Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-03
The 30 OF PUBLIC WORKS ON
MN lean.

III TIC OANANN va WV '~A -
Works We casually got 3 glance at a
small pile Of hard bricks of different
shapes ard size, which somewhat ex-
cited our curiosity.
We turned them over, handled them,
examined them carefully, and do not
hesitate to affirm that they were bricks.
By a little cross questioning We also
learned that they had been shipped as
a sample from New Cumberland, on
the order of the Board ofPublic Works.
We reasoned that the Board of Public
Works does not build houses; it does
not build chimneys; it does not build
anything in which hard bricks are
used; ITS special business is to build
streets.
4 little further cross. questioning
brought out the fact that these samples
of bricks were ordered by the Board N
pursuance Of an investigation they are
actually making rs to their utility for
PAVING str Gets.
Now, although the REGISTER has
sUS,vos - P~vpns Sno ctJy streets with
brick, and has not hesitated to speak
out in meetiu' on the general merits Of
the proposition, We feel, just now, like
holding u breath and standing stock
still after the of the fisherman
who "has a bite" but fears to stir lest
the fish may become capriciOus aud
change its mind.
But in looking ~ these specimens
Of brick we felt hat the case i'm their
favor as paving material was already
made, and before a jury Of practical,
sensible men like the Board of Public
Works, there could be but n cOnGlu-
sion reached, and that having come to
the point of making an examination, no
argument Is necessary.
The bricks are as hard Us stone, they
are as heavy, probably, IS the same
bulk of grauIte, they are no more brittle
than a cobble stone, they are of rOugher
texture than any stone, they have been
proved to be more durable than any
stone, save granite, they are all of uni
form, convenient size for paving, and
they make a better, prettier street than
any paving material ever used.
There is, therefore, but u point
upon which to h~esitate-the cost. We
are not prepared to say what the differ
ence would be, if any, between the first
cost of the material for q cobble-stOne
pavement and a brick pavement. Cob
ble-stone are obtained for the cost ofthe
gathering and hauling, but hat is con-
siderable. The brick would cost less
than a cent each and the transporta-
ton from New Cumberland. Probably
the difference would not be % cents on
ayard of paving.
The purchase of the brick is in the
nature of a permanent investment. The
pavement may become uneven and
rough, and may need to be taken up
and put down nearly rs often as cObble
stone, but the brick itself will wear for
generation. We will venture the state
ment, too, that the difference between
thecOst Of putting down cOble-stOne and
brick will pay all difference in the orig
inal cost of the material. That is to
say, that the ease and speed with which
= brick pavement could be laid would
reduce the cost of laying, as compared
with cobbles, more than would offset
any excess in the cost of the bricks over
the cObbles.
To say nothing of the superior value
of the brick pavement after it is laid,
there Is every reason for assuming that
it would require less frequent repairing
than cobbles. While the durability of
any hard pavement depends chiefly on
its foundation, yet assuming that cob
bles and brick were put upon the same
bottom the brick would be firmer be-
cause Of the uniformity in size and
shape. They would lie closer together,
forming, by their smooth surface, a
compact and immOvable bed. They
would not be liable to the
same jolting and Earring of the
projecting eobble stones. AS long as
the foundation remained perfect they
would be immovable, and they would
make repairs more easy when neees-
sary. They would admit of being torn
I'D more easily in case Of laying pipes
than would cobble stone. Moreover,
the brick IAN be moulded a easily Of
one shape as another and the pavement
thus be made of any depth found to be
most practicable.
Whatever might prove to be the ina,