Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-22
STREET PAVING.

csntinu ally asked, continually discussed, and
continually experimental upon; but tie
subject remains a mystery. Alter a not very
intelligent or discriminating crusade against
wooden pavements, it is becoming recog-
nized that when the proper wood Is used, and
the proper amount of tar, and a good founda-
ton laid, in streets not used for very heavy
and continuous travel, and where the SUI
face water is properly drained of, the wood
pavement has many advantages. 10 our
own city, when tie blocks were removed, the
pavement beneath, where it had not been
disturbed, was found in good, sound, whole
some condition wherever proper drainage
had kept it dry. The blocks On The surface
we're often worn and decayed, and unit Tor
their purpose. OF course they were, and OF
course other blocks will be. The blocks are
| to.the pavement what a tire is 10 a wheel; the
tire may wear out and be renewed again and
again, but the wheel remains. The real
wood pavement il the permanent! sub
pavement. The blocks, when worn so
! that the moisture penstrates and rots the
wood, should be renewed. To throw the
| whole pavement away because the blocks
| that have lone their duty are worn out, Is as
irrational as to throw a coach-Wheel away
because the tire is past service. To put
down large stone where noise is an hindrante
to business is a mistake. In time the edges
Of the angles are worn away; this makes a
dividing space between each block and its
neighbor. As the wearing gets on this space
enlsrges. As the wheels Of vehicles leave
the elevated center of each block they strike
with a violence proportioned to their speed
the next block. This perpetual striking
increases the Objectionable curvature Of
each block, increases the moun OF the
shock with which each Vehicle is as.
sailed, and increases in a vast degree
the rapidity with which it is worn out,
while it makes the joltipg of those riding az
inaiotion hard to endure with composure
as we'll ss increases the racket ami concussiOu
and noise of the vehicles. If a stone
pavement be required which mskes as little
noise as pc sible, the Belgian pavement
should be used. A specimen OF it is to be
seen in Montreal, a little below the custom
house, running up tow from the river. The
foundation is most carefully constructed
Upon this are placed blocks Of about siz
inches by four. The angles are nearly per.
feet. The surface Of each block is level-nC
rounding in the center. The blocks are laid
as carefully and SIS true as the bricks in 8
wall. A heavy steam roller is then passed
over, and over, and over sgain, upon a few
yards at q time, until close inspection shows
that the immense weight ceases TO cause any
sinking. No weight will pass over the pave.
ment nesrly as heavy as the steam roller
will be sunk by traffic below another. Thii
secures psrmanepce. The small size of the
stones prevents the unequal wear which
makes a curved surface, consequently con-
cufsion of the wheels is slight
and the noise made slight in proper
ton. Those who scrutinize our new stone
pavements, the crossing of Madison and Sec
ond, for instance, can judge for themselves
whether some attention is mot required to tht
subject we nave here considered. Especially
nv WIG VI . btCd" o9AS
Let whatever pavement be put down, how
ever true the work or however good the ma
t%erial, if passing vehicles can sink it 1t be
comes uneven, water stands in the hollowa
sinks into and damages the foundation, ant
the pavement becomes a nuisance to every
one who has to traverse il and an eyesore Il
all who look upon it. Perfect ramming i
all important. To get this, the steam ram
mer employed must be of such weight tina
no vehicle passing over it can be 80 loaded as
to sink the stones as deeply as it can, and i
must be passed and repasssd over the pave
ment until the practiced eye, watching the
blocks as the heavy pressure passes ovel
them, sees not the least ininitesimal sinking
Tbis, with good found alton, good drainsge and
good workmanship, will make an enduring
pavement that will give satIf action and save
money to the ratepayers. Even the present
pavement, if properly rammed, as only the
steam hammer can ram, would have its en-
durance greatly increased as we'll as its Level
sustained, and Of course the greater steadi-
ness of the blocks would decrease the wear
A very few years will show citizens the i'm
portance of the information we have here
given-or thrown away.