The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-27

TIE N1cuoLsoN PAvEMENT.-The New Or
leans Picayune gives the following account OF
this newly invented pavement, which tits pro
nosed to Introduce in Mobile, as well as New
Orleans: -,
The pavement is constructed thus: The
road bed is first properly graded with fair
curve to the centre, and then, after the cutters
are finished, inch plank, coated on each side
with melted mixture of coal tar and pitch,
are laid ongitudinally upon the road bed,
forming a complete sheathing. Upon this,
blocks of three inch plank sawed into six-inch
lengths are placed at right angles to the plank,
the grain edge upward between these, an
inch blank wedges, Of half the height OF the
blocks, or three inches. Into these creV1ces
the mixture of coal tar and pitch is poured,
with sand and gravel, and all then rammed
into it SO as to completely fill all creVlces
Sand is then poured over the whole surface
and the coal tar and pitch mixture on this !;
and after that course, gravel is spread over 1t
in q heated state, on top OF which comes anolhcr
t course of the coal tar and pitch.
} This is very simple plan W hen understood'
; but is a patented process belonging to Mr..
Samuel Nicholson, whose agent, Mr.. Taylor,
is now representing him here. The theory IS
; that the fbres of the wood in the longitudinal
blanks being smoothly laid, will sustain an I'M
f mense amount Of pressure, while the same
S fbres. subject in the blocks TO perpendicular
: pressure, have extraordinary frmness and elias
: ticjtv. The repeated coatings Of pitch and
e coal tar exclude moisture and ar, and thus
T prevent decay, while the cement formed by
them and the sand over the surface is lmpene
n trablc to any ordinary means for travel:
n The first pavement Of this kind was lad a
o Chicago eleven years ago and was made 0
e white pine 1t has never been repaired or re
c laid, and is as good yet as at first. AS Chl
e capo is built on even more swampy and unhrn
J. ground than this city, and as the timber en-
y Dloycd is so worthless in damp places com
: pared with our cypress and pitch pine, it ma,
IT safely be presumed that with us 1t would,
IS twice or three times that length of time, b
d equally sound and serviccable. Chicago l
: now using this pavement alone, even takn
IS I'D the square stone to give place TO it,aand
is also the approved pavement in Mlllwauke
and New York.
eff As to the burdens it will bear, we ma
l. Judge from the fact that, at San Francisco,
le newly laid pavement sustained the weight OF
II tventv-six ton locomotive without the lea:
a impression while the cobble stone pavemer
l. was carried under or kept from it, in places
y by plank laid before the wheels-ltselt TT
butte to Nicholsons system.
1T This pavement is very smooth and ever
J. As a consequence vehicles move on it aolst
st less1v and with ease. That which conveyc
S, along the locomotive had as many horses
is upon the ordinary pavement, but when 1t can
IN unon this, all butsfour were detached and the
md lt,r1od + ,,;t saosn. The surface being ella
I'd tic, the hoofs of horses do not receive, lnJur
ce nor do they slip, as we kno" IS SO ctten Il
C, case on the square stone