The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-15

been carried out attention may be directed 10 the
production OF an inexpensive concrete analogous to
the asphatic road. Dismissing speculation at tnIs
FAULT or THE CONTRACT SYSTEM
may be specified IN its result OF putting the work
into the hands or contractors OF no knowledge as
engineers aud practically unit To be entrusted with
the supervision OF men IN the construction OF I'M.
porant pubic works. In most where work
has been done at private expense better pavement
looking upon propositions from private parties with
favor; ana the preference or them, wherever
s are san
members OF the ring must have something
to pluck OF pecuniary feathers; and, the dc,
mands OF the ring satisfied little remains to be done.
The system as now administered has not the merit
OF containing IN itself even the germ OF reform. Had
u that merit reforms might be suggested; having 1t
not, the remedy lies IN the creation OF something
new-in the elimination OF the matter from the COM
pound equation OF city politics altogether. The
system adopted by the general government might be
made to answer the purposes OF States well aud
thus an efficient corps Oh engineers would be enlisted
to subsection to Just principles OF engineering
adapted to the topography and wants OF the city as
whole ana dovesa'ng WIN perect harmony IN az
relates 60 the city would be Incomplete without due
TYPICAL HISTORICAL PAVEMENT,
based upon the Roman system and Its susceptibility
for Improvement; Tor 1t fact that large class of
conservative engineers still look for the advent OF
block on the concrete r0adbed The completion
during the past week Of the relay OF the Broadway
fact that no question exists as to the value Of the
subsructure OF concrete. The question Is to the
sand form the major part OF the pavement OF the
city-the large block pave being less ex-
peastve than the ,.o small. On Broadway The
the blocks by iaiernai assure. leaving them IN
point OF superficial appearance paraelograms a
quarter OF foot In width against q foot or there
abouts in length. This. by quadrupling the number
of joints affords sure f0OthOld Tor horses, espe
cialy a. the blocks are LAID transversely-the line OF
wal iOn nft bQ md rfQ Qaf
right angles with the length, with the eject to
afford an average OF four clingng points for the
decreases the liability to slip, really dividing 1t by
four, ana, with the concrete bed fuds the ideal OF
the OLD Roman pave The want OF elasticity Is.
ton Is by no means lessened, the jar and volume OF
sound are not in the leastwise subtracted FROM
The sanitary purpose s met, and percolatlon Is
prevented; but no part Of the $4,000. 900 annual
wear and tear OF horses and vehicles Is saved; and
this Is matter to be considered IN the pavement OF
a city. The important question Is to settle upon the
desideratum In the way OF superstracture. Wood Is
too unreliable; the stone block trap has superficial
objections, due mostly to its want OF elasticity. The
problem has been solved in Paris by the superstruc
ture OF elastic asphaltlc composition upon strong
roadbed OF concrete; and the problem must be SINH
larly solved here before the full measure OF the pOpu
lar need In the construction OF perfect pavement can
be rounded over. Before the necessity for repaving
have been settled and New York may then hope to
promenade "a thOr6ughfare comparatively nOlseless
A new, concrete has just been tested at Prospect
Park, Brooklyn, which promises well. 1t Is COm-
posed OF a first layer OF gravel second layer OF
fine gravel and cement, and third layer Of fine
gravel, sand and cement. Like Fiske's concrete,
this pave Is sufficiently elastic but whether either
will last long enough for economy remains to be
SEEM The true method Of invention would seem to
be to make 0etOn COge the oasls and to this to su
peradd some fourth ingredient to develop the
needed elasticity. Tar boiled to the point
of elastic soiidty. or asphaitum. which can
be procured at twenty dollars per ton currency
might be added In small proportions to the betOn;
and IN this way, by experiment, concrete might
be developed equal In all respects to the asphaltic
road, now so popular with engineers in Paris. The
huge Quarrles OF trap along the East river render
the Russ pavement tolerably inexpensive and
hence, In order practically to supersede it, some
thing must be produced which can be put at SO SO
less per square yard. and as durable as the block
stone. An able aud competent engineer estimates
the loss IN horses extra wear OF vehicles and extra
horseshOeing in tile cities Of the United States,
caslOned by blackstone and cobble.stOne pave
mentS. at
On n0rseS .$I5,OOOOO0
On norsesn0elng NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2l,OOO000
lOIdi.... Dot,
The province OF invention IN respect to pavements,
therefore, Is to save this vast amount by the substt
tuition of concrete upper structure as inexpensive
aud durable as the Belgian and as elastic and easy
as the wooden which has failed In the respect OF du
rabity well over eXDensyenoSs and can never