The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-01
Brick Pavement.

/
A few days ago the MORNING News suy-
! geSted the ACCESSIBILITY of inquiring into the
merits of brick pavement before deciding TO
/ put down wooden pavement in any part of
the city. The suggestion was made with
the hope that the City Council would act
! upon it. 1t may have done so, but if it has
/ it has not made known the result of its in
! qury
Within the last few days letters have
been received from the engineers of cities
in which brick pavement is in use, and they
/ speak in the highest terms of IT, In some
/ cities it has been in use for seventeen years
and in others from ten to twelve years. The
substance of what the engineers say of it
may be summed up as follows:
A well constructed, brick pavement
presents very desirable surface, and gives
great satisfaction. No complaints of it
have been made in any of the cities in
which it has been laid. Its durability de
ponds largely upon the quality of the ma
terial. In fact, its success or failure de
Ponds almost entirely upon that. A good
pavement OF brick stands very heavy
traffic is noiseleSs dustless. healthy, is easily
I
getting at pipes and sewers and presents a
surface upon which horses do not slip.
Fire brick, of course, are the best material,
but they are not always obtanable for
price that admits of a comparatively mex
pensive pavement. As a rule, therefore, in
cities which have no fire clay in their imme-
date vicinity brick made from ordinary
| building brick-clay are used. They are
burned hard, almost vitrified, especially
those used for the surface
This IS the method of constructing the
pavement: The foundation being brought
as near H. the proper grade as possible it is
rolled with heavy roller, the curbing having
been previously set. Over this rolled sur
face is spread a layer OF about two inches of
cinderS or gravel, which is thoroughly
rolled and compacted, care being taken to
preserve the shape aud grade,
so that this surface is parallel to
the desired surface of the pave
ment. On the gravel or cinders is placed a
layer Of about two inches of sand, and upon
this course of brick. The brick are LAID
fiat with their longest dimensions in the di-
rection of the street so as to break joints.
These brick are covered with about an inch
of screened sand, and upon this the surface
brick are laid, being placed on edge, across
the direction of the street, SO as to break
joints The crevices are filled with coal tar
and sand and thoroughly rolled.
The cost of the pavement is, of course, a
matter of prime Importance. In some
cities it cost 81 80 per square yard In
others as much as 81 The cost depends
upon the cost of brick and labor. If clay
can be obtained in the vicinity, and the
workmen are energetic and skillful, good
pavement can be put down at compare
lively small cost
Wood pavement no longer holds place
in public favor. The small cost at which it
can be put down first attracted attention to
1t, but 1t is not cheap pavement. 1t is in
almost constant need of repairs, and is viz
tuaily worn out in five or six years 1t is
dangerous to health. being believed to be a
source of diphtheria ana scarlet fever, as well
as of other diseases. The asphalt costs too
much, and coal tar is not at all satisfactory
Engineers of cities are giving more and
more attention to brick pavement, and the
more they study it the better they like it,
The fact that 1t is now in use in many cities
where it gives entire satisfaction is sufficient
to justify an inquiry into ITS merits This
city is looking for a material which will
make cheap, durable, noiseless and healthy
pavement 1t has many streets to pave,
and it cannot afford to pave them with
asphalt, and 1t ought not to pave them with
wood if all that is said against wood pave
l., l.
ment, and, besides, if first class, it costs as
much as asphalt. Why not get the facts
about brick pavement from those who have
tried it, and if they are in its favor why not
give it trial!