The daily gazette., 1882-03-02
The PelletIer Pavement.
Memphis Appeal. n


From Niles Meriweather, Esq, we
have received copy Of official CORE
pondenoe respecting street pavements
OF which the following is the substance.
Hon. Alexander Mitchell, Of Milwau-
kee, writes to q. 8. Waller, recently
commissioners OF public works at Chica-
go, inqu ring a. to the experience Of the
latter city In street paving, Milwaukee
haying IN va n soughtin stone, iron, as
phalt and wood, satisfactory material.
In Ills reply Mr.. Walker etatBs that
heavy expenditure by Ohicago in street
pavement had resulted IN great dis lp-
pointhent, as 1t was all the time "gIviDg
out, leaving holes and breaks. An i'm
perlshable, hard, and Adhes,vesubs. .ance
was TeQu red; that will combine du a.
blIity, heaithfuluess, and cheapness.
Wooden blocks hao proved q delu siOn
aud a snare; they wers very short lived.
Granite blocks are clNaD, healthy and
durable, tut they are 1T irregular size
aud become turtle backed" and Slip
perry In use, are noisv ana too expensive
With blocks made Of cI ushed stone COM
pressed the noise is reduced. Limestone
maeadam makes good foundation, but
o II tue surface IL does not answer; 1t cuts
away rapidly under heavy aiiic AID
makes much du t aud mud. Limestone
same ObiectiObs as macadam; 1t Is not
durable. IL wears away three-quarters
Of an inch uader traffic tLat Aoaroely
touched the q ante and PelIetier pave
menls. The Pelletier blocks are hrm,
cheap, hands 0me, clean, healthful anu
and durable. Laid down complete, they
cost about 50 q SOU are yard. They are
made of hard, durable stone, crushed,
dried, and mixed with ten per cent. ,of
iron Stag, or low-grade iroo ore,
with a thorough infusion Of chemical
mbInat ON Of oxide end chloride of
iron, which acts ss pc rpetual binder
gro wing harder, tirmer and more gran
ite-like with age aud exposure. They
are subjected in the manufacture to
powerful compression, which renders
them dense, compact aud absolutely tni-
pervious Co water. The blocks have RD
even, symmetrical surface, with slightly
beveled Edges, which give good loot
held TO horses. Their eyenness and al
most impreviUus Joinings shed of tue
water, and thus preserve the foundation.
Laid compactly from curb to cutbs across
the crown of the street, IL gives fiat-
tened arch, the uniform pressure ol
which aius in keeping intactthe fouoda-
tioH, and prevents sinking and depres'
500. When fresh the blocks resist the
Influences of heat aud cold, which ap.
pear only to season aud harden them
more rapidly. 1 have seen, says Mr.
Wall3r, the severtst tests applied to
them with weighs on iron wheel, pro.
PEELED by machinery, up to ten thoUs
and elk hundred and Lhirty-tWo pounds
passed many thousand times over them
and granite, paved side By side. After
this severe test the Pelletler showed lit
| tie, II any, more wear than the granite
| the abra ion beng very slight. The sur
| face of the PelletIer block Is compare
lively rough, without the p0iishDesu d
slipp' rinets Of granite, and 1 am salts
| lied they will stand the wear OF oul
streets. In hardness, permanent adhes
| tveness and imperIsnablene ness-t sse entia
| qualities to insure durability--end II
| cleanliDess, healthfulnets aud moderat,
price, we have In the Pelletier block
/ what meets ana fultills all the require
| menL5. have received many inquire
| conct rning these blocks from a nu nbe
| of surrounding states, and tue dema0'
| for them promises to become yer
great. In Memphis We want pave
mant material em bodyiDg tue gu AIltie
here atrlnu.ed to the Peileuer block
but SUCCESS with them evidently depend
upon the care and accuracy obs arved Il
manufacturing them. Those who Ger
tract for them ou Int to have a compt
tent and trustworthy superintendent q
the works to see that the ingredient
are of good quality aud In due propol
non, and that the proper pressure Is an
piled TO secure density aud hardness. L
leave these things solely TO the make
would most probably bring only dlsaI
pointment.