The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-07-04
ASPHALT PAVEMENTS.
Experiences of Several European cities
with Different Paving Materials.

Experiences of Several European cities
with Different Paving Materials.
Paris was formerly paved with cubi-
ical blocks of sandstone in the style
commonly known as the Belgian.
The primary reason for the substitu-
ton of asphalt was political: the pop
ulace found the paving stones very
handy for barricades. Wood pave
ment, stone and asphalt are all in gen.
eral use in Paris now. The former is
like the Nicholson block so popular
few years ago in many American cities,
but it is more carefully selected and
better laid in Paris. The main ohjec-
tons to it are that it becomes spongy
with use, wears away rapidly, holds
water, and in a state of decay is in
salubrious. Its good qualities are fa-
cility of construction, stiffness, easy
traction, and a firm foothold to
horses; and in Paris and other Euro
pean cities where it is well laid it
stands next to asphalt in popular
favor.
In London the macadam road, gran
ite blocks bedded in concrete, wood
pavements and asphalt are all in use
bankment, is cheap, smooth and good
for the horses feet; but it 70 dusty in
dry weather and muddy in wet The
granite pavement in London is
smoother and better laid than any
American stone paving, and stands
wear better than anything else; but it
is noisy and difficult to clean The
wood pavements more recently laid III
London are of rectangular blocks
sawed from fir planl1s, eight inches
by six and three thick, with strip of
felt between each row. The objec-
tions are those already noted, and
they apply to all wood pavements.
The London people prefer the asphalt
to all other forms. They use the Swiss
or Sicilian mastic, mixed with gravel,
or oftener with sand, and laid about
two inches thick over concrete on a
carefully prepared roadway. The best
costs in London from s. to 81 square
yard and the annual expense OF keep
ing it in perfect condition does not
average more than ten cents yard.
The wear of the surface is exceeding
ly slow, being only half that OF wood
or macadam. 1t is easily kept clean,
anu long CODJlDu ueu ODSeFNallOIlS SHOW
that horses fall on ii as rarely as on
stone
The experience Of Berlin is likewise
in favor of asphalt. That city is paved
with stone and asphalt, the stone
blocks little too broad, but well laid
and carefully kept in order and the
asphalt prepared much as in Paris and
London-clean, wholesome, silent
and easy for horses, vehicles and theii
occupants Professor Newberry notes
that the most trouble from horses slip
| ping on asphalt occurs in cities like
Berlin, where part of the streets are
| paved with stone. The shoes are worn
smooth in the stone streets. and in the
asphalt streets in wet weather the ami
mails go down
Brussels and the other Belgian cities
have only the pavement which take:
its name from that country. The
blocks are carefully dressed and of {
uniform size, and the surface is much
smoother than in New York streets
and more easily kept clean. Professor
| Newberry noticed one feature i'll til,
Belgian streets which is worth men
tioning At the end of every piece o.
curbstone a shallow furrow is cut out
into which the projecting angle of tn,
next stone fits, thus tying the curb
stones together so that one canno
move without the other.-New Yorl
| Sun