The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-06-26
ASPHALT PAvEMENTS.
Experiences of Several European Citiei
with Different Paving Materials.

Experiences of Several European Cities
with Different Paving Materials.
Paris was formerly paved with cubi-
zeal 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 III Paris now. The former is
like the Nicholson block so popular a
few years ago in many American cities,
but it is more carefully selected and
better laid in Paris. The main objec-
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 IA
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
lie blocks bedded in concrete, wood
pavements and asphalt are all in use.
The macadam, us on the Thames en-
bankmcnt, is cheap, smooth and good
dry weather and muddy in wet. The
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 in
London are of rectangular blocks
sawed from fir planks. eight inches
by six and three thick, with Il strip Of
felt between each row. The objec-
tons are those already noted, and
they apply 10 all wood pavements.
The London people prefer the asphalt
to all other forms They use the Swiss
or Soicilian mastic mixed with gravel,
or oftcner with sand and laid about
two inches thick over concrete on a
carefully prepared roadway The best
costs i'll London from 81 to 81 !; square
yard; and the annual expense of keep
ing it In perfect condition docs not
average more than ten co,tts il yard.
The wear Of the surface is Exceeding
~ slow, being only half chat of wood
or macadan. 1t is easily kept clean,
and long continued observations show
that horses fall on it rs rarely as on
stone.
The experience of Berlin is likewise
III IaNOf OF aSpiiiit. mat Guy Is laNCu
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 their
occupants. Professor Newbcrry 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 i'll 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 takes
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 in the
Belgian streets which is worth men
tioning. At the end of every piece of
curbstone shallow furrow is cut out,
into which the projecting angle of the
next stone fits, thus tying the curb
stones together SO that one cannot
move without the other.-New York
Sun.