does not infringe on any
patents and is a pavement known a.
the one-size stone pavement. This opin.
ion IL sustained by the case Of Warner
Brothers versus Evans in 1910 Either
natural or residiuum asphalt is allowed
TO be used, provided IL is Of a quality
specified.
Therefore. il will be seen that the
specifications which included these we'll
known types Of pavement are entirely
open and free 70 competition
Relative to the printing. would
say that while in consultation with Mr.
Wilson, It was decided that In view OF
the specific case on the Lincoln High
way IL might be better TO have the
specifications printed separately, thus
avoiding any confusion with the coun-
ty specifications. With this end in view
and after securing prices and dates Of
delivery. / ordered the same printed
by the Star Publishing Company, this
company being the lowest bidder.
Very truly yours.
CHARLES UPHAM,