Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-11-30
BRICK PAYMENTS.
Will They Supersede Granite
and Wood.
THE TENDENCY THAT WAY

Practical Discussion of the Various
Materials that Go into Permanent Street
Making-where Vitriffed Brick Proves
Itself Superior to Other Kinds
The Chicago City Hall Record has an
excellent article on brick pavements,
which will be read with interest in Rock |
Island, where the subject of pavements
has become matter of important con-
siGerstiOn in connection with public i'm,
provements:
All Kinds of Pavement.
twill be admitted nv the most casual
observer that the streets OF Chicago EIe
taken as as whole, in most Geplorable
condition as to paving. There is all
kinds, woods, asphalt, granite, etc. The
question is now being agitated and bids
have been called for. for paving street
with brick as sample of what can be
| accomplished by the proper use of the
product OF the kiln.
The question of kind, quality, dura-
bilitY, service and adsptsbIiity of pave-
ments is an old one. 1t has been dis
| cussed and re discussed with no appsr
ent satisfaction. Tue older and larger
the city, more serious and perplexing
| does the question become. Each kind
or system has its advocates and to each
| kind or system can reasonable objections
| be made
| Up to date granite blocks have been
found the most durable. but IN ell our
western cities granite blocks come high
Outside of that objection, however, in
II 10
south, the granite blocks when in use are
the source Of nerve destroying noise.
When it rains they are dangerously Slip
perry. Asphaltum in recent years has
come into general use on streets which
are not much used for heavy traffic. The
street thus paved is smooth. free from
dust, and as compared with granite blocks
are n0iseess.
They are less expensive than granite
blocks. but are far less durable, and in
Chicago the objection has been found
that 1t is difficult TO repair the street after
it has once been torn up for the laying
OF water and gas pipes.
Brick the Coming Material
, Wooden block pavement has been in
general use in the city of Chicago for
many years and has served its purpose,
but it has had its day. 1t was all right
as q quick, cheap means of making the
street passsble. While its FIRST cost is
: lower than any other kind OF pavement,
it's short life, its early decay make il
more expensive in the long run aud Trop~
erty owners are becoming weary of the
o frequent assessments necessary to keep q
block pavement in first class servicesble
condition. while in sanitary sense
many neighborhood paved with wood
S Can give ample proof as TO its
unhealthy condition. So APP
| parent is this that oc.
cupsn's of good residence streets object
to block pavement for this reason. In
: nearly all the large cities OF Illinois, with
the notable exception of Chicago, this
class of pavement is being discarded and
vitrified brick is taking It's place. The
manufacture of this material is a COM
psraiively new industry but is rapidly
becoming an important factor in the sue
! cessful answering of the question of
cheap, noiseess, heslthful and durable
pavement. The advantages claimed for
1t are that 1t is as non.absorbent as
granite or asphalt. that horses do not
slip on i, that it is put down without the
use of pitch or tar, and hence can be
easily taken up and that while it can be
put down cheaper than asphalt il is as
durable as granite.
1t also has the advantage of granite as
it does not polish with wear. ia less
noisy and can be taken up and relaid
with less permanent injury to the street.
Brick paving excels wood paving in
everything except first cost The Lest
of these vitritied brick are made from a
| oh alp md in Ia
posts in Illinois, Oaio and West Vlr.
GINA.
Wung Lung.