Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-08

Maj Crawford, who has the contract for re-
surfacing the avenue from 18th street to 7th
street, 10 having plough made in Baltimore
which he hopes can be used in cutting up the old
pavement. At present he has force Of about
one hundred men, who are removing the tough
surface OF the present pavement with crow
bars and pick axes. Since beginning the work
yesterday considerable progress has been
made. Maj. Crawford expects by this evening
70 have the whole Of the top Of the pave
ment on the north side of the avenue from
itn street to the east end Of Lafayette square
taken OH, ready for the new suaface. The
plough which he has devised will have q long
nose and will carry a sharpened wheel, which
he thinks will cut the pavement into slices and
90 the work more rapidly than by the present
method The asphalt of the avenue pavement
Is iald on bed of concrete and the workmen
with crowbars pry up great sheets of it. This
old material is loaded into wagons and taken to
tne District yards near Littlefield's wharf. It
Deiongs to the District and it 10 expected that
1t can be utilized
HOW THE WORK WILL BE CARRIED ON.
Major Crawford intends to pave one side Of
the avenue at time, leaving the other side
Tor the general city traffic. Provision will be
made at the intersecting streets so that vehi-
cles can cross the avenue at these points dur
ing the progress OF the work. 1t is the intention
70 pave the avenue on one side for one or two
blocks, then throw the completed side open to
work of paving will first be completed on the
avenue between 18th and 18th streets, as that
Is the only portion Of the Washington and
Georgetown road where
THE NEW aRoovRD RAILS
are laid. The railroad company began this
morning to put down the new rails on 18th
street, and Major Crawford says that if they
will keep ahead with their work that he can push
the resurfacing. He says that he does not
know when he will get through, but hopes to
be able to complete the work early in October
at any rate.
BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND.
In removing the asphalt in front Of the Blair
house, just east Of 18th street, the workmen
found an immense hole some 10 feet deep. It
seems that there had been break in large
sewer at this point, and, the water escaping,
had washed the earth away and good deal Of
the foundation Of the pavement. Workmen
are engaged today in repairing the break and
in filling up the hole.
THE OLD AND THE NEW PLANS.
As has been stated, the foundation Of con-
crete, which is some 8-inches deep and upon
which the asphalt is laid, will not be taken up.
The present contract requires the removal of
the asphalt, which was laid directly upon the
concrete foundation, in accordance with the
custom in vogue in 1876, when the avenue pave
ment was laid. The new surface of asphalt
will not be put directly on the concrete bed
There will be first laid down a binder course,
as 1t is termed, of small broken stones, over
which will be poured distillate coal tar This
course will be thoroughly rolled and then the
asphalt will be put down. The asphalt will be
laid up next to the railroad tracks instead of
putting down course of stone next the rails,
as was done when the present pavement was
laid. The new rails are the grooved pattern
and the pavement will be brought up flush, SO
that the rails will offer but little resistance to
the wheels Of vehicles. There will be no
change in the present grade Of the avenue
In some places the railroad tracks are below
grade and will be brought to grade.