The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-01

100 pounds
The composition of the Barber, warren-Scharf
pavement Is very cheap and simple-composed
almost entirely Of sand. 1t L. much cheaper
msnts. The petroleum mastic will not combine
with the eoarssr and moro durable materials
used by the vulcanite process. Petroleum is
an unsafe paving material, and has but q small
proportion Of wax or pitch. Everywhere that
Barber or Warreu-Scharf have laid q pavsment
. few years rot sets in and their pavement is
in . process of rapid decay. This is true in
Washington. Buffalo, ST. Louis, New Orleans
and everywhere they have laid pavements.
After an experience OF fifteen years. concluded
Mr.. Murdoch. in his letter, during which time
/ have laid every kind of pavement. including y
large quantity for A. L. Barber, / have reached
the conclusion that az laid by Barber and War
ren-Scharf and mixed with petroleum the Trim
idad asphalt Is q very unsafe paving material,
and will not last one-haIf as long as pavemen.s
laid under the vulcanite process"
Mr.. Shepherd continued: "This bid Of S14 q
front foot by the Warren-Scharf comnsny Is
really q bid Of So: lisa square yard for material
which costs at the figures ruling here 81 IS .
square yard. They want TO get about 100 por
cent advance for this pure Trinidad asphalt
pavement / have another letter here which
will DO interesting as showing the expert
ence Of property-owners on Chambers street.
New York. and which may be the experience OF
property-owners here."
Mr.. Shepherd read Q letter from Robt Alex
ander, dated New York, May 20. Mr.. Alexan-
der was employed in the fall Of 1886 by the Bar
making tests of asphaltie mastic. This pave
ment in less than two weeks began breaking up,
so that no common repairs would do. The whole
surface coat had to be ripped up and relaid with
. new mixture. The pavement was relaid sew
eral tinles. and even now workmen can often be
found at night repairing It. An Official con-
nected with the Barber company said the Cham
bers street pavement had been q dead loss to
them in 1886 and 1887 OF over $40, 600. Mr.. Alex
andsr said he was fully satisfied that the great
mistake in the Barber mixture IL the use OF
crude petroleum oil. which has q tendency to
rot. cut. disintegrAte, and spoil the homeogene-
ous qualities OF any and all kinds of asphalt, il
being one of the most volatile oils known.
Mr.. Shepherd here showed to the committee
q copy of the patent of Doctor Filbert. of the
Vulcanite pavement. and al assignment Of the
same 10 the National Vulcauits Company, OF
New YORK, a. showing that company mad the
right to lay the pavement he then called at
tention to . table prepared by I. w. Symons.
captain Of engineers, United States army, show
ing the cost Of repairing Washington paved
streets per annum per foot The cost Of re-
pairing K street. laid Ia 1875. is 41-3 mills;
Fittssnth street. 14-10 mills; s street. 6-lo0
avenue. Eighteenth TO Twenty third, south side.
81 mills; do. north side, 1 cent; Pennsylvania
avenue. Twenty third to Rock creek. i mill.
Mr.. Shepherd said he had noticed q report in
the lnQlonhpOli3 JourQols IN winch mr.. WIN
merry denied there was any such thing as an
asphalt monopoly. He said he held ia his hand
= contract made with James Brant, Of New
York, and the Asphalt Paving Company, in
which the latter company agrees TO pay SIS, 600
q year. upon condition that he does not sell
asphalt to any other parties for the laying Of
asphalt pavsmsnss. "If that 10 not monopoly"
said Governor Shepherd. II would like to know
what it isfs Governor Shepherd said he had
made q contract with Mr.. Brant for the asphalt
which is In the top coating Of the vulcanite- He
then read from the Commercial Advertiser, Of
Buffalo. N. Y, date Of April 30. 1885. to show
that in that city some Of the asphals pavements
have NOS came up TO their expectations.
Governor Shepherd showed that the Barber
sspnals pavement u composed OF two distinct
and separate layers. and there 10 no bond Of
union between them Changes Of tsmperaturs
cause cracking In the top coating. Wherever
the water gets in 10 will rot asphalt. So true
il shis that IL Warrington City they viii not lay
the asphalt next 20 the gutter. for where the
water lies on she asphalt 10 will rot The vul.
canits pavemsut. on the other hand, IL packed
In close and frm, . solidifsd mass. and the re-
suit 10 hsrs before you-pointing 70 the sample
on :hs table In the Barber pavement there 10
no bond Of union. Moisture cannot crack vul-
c.nite pavement nor can anything
DESTROY it 60 and sxamins the pave.
msut In Washingten. Pistsbure and
slsswhsrs where this pavement has been
down from twelve 70 seventeen years. and IL IL