Daily globe., 1883-07-31
1AMBER OF COMMERCE..

me st, Paul LeVee-The improvement of
he Mississippi-Iron Ore-The Bank
upt Law, Etc.
The members of the board of directors
the chamber of commerce met yesterday
orning with the usual promptness.
MANUFACTURES.
Capt. Barney, from the committee on
anufactures, made the following report,
lich was adopted:
the President and Board of Directors
of the st. Paul Chamber of Commerce:
GENTLEMEN: You committee beg leave to
port that they have carefully examined
mples of Conger's patent asphalt pave
ent and sidewalk, and they are of the
9inion that they are the best samples of
sphalt that has ever been shown in st.
aul, and they would recommend the city
>uncil that they lay down small portion
street and sidewalk with it, as an ex-
eriment.
Since the introduction of the new era in
pad making, inaugurated by the cclebrat-
j Macadam, the unsurpassed excel ence
f macadamized roads is undisputed, but
or street paving, sidewalks, and sundry
ther places and purposes demanding
cry different style of paving, experiment
as of late years followed experiment,w with
reater Or less expense, all aiming at the
obstruction of paving having the COM
ined qualities of smoothness, durability,
nd cheapness. Of the several sought to
70 utilized in this regard, whether consist
ng of wood, stone, or iron, none seems
comparable with asphalt. Asphalt is
volcanic formation, being smooth, hard,
Irittle, black or brown substance, which
Freaks with polish, melts easily when
heated, and emits a strong odor of pitch.
t is found in soft or liquid state on the
surface of the Dead sea, which from this
substance is called Asphaltie lake. It is
:ound also in the earth in many parts of
Asia, Europe and America.
For paving, the blocks are made six
inches thick; for sidewalks, two inches.
1t forms an almost noiseless pavement,
being set in equal blocks fitted together
without any cracks for wheels to rattle
over. and but little or no dust arises
from it.
1t has been found capable of standing
a hydraulic pressure of 17S tons to the
square foot, and the same pressure has
been used to endeavor to force kerosene
oil into the blocks, but they proved to be
utterly impervious.
The following are the uses of this IA
nous asphalt paving block: Street paving,
sidewalks, curbing, crossings, carriage
drives, Easements, cellar floors, parks,
pleasure grounds, areas; also for drain
pipe, cutters, building, foundation and pier
walls. The asphalt has two great advan-
tages, namely: Freedom from pourous-
ness and smell, so that there
is neither absortion of water nor
emission of unpleasant odor, as is the case
with other compositions. A very notice
able feature of this composition is its
elasticity, which makes the pavement the
easiest to drive on that can we'll be i'm
agined. We read numerous testimonials
from reliable houses of business in the
eastern states, which speak in high terms
of Gonger's asphalt. The following are a
few abstracts from the testimonials:
Knickerbocker Ice Co., Philadelphia,
used it for three years, and say it stands as
good as new.
The proprietor of the principal hotel at
Wilmington, Delaware, says the Conger
asphalt gives general satisfaction.
Otto Sutoe, of Baltimore, says it wears
like steel.
F. K. Fuller, roofer, of Syracuse, n. Y,
says that Conger's roof has stood tests of
wind storms that tore off states and rolled
up tin roofs, but failed to affect the Conger
patent.
Thomas Emerson & Sons, So Pearl street
Boston, say they have used the asphalt for
five years, and say that the elements do not
affect it nor does heavy trucking, and the
roads are nearly noiseless.
j. n. Barland, stock raiser, Red House
farm, New London, Conn, had it put down
in his stock stable six and half years ago.
He says it improves by age, and does not
absorb moisture, and he never knew an
animal to slip on it. He says even granite
cannot compare with it for wear or resist
ance to the elements.
Walter S. George, superintendent of
streets, Haverhill, Mass, says that on one
street, where 5000 teams, trucks, ETC.,
pass daily, the pavement wears better than
granite, and horse never slips on it.
Making rough estimate, your commit
tee are inclined to think that the asphalt
curbing could be put down by a company
for about fifty cents per running foot;
the sidewalks from 81 40 to $1.55 per
square yard, and the street pavement from
81. 65 to $1.80 per square yard, and the
roofing from 81 to 81 per ten foot square,
at which prices company could probably
make handsome profit. Respectfully,
THos. J. BARNEY, Chairman.
ASPHALT.
The following statement by D.J. Conger
setting forth the merits of his asphalt
pavement was read and referred to the
committee on manufactures:
First-It is durable, made of ground &C.
ment, gypsum, sand and pure asphalt-no
coal tar-subJected to an intense heat and
then cut into blocks of any assigned shape.
form or size, while hot heavy rollers are
used to compress the mass, For street
pavements the blocks can be cast in any
size, but usually in 10x20x6 inches. Side
walks in any size from 2Ox20 inches to 10
x10 feet, as parties may desire. Same for
flooring Easements, cellars, etc.
Second-Its cheapness is one of its great
features, as all of the ingredients are stone
except the asphalt, and all can be easily
procured at nominal prices, nineteen
thirty-seconds being gravel. Some of the
eastern cities lay it for $3.50 per square
yard, with fair profits. For
streets we lay it in four, five
and siy inch blocks, according to the
amount of travel, etc. For sidewalks and
flooring of all kinds we put 1t down for
from ten to eighteen cents per foot, &C.
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