The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-17
STREET PAVING.
Criticism OF tho Plans by u Civil
Engineer.

Criticism OF tho Plans by u Civil
Engineer.
To THE INDEPENDENT: The city fathers
In arranging this details for tho paving of
Main street have evidently buried the prac-
tioal side Of the question in a great diem
ma OF ideas. II amy mi of them had the
remotest idea what should constitute a
durable pavement of the kinds in part pro-
posed for the least expenditure Of money,
they would in their detail specifications
have done away with that superiuoua mat
ter which only tends to increase the expense
without giving the returns anticipated.
beginning at the very foundation. we
find nine inches of macadnm or crushed
rock. Two-thirds of the excavating ex-
penAes with an equal amount for the crush
inR and filing in of rock, can be saved by
making the macadam foundation three
inches, int the result as to durability, II
properly rolled, will be the same.
The proposition to set the fir blocks in
two-inoh sand la. to speak in u mild term.
absurd; because the we'll known fact that
woods subjected to the changes from wet
to dry" md reversed in soil. will cause Il
speedy decay. Another objection to this
"modus operandi" is, that the smoothness
of the pavement will be broken az soon as
that little sane" is washed away or dis
placed, which 1t surely will be in a compar-
utIN0ly 6uOTl JlIu0. No Ul0ChS WIl GutA
rest on the uneven macadam, and it will
be "up hill and down dals' with the pave
mont. The proposition, as set forth by the
honorable city fathers, is a revolutionlza-
ton of the tried and carefully devised
methods of the experienced wood payer.
The statistics over Chicago's wood paving
"a city that has more wood than granite
pavement-shows that East Kinzie street,
in front Of the Chicago d Northwestern
railway depot. was paved in 1880 with cedar
blocks set on top of one inch boards which
we're laid on smooth surface of sand undo
which was three hard rolls of macadam.
Now, this particular spot has more heavy
trucks and wagon traffic in one day than
any part of Main street has in a month.
This pavement ia in first GLASS; order to-day.
| could name a dozen streets and CROSSINGS
more in the same city, with the same results.
If our Main street is paved, viz: three-inch
macadam with sand on top. we'll rolled to
a smooth surface; two inch fir planks
twelve feet apart across the street, frame
and sand even with it's surface; two-inch fir
planks twelve feet long. laid edge to odge
across these; one heavy coat of boiling tar
4xS16 FIR blocks set compact; lamp with
coarse gravel between all joints; pour boil
ing coal tar in all tamped joints and ovel
gravel over the whole, not deeper than
merely to cover; it will last longer han any
wood pavement in the county, anc
our city fathers will nave the satisfaction
dawning upon them some day that the,
saved the city 20 per cent. on the job b,
exchanging practical experience with theil
ideas.
In this connection it would perhaps no
be out of place to remind the honorable
head of the city council that the worl
should be done by the city and not by CON
tract.
There are many taxpayers who would b
the fact that times have been dull and worl
scarce of late. By letting it by contract i
ia very likely that cheap labor would b.
imported and the residents of the city, VIII,
should be taken care of, would be left GU
in the cold. This must also be the honora-
BILE mayors view of the question, as it i
part and parcel of his election pledges.
ENGINEER.
Helena, July 16, 1891.