New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-21
BRICK PAYMENTS.

correspondent Of The Tribune. writing from
Burlington. Iowa. had an emphatic word to
say recently In behalf Of brick pavements for
this city, especially on the main thoroughfares
running north and south. Just now when
there is an agitation going on in favor Of re-
having Hudson-st with asphalt, in order to
provide smooth roadway for bcycists to the
lower part Of New-York. the question raised by
our correspondent Is worthy Of serious consd-
Grafton There is reason in the position taken
by those who object TO an asphalt pavement
on n street mainly given over to heavy trucking
that 1t does not furnish good foothold for
horses particularly in wet weather, and that 1t
will not stand the wear and tear caused by the
constant action Of thousands OF wheels sus
tanning heavy loads The experience Of Eighth
ave. throws some light this matter. To be
sure. the asphalt there has received more than
its share Of travel, that being the only smooth
paycd thoroughfare on the West Side; but every
BODY knows that il was recently sadly out Of
repair, and that to keep 1t in good condition re-
oures continual watchfuness and a consider
able expenditure of money.
Now. does not vitrfed brick furnish an ideal
substitute for both asphalt and granite blocks?
1t is practically almost as smooth as the former,
and experience in other cities seems to show
that it is as durable as the latter. 1t has been
used TO a considerable extent in n number OF
Western cities for several years, with uniformly
good results In Burlington, our correspondent
reports there are many miles Of vltrifed brick
pavement. on level places and on steep slopes
and it is, he says giving unusual satisfaction
Some Of it was laid eight years ago, and, though
.I 10 sif Al 10 'snowS
preciable sign Of wear Some Of the Hudson
River cities like Troy and Poughkecpsie, have
been using brick to a considerable extent Of late
and these payements appear to be well liked
1t would certainly seem to be time for New
York and Brooklyn to make experiments with
brick on a sufficiently large scale in streets on
which the traffic is heavy to enable its merits to
be- accurately asccrtalned. Brick payements have
been laid 10 small extent in both these cities
but not on business streets. and not extensively
enough to afford fair test Of their endurance
II properly laid, brick presents II surface
nearly or quite as even asphalt, and can be
ridden over by bicycles with ease 1t furnishes
q good footing for horses 1t can be opened and
repaired AS easily as II pavement OF granite
blocks In point Of cost. ii seems To be some
what less expensive than asphalt what the
correspondent already quoted suggests Is mat
brick should be used on our north-and-south
avenues, and asphalt on the crosstown streets
though doubtless he would apply brick TO those
east-and west streets, like Fourteenth and Tween
ty.third which are property thoroughfares.
While We are not prepared at present 10 III
dorse this plan the suggestion Is an interesting
one. and It would certainly be- wise for the city
authorities To make a thorough trial Of yitrified
brick as paving material Other cities cannot
settle the question for New-York. The condi-
tons are different here and the traffic Is heavier
only actual experiment will determine whether
brick can wisely be employed In this city If
the experiment should prove successful, the paw
ing problem on Manhattan Island and through
ont Greater New-York would be appreciably sim
plified.