The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-16
STREET PAYMENTS.

Description of the "Stow-Foundation."
The pavement laid in Chestnut street, between
Fourth and Fifth stl eets I'm front of the Custom
House and the Philadelphia and Farmers and
Mechanics Banks, is called the "Stow-foundation
pavement, T. New to us and to nearly all OF our
matter of interest TO all, and we therefore give
our readers brief sketch OF its history, mode Of
laying, and It's apparent advantages.
Mr.. Henry NJ. STOW, the inventor, has been o resi-
dent OF California Tor twenty years. With talent
for invention he has given several valuable patents
At this time of his nventing this pavement he was
poor, and endeavored, without success to sell it to
the NicOson company, in San Francisco for small
sum. subsequently finding "a friend in q capitalist
by the name Of Mr.. Williams, he commenced, in
March, 1866, to lay his pavement, was cnjoInen by
the Ncolson patent owners, and, after years hard
fight, came out victorious, the Circuit Court OF the
United States, Judge Field, deciding the Stow
foundation pavement TO be no Infringement upon
the NiCOlsOn.
After this decsion the Nicolson interest amalga-
mated with the STOW, and under the title OF 'The
City Paving Company" offered to lay either at the
choice Of the citizens. by reference to the files Of
The Alta Californian of San Francisco the records
published OF the action of the City Councils show
that niaeteen-twenteths of all the pavement laid
since in that city is the Stow foundation pavement
In the issue OF that paper published 2d February
1869, card Is published, signed by the Mayor, ana
endorsed by tic Council. Street Commissioners
Presidents OF Gas and Water Works and OF City Rail-
roads, engineers and Others, which says, among
other things the foll0wing:-"A suf1lcent lengtn OF
has given the subject any attention to form an in
tegent opinion to the merits OF the respective
modern paVementS and nave come 10 Ine c0nclu-
sion that in many respects, such as dddpdbttty to
our wants and in duTdGiH, the StOo IS tie superior
pduenlent But were the two payements equal in
every other respect, the facility with which the Stow
| can be taken up ana Tc'dt0, whenever IL becomes
necessary to dsplace it for the purpose OF laying
down ras and water pipes should, in ny judgment,
| entitIe it to preference and public favor"
Unlike the Nicolson, iG has no board foundation,
no cleats nails and does ot dip its blocks in tar,
| and i'm ali of 1rhich it claims superiority
| The Stow pavement is laid upon the sand or earth
| foundation; the blocks same as NicosOn three
| inches wide six inches deep; between each block
into the earth by heavy PAYERS raramer as far as
| they will go; the nterstices above the wedge are
filled with gravel this gravel Is then driven far as
II will 30 by the same pOwer the intersces again
| filled with gravel and coal tar; coal tar is then
poured over the surface, and gravel thrown on to
make the surface watcr-tight, and it is finished
1t is plain that it is easy to take it up and relay it
without much cost and no waste or injury-no rails
to break or boards to sever The great mechanical
principle of the wedge forms solid column of sand
under each block, whilst the wedges below form
series Of boxes which prevent the 1low of water
underneath. The surface covering prevents water
passing below, and any that may come in from
below easily escape thus preserving the wood.
This is claimed to nc better than lmmersing the
blocks in tar which, incOsng sap, creates dry-rot;
or, if water comes from above and is kept by
tarred board from running away, also creates rot.
In behalf of the poor horses which cannot speak for
themselves we wish to say one word. Let any one
watch the car horses when they strike this
pavement and when they leave it, and they
can see how they feel and how they would vote If
they could. And let our citizens drive down to and
over this pavement from curb to curb and they will
laid without damage and with comfort If this or SINH
lar pavements are laid between the rails.
The pavement in Chestnut street presents smooth,
solid and handsome appearance That it will stand,
the seem confident rs they offer to keep it in
order for twenty years. at less price than cobble
stones would cost.