Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-13
HIGHWAY JOB
IS BLOCKED BY
CONTROVERSY
Commission Is Split
Over Material to
Be Used.
DATE POSTPONED
Brick and Asphalt Men
Complain of I'm
fairness.
DATE POSTPONED

Because of n controversy within
the highway commission on the sub
ject of specifications. the letting of
contracts for sixty-six miles of the
National road, which was to take
place tomorrow. has been postponed
indefinitely, it was learned today
The contracts were to be let for
seven sections of the road which
would close up every gap in the high
way which has been constructed by
what has come to be known as the
skip stop" method.
The controversy is the one which has
followed the highway commission since
its organization, that OF the difference
between Specifications for brick and as
phalt roads and the specifications for
concrete roads. It Is understood that
Lawrence Lyons. director of the highway
commission and n majority of the mem
bers of the commission are advocating
modification In the specifications for
brick and asphalt roads and that Ches-
leigh Gray. chief engineer Of the com
mission, and Earl Crawford, a member
the present specifications
CONSIDERED ONLY
CONCRETE SURFACE.
During the regime Of the Goodrich
highway commission under tie director
ship OF L. II. Wright, no effoct was made
even TO consider the construction - any
thing but concrete highways. Brick and
cations for these materials were so rigid
that the specifications for concrete were
80 much easier TO meet that there could
be no competition between them. There
was every indication, according 10 OBJ
servers at that time, that there was no
desire for fair competition. Gray and
Crawford were connected with the high
way department during the Goodrich
administration.
With the coming of the McCray admin
stration the announcement was made by
the Governor and by Mr.. Lyons that the
commission intended to give the brick
and asphalt men a square deal and
chance TO compete for roLd construction
work.
SPECIFICATIONS ARE
UNCHANGED.
Despite this announcement the speci-
fcations have remained pract 'cally un
changed. The commission is now con-
fronted with the letting OF contracts for
one of the biggest projects that it has
undertaken thus far and an effort is
being made to open the specifications to
all competitors.
1t is understood that Mr.. Gray as chief
engineer Of the commission is strongly
opposed to the change because he con
tends that good roads can not be built
of brick or asphalt under specifications
that are more lax. The roads, It is con
tended. would be inferior TO concrete
roads II they were changed. If they are
not changed the cost of brick and
asphalt roads would he so high there
could be no comparison with the cost
Of concrete roads. Brick and asphalt
men contend the concrete specifications
are inferior
The present highway commission has
been using asphalt to some extent in
maintenance work This is said to be
the first use OF any material other than
concrete by the commission.
CONTROVERSY MAY
BE SETTLED soon.
That the controversy over specifications
will be settled one way or the other very
soon is anticipated because the commits
sion is eager to make possible the begin
ming Of work on the National road by
next spring in order that Indiana, CO.
operating with Illinois, may assist in
carrying out the plan Of a hard surface
road without break between RchmOnd
and St Louis. Mr. Lyons, Mr.. Craw
ford and Mr.. Gray were In conference in
the office of Mr.. Lyons yesterday after
noon.
The roads for which contracts are to
be let when specifications can be agreed
upon, consist of Ala miles just east of
Terre Haute, 0.49 miles just east of Bra
I'll, two projects Of 1894 miles and 1120
miles, respectively, through Plainheld
and three projects of 1903 miles, SIT
and 726 miles, respectively, from Green
field to Cambridge City.