The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-14
Experts Air Their Views Upon
Street Paving Prob
lens.
SOME NEW IDEAS ADVANCED.
Specifications for Laying California
Asphalt Demanded by w. N.
COWles.

Smootn ana nOlSeleSS pavement, and they
are sure of getting good deal in the near
future. The property-owners have found
that smooth, clean pavements increase the
rental value of buildings, and business men
and occupants of residences find that re-
lief from dirt and noise is worth paving
for.
Pavements are a matter of evolution, and
as the City grows larger and more prosper
GUS Improvements in its streets become
more imperative. While every body APP
pears to be a unit as 10 the necessity of i'm
provement OF streets there is great differ
ence of opinion upon the merits of the
various materials to be used for such a
purpose.
In a recent discussion of these differ
ences W. n. Cowles, president of the Alca-
traz Asphalt Company of this City, had
the following to say: California pro-
duces more high-grade refined paving
asphalt than all the rest of the United
States, and yet there is not one well-laid
block of asphalt pavement in San Fran
cisco, simply because there are no specif-
cations regulating and permitting its use
in this City. We have specifications for
basalt blocks, maGadam and bituminous
rock, but none for asphalt. Yet asphalt
pavements are the standard in the leading
cities of the world, recognized as the most
economical, the most agreeable and the
most healthful
Edward P. North, Water Puryeyor of
New York, in recent official report to
the Commissioners of Public Works, ad-
vises the more general use of asphalt in
paving the streets of that city, and the
Commissioners OF Public Works also favor
asphalt pavements IN the more densely
populated portion OF the city and on streets
that are likely to become great thorough
fares.
During the past four years eighty-four
miles OF asphalt pavement were laid in
Philadelphia. On this subject ex-Mayor
Stuart of Philadelphia says: No part of
this great public improvement has been SO
important and added so much to the
health, convenience and happiness of the
people as the paving of the small streets
with impervious improved pavement, and
no better policy can be adopted, nor can
better returns be obtained for any money
expended by the city, than to continue the
project until in all streets, in every section
of the city, the cobble-stones are removed
and the streets paved with this improved
and impervious pavement
alderman Madden, chairman of the
special committee on street improvements
Tor Chicago IN his report of January 1895,
favor. In London, Paris, Berlin and New
York considerable areas are being laid
yearly, while in Buffalo and Washington
asphalt might be said to be the only street
paving material used. In this country the
majority OF asphalt pavements have been
constructed of Trinidad asphalt. Ameri-
can californian asphaIts are said to be in
some respects superior to Trinidad Only
persons skilled in the work should be per-
mitted to lay such pavement, and the in
SpectOrs overseeing the work should be
competent to know whether or not the
specifications are being complied with
Asphalt should be laid on a six-inch con-
crete foundation, the construction of which
should be of the very best. Experience
has shown that such q pavement, properly
constructed and carefully maintained, will
last from fifteen to twenty years without
resurfacing, but it requires constant atten-
ton. When resurfacing is necessary 1t
car. be done at a comparatively slight cost
In regard to macadam, Alderman Madden
IN his report says: 1t is scarcely necessary
to discuss macadam- 1t has been aban-
doned everywhere, even in villages. 1t is
dusty in dry weather, muddy in wet
weather, and cleaning it means carting
away considerable portion of the pave
ment.'
The Morning Oregonian, referring to
street paving in Portland, recently said:
The new street ordinance which went into
effect on May Is last insures the people of
Portland as well-paved streets as are found
to-day IN Washington or Buffalo, two
cities OF the United States which boast of
ideal thoroughfares. BY the terms of this
ordinance, bituminous rock, the cheap
material with which Washington street
and Third street were paved a few years
ago, is absolutely excluded. The ordinance
srecities that only Trinidad, Alcatraz and
Bermidez asphalts shall be used on any of
the asphalt-paved streets of the city in the
future. The asphalts specified are recog-
nlZed by all competent street engineers as
the leading asphalts available in the United
States, and they are now used in street
paving throughout the Eastern, the Middle
and Pacific Coast States, practically TO the
exclusion of all other asphalts.'
Pasadena, Pomona and Santa Ana
have no pavements except asphalt scien-
tltically laid. Their citizens are delg hted
with it, Two miles of asphalt pavement
have just been contracted for on Main
street, Los Angeles, which will immensely
benefit the city. Why should not San
Francisco come into line with all other
hTst-class cities? Asphalt can be landed
here cheaper than anywhere else in the
world. The great deposits of California
can supply millions OF tons of the highest
grade and most carefully refined paving
asphalt known. OF its quality there is no
question. 1t has been tested and accepted
by the leading chemists and engineers of
the country, and to refuse it admission
here would be gross injustice both to the
city and to one of the States leading prod
ucts. The asphalt producers of California
do not seek the exclusion of any good paw
ing material-they do demand recognition
here for products which are welcomed
everywhere else and if the City govern
ment will regulate their use according to
the standards and experience of the lead
ing cities Of the world you will have at
once legitimate competition in smooth
pavements, and as good pavements as any
city can boast"
L. j. L. Smiley said "The great fault
of the pavements laid in this City is the
lack of proper foundation. Much of the
concrete laid is unsuitable and this is the
primary cause OF the failure OF the most of
our bituminous paYements which have
proved faulty. The blue or gray rock
should be used instead Of the soft red rock
in the manufacture of concrete The blue
rock is of sand formation, while the red
is half-petritied clay. The majority of the
so-called macadam roads are nothing less
than libels on the methods of the great
road-builder who gave his name to the
system of making highways. The unfit
ness Of red rock for this purpose is well IL
Illustrated by Van Ness avenue One day