The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-11-25
Comnnrntiyc Merits of Asphultum, Gran
ito aud wood Paycmcnts,

| Tim 3.
! CnmnnrntlyC Merits of Asphultum, Gran
ito aud Wood Paycmcnts,
There is much difference In opinion
among engineers on this important quos-
ton, tho choice lying between payemenis
Of granite blocks, wood and asphnllum,
The requirements OF u pavement are very
various, and each % the above named ma
tCrials e1cels 10 certain particulars, ana Is
, Inferior In others. Ga the whole, the best
, engineering opinion inclinea to lavOr as
phaltum as possessing the Target number
, of good qualities. The experience III TINS
country with usphaltum payements ana
sidewalks has not been uniformly GOOD
, This fact 10 to be explained entirely on tue
, ground OF inferior construction coal Tar
+ and other Inferior mixtures being largely
4 used In place of the rock'nsphalt, or lrnl'
/ dad asphaltum, which should be used. In
i, European cities especially IN those OF
a England, France and Germany, the admir-
II able qualities of the asphaltum roads ana
IA iOotways ut once attracted the attention OF
American tourists; and .tney have WIN
stood the seyetest tests OF climate anu uul'
a ability successfully. Tho true asphaltum
n pavement is fee from noise II oompacis
/. under pressure, and hence suffers very 1T
:. Tie from abration or wear; ~ rs absolutely
:. imperyious TO moisture and gases, hence IL
% absorbs no unwholesomo liquids, gives out
n no offensive gases and Is easily cleaned oil
4. It's surface de6lement. In respects TO our
Ia ability, IL has an admirable record Nelth'
N or heat, cold, hammerlng nor ht'I,.Ion
.. la repaired is unequalled. IL presents
n. smooth, hard continuous, tough ana elias
tic surface ailording u secure i0otholu ioi
In hurses-except on steep gradients or whel
MI covered with ice and minimum resist
IL, ance to draught. ,....,..,
n, As regards wooden pavements, American
he experience has been even more unlorlunat'
n. than with the (so'olledl asphaltum' IN
wood pavement affords secure ioothOlI
~, Tor horses, il practically noiseless, and al
an lords smooth, easy roadway for vehicles
la. The material IL, however, arapid absorb
M. emit of moisture, speedily deceys
Tsl and beneath the hammering q
h. horses hools, develops innumerabl
no hnllows and tuts that make II nnenuur'
es' BILE, The average lie oi wooden paV'
Iil. ment In this country will not exceed nv
on years, and is very troublesome 10 lear
de- and repair.
In The granite block OF narrow reotangul'
shape, laid ON edge, the longest edge y
the ncross the street, makes, when proper
moi laid. tho most durable of all payements,
he affords a good loOthold for horses, II el
.ra- readily be- taken up and relald when ne
no ossary, aud Is readily cleaned. The on
ing serious object 10 thls paNeMeht 10 tno Wv,
irst ening din aud CHATTER II gives out from u
,en massage of horses and vehicles. The era
be. lie block pavement Is harder on, vehiol
hat than either asphaltum or wood. IL u
,dc. collector of dirt aud filth, though OF q IL
pro' extent than wood. In freezing weather
sill. is superior to either wood or asphaltum'
8 OF From the above comments twill DO
m served that no one pavement exeels III
In the requisites ora good pavement, "hu
hat iudeing of their relative meritr, We mt
try. take ali the desirable or important requl
mad ments, and give the palm OF superiority
hes, that which cxcels In most OF them, Ado
! In, ing this plan, We fnd the relative merits
asphaltum, wood aud granite payemen
with respect to tho more Important requl
n In ments, to be as follows, the three Vaflel
bor- being designated by numbers In tho or'
This OF their relative eXcellenCe--the best by
,tly, tho next by ., aud the poorest by 3;
Mr. Qualifications. Asphaltum, Granite, We