Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-05
THE AVENUE PAVEMENT
TIE AGONY OVER
FOUR PAYMENTS SELECTED.
The Stow, Miller. FeIlansbee, and
Robbins

Pennsylvania avenue, met this morning, at the
Interior Department, and agreed 10 divide the
avenue into four sections, one OF which should
be paved with the Stow pavement, another
with the Miller pavement, another with the
Follansbee pavement, and the last xiththe Rob
bins pavement.
We are unable to give the bids and the
amount to be paid on the successful ones, as the
| commissioners propose to make them out in a
comprehensive statement. and do not seem pre-
pared to make that statement to-day. 1t seems
however, that the accepted bids do not name a
single price for the whole work per square yard.
but name so much for the laying of the read
bed and SO much for the laying OF the pavement
The following is description OF the different
pavementS selected:
THE STOWE PAVEMENT.
specimen of this pavement has been in use
for the past two years at the corner of IIth
| street and Pennsy lvania avenue, and has given
universal satisfaction by its cleanliness, smooth
ness, noiselessress and endurance. The patentee
saws OF this pavement:
For years / have been striving to invent a
street pavement that would be cheap, substan-
tal durable, Eoiseless, and easy TOR teams and
vehicles 10 travel over; that would not require
continual repairs, and would do away with the
use OF the vehicle dt stroying and animal
murdeIlng stone payements now in use. This
pavement Is far superior TO any wood pavement
now in use, for the following reasons namely:
l. BY naking firm and substantial foundation,
constructed on the only true mechanical princi-
pal-that Of so COMPRISING the sand Foundation
by driving IN the oDe-inch wedge blocks until
All the air and water i expelled from the sand.
virtually forming a stone column three inches
thick and six inches deep under the three inch
wooden block, extending from curb to curb or
from side to side OF the street or roadway:
making foundation that will not settle-the
pavement will always remain even on the
surface-the blocks never becoming loose
a. in all other wood payemeuts >. The
pavement being placed directly on a firm
saLd foundation, the upper surface being made
air and water-tght, the wood, being always wet
will not dry rot, all other wood payements do
that are placed upon a board foundation. 2
Nhen nnlshed, IL IS perfect sectional pave
ment; each block or piece of wood sustains the
weight required independent OF the other. a
1t is so constructed that the different pieces do
not become loose by use; but the longer the
pavement is used the more substantial il
becomes. .. The gravel does not become loose
as IN other pavements, but will remain firm As
long as the pavement will last. o. A portion
can be taken up and replaced without injury TO
the pavement. In taking il up for LAYING water
or gas pipes, or for constructing sewers there is
no necessity of removing any more than what is
required for the pipe or sewer, which can be
replaced IN as firm and substantial manner as
the original pavement, at one-fourth the ex-
Psnse OF any other wood pavement.
THE MILLER PAVEMENT.
The company owning this patent claim for
this pavement the following advantages II
The truncated wedge-shaped blocks are so put
down as to cover the entire floor or plank foun-
dation, which not only facilitates the laying
put lnsuree hNedness, solidty and durability 10
the whole structure. 2. The channels between
the blocks being wedge shaped, and running
traversely to the street, are hlled in with con
crete, binding the whole firmly together, each
line of filling operating like the key of an arch
and becoming more and more compact with
use. >. There being no parting strips, or dove
tall iastenngs, or wooden binders, the blocks
stand relieved of those inducements to decay,
which form a material objection to other
wood pavements. 4. The construction of this
pavement admits OF its being laid, taken
up and relaid as easily any stone pave
Tent. A single block can be taken up
and relaid without displacing its fellows.
o. IL rs capable OF sustaining much heavier
load than others constructed with q less bearing
surface TO the blocks, and may be constantly
used bv heavily loaded teams without injury or
displacement, while the upper surfaces OF the
blocks continually increase in width as they are
worn away, whereby great strength and dura-
bihto are attained. 6. 1t is noiseless pave
ment, feature which will not fail TO be appre-
ciated by those who reside upon streets paved
by other methods. 4. Its cost, when put do wn
IN the best manner, will not exceed that OF any
this pavement, which does not present itself to
the eye when laid, is the fact Of its Burnetized
plank foundation or floor, which is attained by
iniuslng INTO the pores OF the wood a prepara-
ton OF chloride of zinc, thereby chemically
changing and solidifying its softer parts and
rendering the timber thus treated indestr ucti-
TBR PoLLANsBY.
This is the invention of Washington me
chanic, MIR. Lambert Follansby, who has been
appointed superintendent of the work OF paving
the Avenue. He claims the following This
pavement is made of oblong rectangular blocks,
with their upper side edges beveled, so that
when placed side byside a groove will be formed
between them, and also of rows of wedge blocks
placed at intervals between the rows of the
rectangular blocks for the purpose of COM
pressing and binding the whole together. The
rectangular blocks are first laid either upon on
earth or board foundation, as NAV be desired
The wedge blocks, which made by cutting
one of the rectangular blocks through diago-
nally, are then inserted partially. Concrete OF
hot tar Is then poured in the grooves, and
as soon as it has had time to ill up the spaces
between the blocks, the whole are compacted
and bound together by driving the wedge
block home. All OF which will clearly appear
upon an inspection of the model herewith
submitted. Is will be readily understood
suitably prepared earth bed upon the usual
foundation OF boards, though a board or
plank foundation can be made If desired
In the process OF being laid the adjoining sur
faces of the blocks become coated with tar or
concrete, and when the blocks are compressed
t,gether by the wedge blocks the adjoining IT
are rectangular, except the wedge blocks, and
as the latter ere made by simply cutting one OF
the rectangular blocks through diagonally, it is
obvious that in no way can block for pave
made Of blocks in this way forms a solid com
pact body Of wood, such as is required for firm
ness and durabiiity-there being no unnecessary
part or pieces. For streets in cities, where the
pavement has frequently to be taken up for the
purpose OF laying down or repairing gasor water
pipes or sewer mains it possesses the important
advantage Of being readily and easily laid, As
well as that Of being taken up when desired. As
will be at once noticed in order to take ii up 1t
is only necessary to loosen and remove the wedge
blocks. 1t is, Of course, understood that after
the blocks are laid the grooves may be filed
with concrete. TE
THB ROBBINS PAVEMENT.
The Robbins pavement is composed Of blocks
four inches wide and six inches high, keyed to
gether by dovetail i'm the bottom Of the block,
with strip running through. They are set on
a strip, which projects q half inch on either
side, making one inch space between the rows
when they are set. This space is filled in with
q concrete Of coal-tar and gravel, and the sur
face is also covered with . coating Of concrete.
~Anna Dickinson has been attending her
brother Johns crystal wedding. She has thus
far succeeded in keeping away from her own
, wedding. -