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Show .. :i ninny Defects Asphalt Surface in Places Has Disappeared, Exposing Con- ,; I crete Base and Whole Blocks Are Pitted With Openings ! I City Officials Claim Heavy, Concentrated Traffic ' of Winter Is Responsible, But Others Are of . M the Opinion the Material Is Defective. y I Ui Residents, who are paying taxes for the South Washington street pavement, pave-ment, which represents an Investment of approximately $121,000, are wondering won-dering whether they are going to get partial value received. They are giving enthusiastic attention atten-tion to the frequency of the holes and puddles and generally dismal condition condi-tion of the west side of the street extending ex-tending from Thirtieth south. They insist in-sist that the ridges and the deep holes and the decayed condition of the pavement pave-ment indicates something is wrong. The fact that tho pavement has only been down and open to traffic since the middle of December causes them to guess that within a year it will be so knotty and rough and worn that mud would be preferable. That Is, free mud would be proferable to $121,000 worth of rough and rotten and defective pavoment Commissioner Chris Flygare, City Engineer Joseph Tracy and Street Supt. C. H. Martin declare that the holes are caused by reason of a combination com-bination of natural and uncontrollable circumstance. That is, that the pavement pave-ment was opened to traffic during the early winter and that early snow caused caus-ed the autofsts and heavy trucks to follow a beaten path and before the asphaltum had become sufficiently dry and stable. They declare that the material ma-terial Is good and that -under ordinary weather the pavement would not bo in its present condition. They also assert as-sert that the paving company will be compelled, by reason of its contract, to make adequate repair. Material Defective. "There are numerous reasons why pavement may be defective." said J. H. Craven, former city engineer and regarded re-garded as an expert, after a cursory' Inspection yesterday afternoon. "It is my opinion that tho material on the South Washington Ls defective. It was improperly compounded. It requires careful accuracy to make a proper asphalt as-phalt and one mistake may destroy the quality. In my opinion, the South Washington street pavement, or that portion of it where great holes already have been worn into it, is defective and should be replaced. It is not probable prob-able that heavy traffic or concentrated traffic has developed this deplorable condition. It is a reasonable presumption presump-tion that the east side was as much traveled as the west sido and it is not worn. Besides, any payment that is approved and accepted, regardless of , weather or other conditions, should not wear out in three months. I shall look at it again in a few days when the weather is clear and ascertain as far as possible the state of the binding." bind-ing." Contrary to the opinion of Mr. Craven, Cra-ven, City Engineer Tracy pronounces tho material food. He is supported in this statement by Commissioner Flygare, Fly-gare, who has charge of the streets department and by Superintendent Martin. Flygare's Statement. "It is tho best grade of pavement ever put down in this city," said Commissioner Com-missioner Flygare. "The entire explanation expla-nation is manifest. The pavement was opened to traffic shortly before a heavy snow and while the asphalt still was mellow. Continued travel along the snow ruts with heavy loads and chains battered through the binding at various places. Tho entlro street will be repaired when spring arrives. The asphalt is alright and there is nothing, positively nothing, alarming in the situation." Mayor Not Alarmed. Mayor T. Samuel Browning stated that ho had not investigated the pavement, pave-ment, but was not inclined to take the matter too seriously. He thought that the explanation offered by City Engineer Engi-neer Tracy and Commissioner Flygare is reasonable and, although there may bo a series of holes extending the entlro en-tlro distance from Thirtieth to the end of the pavement, it would be properly remedied. Ho stated that tho paving contractor has given tho city a guarantee guar-antee and lhat he would bo held to the strict letter of that guarantee. Tho situation, on tho surface, looks Dad. " Uiei aio ijiuutiuij niw uucwu holes that jar an automobile. Some of these holes are three inches deep, 12 Inches wide and IS to 21 inches long. Tho binding appears to be about an Inch thick and tho material has tho appearance of decay, which might bo caused by roason of the rainy and sloppy condition of the streets. The pavement was put down by P. J. Moran, Salt Lake City. Tho contract price was $121,881)1, and was accepted accept-ed December 17, last year. The amount payable from the properly owners Is $102,24-1.53, less tho state's contribution contribu-tion of $29,360.87. Tho actual amount which the pavement costs the abutting property owners in that district is $72.8&3.6B, payable In ten annual Installments. In-stallments. 00 RUSS CONGRESS POSTPONED. MOSCOW, Monday, March 11. The oil -Russian congress of Soviets, which was called to ratify the peace treaty I P , I with Germany, has postponed its open- Ik" Ing meeting until Thursday, March 14. 1Ei- I nn 1 III M |