Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-02
PAYING PROBLEM.
VIVA, wa. Said and Done Last night.

having the streets and sewerage.
Captain u. w. Bell of Dallas was pres
ent In the interest of bOis d are
and made The following address,
by invitation:
Captain Bell said Mr.. Mayor, and
gentlemen OF the Board Of Aldermen
Of Fort WORTH don't know that j
can enIigbtcn you very much on the
subject OF street paving | simply de-
sire 10 give you the result Of my ex-
pericnce in the business, and also
some substantial facts deduced from
publications OF some of the most com
petent authorities on the subject. But
BEFORE proceeding further you must al .
low me, gentlemen, to congratulate
you on the prompt and husiness-likc
manner in which you have taken
hold Of and pushed this matter. see
that you mean business, and are not
hike your sister city, Dallas, always
talking and never acting; and j can
truthfully say land / am borne ont IN
my assertions by many OF the eth
zens Of Dallas that for unanimity or
action and sentiment in regard TO any
and all measures pertaining to the
material prosperity and advancement
OF the interests of your city, Fort
the point. a.
Tie principal features looked for in
"A roadway pavement for city traffic,
are: Ssmoolhness Of surface, good font
hold for horses, facility of removal and
replacement, cleanliness and noiseless-
ness. With these 1t is desired also 10
have durability and chearncss.
1t IL claimed by some Of our
most eminent city engineers that
there Is no pavement that possesses all
of these material properties. Those
authorities had no knowledge of that
peerless wood, bois dare, whose quail
ities for street paving purposes are not
surpassed, and think ! can safely
say, equaled by any known material,
not excepting the very best quality of
Maine granite or Belgian stone blocks,
and which comes nearer combining all
of the necessary elements that go to-
wards the making of "A first class pave
ment than any other known wood
or material. The indestructible ma
ture of this wood does away
completely with any fears that sani-
tarlans might advance against wooden
pavements for II is an undisputed fact,
and dare say IL known TO almost
every old Texan. IN this bois d. arc
country that 1t never rots, even when
put under ground or submerged IN
water, and ! have the authority OF
some Of the most reliable men in this
country that they have known of It's
being buried for u years and ON being
taken up was found 10 be MS sound as
whom placed there. | have also
tho statement Of Mr.. Hays,
vice president of the Gould sys-
tenn OF railways, that there
III pavement of this wood In Mexico
which has been duwn forty years and
still shows no evidences of decay.
Now In regard to the construction
of this pavement: In contemplating
tue construction OF any pavement, the
first step IN the matter should be 10 see
to the condition Of all drains, gas and
water mains. and surface pipes should
be laid upto the line of the street, and
should be plugged at the ends so tnat
when buildings are erected requiring
90 connect with the services the road
way need not be opeued, and the back
Filings may become thoroughly settled
before the work on the pavement IL
commenced.
The bridge builder considers the SUI
pcrstructure and foundation OF which
his bridge il 80 rest M the most import
ant study of his Operations. THE
main principals are quito the same in
making a permanent pavement, as the
life OF all paycments depends on their
foundations. The nature of your soil
may possibly necessitate u heavy foun-
dalton, and you fortunately POSSESSES,
within the limits OF your city, n very
superior gravel, containing n thorough
Infusion Of oxide of iron, which
causes IL to adhere by rusting, and
Will make . very fine concrete founda-
tion. We would recommend that
from six TO eight inches of the gravel
he placed upon the road bed, and aftor
being firmly compacted 10y rammmg
or rolling TO a perfectly even and solid
surface, we are positive you will then
have firm and substantial founda-
ton. After being thus constructed
and bois dare blocks of irregular
sizes three to eight inches in
diameter and six inches long laid
thereon. ana the interstices properly
filed and composition ef boiling hot
eoal tar and pitch poured thereon, we
have no hcsitancy In saying that Fort
Worth will then possess the finest
pavement OF the American continent,
and which will outlivc the youngest
child now in your city and be the pride
and boast of every citizen.
Engineer Sinoot read long article
from Gilmcre's Comparative Pave
ments, = which showed asphalt to be
the best.
Mr.. Brownlee of Dallas said he was
putting down stone puvemcnts IN Dali
las, which could he examined In n
week, when work would be done,
Major Twoinbly was decidedly In fa-
vor OF stone, and wanted the privilege
of putting down stone In front of his
property; had seen HemloclS, Cedar
and other wood paycmcnts put down
and taken up. Wanted the matter
fully investigated, expressing full con-
iidencc In the municipal board.
MIR. Roach was called upon for re-
marks, but had nothing 10 say.
Captain Bailey said in two or three
weeks he could say something on the
question; was opposed 70 wooden pave
ments.
Councilman Elser said the council
had been posting itself for months, SO
much SO, they We're accused of unnec-
essary delay.
Mr., Wilkins thought gravel from