Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-05

ed into America. This rate will continue to
increase from year to year. until we not only
supply our own wants, but those of other
countries
Asphalt used for paving the streets of
most of our cities comes from Trinidad.
Other of our foreign asphalts come from the
mainland of South America, Syria. Ger
many, Switzerland and France. European
asphalts, Mr. Parker says. are objectiona
Bile for paving, because they contain very
little gritty matter, and are slippery after
hardening. America. he is positive. can pro-
duce the best asphalt in the world, both for
paving and commercial purposes That of
all four of the states mentioned Is found to
be excellent for paving. California contains
the most abundant supply of all American
states. and therefore will offer the most of
our native asphalt to the rapidly growing
cities of the west.
Trinidad asphalt, although shipped all the
way from the coast of South America, is
now much cheaper in the southern and east
ern sections of this country than any mined
by Uncle Sam.
Found In Solid Form.
Most of our American asphalt fit for paw
ing is found in solid FORM known as bitumi-
nous rock This includes bitunlinous sand
stones and limestones, found most extern
sively in California, but also appearing in
Kentucky, Ohio, Montana and Oklahoma.
They mostly dry and solid, but readily
melt when heated. They are refined to
some extent before being used in paving.
American asphalt varies from a liquid form
to a solid ~ock. The liquid form found in
California is used mostly for softening the
harder grades put on the paveInents of west
ern cities. 1t is extracted from the sea sand
in most interesting manner.
MIR. Parker says that in Utah Is found
the purest and most valuable asphalt in
the world. This is knowc as Gisonte or
gum asphalt. 1t is very expensive, bring
ing the producers s35 per ton. while asphalt
mined from bitunlnous rock costs but lit
tie over s. per ton. One reason why Titan
Gilsonite is so expensive is because it must
be hauled nearly 4 hundred miles to the
nearest railroad.
It's History a Problem.
The natural history of asphalt is still a
problem before biologists. DR.. Days an
alysis is expected to clear up many obscure
points concerning its deeply buried myster-
les. 1t is thought that asphalt in the pure
state is formed from the pitch of trees bur-
led in the earth far back in the ages, and
heated by interior volcanic fires. Animal
matter found in it has led others to the be-
lief that 1t is due to animal rather than
vegetable decay. Ancient ruins have shown
that asphalt is the most enduring substance
which can be used in engineering. CiSternS
and other works made of it in Egypt and
Arabia three thousand years ago are still
in good condition. The aboriginal Indians
of California coated their canoe lotions
with it to make them water tight. They
also used it for cementing their stone uten-
sis and weapons. 1t was never mined from
the rock. until less than thirty years ago,
VIXEN that industry began in California.
The first modern asphalt pavenents in
the world We're laid in Paris in 1888. The
first street of the kind in London was laid
eleven years later. The first application
of asphalt for street paving in America
was made in Washington exactly twenty
five years ago. These first streets proved
worthless because of the use OF ordinary
coal tar for cement. The following year
Trinidad asphalt was used on small por-
lions of the streets of New York and Phila-
delpha, resulting successfully. Pennsyl-
vania avenue, Washington, was paved with
it in the year of the centennial, it being the
longest continuous sheet of it in America.
try were joined end to end they would make
a continuous thoroughfare of the average
width reaching from Montreal to the At
ianta exposition.