Minutes 03/19/1912 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 19, 1912. of New York City, with sundry other oomn~unications concerning same for file; The Honorable City Council, Portsmouth, Va. Gentlemen:-- W8 beg to report that the Atlantic Bitulithic Co. has completed its contract for Bitulithic Pavements to the satisfaction of the City Engineer and the Street Cormmittee~ and we re- commend that the work be accsoted. We attach hereto reports-from the City Engineer, ~essrs. Dow & Smith, Warren Brcs~ & Co.~ ~!so various tests of cement used in the concrete base, said tests having been made by the 'Seaboard Air Line Cement Inspectors. In addition to the above named experts, there was also emoloyed upon this Wo~E from its beginning to the finish, a number of inspectors working under the Ci%y Engineer, whose duties were to tesS.the mixture of sand and cement in the base, to test the thickness-of the base, to test also the t~zckness of the Bitulithic material after compression, &c. T =~ hero,ore, a thorough inspection of work in all of its stages has been carried on, and the Committee and City Engineer have left nothing undone, which they thought would be to the City's interest, to insure a faithful compliance of the contract and specifications~ In r~ference to the few trivial defects noted in the letter of Mr. A. W. Dow~ we beg to state that-Er. ~rime of the Bit~lithic Co. noted these and readily a~reed to db~what is necessary, and to the City-Engineer's satisfaction, as soon as the weather will permit. Hon. Street Co~ittee~ "Gentlemen :-- City Council: ~Szgned~. Adting Chairm~n Street Com~mittee:B.Ao ~ "New York, March tl, 1912. Portsmouth, Va. "On }~arch llth~ in company with Er. Hawks a~ud members of your Committee and ~r. Cassell~ City Engineer, I examined the bitu!ithic pavements laid during i91i, on the following str?e~s~_ Lon~d~o.n, from~ W~a~ter. mo Effingham; Green, North to Hospital Gate; Effingham, County t~o Glas- gow, Ea~on~ ~Zasgow To ~avaz avenue; Naval avenue, Hatton to Linden; Riverview~ Naval to North end~ ~Vitla, from Naval Hospital Gate to West Park View"bridge; Dinwiddie, from Boulevarde~to South'end~ Harrison, from Fourth to ~'ashingl~on; Fifth, from Harrison~to Fayette; Fayette, from Fifth to Third. "~ few trivial defects were noted, all of which being in the mechanical construction of the pavements. These consisted in several places where a slight space occurred between the pavement gt~tter and the curb, evidently caused by the straightening of the curb after the pavement ha4 been completed. Th~se can be easily remedied by pouring the spaces batween the curb and pavement with hot bitumen. A few places were noted where the gutters hold water~ hut after a careful examination it was found that the stoppage was due to the accumulation of mud in the gutter~ and that the pave- ment drained perfectly when clean. With such excessively flat grades as are found on many of your streets, it must be expected that the slightest quantity o~ dirt in the gutter is going to obstruct the fldw of water and make the pavement appear as though it had not been properly graded. "There was one small place in front of $1S Effingham street where the Contractor in an endeavor to properly grade the gutter has removed too much material. This slight depression should be reme- died by replacing the gutter with new material, b~ought to the proper grade. ~In several places at the intersection of cross streets the stone headers have not been proper- ly placed. These headers should be removed and brought up in actual contaa~ with the bitulithic pavement, so as to act as a support for the end of the pavement, and thus prevent it from ravelling. "None of the above dez~cts~ are a~ all serious, and even if not remedied would not m~terially e. ffec~ the life of the pavement; but even if they should result in a disintegration the City is well protected by the five year guarantee given by the ~ontractor. ~With the exception of the above mentioned defects, the pavements were found in excellent con- dit~ion, and I should say that the work had been performed in a most skillful manner. The pavements were well rolled and graded, and the materials and texture of the pavements appeared to be of the highest quality. ~From my p~esent inspection of this ~ork, taken in conjunction with the chemical examinations of the mat~rial used therein and made from time to time while the pavement was being constructed. I have no hesitancy in saying that the contract has been carried out to the letter of the specific~ tions, and that the pavements are the best of their kinds. On motion, the special Public Propsrty-~ Hon. "Respectfully submitted, report of the Committee was adopted. Board fully reports herein concerning the tee February 13-20 and January 11, "A. W. Dow." of Aldermen. Gent~.men:-- Your Public Property Committee respect- following matters referred ~o the Joint Public Property Commit- 19t~: Referred by Common Council February l~th. Instructed to select a competent_ ~erson and placing of metal furniture therein, and to report on same ~o the Co~noi~ Progress as to same. A petition of the Independent fire company that their house be thoroughly overhauled. It is recommended that the petition be granted, and that an appropriation of $900.00 be allowed for same. A request of the Union fire 8ompany for a feed room at the north end of present fireman's halt. It is recommended that the reques~ be granted, and that an appropriation of ~lO0.00 be made for the purpose. - Instructed to take up with the Board of ~npervisors ~he question of dividin~ the court-bo~