Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-11

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aginary one, in my opinion, and which
even were it true, would be more coun.
terbalanced by their many serious de-
fects.
On inquiry in all cities above men
toned, and from my own observations
in New York, no difficulty is experien.
ced in removing the blocks of the Mic
olson pavement and replacing them
again. l have been shown places
| where these removals have taken place,
but they gave no evidence. by any de-
preston in the surface, or otherwise,
that any displacement had been made.
In the Nicolson pavement space an
inch in width, filled with concrete, and
extending in straight lines, at intervals
If three inches, across the street, gives
/ sure foothold to the horses. In the
Stafford this is attempted by beveline
jhe upper edges of the blocks, which
IRE close fitting, and, until worn down,
partially answers the purpose. In the
McGonegal, it is attempted by goug-
ng conical holes, and about one inch
IN diameter, into the blocks, and fill
ng these holes with concrete, which is
1ot reliable, as it does not give GER
Jainty of foothold, as in the Nicolson.
Besides, these gouged and inverted
,onical holes allow the corks of the
lorses' shoes to act at right angles to
he ibres Of the wood, which would
DON render them shapelfss.
In both the Stafford and McGonegal
PATENTS, expensive machinery is requir-
ID for the urpose of preparing and fit
ing the blocks. When repairs or re-
novals become necessary, the services
f a cabinet-maker will be required to
dust them properly or, in any event
supply of the prepared blocks must
re put in requisition. In the Nicolson
o machinery is required in prearing
ne blocks, and, in case of needed re-
airs or removals, rough carpenter,
With saw and Ratchet, can do the work.
The difficulty, i: not impossibility, OF
laying the blocks on the Stafford plan,
with an even and uniform bearing,
was satisfactorily demonstrated to me
in witnessing the passage of horses and
! vehicles over this pavement as laid in
Wall street, New York city. The
weight OF horse, or the transit of an
omnibus or wagon, perceptibly moved
each section in turn. The surface OF
the pavement is not water-tight, and
this combined motion of the blocks, up
and down, prevents its becoming so.
In the Nicolson, the surface is water
tight, the sub-platform over the whole
street distributes the passing load, and
no working up or down of the blocks is
perceptible.s
In the Stafford, series of straight
edges, three feet in length, in the di
rection of travel, tends to the forma
ton of ruts, by guiding the wheels
along these lines an additional objec
ton to this kind pavement.
The Miller pavement requires the
shaping carefully of each block; they
being beveled about one-half inch from
the bottom to the top. The strips O,
pickets are dispensed with, and the en-
tire space, wedge-formed, is filed with
the usual composition. The advantag
es claimed are that there are no strips
to work up to the surface, and that the
blocks, from their shape. will not work
in similar manner.
Although 1 have seen instances in
the Nicolson where the strips have
worked up, yet has it only been in cases
where they have not been properly
laid, it is impossible that they should
do 80.
The disadvantages of the Miller pave
ments are, the nicely of construction
required originally the liability of the
concrete to work up, from the wedge.
formed spaces, and the want of general
solidity when compared with the Nicol-
son.
Assuming, then, that the Nicolson is
the best wooden pavement in use, the
question arises, what are its advanta.
ges over metal pavements
A trial of between one and two years
of this pavement in our city, must have
satisfied every unprecedented man that,
in comfort to man and beast /; in saving
of wear and tear of animals and vehi,
Giles in tits noiselessness, and in the
ease and trifing expense with which il
can be kept clean, it is far superior to
stone pavement. It's first cost is great
er than the bowlder but when proper
ly laid, but few if any repairs are re.
quired for years, and o renewal in moi
less than ten years.
AS one evidence of the d Inability o.
the Nicolson pavement, l refer to the
case of Wells street i'll Chicago, the frs
street in which the pavement was laid
This street, subjected to very heavy