The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-26
CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
WITH A TOP DRESSING OF GRAN
TIE BLOCKS
The Pavement OF the Future-A
Good Beginning Made on
Third Street.

This will be the finest piete of
pavement in the city," remarked
member Of the engineering corps, yes
terday, to an APPEAL man who hap
rened 10 pass the corner of Union and
Third streets.
"And the most expensive" was the
reply.
Eyes, 1t comes hieh, but we must
have ii. ] speak seriously. The time
is coming when we must quit laying
the old style block stone pavements.
With the heavy traffic the city docs
they don't last any time. Look at
Main etreet. It is all in holes. Sec
ond street was well laid, but it begins
to look already as If II would not last
forever. The blocks are not cut ex-
actly square, aud are laid on sand,
which is piled up or followed out by
the payer TO suit the SIZE OF esch PSF.
t'culsr block So he adjusts the top sur
face to the grade of the street. They
are not all of tho same depth, cnnse-
quently the saud foundation ia not the
same under each block, and the result
is that it gives way in places, and the
contour once broken great holes
wear in it. Now here, you
see, we are laying a solid
foundation of concrete. 1t will bs
perfectly smooth and in strict keaping
with the contour OF the street.. Upon
this we will lay those granite blocks
you see piled over there. They are
sill OF uniform size, about eight inches
long, five inches wide and Of the same
depth. They are laid upon the con-
crete ard after the intersticss have
been filed with coarse gIavel, pi;ch
will be poured in 80 Rs I hold each
block firmly in its place. We are not
going TO pave the whole street in that
way, you understand, but simply this
litle place, about $50 feet, up to the
alley. It will begin the good work
though"
"Wha. do you figure the cost?'
The concrete foundation will cost
about 81 % q square yard. The gran
lite blocks at IL cents each would
MAX the ttoue about $3 20, aud sup
pose gravel and pitch might be figured
at % cents more, making the whole
cost, per square yard, about S4 80. A
good block stone pavement can be
built for about ~ so, or even less, add
the concrete and gravel blocke, You
Zee, costs nearly double. But it makes
ten times the best pavement, and Is
the cheapest, too, rs il lasts indeti
nitely. The biz cks can be changed
half dozen times and new ones put
in OH the foundation. Cedar blocks
may be sub.t tuted, II necessary. The
first coet is much greater, but II the
city had the money ii would be great
saving in the end"
President MADDEN in speaking OF the
paving matter later in the day said he.
thought Tlshomingo gravel would
make about aseood concrete founda-
ton as could be desired. He called
a tention to the recent intersections
IN Thru street, at Monroe and Co urt
streets, whore ten or Twelve inches of
Tishomiugo WIS put down under stone
b ocks oil uniform size, making ns
pre- ty a pavement as could be desired.
ave will have TO do slmt thing with
Main street before very long" h said,
"aod when we tackle It again it wi |
have TO be with concrete and giauiie
blocks Several important changes
will have to bs made in the grade.
Things will have TO be changed around
lively then at the corner OF Main ana
Madison. We will have otake of the
crown CT The Btern l expect, costly
JOB in itself Yes, concrete and grauite
blocks Sre the proper mat rails for
business streets in theiuture."