The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-08-12
THE NIcoLsoN PAvEMENT.-The pro-
$1,000, Decentralization of the Nicolson pave

THE NICHOLSON PAvEMENT.-The pro-
posed introduction of the Nicholson pave
msnt, by having the square on Marker
street from Quincy to Monroe laid win
it. has awakened very general desire
to know what it is, its cost, and whether
| it will pay as material for streets
in Wheeling. Some of these questions
we sh all answer in general way.
The present plan of pavement known
"a the Nicolson was perfected by Sam
uel Nicolson, at Boston, in ls47, and
consists of, first, road bed OF me
gravel. On this is laid sheeting OF
boards saturated with coal tar. Ihis Is
the foundation, and on it are laid IN reg
ular courses sawed pine or oak blocks'
about four inches high and six to eight
inches long, the bottom of the blocks
being dipped in coal tar. Between each
course of blocks is nailed strip OF lnch
board, some two inches high, to sepa
rate the courses. The interstices above
these strips OF board are filled with
coarse gravel, and over the whole coai
tar is poured aud fine gravel scattered
After the tar hardens, which it does IN
a short time, you have pavement In
peryious to water, noiseless, free from
dust and calculated to wear for gen
GRAFTON.
Attempts at wooden pavement had
been made before, in France and Eng
land, but without success; not on &C
count of any want of adaptation or
durability in the material, but from the
using of very large blocks without the
intermediate strips and floor foundation
to make the pavement compact and
firm.
The first cost of this pavement in some
localities, may exceed that of stone, but
the published evidence from various
cities abundantly shows that this differ
ence is more than made up by the less
expense of keeping in repair and clean
ing. The royalty costs thirty-one cents
per square yard in such cities as do not
buy the patent. In those that do, the
royalty is sixteen cents per square yard.
At the death of Mr.. NIcolson, in 1865,
his heirs made application before the
Commissioner of Patents for renewal
of the patent The following facts were
elected by the Commissioner from a
large number of street builders, scien-
tfic and practical men, whose testimony
was presented:
1t enables horses to draw much heay-
Ter loads by atfOrding an even surface
and a strong and sure foothold.
1t diminishes the wear and tear of
horses and vehicles to the extent of
forty per cent.
1t diminishes the expense of shooting
horses not less than fifty per cent,
While in itself it is n much cleaner
than any other, it diminishes
the cost of removing dirt from the streets
not less than fifty per cent.
1t very greatly increases the ease and
comfort of business along the streets
where it is laid, by diminishing noise
and doing away with gritty dust caused
by dsintegration of stone and iron.
1t greatly diminishes the cost of keep
ing the streets in repair.
Being perfectly water-tght, it pre-
vents water from finding its way into
Easements under sidewalks.
Possessing non-cCnducting qualities,
it prevents wholly the freezing of gas
and water pipes, and the soil beneath
the pavement.
1t facilitates the access to- gas and wa.
ter pipes.
Being impervious entirely to water,
it facilitates the drainage of streets,
and prevents the iniiltration of water
and vegetable matter, thereby prevent.
ing the exhalation of the same, and
rendering the said Nicolson pavement
more healthful than any other known
pavement.
Wherever it is laid it enhances the
value of real estate on an average of
not less than twenty to twenty-five per
cent.
The durability of this pavement, con.
sidering the small amount Of repairing
iphich il needs, is not less than Que hum
bred per cent greater than stone.