Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-05-08
OPINION FROM EXPERIENCE.
The Paving in other Cites-Nitriiied
Brick to Beceme the MaIer,al--
Major W. II. Bonsall Talks.

MAJOR W. II. B0nS1ll Talks.
Major w. II. Bonsall, of Los An
geles, was in Salem this morning
and was interviewed by a JOURNAL
representative on the paving
question. Mr.. Bonsall is now presi-
dent of the city council of Los An
eeles and was for several years
chairman Of the Board of Public
improvements aud for eighteen
years has been connected with the
public works. He is also man of
keen intelligence and heavy prop
erty owner in that city. His exper-
ience has been valuable to his own
city and his advice is worth some
thing to Salem.
He said that about five years ago
Los Angeles had just such streets as
Salem and the paving question was
agitutiug all that city. The city
council decided to investigate the
pavings in other cities aud Mai.
Bonsall was the man singled out to
do the work. He visited all the
Eastern states and Canada and
came home and gave his report.
The city then began paving with
bltuminous rock and granite block.
The granite has not been satisfactory
and none has been put down for
several years. He says the btu
minOus rock have proved the best
paving that they have used, and
while they have streets equaled 10y
few cities in the union, they are not
entirely satisfied with them, and
will this summer put in several
miles of vitritied brick paving. He
said in Los Angeles they sweep the
bituminous paved streets every night
and have to keep them sprinkled dur
ing the day; the continually keep
ing the rock wet rotted them and
made them uncomfortable for teams.
He said that in his opinion in fifty
years brick would be the only paw
ing material in use. He based this
opinion on several reasons. 1t is
healthtul as well as inexpensive and
is durable aud comfortable. 1t IL
not noisy and gives a firm footing
for teams, which the bituminous
rock does not do. He said he visited
city in West Virginia of rs large
population as Salem and found
paving which had been used for
eighteen years, and it was on one of
the principal streets. This paving
was made of ordinary building brick
and after all these years of use was
IN good condition and looked as If it
had been used but a few years. Sim
liar examples were found in other
cities, and in every case it had given
satisfaction.
Mr.. Bonsall says there are several
styles of putting down any paving.
An important point is to get the
proper grade and contour of the
street. When this is done bed OF
sand is put on, then layer of bricks
is put down fiat, and on these
another layer is placed on theil
edges in fish bone fashion. This
makes a brick bed six inches thick
and with the wear on an ordinary
business street of Salem will last
nearly half century. He also says
that many people have a mistaken
idea of what kind Of clay is required
from which vitrified brick are made.
He says a very poor quality of fire
clay will make good vitrified brick
In his opinion the clay about Salem
would do for the manufacture o.
paving brick. In looking through
any brick kiln there are large
number of vitrlfied brick.
From the facts given by Mr.. Bon
sail it seems it will not be necessar.
for Salem to send 1000 or 5000 mile
for brick to pave the streets shoul
such material be adopted by th
council.