New-York tribune., 1895-07-28
THE OLD IND THE NEV.
TEARING Up AN ASPHALT PAVEMENT TO RE
PLACE IT WITH \ BETTER ONE-WORK
vARIOr-c PARTS DRoOEIyN


PLACE IT WITH \ BETTER oNE-woRK
IN VARIOUS PARTS OF BROOKLYN.
Passcrs through Clnton-st.. Brooklyn. this last
week have witnessed the rather unusual sight OF
the tearing up OF an asphalt pavement. 1t does not
follow from this operation that asphalt Is so plenti-
full in the City OF Churches that the municipal
authorities feel II necessary TO dispense with any
such pavements already In existence In this case
asphalt which has been in use for n number OF
years is being torn up that It may be replaced with
and better.
The removing Of asphalt pavement is no easy
matter. judging from the time occupied In doing
the work in C.inton-st. on the block between Full
ton and Pierrepont SITS. To the south OF Pierrcpont
st. the asphalt on Clinton-st. along which il
tends only Atlantic-ave.. was recently repaired.
but the first block was in bad a condition that
II was deemed wise 10 replace the pavement en-
tirely A gang OF Italians. mostly armed with crow
bars. undertook the task OF ripping up the old as
phalt coating. No; the least important member o.
the gang was the one provided with slcige-
hammer The method Of operation was for the men
with crowbars pry up n piece OF the asphalt by
their united efforts. but tough is the material
that with al their strength they were not able
IT over sufficiently far to break IT of.
When the edge had been Tilted up at an angle
Of about 45 degrees the shaped head OF
the sledge- hammer brought into pay as II
the sturdy Italian who welded 1t endoavoring
chop of a good-sized block OF asphalt His
blows made little impression on II. but when he had
finished the other members OF the gang applied
their common weight the piece Of pavement
against which the attack was directed. when ordi-
narily Il would crack al the line where the hammer
had been applied BY inserting their crowbars in
the crack the men were able with effort 10
detach the irregular block after which the oper-
alton repeated times without number. The
toushness OF the asphalt was 80 great that one
could not observe the work without wondering
kf.. x.tafl had don In
numerous spots. the impact OF carriage and
wheels.
The removal OF the asphalt brought 70 light some
cobblestones underneath. and also some remains OF
the Nicolson wood pavement. which had con
siderable vogue in Brooklyn twenty five or thirty
years ago. Al that time wood was believed 10 con
tain tho solution Of the paving problem FOR cities.
elaborate magazine and newspaper articles were
written about II. and Brooklyn invested consider
able sums in experimenting with wooden books.
Whether because the wood not properly treat
ed or because o. peculiar climatic conditions. this
kind Of pavement n complete failure. After
few months numerous depressions and uneven
M sses made their appearance and things wen.
from bad TO To drive over such pavements
soon became a WEAKNESS TO the nesh. and In
time they were either taken up or In some cases.
covered with asphalt The latter treatment was
applied in part OF Cnton-st, as the operations
just described have revealed.
In n sense the old wooden blocks may be looked
on as a geological stratum marking one period IN
the evolution OF the city while the asphalt stratum
marks later period. The present is the asphalt
era taking into account the large amount Of
this kind OF pavement which is being pu; down In
various parts Of Brooklyn. The only discouragng
feature about II is that II is In so many different
sections. There is no continuous asphalt route
the replacing OF me granito boeRs IN S,n@f'ner &
in the provision OF a continuous smooth pavement
from the Heights to the Park
The work In Schermerhornst has been In prog.
ress for about a month. and II Will be several
here will cover the three long blocks between
Smith and Neyins SITS The whole OF the most
Ing Of asphalt which will form the finishing touch.
The foundation for this is OF concrete. and the as
which Will, 1t is believed tend to give ii a longer
he The concrete foundation IL provided In pur-
when he found that the price OF asphalt had been
considerably reduced. 10 put down better pavemcnis
directly on cobblestones or other uneven founda-
fion In Schermerhorn-s;. the concrete Is to be AL
lowed to set thoroughly before the asphalt is APP
Two or three blocks. Of asphalt pavement have
ford-ave and two blocks OF New-York- k-ave to the
south OF ST. Mark. are to be similarly treated.
way To connect with the Eastern Parkway
4 beginning is also 10 be made In asphalting
which Void form a natural part OF a continuous
asphalt route between Bedford-ave. and the down
1STn Tompkns kfxOa and IN" Sosrand 50
Preparations are being made FOR placing asphalt
on a part Of MonrOe-st.. ana the smooth pavement.
on Hancock-st is soon to be extended two or three
blocks to the eastward.
these hngs are nr raskgp ana n TDe M
still when All the present plans are finished, only
small fraction Of the streets OF the CITY WI be
connection Of the numerous small pieces Of asphalt
tions for the benefit of all who drive or wheel