Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-07
ASPHALT BLOCK PAYMENTS.


Ths Contracts for the Current Year Com
p4ated-MOre Work of the same Kind
to DO Done
From the Washington D. C.) Star, Docs, 1883.
TIE asphalt block pavement contracts
have all been completed, and all the streets
Of that kind are reported TO be in excellent
condition. These blocks were introduced
in this city in1S78 on the residence streets
oil TINS city, aud nave grown in pOpu lalty
every year. They cost less than the street
asphalt, and are almost nolseless. At
first complaint was made as to the I'M
equal quality Of the blocks, but the official
reports now agree that there has been
much improvement made from year TO
year in their Manufacture. The laying OF
these blocks has been entrusted to one
contractor, who has in each case been the
successful bidder every year, and Is re-
garded as an expert hand at the business.
During the present year, however, as be
had so much work on hand, and the Wea-
Their was unfavOrable during the early
part OF the year, the time for finishing the
work bad to be extended.
Capt. f. A. Mahan. in his note to Engi-
/ neer Commissioner LVdecker, states as
! follow S: Patrick MalOney was the sue
| cessiul bidder on two contracts for laying
asphalt blocks. The following streets
were included under one of them: Sixth
| street southeast, from PENNSYLVANIA ave
nue. TO East Capitol street; Fifth street
northeast, from East Capitol street &c
Maryland avenue; Sixth street northeast
| from East Capitol street to Maryland ave.
nue.; Tenth street southwest, from b street
to Maryland avenue; street southwest
from Ninth TO Twelfth southwesi Eigh'
tenth street northwest, from X to /
Q rd Of II n nj
streets northwest. This contract expiTe|
on October Is. T. 6t0-y tea Attr contract
tneNe was ~ one street-A street
southeast, from Third to Sixth streets.
ibis contract expired on Nov. IA. AS
there was a great call for the early COM
pletl0n Of 4 street, Mr. MalOnev was di-
rected to do this street before going to
Eighteenth and Twenty-third streets. A
heavy treshet which occurred in Silver
Run creek, near Baltimore, did great dam
age to the factory which made the asphalt
blocks, and greatly delayed the supply"
Under these circumstances, Capt. Mahan
recommended that the time on the first of
these contracts be extended to Dec. 1, 1885,
which was done, and they are now COM
pleted. IL is likely there will be much
more oithis work done.
From the Washington p. O. Star. JuJs s, 1885.
During the last three wears the apUrO-
pTlati0n Tor repairs TO concrete paVements
has been $4,000. OF this about $40, 600
has been required for minor repairs,
leaving $4,000 for resUrfacing. There are
over 800 600 Yards OF these paVements
which nave never been resurfaced, and
their surface is rapidly wearing out. In
less they can he resurfaced with asphalt
more rapidly than at present in a few
years they will 20 to pieces, as it will be
impossible to preserve them by patching.
1t is necessary, therefore. 10 increase the
appropriation for repairs TO concrete pave
ments, AID ~ making up the next esti-
mates think that this item should be not
less than S7j, 600.
The asphalt block pavements have been
laid each year since 1878 in small quanti-
ties. the Total amount laid TO date beng
about 5000 yards. Some Of the blocks
have not been entirely satisfactory, but
the quality OF them has greatly improved
in the last two years, and in the contracts
recently awarded for 1885 the amount
Of asphalt blocks was about 10000 yards.
The cost " this clsss of pavement has
always been somewhat less than asphalt.
It's use Is restricted to residence streets of
light traffic, where it is entirely satisfac-
tory, provided the blocks are properly
made.-Adr.