Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-20
ELECTRIC ALARMS
And Lamps Likely to be Placed at the
Different Railway Crossings
In the City.
The Result of the Recent investigations
of City Engineer Neriwethsr; at
Louisville, Ky.
- -
Description Of the Alarm System and
of tie Best Methods of Making
Granite Payements.

Mai. Miles Meriwsthef, the city engin-
eer. returned yesterday morning from a
visit to Louisville, where he spent several
days investigating the various systems of
alarms for railroad crossings and the best
meanssf. paving streets. He acquainted
himself With all the details of two SIS
tens, that OF the bell and lauujeand the
gate. The former has been In operation
on the short-line in front OF the city of
Louisyille. as an eXberimsnt, for several
months, and is said to Answer every
purpose. 1t consists Of 8. light cast
iron lattice-work stand about twenty
feet high, which is provided with
bell and light, The bell is OF fine cop
per, about eighteen inches in diameter,
and has a loud. clear and muaicai s5und.
1t Is ronhected with battery, which has
wire attached to the rail. At the top ofthe
stand is a powerful electric lamp. This
apparatus is so arranged as to work auto
matically, and by sort of clockwork will
announce the approach Of a train Mt any dis
tance Up to 5000 feet. The light, OF course
burns all night, the bell beginning to ring
as soon as the engine passes given point
and rattling away at lively rate until the
train passes the bell, These alarms placed
at street etessisas viii ;aerve to warn per-
sons travelling along the streets OF the ap-
proach of the train and prevent accidents
which are otherwise so likely to occur.
The cost of each is about 500, and if the
Board receives Maj. Meriwether's report
favorably a large number of them will
be put in ~. once, as the rail-
roads entering the city are periG;ctlr
willing to do what they can to guard
against accidents. 1t is likely, in case of
their adoption, that they will be placed all
along the levee, beginning at the Hope
Oil-Mills and on down to Union street, at
every crossing. They are needed more
there than elsewhere, Tie gate system is
favofed by sevefal of the Board: These
act as direct barrier against travel; rising
and closing the street when d train is
about to cross, The cost ef tie Eites is
about S400 each. Mai .Meriwether also spent
some time in examining the granite pave
ment now being put down in Louisville.
A foundation OF over two feet is dug and
fifteen inches of crushed stone is laid
until It is thoroughly compressed
and granite blocks are then laid down.
The stones are of uniform size, five inches
wide, seven inches long and six inches
thick, and of q pepper-and-salt color.
Asphaltum, a costly substance obtained in
the Island OF Trinidad, Mexico, and one
or two other places, is melted, and, while
boiling hot, is poured over the stones un-
til every crevice is filled. The specifica-
tions require three gallons to the square
yard. An inch of screened gravel is
finally spread over the granite and satu,
rated with asphaltuin, and the result is
the finest pavement in the world. On
Broadway, New York City, with all its
travel, it lasts for eight years, In Mem.
phis or Louisville it would last for quar-.
ter of a century at least. Accurate esti.
mates of the cost have not yet been made
by Maj. Meriwether, but he intends making
an exhaustive report to the Council. 1t
| is probable that granite will be the pave,
| ment OF the future in Memphis.