The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-12

DIR HIGHWAYS.

UrnnrOVed ffclghnm Granite, the NieOfBOnS tnc |
stove, tIre hIillcf, the Concrete, the Vuican-
he, and Othcrs-What Do Councils Intend TO
Dos -,
tution the cobble-stones, is fast gaining in public
disfayor. That such thing was ever invented. to |
saV nothing of its continued use for many years. is
mSSrvei rSS inc payement as we ell Know, is VII |
lanous. A horse breads IT. man cannot walk upon |
a. the stree-contractors cannot clean it. Its dura.
Sity Is shown by immense ruts and cutters, worn
IN short time by the frequent passing OF vehicies
perIy been said no pavement is economical whcn |
greatly increases the destruction OF morse, vehicle,
ease, comfort and convcnaence though It's ccst is
nothing and IL last for over.
we have in some parts of our city stone pave
,al blocks OF stone, led somewhat after the fashion
of he cobbe-stones, This, though great improve
men is open to eyers 0Seoohs o ms T1e stones res
when old and wore, especially in wet weather, they
so very smoots and sIppery shst mo io9thGd i9f
rs composed is itself Objectionable Though stone is
most durable substance ala mas So peen used almost
as lasting, ans which win answer the purpose better
in other respects stone 9oisy, IN Whatever I0r m
II laid in smooth blocks, 1t rs eer 100 rOugh lot
comfort when new, or too smooth Tor travel Wher
old. The shock to the body OF the morse Is also sa}d
TO be too great. The material lS TOO lnelastc ara
does not give at all when the foot comes in contact
Other materials, as wood, IRON, ana composition OF
pitch tar etc, are now being tried. The question
now is to decide between them. All may be equelly
as good, some may answer better for some purposes
Than Others Bat before we rcpaSc our city entirely
with aEy substance, 1t must nave falr tral Of
some SORT
Theeubcal- block pavement or Belgian, has been
extensively laid n New York, and at present miles
of H. is being laid on the different avenues. The
blocks run about four inches square on the tor six
inches deep. The cost of this ranges from 81 to 800
per square yard, the stone coming from the "Wec-
hawken" quarries, a few miles up the Hudson river,
an army OF laborGrs being constantly employed get
ting out the stone to supply the demand OF New
YorkEcity. In Philadelphia the Belgian blocks now
used are of better shape than the latter and when
carefully aSC make q pavement almost equal to
that now adopted on Broadway, N. Y.
it is very important that the foundation be of solid
even Courses. heretofore the blocks used in this
city mostly came from the Eastern quarrles, but
hans S pchased ass T the extensive granite quarres
near Richmond, Va and are now shipping very
The Riohmond granite blocks are said to have the
advantage of not being liable to round on or wear
smooth upon contact with the iron upon the horses
feet the fine grain of the granite and white c0lors
presenting clearer appearance when the streets
Another important feature in the Belgian blocks
Is the valuable character OF the material. When
necessary the blocks can be relad either OF the four
sides turned upward, and in this way the pavement
will last for an indefinite period, as the material
always retains Its value. The cost Of "a a good Bel
ran pavement in this city ranges froms3 to S$5 per
square yard. No granite quarry can make Belgian
blocks to advantage unless IN connection they are
turning out large stones, per dimension or otherwise
leaving smaller pieces to be split into paving The
cost OF the blocks delivered on the wharf in this city
stands from 50 to 1926 per square yard and we are
informed by Of the heayl st importers that the
profit at this price is but little The Belgian pave
mept lately laid in front OF the German newspaper
building Chestnut street, above Sixth, is an improve
ment on the old style of blocks Also n front of
Mr. BartOls residence, Spruce and Nineteenth streets,
with granite gutter stones and crossings of granite
same depth as the blocks.
The Improved Granite Pavement.
The improved Broadway, New York, pavement
consists OF granite blocks 81 to inches wide, to
IL inches long, and inches deep with JonCed gut.
same material granite) laid flush and even in bed
made with layer Of small stones and L lne ~, gravel
tractor taking the old material.
IL is called the "Guidet" pavement, and New
desirable pavement that can be laid a million dol
lars or more has already been e3Pended on that
norton finished Broadway, and the probability is
the same pavement will be continued the whole
length OF the street
The NicolsOn.
This Well-known pavement is at present in more
general use than any of its class. Its principal mate
rial is wood IT might be supposed that pave
tasting. Wood however, in some conditions, is
stronger than we think Placed endwlse of the grain
it can be cut with knile though not easily, but it
cannot be pounded or worn away to any great ex-
tent. An example OF this IS found IN the stone
cutters maui or hammer, which can be used for
thirty or more years without very great wear; but
the iron chise on which the wood is used cuts away
stone very easily. Very few, in fact, know of the
great toughness OF wood as compared with the brit
iieness OF stone iron. The question of decay is
The Nicolson is laid in this wise:-The ground is
first leveled rounded OIL and board floor laid of
wise of the street This oor is completely covered
Oh both sides with a coating of liquid asphaltum and
make the structure imperyious to water from above
and moisture from beneath. On this floor is laid
stratum OF alternate Oblong blocks and strips of
wood, forming the upper surface of the pavement
The blocks are of white or yellow pine, generally
white, three inches thick, eight inches high and of
convenient lengths. A row of these blocks is set up
on end, across the street. from curb to curb. The
threench surface the face OF the grain, is at the
top, and the eight-inch, or side, faces up and
down the street. Each of these blocks before
being laid is completely coated by sub;
tar cement The first line of blocks being thus set,
line OF strips, threequarters OF an inch Thick and
nalf as high the blocks, also coated with the same
mixture, IS set up and nailed against the blocks;
one edge of the of strips resting upon the plank
substrncture beneath. Another series OF blocks,
treated in the way, is set up against the strips,
and so on alternating strip ana block until con-
Venlent space is laid There is now left between
each row OF blocks continuous groove or cell three
quarters OF an inch wide and fOuI inches deep, OF
which the strips form the bottom This groove is for
the purpose OF forming foothold for horses which
will not away, and yet will not be so prominent
as to interfere with the smooth passage OF vehicles
. over the surface.
nled into these cells aud on the gravel hot liquid
asphaltum poured until the cells entirely full
This 1lling Is then pounded or rammed tight, and
then the whole upper surface is treated with a
finishing coat OF asphaltum and coal tar. This pave
ment has had trial on North Broad street. though
not yet a sufficient length OF time. 1t has how
ever given satisfaction for about ten years in some
Western cities. 1t is largely in D many places
a contract has lately been made Tor about one and
half miles on Fifth Avenue, New York. 1t is to be
laid in st. Petersburg Russia, and negotiations are
under way for a trial in the streets OF Paris. The
company have large capital at their command
The stow Foundation
is an Improvement upon the NicOlsOn. This Is also
wooden pavement, and the appearance when
finished Is much the same. IL has lately been put
down Cheanut street in front OF the Custom
House. The wooden blocks are OF similar material
and size TO the NicOlsOn. But the strips between
the blocks are different. This pavement does away
rnrffI, Nhn hnop1 hI1tfa