New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-28
SECTION NEW BROADWAY PAVEMENT.


Concrete was first put in to depth of four
or five inches and on this was placed layer
of sand, varying from two TO four inches in depth
The rough irregular bOcks-and how rough and
irregular they are can be seen by looking at those
now piled on the sidewalk from Cortlandt TO Full
ton sts.-are set in this thick layer of sand. II
the block is a thick it is pounded down TO
the proper level; if it is thin it is left to
rest lightly on the sand so that it will come up
TO the proper level. Tar is then poured into the
Joints and a thin layer of gravel spread over the
surface to be worked into the joints by passing
wheels. This tar that is poured into the joints
becomes brittle as soon as it sets, and the first
weight that strikes the blocks cracks it. Water
works its way down into the sand, the concrete
holds it there until heavy wheel presses down
the thinser blocks, and the water and sand are
forced up through the joints to the surface After
the first block Is loosened it becomes ust much
easier Tor passing wheels 10 start the rest. The
pumping process is continued and in q short time
whole section OF pavement is loose and SUCKS
down into the soft sand. forming a pronounced
The result is obtained quickly on the Broadway
work because of the large joints and the rough
character of the surface made by using all sizes
and shapes of blocks. The joints are already IN
bad condition over large areas of surface, and as
soon as frost comes the damage that will result
will be enormous. 1t has already been large
ana Will keep on growing even WllnOut but a4u
Of frost for the reasons already set forth.
All the pipes of various kinds under Broadway
are below the concrete. The gases that escape
or generate are unable TO work TO the surface
because of the layer of concrete. They therefore
follow the pipes 10 a manbOe and an explosion
occurs, which is another bad defect III the system
adopted for the pavement.
John ID. Crimmin> the contractor, is quoted
as saying: There is, | grant you, some founda-
tiOn for complaint about unevennesS in the new
pavement from John-st. 10 Bowling Green. 1t
seems to be forgotten that have still year IN
which to put the pavement in condition. The hol-
lows are small, and are being raised as soon as
they are discovered. They are caused by the set
excavations made by the electric companies AS
soon the pavement was laid along the lower
part of Broadway there was a demand for the
opening of the street from property-Owners. In
stead Of eXactne ten days time for the pavement
to settle as is stipulated in my contract, / threw
the street open at once TO obhge them II we
had taken our own time and raised the pavement
where it now needs 1t before opening the street
we should not have had this trouble"
The admission is frank, but the explanation is
inadequate. II the proper kind of paving blocks
had been used, OF uniform size and fairly even,
cut on sides and bottom, and then bedded on
solid foundation instead OF in sand, the pavement
would have been solid from the start and would
have had no opportunity TO settle.
In connection with tits IT. is instructive TO
note the manner in which pavements laid in
English and Continental cities The blocks, in
the first place. have TO be of even size aud cut
roughly into shape They are then set with close
joints on solid bed with perhaps chin layer OF
sand a cushion, and pavement Is made that
does not show the effects of in two weeks,
as many years.