The record-union., 1892-12-05

used the terms ''bituminous rock'' and
asphalt rock" and yet the two are the
same. When the rock contains less than
70 per cent. of bituInen it is called ''bitum-
! inous rock" When it contains more
than 20 per cent. OF bitument il is called
asphalt rock" When it contains a large
percentage OF bitumen it pays to extract
1t, and to refine it.
In so-called bituminous pavement we
accept and lay it in the condition that
nature has provided it for US, keeping
and holding both its good and bad quail
ties and ingredients when laid in the form
OF pavement. In an asphalt pavement
we simply aim to keep the good ingredi-
ents and reject the bad.
Some bltuminous rock pavements are
| hrst-claSs in every respect, lasting and
wearing for long term of years, and
/ bearing up under any character of traffic
where the concrete foundation is well
laid. Others are diaDolically bad, drying
up and frittering away in short space OF
| time.
! l entirely commend Mr.. Alsip's advice
that all material be first submitted to the
Board OF Trustees, and exported upon by
| a competent chemist. Myscompany lays
! DoLh characters OF pavement, and the cost
TO us Is about the same. and l have no
. financial interest IN condemning or advo-
! eating either. | know what your climate
Is, and know the good and bad qualities of
! both pavements, and | assert with knowl-
edge born of some experience that an
asphalt pavement is better for the streets
OF Sacramento than the majority OF
Dltumlnous rock pavements. In one case
the conditions are always the same. In
the other they vary greatly.
AS to the cost OF the work on Tenth
streets | Will say that it was 81 81 per
lineal foot.
During the discussion of the question
OF street Improvements in the citv a good
deal has been said about the merits of the
Trinidad asphalt and that found in Cali
fornia. Now, am a believer in home
product as against foreign one wherever
1t can be shown that it is equally as good,
and L believe that the best testimony
proves that the California article is su-
perior to the foreign.
| Prof. Hilgard OF the State University,
spent several months in examining the
asphalt and bituminous rock deposits OF
tins State, made exhaustive analyses,
tested for tensile strength and crushing
STRAIN. lie also analyzed and tested the
| trinidad asphalt and asphalts from other
! places, and he states that in his opinion
the asphaIts OF California are much su-
| perlor to the Trinidad asphalt, or the
| asphalt Of any other country, both for
strength and wearing purposes.
/ Rrof. Hanks also labOred patiently and
IN the scientific and exhaustive wav That
he usually exhibits in the handling of an
important matter, and his report IS pub
! llshed IN the report of the State Minnie
/ Bureau. He also tavors the California
/ product.
Herman Schussler of the Spring Val
! ley Water Company, an engineer OF
| national repute, has also tested California
asphalt, and beg to refer to him for his
! opinion.
! Chief Engineer Moore, u. S. n. sta
! toned at Mare Island, has also devoted
tlme and labor to analyses of California
aspnaIt and tests for tensile strength
and crushing strain. He told me that
ne was astOunded at its phenomenal
strength, exceeding that OF the best Port
land cement.
company, Mr.. Irelan of the State Min
/ lEg Bureau, Professor c. A. Ogden
/ formerly Government expert at Wash
lngton, ID. G., retained to supervise and
test the asphalt pavement OF that citvl
nave made countless tests of comDari-
sons. am sure they would feel unhapDv
II they knew that they differed So radi-
cally with some OF these gentlemen. but
they do, Tor they are all stanch champions
OF the asphalt Of California as against
Trinidad asphalt.
AT Denver Mr.. Blake has entered into a
contract with the commissioners an
pointed by the United States Govern
ment, whereby he obtains about s. per
| square yard for laying the pavement IN
ironU OF the Postof1lce in that city. Mr..
/ blake uses paving blocks made Of Cali
iornla asphalt. and had to compete with
Trinidad asphalt blocks at a lower figure.
| Inc government experts pronounced the
blocks made Of California asphalt to be
much superior in every way. Instead Of
running down our asphalts Calitornians
/ should be proud of our deposits and en-
courage an industry that is bringing
money into this state in increasing yoi-
ume yearly, and that is giving US noise
less and smooth streets, that in some in
stances have been down for fifteen wears
without any perceptible wear.
ADRIAN X. SMITH.