The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-26
BIG SENSATION IS OUT BY SCRUGGS
(Contfnued From Page one,

to approximately 1908. Of this, ten stations, viz 439 to 449 are experi- mental, being placed to roll eight inches first course.
 "Top course is down from station 923 to s27 and about one station of experimental road above mem toned.
 "The class of road being covered by standard specifications of state highway department of Alabama is as follows:
 For section A
 Ease and top course paragraphs 356 to 3e6. page 50 surfacing paragraphs 316 to S31. page 445-e.
 "For section B base and top course same as for A surfacing, paragraphs 316 to S31, page 445-6, Copies of which are hereto attached, marked exhibit A
 Specifications Disregarded.
 Bids were received and contract for the work made in strict accord ance herewith, the contractir to re- for stone In place under this specifi- cation.
 T found that the specifications had been disregarded in placing of bottom course at stations named, en- gineers in authority having allow ed in construction the use of materials from the various spall piles or waste banks of lime kilns adjacent to road which contains stone of excess size, flat and elongated particles, clay and other impurities which Is indi- rect opposition to specifications. See laboratory reports hereby attached of samples taken from road and spawl piles at points stated, market exhi- bit 'B.'
 This was closely inspected by me October 12. 1923, very dry day and found. In my oponion, to be very un- satisfactory, the clay and improper sized stone showing up rery badly and not being well competed was badly rutted by the present compara- lively light traffic.
 With Messrs. Wells of the bureau of public roads, Keller and IcCalla, principal and assistant state highway engineers, MT. Mayer, division en- gineer, and MT. Suttle. commissioner of maintenance, state highway de- partment of Alabama, and Messrs. w. T. Arthur and Scott, Taylor of the w. T. Taylor Construction company, general contractors, immediately made another inspection of the work October IT, 1923. This was a rainy day, the rain having started to fall about o'clock in the morning and at the time of inspection, having fal- len about five hours and this having washed to a great extent the surface, stone appeared comparatively free of clay, but upon digging test, holes all the clay was found thoroughly saturated and water standing in them, showing the base not dense enough to resist the infiltration of water.
 win Not stand UP.
 At this inspection, the improper ly sized stone again showed very badly and experimental sectio3,s of eight-inch course e stations 439 to 449 appeared most unsatisfactory bo- cause of insufficient compaction throughout.
 'In my opinion, the road as being built, will not stand up under traffic and that the cost of maintenance will be expensive and I recommend the close adherence to specifications, with the addition oH a choke of fine stone and screening and water binding for first course, which is the proper con- struction for the character of road. This will add to it's cost from $1,000 to S1,500 per mile, which will more than triple the life of the road, which above first course is costing us S1S.600 per mile.
 Respectfully submitted, "J. H. SCRUGGS Commissioner Construction"