New-York tribune., 1875-02-06
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE II-PAvED CTTYs PRESSING WANT |
TILE QUESTION or PAVEMENT FOR FIFTH-AVE-
THE QUALITIES AND USE or THE ASPHALT PAVE |


THE QUESTION or A PAVEMENT FOR FIFTH-AyE.-
THE QUALITIES AND USE or THE ASPHALT PAVE
MENr
The question whether New York shall have
at least one avenue well paved the streets OF Paris
and London exciting good deal OF attention among
all classes OF citizens. The bill now pending at Albany.
which provides for the repaSement OF Flfth-aye with
asphalt is asserted to be regarded with favor in this
city. Next Tuesday the Assembly Committee op Cities
will give hearing 10 both the friends and the opponents
OF tho bl Much OF the opposition to this measure ap
pears to arise from the prevalent Ignorance as to the
real nature, composition and qualities OF true
asphalt paving material well as the tendency to
cOniound 1t with the sham asphalt" composed OF coal
tar and gravel, which was extensively used a few
years ago and which proved to be not only useless for
paving purposes but absolute nuisance The differ
ence between real asphalt ordinary coaltar pitch
and gravel pavements wide that between granite
aud hardened clay.
Asphalt Is a natural mineral btumen and is composed
OF asphaene and peroene. In nature IL Is found com
bined with carbonate OF lime and other mineral sub
stances 1t fuses only at about iO0' F. and maintains
Its hardness under constant heat OF 1862 T. Nheh
prepared for paving, several knds Of asphalt aro coI
bne as tO give the greatest degree OF hardness
The asphalt manufactured In this city s superior TO
that extensively used in Parls. This substance was
formerly obtained almost solely from the neGAOorhoOd
OF the Dead sea, but within five years the great Lake OF
source supply for the Unted Sates and Europe
This lake is one OF the most remarkable natural cur0si-
Ties in the world and its existence has never been salts
factorly explained IL Is circular In shape ana covers
about ia Its depth Is unknown, although IL Is
estimated to be go feet Tic asphatun con-
stanty bubbles up in the CENTER ana
flows outward. On the outer edges IL
hardens and it will sustain carts and teams 200 or 3'O
feet the Shore Nearer the center OF the lake the
einl,s fta asDlalt
flowed down gentle descent to tho ocean, mile dis
tant under the waters OF which 1t has made deposit
extending three miles from the shore lt rs cut out III
blocks. refined by heat, and 1nds It's way to market
nodded barrels For paving city streets asphalt Is
fast coming into general in Europe. II Paris all tho
bOulevard5 and other principal streets are paved with
1t, and in London other material is now allowed to
bc used for laying pavements.
Asphalt first used for paving i'm 1922 but 1t di not
into extensive until 1859. when 1t began TO be
widely employed IN Europe. Soon afterward cheap
imitation OF began to be used here The only genuine
asphalt payemens laid in this city are small areas
in Thirty-eghthst. between Madison and Fltn-ayes;
In Fthave., between Twenty fourth aud Twenty fifth
SITS; opposite the Worth Monument; In Twenty
eighthst., between Ftave. aud Broadway; in Eight
eentl a., between FOurthave. aud Iryns-pacC; IN
ThOmas-s OF Broadway, anl 10 several stables In
the city. Tl"sc specimens wcr' lald over Two years
for experimental purposes. ana although they nave
sujected the seyerest tests, they are appar
emily "a good when first put down. About 1900
vehicles, including heavy Omuibuses ana carts, pass
over the piece Of asphalt pavement in Ffth-aye, at
Madson-square, every day. Notwithstanding the I'M
lncnSe amount or trA'el "Verl J. mas ."rh worn Town
in two years less than OneTcnty fifth OF an inch There
are cracks nor holes, nor considerable ud"ntaI0nS
i'm it and H has grOand into Gust IN place.
This pave wUs l t0Hrinches timex over the Btian
blocks ot the o'iciul plyrm' Wlch WAS lowered TOr
the purpo 90 below tne ide OF IL
repaired, aud the slight changes ia Us grade have
resulted from the settling Of the Belgian blocks
beneath The chief recpumen ations OF asphalt pave
mrus axe tncIr durability their elasticity ana sm0'ii-
ness ther IiecdJm 4tOhI noise, tue fdpdy wth "hcA
lppy can b. lai the small or repairing which
they require and the cBeapness Of repairing together
with tUoiT mpcrIouNucss To wafer, and tHcr lrec-
doni from mud dnd dust.
to good health since no noAiods gases can pettotte
Iuspe cor Of EeNYOrK, tuYr-tcHted tl3 subject Last
year aud ~ Tcpou 10 d. VI. De H. Day, Sanitary sd
p-rlntcnjcnt, Ids. Ottobcr, ne says: | would most
other form real asphalt pavement FOR tho upper
streets and avenues aud the ldet for the streets
ter Stat, OF health l. 'i5eIsr cleaned, AM rarely COW
cred with any mud except that carried upon It.
Good streets shOuid provided FOR those who use them
the most, ana cannot pat believe tIal e economy OF
smooth, weirdvcd streets, III the saving OF running
gear ana the pre- cryaton OF the health OF many people,
wOuld reconcile them for pa lns ne nee ,arJ ItE
.sioncr Van Mort also examiner the snJ 'ct or
asphalt piycmcnt' very carefully last year, and IN hs
report o. Ost1j 1874 he sroaely recommended theruse
and SAID tno specimen stsp Oh asphalt plycm2nt IN
piece pavement, the heavy raihc 10 which II has
jeccd and the Iacg tha the TRES O vehicles IN
this city much narrower than those used on the
pavement, Of Loldon aud Paris Its dura0ilIy may be
regarded cstabl she'd"
several prominent physicians recommend asphalt
pavement. on tue ground that is sinOOthhess ana ne
dom from noise render 10 peculiarly adapted TO the
wants OF large class u nyds wh0ss chief need -
fresh AR and peasant walking Or DRIVING ~ the I4VO
vehicles that daily pass up and down Fnth-ave less
three per cent owned by residents OF that street
Tnis fact shows ti me Improvement 10y the cry of ltS
cef route to Central trk, the pleasure grOunI Of al
classes would 9s ir !ne uen H. OF the fes!Ients OF
section of the cit; and not alone for those who
happen to 1--we along tue iluo OF the improvements.