Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-03
The Robbins Pavement.

The work OF laying the Robbins wood pave
ment, so long delayed, has been entered upon,
and as the style of pavement is somewhat pecu-
liar, az well as the process OF laying it, quite
Work, at the corner of 18th street.
In this connection the following description
OF the process Of preparing this pavement,
written by correspondent will be of intare r.
The wood to be used In the pavement between
9th and 18th streets, is to be protected against
decay by BurnettizlDg; and description of the
process ns, VIII at tins time be interesting and
patented the invention In 1893. In 1850. at
Lowell, Mass, IT was applied to the preserva-
ton of the timber used In the Construction OF
the canal locks, at q cost Of s. 10 sc per I 900
rect board measure, and being found effective
las since been employed for the protection Of
any wood liable to decay.
The wood, In blocks, (and il 10 better that il
should not be seas0ned,) is run on cars irto ar
iron cylinder 60 feet by 5, and inch thick. The
door Is Dramatically sealed, and by means OF q
for As minutes. The effect of this viii be to draw
the sap from the pores and tubes OF the VIC cd.
Then the cylinder is filed with q solution o
TX parts OF the chloride Of zinc in 100 parts OF
water, and pressure Of l25 pounds to the
square inch Is applied, the result OF which is to
force the liquid into and through the cavities
previously filed with the vegetable juices. A
suggested by +. Hewson, G.. E., in the Jour- Al
OF the Franklin Institute In 1859, and il Is,
guess, the plan pursued at Williamsport, where
CnI pavement - Delng prepared. mere, i am
Informed, the blocks are placed in an immense
oven or dryer. and subjected TO . sustained heat
OF $50 degrees, which certainly ought to vap-
orize and expel all the moisture in the wood
Next, the blocks, while hot, are thrown into
open tanks, holding the zinc solution, and al
lowed to remain tor some time-the longer the
better 1t is plain that the antiseptic q uid will
take the place of the expelled sap, thus entirely
impregnating the wood, and protecting it, if
properly applied, against all future decay. The
chloride OF zinc is powerful caustic, and it acts
as an antiseptic or preventative by coaguating
the albumen and destroying the germs OF ami
NAL and vegetable life, which are the essential
causes of wet and dry rot as we'll as OF the ordi-
nary decay Of wood, aided by the conditions OF
heat, water, and ain. All preservatives Of wood
act by destroying or neutraliz ng the vegetable
juices, or organic germs, or BY expelling them
and taking their place. To the first class be-
long corrosive sublimate, blue stone. copperas
chloride of zinc, &c; to the last lime, oils & c.
Covering wood with tar asphaite will not
protect IL against either dry or wet rot ii the
conditions favorable to their production exist;
and now. II the parties who supply the Robbins
pavement, prepared as described above, per-
form their duty faithfully and skilfully, they
have grand opportunity OF showing and prov
ing its superiority to the Miller, Stow, or Fol-
lansbee patents, which are to be its rivals and
competitors. H.