The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-26


r. the corrcct name OF the paving ma
terial referred TO by President lIadden us
"Whceling fire brick" These blocks first
came TO the attention OF the local authori-
Ties during the fall OF 1886, and us Mr..
lladdcn expressed Il, ~ have long favored
the paving OF North Court street with
them rs SIMPLE work" Now that the
matter IL again up for discussion, sprung
BY the miserable condition OF the streets,
the gentleman who first sung the praises
OF these blocks comes forward with the
following communication on the subject;
PRE- BRICK PAVEMENT.
To the Editor OF The Appeal.
In your issue OF Tuesday, February 81,
notice an interview with President ID. L.
lIaddcn on the subject Of the improve
ment Of what Is termed "our streets"
The subject OF this communication Ia not
10 be fault finding, for no doubt that dur
ing the past eight years all that could be
done was done with the limited means
available. A part Of your interview re-
lated TO what materials were best suited to
our streets aud their cost Our worthy
president did mention fire brick, hut
. classed II as too costly. Your humble
servant was probably the first one 10 adyo-
cato tho use OF this material. lie was
prompted 10 do NJ from personal obscrva-
non Ind Of them some two years ago In the
city Of Wheeling. The writer observed
that II made not only beautiful
street, but also one possessing many al.
vantngcs over the NJ much praised as
phaltum street, for two reasons; iist, be-
cause OF much less cost and second, being
less smooth, IL gives bottom purchase 10
horses. II was 10 me then novelty, and,
like many Others ! expressed belief that
they would not lut any time. This ex-
preston was made in the presence OF Mr..
Grubcr, then mayor OF Wheeling. was
at once given the most convincing proof by
short walk 10 street facing the Balii.
morc 4 Ohio freight depot, where unqurs-
tionably the heaviest hauling Of tho city Is |
done. Here the pavement had been laid |
some five ycarS prior. II cgret 10 say that |
Memphis cannot boast OF an even small |
patch OF pavement rs good rs that not cx- |
cepling the Nicholson facing the Peabody,
or that moro than s4-pcr-squarc-ya yard
granite ON Third between Monroe aud
union.) Twas also taken TO upper Main
street 10 see the pavement laid. II was
simple indeed. The city l., or was, hay.
ing the work done by contract under a
competent city engineer, the contractor
removing the old material, grading the
street, putting down six inches OF sand, |
furnishing all the material and completing |
the pavement at sl.27l per square yard. |
The brick u not made nj Wheeling, but |
some thirty or forty miles above, and DO. |
lycrcd either by boat or nail, consequently
u rcquircs the same handling M II would
II brought 10 Memphis, 10 which must be
added the difference In distance. This
will, Of courc, increase the cost 10 q Ger.
tain extent, but how much, u any, pave.
ment have we In Memphis that cost no
LEES than l.l5 per squaru yard.
lmbued with the belief that II would bo
suitable pavement for most II not all the
streets, ! caused samples 10 be sent 20
AIR. liadlen. Aye, more. A gentleman
from Wheeling pnofTcred to secure mo
] 900 OF these bricks 10 be used ON some
street 90 a sample II I would pay tho
freight interviewed both Mr.. MADDEN
and our city engineer, agreeing 10 furnish
That number Of brick and was promised a
trial. am glad 10 notice that bis honor
has no, FULLY given up the idea Of doing
-. also tried 10 enlist the sympaihics
al Mr.. lArkin on the same subject, but
found him with bad case Of Clarksvillc
blue limestone rock on the brain. | am
not drumming for Mr. Porter, who manu-
fncturcsthcsc bricks, but, like many others,
would like 10 see this style OF pavement
given trial, feeling satisfied Il would give
NJ smoother and better street, at cost
but little above that Of T'hirl street be-
tween Court and Madison, which Is now
being repaired with tree tops. dried up
rose bushes and old mortar and refuse
brick from torn down buildings.
CnAnLrs J. scurnEh
Mr.. schcrcr's communication was &C.
oomranied by number Of letters and cir
SnlAn irom the manulaciurcr, Mr.. John
Porter, Of New Cumberland. w. Va. Tbere
was also a copy Of the Uuily hi,Ij;osao-,
from which The following extract h made
The brick block u n wedQo-shaped one
harder than hrc brick, laid In sand, with
broad am narrow edges up m alternate
rows. Hot tar and pitch is then poured
over Them and aand thrown on ton OF ali.
The result Il firm, clean, smooth road.
way. Mr.. i. II. Moore, In a letter 10 tho
81 Louis Age u Sod, about Wheeling.
kays OF thcso brick streets IL Il not only
an economic departure from fossiirod Gus.
toms but progressive aud an cmincntly
eagncious ono as well; In fact. after one
has been harassed into profanity by the
noisy, even dcafcnlng, catier and railling
OF vehicles over stone payements, Il vcrgcs
On bhc iukunoua. lhc pavement has been
Tested on the most frequently used streets
Tor Three years. and for durability, cost,
tmoothness, resistance Of climatic changcs,
cleanliness and noiselefaneus Il NOT only
gives Satisfaction, but II esteemed superior
70 any other. I'll surprising. after three
ycan use, how FREQ from Irregularities.
dcprctsaons, OF even material abrasion,
TINS pavement appears. and how mercilul
~ ~ TO ones tympanium.'
The advantages Of the foregoing STYLE Of
pavement are that the coat " not much
moro than onc-iourth that Of granite, one
third that Of asphalt and les than that %
wood or cobble. Il provides a water tight
cover for the surface Of the street, thus se
curing the great desidentum for a goot
eiroct, viz; q good foundation. II ha
greater powers Of resistance 10 tho down
ward pressure Of loads passing over Il thar
any other pavement The advantages o
tho arch and wedge are both secured II
The method Of laying the blocks II car
DO clcanscd With Icss labor and nj less cos
ihaa other pavclncnis. lis coating Of pitch
aud fand furnishes . secure looling FOL