The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-05
A CHANCE TO PAVE CHEAP.
ebert Might be Used on the Streets,
Instead Of Other Material.

It Is Said to Make as Good a Pave
ment as Savannah Wants, and Can
be Put Down at Half the Cost of
Shells and Four Times Less than
Asphalt or Graywacke-rhe EnRin-
eering Department Anxious to Make
Trlal-Alderman o'Brien to Test 1t.
The recent discussion in the United
States court, in the Central Railroad hti-
igation, about ebert as a paving material,
has aroused the query if ebert could not
be used for paving Savannah's streets in
stead of asphalt, graywacke or shells.
The engineering department of the cry
has given the matter considerable atten-
ton and, after a careful investigation, has
arrived at the conclusion that the STREETS
could be paved equally as well and
cheaper with ebert, than with either of
the three materials mentioned above.
The lowest price for asphalt, per square
yard, is &. IS, graywacke little less and
shells between so cents and 81 ebert
can be laid in the streets, 1t is said, for
80 cents per square yard. When rolled
and pressed. it makes a pavement more
durable than shell, as pretty as asphalt,
and with as much power Of resistance as
graywacke.
MAKES PRETTY PAVEMENT.
It is a conglomeration of decayed gran
tie and other stone material, and when
rolled and pressed makes a macadam
road as durable and attractive as one
could desire An advantageous feature
about ebert is that the only bed it re-
quires is graded street or road. With
little judiCiOus watering a few times a
week the stuff hardens like sheet asphalt.
1t is claimed that the shell pavements,
on account of the rotting of the shells
after about years use, have not come
up to expectations, and for this reason
the city will have to turn back to asphalt
and graYwacke to improve the streets
unless a desirable substitute can be found
The substitute, according to those who
claim to be authorities on the subject,
has come in the shape of ebert. This
new material, instead of rotting by con-
slant use, hardens and becomes more
firmly knit together
WANTS TO MAKE A TRIAL.
The engineering department is anxious
to give it trial here, and it would be
well to have this trial before the gray
wacking of West Broad street commences.
If the test proves it to be good paving ma
terial it might be used on West Broad
street instead of graywacke. The assess
ment would be much lighter on the prop
erty owners along that thoroughfare, and
could be more easily met.
Alderman O'Brien, chairman Of the
street and lane committee of the council,
says he has not investigated that yet,
but will do so at an early day, and if the
material comes up to what is claimed for
it he may try the stuff on West Broad
street. This street is the only one to be
paved this year, and the intention has
been to use graywacke upon it.
MAY TAKE THE PLACE OF GRAYwACKE.
If, however, ebert can be substituted,
Alderman O'Brien will try and improve
some of the other streets of the city with
the saving which would be made between
the two materials. The Central railroad
is now merchandising New street with
ebert for its convenience, and the pave
ment looks as well as asphalt and seems
to be equally as hard.
Reports from Macon say that the ebert
pavement is the best there After all,
the Central litigation which brought out
the facts about ebert, may prove to have
been boon to Savannah in the way Of
furnishing information to give her the
opportunity of improving the streets at
the least possible cost.