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

Total in both directions. Observation-Disclosures. Sol
From these figures some idea Of the tremendous
daily altrton brought to bear upon the pavement
OF this tboroughfare may be gathered II for the re-
naming eleven hours an addition OF only 5000 be
averaged. making In all round total OF 1900 We
hices Tor the twenty -four hours; and II subjected to
this wear the stone-block pavement may be calcu-
lated upon the basis OF renewal once every fifteen
years, II must certainly take its place as the most
economical which engineering skill has yet devel-
oped: Taxing these figures with the attrtion indi-
Gated, as lndclal OF the capacity OF the Russ pave
ment, 1t may be remarked that. under ordinary
conditions the Russ patent possesses few aavan.
tages the stone block as generally put
down. and, with the frequent necessity Tor removal
In spots occasloned by the administration of the
Croton Board, presents some grave disadvantages.
1t is now some years since General Viele conducted
couple OF experiments which resulted In the re-
lection of the Russ patent for ordinary purposes OF
pavement, except where heavy traffic was to be
anticipated. One OF these consisted IN the laying OF
tine stone blocks upon bed one foot thick OF sharp,
clean sand, and was applied to section OF Thirty
fourth street; the other, in substituting bed OF
broken stone one foot thick. The latter was con-
Quoted on section of Fourth avenue. Both are IN
ferior durability, when subjected to great strain,
10 the Russ pavement; but both have the advantage
over the Russ OF being taken up and replaced in por
lions With less injury 70 the general fabric; and
hence in connection with the present sewerage sys-
TEN are preferable except here and there In sections
where great strain Is to be endured.
There seems to have been no reason, however,
why the concrete bed Of the Russ patent should have
been adudged subject to prOpretorsnlp under the
patent law, there being nothing original In the Idea
historically considered. The concrete bed has been
in use historically nearly quite eighteen centuries,
| uuu ID SuppOSeu W nave uteu luVcutcu ny Cne
Romans, who, however, superadded an upper struc-
ture OF sandstone quite superior to the trap super
| added by Russ IN that its tendency was 10 wear
more roughly An argument very strong in itself
against the use OF trap for the superstructure Is
found IN the increased wear and tear OF horses and
vehicles occas0ned by IT, which Is estimated by ex
perts at an average Of twenty dollars per year on
the shOeing OF horses, twenty-five dollars per year
excess the ordinary wear OF horses by draught
| upon common aud better adapted surfaces. and
| twenty five dollars per year excess over the
| ordinary wear Of vehicles on roadbeds Of less
grinding surface to tires Estimating the number OF
horses and vehicles in use In this city at 200 It
Will be seen that not less than SAC, 800 900 might pc
saved annually by the adoption OF some less grind
| ing substitute for the hard trap Of the Russ and
| Belgian and stone block superstructure; and the
| inference may be drawn that the question OF ex
pense Of construction ana repairs Is not the only
| important economical question involved The rela-
tive cost per square yard OF the several pavements
| in use may be averaged as IOlIOws:-
Stone block (Beleanj. so
| -. 18th had q an