Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-20

The first and most important requisite
for good pavement is a solid foundation.
Without this tits impossible TO maintain
a smooth surface, whether paved with
granite blocks 'Macadam, "Ashler.
cedar blocks, "cobble stones" gravel,
asphalt Or bricks"
Next TO importance to firm and I'M
| yielding foundation IS dura buity, smooth
ness of surface, and sure footing for horses.
In addition 10 these requirements road
way should be constructed OF such ma
| terial, and in such n manner as to over
come any tendency TO slipperiness: without
| joints large enough to encourage the
growth Of weeds, or the accumulation or
filth. that will be least affected by heat
and cold-that will be easily kept free
from mud, during the season when street
sprinkling becomes necessity, and with
al, costing so little as to come within the
possibility of the smaller cities and larger
suburban towns. In my judgment, these
requirements are more nearly met where
brick OF suitable size ana hardness are
used in paving street.
Brick pavements have attained such a
degree OF perfection, that | feel warranted
| in pronouncing them the best payements
now in use and my experience leads ME to
add that the enduring qualities of a brick
pavement are only excelled by granite, and
are fully equal to that of Medina stone. y
brick pavement properly made with press
ed paving brick such as are used in the
city of Peoria. with the joints filled with
distilled tar will be as smooth as asphalt.
as noiseless as n wooden pavement and
will never become muddy. The brick paw
ing blocks used in the Peoria pavements
are of the following dimensions: four
inches thick, twelve inches long and five
inches deep; these are laid in a bed of
gravel FIVE inches in thickness, thoroughly
consolidated the joints are filled in with
coarse sharp sand: the blocks being hand
pressed are uniform in size; the upper
edges are slightly champered thereby
furnishing the most perfect footing for
horses.
Franklin street in the city of Peoria, to
which l refer has been paved about two
years and is one of the public thorough
fares, and is subject TO very heavy traffic.
AS yet it shows no signs of wear. and is as
smooth as any asphalt pavement.
There is no pavement in the state that
presents finer appearance than the one
refer to.
After many years of experience in mu-
nicipal work | am willing to put myself on
record, by saying, there is no better pave
ment know to the engineering fraternity
than properly constructed brick pave
ment that can be made for the same
struction; it is easily, quickly and cheaply
repaired.
1t is the smoothest, most durable and
economical pavement that can be laid, and
from a sanitary standpoint is without an
objection.
In the selection of material for the man
ufacture of brick for paving purposes the
properties Of hardness and toughness are
Indispensable only such material should
be used as will burn to the consistency of
flint. and yet retain all its powers of
toughness. With such brick as | have
described pavement can be made, having
no inequalities of surface, and will present
no resistance to heavy loads, and will re
duce the conclusion of all traffic to the
minimum
We have in the brick pavement the COM
biDed good qualities of the Granite
Block" the "Macadam," the "Ashler,"
the Cedar Block, the ''Cobble Stone"
the Gravel" and the Asphalt" without
single one of their Objectionable features,
and this too at cost only trifie in adj
vance of the cheapest pavement named.
In the City of the Hague, Rotterdam, and
other large cities of Holland, brick, for
more than century, has been the only
finished material used for paving. The
streets of their principal cities are sub
jected to as heavy traffic as the streets OF
the largest cities of Europe.
OuTiDR ldSj SulHlHtI % Vi HlilIt
visited the City of the Hague" city of
$50 900 inhabitants, and made careful
examination of the brick pavement on one
of the principal streets It was laid more
than twenty-five years ago and was in per-
feet condition, giving but little evidence Of
wear during all these years.
1t only remains for the brick manufac-
tories to produce the proper material, in
order 10 create a universal demand for
their wares. Some have accomplished
this result, and their success is stimulating
others il their efforts to secure the same
end. Wonderful progress has been accom-
plished in the manufacture Of clay during
the decade just past.
Basing on. expectations upon past re-
suits, we are warranted in hoping for such
success in the future as will secure to Us
good, durable and cheap pavements.
Hoping the few minutes ] have tres
passed on your time, may not be lost to all,
| thank you for your attention.