Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-06-11
ASPHALT PAvEMENTs.

ASPHALT PAvEMENTs.
Results OF a Tour OF Inspection By
q Committee sent Out BY the City
OF Hartford.
Below we give q synopsis OF the re-
port of the committee sent out by the
city of Hartford, to look into the use of
asphalt for pavements, in different
cities. The report is full Of information
in which all taxpayers of this city have
an interest:
In Rochester the first asphalt pave
ment was put down about seven years
ago and there are now seven and eight
tenths miles, all in good condition. The
cost per square yard has been from two
dollars and seventy-five cents to two
dollars and eighty cents this price in
cludes all work of grading, providing
concrete foundations, and asphalt wear
the pavements in repair for five years.
The first asphalt pavement was laid in
Buffalo in 1878. Then from 1882 down
to the present time, until the total
length now In use exceeds seventy miles,
all of which has been laid by the Barber
Asphalt Paving company at cost of 81
per square yard. including in that price
all work together with five year guar
antee. Its use has been confined to resi-
dent streets and business streets of COM
paratively light traffic, and is not laid
on streets with sleeper grade than
three feet to the hundred. In fact this
seems to be the limit of grade recon-
mended by all, 10th engineers and con.
tractors. For two blocks on Delaware
avenue, a distance of about one-third of
a mile, the pavement was in a most mis-
cradle condition, full of holes to the full
depth of the asphalt wearing surface
and constantly growing worse. 1t was
said that this piece was originally laid
by the Abbot company of Chicago, and
was re-surfaced by Barber about two
years ago. This piece of work. taken by
itself, is sufficiently bad to condemn all
asphalt pavements.
Stopping at Cleveland, Ohio, the
committee found an entirely different
state of affairs. While Rochester and
Buffalo were enthusiastically in favor of
asphalt pavements Cleveland as strongly
condemned them, having had bitter
experience with the vulcanite or coal tar
distillate pavement, which they were
compelled to take up after short trial.
Arriving in New York the committee
made as full an investigation of the
subject rs time would permit, visiting
the offices of the numerous companies
and inspecting the work already laid.
Cedar and Chamber streets, laid by the
Barber company, within two years are
already in bad shape, while Park ave-
nue., laid by the same company, is in
very good condition. This was laid on
the old stone block pavement, but is not
subjected to such heavy traffic as the
downtown streets.
The cost of asphalt pavement in New
York is about 1928 per square yard,
with a five-year guarantee, and about
$3.50 per square yard with a fifteen-year
guarantee. This is practically the same
initial price as the contractors add a GER
tain amount per square yard per year
for all time over five years.
In summing up the report says: The
indispensable requisite for successful
asphalt pavement, and in fact for any
good road, is thoroughly firm and un-
yielding foundation. Any depression in
the foundation will inevitably be follow
ed by corresponding depression in the
asphalt surface.
that all connections for water, gas and
sewer should be laid to the inside of the
curb before any foundation is put down.
1t is the universal opinion of all engin-
GERS with whom we talked that this
should be done at least one year before
the pavement was laid to ensure proper
settlement.
we purpose TO EXCLUDE the VulCdnlto
or coal tar distillate pavement; for al
though large quantities have been used
in Pittsburg, Washington and Philadel-
phia, we do not feel warranted IN re-
commencing its use. The other two
classes will be considered under the
general names of asphaltum and blum
nous limestones. To prepare asphaltum
very expensive plant is necessary, so
expensive in fact, that the contractors
for this pavement are unwilling and I'M
able to undertake small contracts This
seems to US another argument against
its use, for after the guarantee of the
contractor had expired the city would be
compelled to maintain plant and have
at all times a gang of experienced men
ready to make immediate repairs, for
only by speedy attention to any break
can an asphalt pavement be preserved.
The claim Of the natural rock men is
that they have, furnished by nature, all
that the others endeavor to initiate and
reproduce by process of manufacture.
AS the plant is not expensive small con-
tracts can readily be undertaken, and,
having a stock of the ground powder on
hand further repairs can be made by
comparatively unskilled labor. We there
fore conclude for the above stated rea-
sons. and many others. to include which
would unduly lengthen this report, that
the best results can most surely be OBJ
tanned by the use of one of the natural
rocks.
NOT PROpHRIY CaVTKrn