The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-22

IeSScu tne correctness OF 1ne OiSltQCttOD, aDu
likewise realized its full weight and impor
tance. but which had not previously occurred
to u.s. West Chester american Republi.
can.
Modern Strcct-Pavements.
(Adof Glass, &. E., in Popular Science Monthly.1
The most distinguished sanitarans OF the
age have established the fact that oar modern
cities are mostly so located that public health
depends much less upon climate and position
than upon rational conditions and modes of
| life Enforced cleanliness and the progress
of sanitary works in cities are followed by
| an enhanced vitality and elasticity Of mind
still more than by longevity Of the inhabit.
| ants. Among sanitary works, improved
pavements are classed along with sewerage,
| water-closets, and water-supply under press
| ure; since it is prime condition of public
| hygiene that every street and alley should
| drain as promptly and thoroughly rs the
bouSes erected on it. The material
| for pavements is mostly decided upon by
| non professional municipal authorities, and
upon these an enlightened public opinion
| must exert beneficial influence.
simultaneously with The higher wants, re-
sulting from greater wealth and closer con-
| tact, whole cities havc been transformed
| from loose aggregates Of irregularlv-s
| houses into Well-organized systems, all the
| elements Of which, though serving indi-
vidual purposes, are intimately connected by
the complicated network of pipes supply
| ing fresh water, diScharging waste water and
| soil, and furnishing light during the night to
| the streets as we'll as TO the houses from
cellar to roof; TO which, perhaps, the in
ventivc genius of the age may add telore
| long the supply of heat for domestic neccs-
stiles and personal! comfort. In such com-
| plcX org ,nism the roadways and sidewalks
| are not merely spaces set apart for light air,
| aud traffic, but they are component parts of
the wonderful machinery devoted to these
| purposes, and bear close relations to the
| dwellings which they separate and connect,
and the restorative veins Of which they cover
as protecting crust. OF all these eco Oerating
agencies the least attention, until recently,
was paid TO the construction of roadways.
= In this state Of the problem it may be
considered as new epoch in city.life that
| the incrca cd facilities of commercial inter-
course, by chcapening the cos: of transporta-
ton, have brought relief within reach
namely, aSphaltum for road ways. 1t is
not strange that the efforts artifcially to imi.
| tate this intimate union have often produced
materials with quite different powers Of re-
J
agencies and vicissitudes of climates; and
that the lack of durability-not to speak Of
numerous dead failures in various COM
pounds of raw or treated coal.tar and
| coal. pitch with coal-ashes, saWdust, cin-
| dcrs, sand, gravel. &c., commonly called
concrete payemenlS, which have re-
! duccd moderately dirty streets, under
the influence of the heat of the summer, to
vast sticky quagmireS has formed serious
| drawback to The introduction of better ma
| terial, and especially the well.tested native
asphatum, which will probably, in our cli-
mate, many times outlaSt the best artificial
composition yet known, as it has done in
other countries. The admiXtureS and dis.
tilations from coal-tar and pitch have been
amply relied upon as the base fox artificial
concrete on account Of supposed resem-
blance TO the native aSpbaltun. This idcI,
however, is not sustained ny modern scien-
tific tests. Nature has unfortu-
nately produced this valuable mineral de-
post in but very few cases, and it has
not yet been found in America.
+ = The success Of this bitumiGous
rock pavement is by no means due to the
lucky hit of one individual. 1t is the egiti-
mate result of the persistent efforts of some
Of the best engineers Of the age. by which
|
l. The asphatum pavement is clean
and fit for traffic a few hours after being
laid, while new or repaved stone roadwayS
must be be covered for months with heavy
LAYERS of sand, to be drited by the breeze
| in drv weather and added to the mud in
rainy SPELLS. Repairs can be made to the
asphaltum pavements in dry days Of a
cold winter, while with stone pavements
any defects must be endured until spring.
Besides the sanitary advantages, the
saving in temper, clothes, shoes, and furni.
ture is not TO be overlooked. The popu-
arity Of this pavement in the tive largest
cities of Europe, where, with immense
traffic and most extensive experience on the
relative value Of pavements, the demands on
the municipal authorities are ineXorable,
serves as proof that smoothness of surface
does not cause any danger with this material.
Being elastic but not soft in summer, and
hard but not brittle in winter, it possesses
with a slight yield the power of re-
adjustment in high degree, so that
dorses and drivers ever seek IT, if
it is "laid inteligently by practiced
hands, with q low crown" or flat profile.
A low crown is practicable because there
are no surface obstacles to drainage. 1t is
also needful to prevent horses from falling
on any spaces with heavy decline towards
the gutter. What is essential for the trans
verse profile of these streets is no less essen
tial for their longitudinal profile; they must
have easy grades-say pitch Of less than
two per ceDt.-since the momentum Of iner-
tia of the masses in motion enters the pro.
blem. The smooth surface intensifies the
downward motion OF the wheels while
decreasing the friction of the hoofs of the
herse, which furnishes the power of
resistance against the downward mo-
ton of the vehicle, or serves for aftixipg
the power necessary to move the vehicle
uphill. With these precautions relief is
afforded to the horse, this faithful companion
of man, which, being dumb, is SO often bru.
tally il-treaed and abused. After
these explanations, based on personal OBJ
servations, as well as on the results of the
experience of the leading engineers in this
branch, TIE conclusion may be we'll srawn
that asptrstup roads are destined to be the
! city paremcntS of tue future-a destiny
which is determined by the progressive spirit
| of the aye, and which ca1not be retarded for
any length OF time. 1t involves the interests
4 Of all, both high and low.
How Massachusetts Conducts Spell
fnS-Match.
Trom the Boston Advertiser, 17th.]
/ oRTHoGEAPHY IN ANDoVER-THE PHILLIPS AGA
,DEaaY VERSUS THE ABBOTT ACADEMY.
An occasional correspondent writes from
Andoyer: At length the old town of Ando.
~lLa<l tho N