New-York tribune., 1895-12-22
CAUGHT BY THE EARLY FROST.

CONTRACTORS FOR ASPHALT PAVEMENIS FIND
THEMSELVES IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.
The mild weather OF tho last few days has been
a godsend to the contractors FOR aspha't paw.
ments in Brooklyn. whose work had been seri-
ouslv nterfered with by the cold snap which oc-
Cured earlier in the month. The unexpected CON-
ing OF the cold wave found them unprepared' ana
had a most unfortunate fleet upon the WORK thal
had been got under way.
Il is generally known that asphalt cannot be sue
cessfully put down in cold weather, but the con-
tractors took 1t for granted that this year would
be like unto last when II possible to go on
with their business until Christmas. AS there was
an urgent demand for the work 10 be got IN as ior-
ward a condition possible they undertook 100
much as the sequel proved In other words, they
bit off more than they could masticate 1t could
not be foreseen. of course that several days OF
rainy weather would be followed by season OF
hard frost and number OF contractors were badly
caught
In one case-a block in Decatur-st.-it is probable
that tire roadway will have to be left open all
winter. condition OF things not at all agreeable
to the and occupants Of the adjacent
houses. It is out OF the question, too. 10 complete
the work started on st. Mark save. between an
derbilt and Franklin ayes but that street VIII De
to the general rule now in force. the asphalt Is to
be d over Elm me he oes Geng % rea
the relaying before winter arrives for good and
Probably the worst specimen OF how not DO It
is to be found in the short block of Remsen-st be-
pScuiisr spensaiion Of ate il happens tha; this.
the block In which City Works Commissioner
ton rather than the opposite to Mr. White. for
when a citizen from any other part Of the city
his own street and sympathize fee,ingly with the
other man, for he knows just how it is himself"
tonshng results. Its whole character changed.
Instead of being hard and unyie ding it is now soft
and disnegrates easily. II has the color OF brown
earth. and there are cracks and botches that ten
years wear on good asphalt pavement would have
been poweress to produce The entire surface will
have TO be taken in the spring and replaced In
the mean time some attempt IS being made to put
It In such condition that L Will last through the
winter. Here and there patches have been cut
and replaced Any who has the trouble
casions would be surprised see this compound
easily cut with a hatchet, readily reduced TO fine
powder and carted away like so much common dirt.
If the work had been done by concern, the
wretched result would be more easily understood.
but IL was done by people who have been in the
asphalt business for many years ard who presun,-
ably know all there is to be earned about IL. Ap-
parenty there was bad management or bad judg-
ment.
A misfortune of a like nature occurred In the case
of the pavement Schermerhorn-st and like
wise in Second-st The cod snap interfered also
with the completion of the new brick pavement on
of the joints between the bricks
But al the contractors have naturally made the
most Of the open weather of the last week. and
warned by the experience OF this year they will not
be likely to get themselves in such tight place.
at the beginning Of another winter The conditions
which have recently occurred. a rainy period fol-
lowed by severe cold. said to be almost with
out precedent near the end OF November and the
first OF December. ~
These mistortunes ought not to have any effect
on the popular demand for asphalt pavements but
they afford impressive arguments against trying
to put down such pavements the edge Of winter
after as the limit beyond which it viii not be safe
to carry this work
That the good work of repaving the city Is to go
on earnestly next is evidenced by the fact that
bids for fifteen streets or which asphalt is 10 be
ment tomorrow