Daily Republican., 1886-09-29
WEDNESDAY skPTsMsER 10. 1886.


Rire-bfick Pavement.
1t 10 only lately, within two or three
years, that fre-brick pavements have
appeared amongst the possibilities OF
the times, but 90 fAvorably have they
recommended themselves that they sre
to be placed upon trial In
nearly every city In the Union. The
agitation has reached Wilmington aud
oar City Council has appointed COM
mites 70 investigate tho subject and
report whether In their opinion 1t
would be feasible to lay square or
two Of our streets the present fall with
that material. It is hoped the COM
mistee will feel the necessity Of max.
ing haste In the matter II we are 70
have o fair trial begun this fall.
Should this pavement come into gen.
eral use, Delaware has the material on
hand in the never-failing mines OF
Ksolin ut Hockessin to supply the de-
mand. 1t 10 we'll known that Are
brick In themselves, % they are now
used for furnaces and FORCES, do not
posse g the necessary hardness to
withstand the constant wear and tear
of heavy travel over . much. used
street. To give them the necessary
hardness, therefore, the are-clsy is
mixed with silica and iron Stag until
Homogeneous mass 10 obtained which 10
burned In q kiln In the usual way.
The bricks as turned out are nine
Inches long, four and three q uarter
wide, or rather deep a. they are placed
In order, three and one sixth in ehes
across one end and two and three
quarters across the other end. From
this it IL seen that they are wedge
shaped and when set down on Q prop.
erly prepared foundation or bed OF sand
or gravel the wide or marrow edges OF
sides are set up alternately. On them
hot pitch Is then poured and this Il
covered with O coating Of clean sand
The completed work presents, 1t IL said
q solid, clean and smooth surface pos
sessing Qualities no other road way q
present in use can claim.
As to the relative cost Of pavement,
OF this material, 1t 10 said that 10 Il
from eighty-five to ninety five cent
Der square yard. Besides cheapness
Il possesses many other recon- menda
lions that make 1t su perior to any othe,
kinds Of pavement. It is completely
vAter-tipht and therefore durable in /,
sanitary point OF view. The wedge
shaped brick. or blocks serve TO solidify
the street and 10 resis. the pressure o
he.vv traffic. A a safe and sure foo,
hold for horses IL ia ssid to surpass al
other. II can ha easiIv and aconom,
cally cleaned. and bein0 a comnara
lively smooth surface heavier losds GA,
he moved With greater esse. vbiIe IN,
wear Of horses and vehicles IA Of ne.
oassl.y greatly dimipished. It ia ala,
claimed that IL properIv kent in renal,
nv fresh ooatInos Of mitch and s.nd tn,
roedbed Ia virtually vitbout limit AZ !,
tts duration. but this va tbink h
drawing too much unon the ima0ina
ton. Even solid granite viIl Weld /,
heavy and continuous traffic and wen
into rata. A practical test nj this ron,
mpst he tho hest evidence NJ i.s dors
bility. Wheeling. West Virginia. le,
off in testing This navemsnt ans nm
down some. four Years AGO. INIT mad
the mistake OF i.yipe IL ON a Man
foundation. which rot.ed aVav.
WAS then re.laid without plank an
gives mich sa,istaotion. In stepber
Vile. Oaio. A sand and gravel found,
tion WAS nrenared and on tbia m
blocks were laid Two wars n, s,ead
use shows no percen.ihle soaring an
the road Ia said to bs one NJ the Ssst ;
the world
A resnlt NJ tbis tea. otber c,t,
are teuinnipg IN mt do tho nav