The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-05-21
Concrete Pnycments.

(SatIonAl RepublIcanl
The experience Of five years past In
this city has demonstrated that concrete
pavement il the most desirable and en-.
during Of any yet introduced. The va.
rious wood pavements are open 10 several
serious objections. Wherever the road
bed /, insualciently drained, or from any
cause retains dampness, the wood Is sure
to decay in from two to four years Then
the blocks, by the action Of frOsts in
winter and heavy rains, are liable to be-
come displaced, and the surface becomes
uneven, and many iarriers express the
opinion that the interStices between, have
injurious effects upon the feet Of animals,
causing diseases Of the joints and lame.
meas. not one Of these objections is claim.
ed against we'll laid concrete payementS.
II properly constructed, and Of suitable
material, there IL no decay or disintegra.
ton; the surface remains smooth and
level, and presents an even road.
way for horses and carriages; eXcep-
tionally free from the noise Of vibration
and conclusion, besides being pleasant to
ride over. The appearance Of some
streets which have been paved with con.
crete In this city, and which are now
almost impossible, il no valid argument
against corCreles, but only reflects dis
credit upon the contractors who were
guilty NJ such miserable and bungling
work The first specimen Of concrete
laid In this city was In 1870, and that
piece hn' had no repairs, and Il now,
after five years thorough trial, among
the heat pieces nj work in the District;
that il in front ri the Arlington Hotel.
There il ma difficulty in constructing all
pnvcmcnts M we'll. The conditions nrCcs.
saty are, first, to properly prepare the
roadway ltshould he thoroughly graded
and uniformly and solidly conpnctch;
then to lay from eight tn twelve inches ~
uniform broken stone and amalgamnlch
Asphalt; upon lhis from two Ia funr inches
ni firm Stone and gravel. ALA prepared
with the necessary ingredients, and lasi.
from two IN four inches NJ naplnltic com.
post. There Ia no wonderful secret In
this surface compost, The chief thing lies
in faithfully performing the work from
the foundation To the laying of the last Oi
the surerstrnctufc. The materials nj this
pavement hfe Oi easy access, and all the
machinery Tor their manipulation and
preparation il nlso at hand, and there are
skilled workmcn in the city who ran we'll
bc entrusted with such work. No good
road in city or country ran liz had with.
out solid foundation and perfect drain.
age. These arc the first Requisites 10 a
perfect roadway Of any pattern or mate.
rial Whatsoever. And this il a material
fact which should always h. Lurno in
mind by the authorities. n the sever
age and the foundation are slighled and
imperfect, nomnltcr what thesupersiruO.
tufC may I've by which they arc snfmount.
ed, the pavement will certainly bc a fail.
urc. a. a consequence il will Ia observed
that the same mind that IL to direct the
laying oi the suporatFucturo and liz held
responsible for ib durability and sustain.
ing power should also have the direction
o. tho preparation Of the subslrainm or
foundation. Concrete pavomonla are also
deemed the most desirable In a sanitary
point Of view. The caFbollc acid which
enief, into ih composiiion IL uncrcollctl
A. disinieolant.