South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-10
Advise Works Board That Re-
pairs to Pavements Will
Be Started Soon.


The controversy waged the past
few months between the Board OF
Public Works and the White Con-
struction Co, paving contractors
seeking TO place the blame for the
condition of the stretch Of asphaltic
paving laid down by the White COM
pany in 1913 on Eddy st. and Mish-
awake I'd, ended Saturday with the
acceptance by the company Of the
boards demand that the White COM
pany make the repairs necessary TO
the streets affected.
The two pavements. especially the
north side Of Mishawaka I'd, began
hutting in 1920, two years after the
pavement was laid. specifications
for the work at the time the paving
was aid called for the best grade
Of sheet asphalt, standard thickness,
including a standard binder and con-
crete base. The extreme hot wealth
er Of June and July OF this year has
aggravated the condition and the
ruts in the pavement were so deep
that, according TO the city engineer
some sections OF the pavement
would have to be re-surfaced in
order TO remove the ruts.
LURE OF STLAND-SUNDAY
The work OF repair. according TO
a letter addressed to the board by
the paving company's manager, T..
J. Herlihy. will be done by the COM
pany at it's own expense. Work will
be begun, it was indicated, on Oct
II, and will be continued until COM
pleted.
During the past week, members
Of the board and the city engineer
Fred G.. Anderson, in company with
representatives of the company,
made a tour of inspection over the
streets affected, and following this
trip, the company representatives
expressed their willingness TO be
bound by their five-year guarantee
and repair the streets free Of eX-
pense to the city, but declared them
selves unwilling to be legally bound
to make the repairs and that their
J willingness TO perform the work was
+ solely to show their good faith and
avoid further controversy. A
Z lengthy letter received by the board
/ from Mr.. Herlihy, and made public
/ Saturday afternoon, sets forth in
writing the conditions under which
tn work Of repair will be under
taken by the company.
Members of the board refrained
from making comment as 70 the let
ter OF acceptance in general, and
the stipulations set down by the
company in particular, otherwise
than TO express themselves as pleas
ed that the repairs to the streets af-
/ fected Will be promptly done by the
White Construction CO.
"At the time of our inspection, in
connection with your Honorable
Board and City Engineer, of the
pavement laying on the above named
streets, the writer stated that be-
fore undertaking the repairs which
we have in mind, that on behalf OF
the White ConstrU ction company we
would file with your board communi-
cation discussing the condition of the
streets and our contention as TO what
If any, liability rests upon our com
pany for it's present condition, and
also covering the conditions under
which we propose to make the re
pairs in question.
The specifications adopted fol-
this work by your Honorable Boart
defined in detail the ingredient:
which should enter into the binder
which forms a portion of the pave.
ment and also the sheet asphalt
wearing surface. There was alst
covered the condition under which
the materials were TO be tested, in
spected, mixed, laid and rolled; ev
cry step in the progress of the worl
was subject TO inspection. There il
one element however, which is no
fixed in the specification, and which
is reposed in the discretion of YOU
Engineering Department, or, NOR,
directly. in the discretion of tn,
City's Chemist. This important ele
ment affects the degree of penetra
ton which should be given to tn,
wearing surface. In fact. thes
specifications fix no general scop,
within which the degree of penetra
ton should be fixed. The degree o
| sur
face is always a matter of judg
ment, dependent upon climatic con
diuons and traffic 10 be anticipated
In a warmer climate, the degree o
penetration should be fixed relative
ly low; in a colder locality, it is SAT
10 use much higher degree o
penetration. With a low degree o
; penetration, the mixture become
harder and more apt to disintegrat
. and crack. Under ideal conditions
? the traffic itself which tends to wor1
: or knead the wearing surface,
! helpful as a preservative. With 70
r high degree OF penetration. unde
unusual traffic or warm weather. IN
{ wearing surface works or knead
too easily, causing ruts to form an
I the pavement 10 shove or move OH
/ OF location, with consequent roug
e spots
Say Degree Too High.
I'VE have given attention to thi
detail in this community because "
e want 20 impress upon your boar
and the people Of South Bend tina
: the best Of materials and the hes
| Of workmanship will not result in
= permanent, durable pavement j
; through bad judgment. the degre
> Of penetration is fixed too high, i
: view of the traffic TO be encountere
and the weather conditions 10 b
: met. We remind you again that thi
= important factor is not a matter {
: specification but is a matter OF ad
ministradon, and that the judgm er
I. Of the chemist in charge is bindin
: upon the construction company, an
: that at the time we bid for this wor
). we could not intelligenuy have VI
7" dertaken 10 guarantee the permar