Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-27
ALMOST A CRAZE.
The Demand For Streets Paved
With Brick.
A GREAT INDUSTRY TO RESULT.

A Modern Improvement IN Which Rock
Island was One of the Cities to Lead
Now They All Want it--Local Industries
The demand for vitrified brick far paw
ing purposes amounts almost to modern
city craze. In view Of this fact it is
gratifying to know that Rock Islsnd was
one of the first cities to adopt this method
OF permanent improvements. It lead all
the other cities within 100 miles Of here.
set an example to each of its sister cities
and inaugursted the movement which
has become so popular with other cities
of both greater and less population. 1t
was the enterprise shown by our own
city that led to the establishment here of
a successful plant for the manufacture Of
vitrifed paving brick. A large part Of
the pavement of the city is now con-
structed of home brick, and the demand
has been so great as to entirely consume
the seasons output of the factory at
Sears. and work is left incomplete for
want of paving material.
In an extended editorial reference to
the manufacture and use of paving brick.
the Clinton Age says:
One of the great industries Of the flu
ture will be the manufacturing of paving
brick. Only the slightest beginning. in
comparison with the magnitude of the
business as likely to be developed in two
years or less, has been made. Where
now 1000 brick are made, the demand
| will at an early day call for q million
What other industry on this continent
| can show such an increase of product?
1t is not a chimerical calculation based
on fancy, that we are making. The
evidence is positive all about us every
| where in the west, that the paving of the
future will be made of brick.
The city authorities OF Des Moines
have just rejected all the bids
solicited for paving because it was inn
possible to procure the brick this season.
The committee report thai If the con.rac-
tors already busy crowding their work in
that city could get 100 600 brick every
| working day to December 1st. there
would be lacking 12 .OOO. 600 brick to COM
plete their present contracts. Hence 1t
is folly to let more contracts. as five of
| the largest contractors in the country al
ready have contracts in Des Moines.
When one considers the hold brick
/ pnNiueS uno oh SuC PuohS Lhihos ouu Soh
| templates the satisfaction that kind of
material is giving wherever it has been
used. an idea may be had of the magDi-
tude the business of making the brick will
reach at an early day.
L. is a we'll settled fact that vitrified
brick surpasses. in every ordinary way.
every other kind of paving material in
use. 1t is economical. healthy. durable,
pleasant and clean. The streets can be
kept smooth and clean easier and cheaper
than though they were wood or stone
| 1t is in fact the perfect paving.
Still but few cities, comparatively. have
put down brick paving. The great cities
of the west have hardly considered the
matter. 1t will not be long before chi
| cago, Milwaukee. ST. Paul and Minneap
oils will be investigating vitrified brick
Investigation invariably lads to its adop'
ton. It's adoption in those cities means
a Quantity of brick which almost passes
| calculation.