Democratic messenger., 1889-10-05
ASPHALT PAvEMENTs.
Experiences Of Several European cities
with Different Paving Materials.

WAN bhucteut tNHtHs 'tttrSsAsN.
Paris was formerly paved with cubi.
ical blocks of sandstone in the style
commonly known as tho Belgian.
The primary reason for tho substitu-
ton Of asphalt was political: tho pop
ulaco found tho paving stones very
handy for barricadcs. Wood pave
mcnt, stone and asphalt are all in gen
crll use in Paris now. Tho former Is
like the Nicholson block so popular n
few years ago in many American cities
but IL is moic carefully selected and
better laid in Paris. The main objcc-
tions to il arc that il becomes spongy
with use. wears away rapidly. holds
water. and in a state Of decay is in.
salubrious. Its good qualities arc fa-
cility of construction. stillucss, easy
traction. and firm foothold 10
horses; and in Paris and other Euro
pcan cities where il is we'll laid il
stands next 10 asphalt in popular
favor.
In London the n,acadam road. gran.
ito blocks bc,ldcd in concrete. wood
pavemcnts and asphalt are all in use
Tho macndanI. ~ an the Thames en-
hanknent. is cheap. smooth and good
for the horses feet: but IL is dusty in
dry weather and muddy in wet The
granite pavement in London is
smoother aud better laid than any
American stone paving. and stands
wear better than anything else: but il
is noisy and difficult Ia clean. The
wood pavcinrnts more recently laid in
London are of rectangular blocks
sawed from iir plaukS. eight inches
by six and three thick, with II strip Of
felt between each row. The objec-
tons are those already noted. and
they apply To all wood pivcincnts
The London people prefer the asphalt
To all other foriia. They usc the Swiss
or Sicilian m;iStic. mixed with gravel,
or oftcncr with sand. AMI iii,i about
two inches thick over concrete on a
carefully prepared roadway. Tic hest
costs in London from 50 tu 81 II stliiarc
yard; and tho annual expense ri keep
ing it in perfect condition docs not
average more than ten cci,> II yaisl
Tho wear Of the surface is exc, r,ling-
ly slow. being only half tlla, of wood
or macadarn. II is easily kept clean.
and long continued observations show
that horses fall on il us rarely as on
stone.
Tho experience Of Berlin is likewise
in favor OF asphalt. That city is paved
with stone and asphalt, tho stonc
blocks little too broad, but well laid
and carefully kept in order, and tho
asphalt prepared much us in Paris aud
LOndon-clcan, wholesome, silent,
und easy for horses, vehicles and their
occupants Professor Newberry notes
that the most trouble from horses slip
ping on asphalt occurs in cities like
Berlin. where part of the streets arc
paved with stone. Tho shoes are worn
smooth in the stone streets. and in the
asphalt streets in wet weather the ami
mals go down.
Brussels and the other Belgian cities
have only the pavement which takes
its namo from that country. The
blocks are carefully dressed and OF a
uniform size, and the surface is much
smoother tllan in New York streets.
and more easily kept clean. Professor
Ncwbcrry noticed one feature in the
Belgian streets which is worth men.
tioning. At the end of every piece Of
curl,stonc II shallow furrow is cut ont,
into which the projecting angle OF the
next Stone tits. thus tying the curb
stones together so that one cannot
move without the other. New York
Sun.