The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-07-01
Mr.. Thomas Submits
Some Figures


number of other citizens at a meeting
of the council TO consider bids fol
paving the streets of Oeala.
The council had gathered for tn,
purpose of spending $50, ,000 OF tn,
peoples money for street pavements
The individual members of the coun
ell did not seem TO be very well posted
on the different types of street paving
and had relied largely or wholly or
the advice of the city engineer.
Mr.. Young had sent out specifica-
tions calling for bids on different
types of pavements. It is not neces-
sary to go into all the details. Std
ham & Hughes put in by far the low
est bid submitted This bid on sheet
asphalt was S109 a square yard. The
type of pavement contemplated by the
Finley method people, soc. for the
lighter type and soc. for the heavier
type. Mr.. Folks of Sttdham &
Hughes was called in and explained
his bid and was then notified by the
engineer that his bid could not be con-
sidered for the reason that he. the en-
gineer, did not approve Of the kind of
distributor he contemplated using. In
few minutes the other contracting
firm was called IN and was handed his
certified check and contract. Mr.. Fin
ley Method was then called in and
promptly awarded the paving for the
city, although his bid was soc.
square yard for the lighter tyne
against Stidham & H.ghes' bid of
30c.; 95c. for the heavier type against
.Stidham & Hughes bid of SOC.
A number of citizens from Ok
lawaha avenue protested and stated to
the council positively they would not
submit to the Finley method on Okla
waha avenue. The council agreed to
substitute asphaltic concrete on Ok
lawaha avenue and North Main street
and the block in front of the postof-
flee, giving the Finley method people
the remainder of the contract. AT that
point / arose and stated to the coun-
ell that / could not understand how
they could sit there and accept a bid
of the Finley method people for an in
ferior, unknown pavement at CSC. a
yard for the inch and half pavement.
when they had just refused to consid-
er bid for S1.09 for sheet asphalt,
two inches thick, which in my opinion,
if not the highest. certainly one of the
highest types of asphaltic pavement;
that they had not only refused to con-
slider his bid. but had practically
kicked the representative opt of the |
council chambers
Mr.. Young promptly arose and
stated that the reason Stidham & |
Hughes bid for sheet asphalt was not
considered was that he could not ad-
eise the council to use that class of I
pavement; that he did not consider
sheet asphalt a high type of pave
nent. Right here would like to ask
Mr.. Young why he include in his spe-
.iffcations bids on sheet asphalt if he
Knew that it was an inferior pave (
nent and pavement that he could
lot recommend to the council. / stated
o the council that if they did notI
NOW about the different classes of
with little inquiry from
he department of roads at Washing-
on they could certainly have found
,ut; that the United States govern
nent, / thought, had the information
nd would give it to them. Mr.. Young
tated that he had the information
nd that the United States govern
lent did not consider sheet asphalt a
Ugh type of pavement, and that they
ad adopted the inverted penetration
ystem, which was the Finley method,
! preference to sheet asphalt ] did
OF agree with Mr.. Young, and asked
i'm if some of the principal streets
f the United States were not paved /,
18th sheet asphalt, streets that carry
lore traffic IN one hour than the
treets of Oeala carry in month. Hell
5ated that this was not correct.
The next morning ! stated to Mr.. I
oung that | expected to make some
lquiries about street paving. and !
.ated to him at the time at the time
lat I had been trying since the Finley !
Iethod plan was first discussed to get
,me information relative to how long
lese payements had been laid and
ow well they were holding up. Two
onths ago asked Mr.. Cowan Of the ]
inley method company 70 furnish the 9
,uncil with information as to the I
,ads they had laid 50 that the council
luld get some information as to how
ley were holding up. I suggested the
me thing to some of the members
the council and to the engineer If {
lere has been any investigation q
ade of the Finley method roads that j
I'VE been down more than a year or a E
sar and half. ] have been unable {
find It out. / asked Mr. Young
rain Wednesday morning If he could
We me the names and places of
reefs that had been laid by the Fin
! people IS long as foaf ve
sars. thaE might sssfigate aIleis
- ss eass.a
) slle s sFs.Es s. 81