The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-31
The Russ Pavement In the Boxy.ry.

The Committee on Streets, to whom vas referred
the annexed petition Of Messrs Russ & Reid,
Respectfully report-That, impressed sith the i'm.
nor alce of the question submitted for their con-
siaeration, they have given more than ordinary
attention to its examination. and thsJ trust that
the results at which they have arrived as presented
10 their report, will be found amsly sustained not
only by the experience Of egisation upon that sub
ject in thg city. but in other cities and countries
The first question that presented itself to the con-
siCeration OF tho committee was, whether the pre-
to the wants Of the aren't th0r0ughfarea en- oraced
in the tsouti0n Of reference This question IL one
Of wide extent and gave import, affecting as it
does not only the streets under consideration, but
all great thofoughfsres
Previous to .he introduction Of the pavement
known as the Russ pavement, in 1916, the only
pavement In general use in our cisy was the ordi-
nsry cobbestone pavement. For many years prior
to that period 10 had been a matter of general OBJ
servation that the cobble stone pavement was
wholly untitled for use in the prominent thorough.
fares The constant necessity of repsirs not only
subjected the city TO enormous } early expense but
ii was source OF continual ,nony anee By the inter
rupieEs that were occssioDed 20 the business Of such
streets during the progress OF these repairs As the
paving stones were necessarily laid upon bed Of
aand, the constant wear and pressure occasoned by
heavy yoh,ces, caused the sard to work up between
the s.ones destroying the uniformity Of the he'd Of
the street, and covering the surface with earth tho
removal Of which constituted the greatest item Of
expense in esning tho streets II was found no
cesssry, in pracnce to replsce this constant waste
Of the materials forming the bed Of the street
ra times a year, and for that purpose, q large
amouat OF sand was constantly required to elevate
the surface Of the street to proper pitch, which,
from the constant use OF the street, bad again DO
cleaned from the surface and carried array, st .
great expense to the city
Feeling The necessity for IN improved sJstem the
Common Council were induced TO try wooden block
pavemsnt to which public notice had been attracted
by experiments in other cities This experiment
rnHd t.tf ali In .x~.ak ~
quality Of the materials Employed; and it soon
became necessary to substitute the cobbla stone
pavement in its place A variety Of plans were
at different times presented to the attention
Of the public and the Common Council aud their
merits zealously urged But these plans exhibited
more ingenuity than practical skill In thai depart
ment Of mechanical art At length, in the year
lS45, Mr. Russ presented for public consideration
the project rpaving the principal streets and tho
roughfares ~lsh blocks Of granite, resting upon
bed of concrete TO afford Q practicsl test OF the
merit Of this pavement, portion Of Broad way be-
tween Chambers street and Readc street, was laid
by the Mr. Russ, at his own expense, under she su
thcrity Of the Common Council The stone employ.
ed In this work, and In the ~ork subsequently laid
by Messrs Russ and Reid, was D lsoted with great
care and is Of the hnest and most durable quality
The experimental pavement thus laid, has nov
been in use for period Of seven years, during
which time no repairs have been required and no
expense has been Incurred The success OF this
piece OF pavement induced the Common Council 10
extend the work until proviaon has pecn made for
the pavement Of Broad~ay its entire length TO
Union Park, and tho greater part OF the work has
already been completed, and the consrscscrs y