New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-13

w. HOMER BROADHURST.
MAR anaIvses Of the Ridgewood water as It flows
from the faucets are made. the results being re-
ported to the head of the City Works Depart
ment.
The chemical laboratory In the Municipal
building has been In existence a little more than
two months but as yet the public knows moth
ing about It. II has already attracted the atten-
ton of city officials in New York, however, and
some Of them have visited II and expressed their
satisfaction at the work done in II. The labora-
tory is part Of the Bureau Of Street Construc-
ton and Maintenance. It's purpose is to keep the
officials of that Bureau informed regarding the
character Of the asphalt laid the streets OF the
city.
THE COMPANIES HAVE THEIR OWN
CHEMISTS.
1t may not be generally known that each Of the
asphalt paving companies employs chemist
usually good one too-who maintains a con-
slant watch on the material supplied and used
and is responsible for seeing that the specifca-
tions Of paving contracts are compiled with; or,
at least that they not so far departed from
as to get the company into trouble. The compa-
Mes therefore. had the city at an advantage.
and the latter had to take It's asphalt pavements
largely faith. Inspectors were employed, to
be sure to that the contractors did their work
properly but all they could do was TO Judge by
the general appearance Of things whether any
thing wrong. The pavements could be test
ed by time and USE OF course. and the contractors
compelled to give a guarantee for five years.
Thinking over this matter, Nelson p. Lewis,
the engineer in charge OF the Bureau Of Con-
struction and Maintenance came to the con-
clusion that It would be good thing for the
ov,1
keep tab on the asphalt contractors In look
ing for a man to take charge Of such a labOra-
tory there was recommended to him w. Homer
Broadhurst OF the Polytechnic Institute, and
Mr.. Broadhurst is employe Of the city.
He was born in Brooklyn, and has lived there
all his life.
A "POLY" GRADUATE IN CHARGE.
Like so many other Brooklyn boys. he found
his way to the famous Poly" after q number
Of years in other schools. and In 1894 was gradu-
ated from that institution with the degree OF
Bachelor of Science Mr. Broadhurst we'll
regarded by Professor Peter Townsend Austen.
the head Of the department Of chemistry in tho
Polytechnic and after his graduation he became
an instructor in cumulative analysis there.
This place he held for two years. until he was
engaged to take charge OF the city's new chemi-
cal laboratory.
The room set apart for this purpose Is not
| large one, though what 1t lacks In length and
breadth may be said to be made up In height.
It is chemists workshop in the fullest mean
ing OF the words On all sides TO be seen
test tubes, TASKS cOndensers. and the other
paraphernalia fitting In such place In the
centre Is a desk with few books II. and
there Is space in the for only single
chair
| On one SIDE behind glass doors. are rows of
shelves, which specimens Of asphalt pave
ment are bestowed. When a street is being
paved pieces Of the material are cut out and
carried to the laboratory. Each one Is carefully
labelled. and a record is kept showing the place
/ from which II is taken the time. etc. A chemi-
cal analysis is made OF each sample. and. in
short complete history Is recorded. This
shows at once the character Of the work done
| by the paving contractors. and II will enable
| the engineer to determine In the future by COM
parison. what changes the asphalt has under
| gone by reason Of weather, wear and changes
! of temperature. A lafar analysis will also show
whether the material has undergone any change
while lying In the laboratory without being SUBJ
| ject to wear and tear.
| Not only does Mr.. Broadhurst make analyses
of samples of pavement actually laid. but he
pursues the same course respects the ma
terial used by the contractors In their work
/ The specifications for asphalt paving on which
bids are sought are explicit and comprehensive
and II Is for the chemist to determine whether
the material supplied comes up to the require
: ments The standard Is Trinidad Pitch Lake
! asphalt and other asphalts used are required
| TO he equal TO that
WHAT TIE ANALYSES SHOW.
Mr. Broadhurst's experiments show that tn.
: average analyses Of refined asphalt from Trini
, dad run about as follows: Petrolene. 1901;
: asphaltene 1913; total bltumen. 80 70: organic
matter. non bitumen, sos; mineral matter.
20 1G: matter volatile at 400 degrees Fahren-
hen in ten hours, II: softening point. 800 de-
9 grees; temperature of flow. 2'W degrees: specific
! gravity. 1851.
In the case of pavement samples these results
are reached: Matter soluble In bisulphid Of
bon so: nsolublc residue. DIDO; fire test 800
degrees The acdty OF caustic potash Is also
determined.
Sand Is used in forming the asphalt compound
laid as a pavement. and this also Is subject to
chemical analysis the result being thus: silica,
81 20; aumna. O'D sesquioxidc Of iron, LOO;
lime. q. ! !: magnesia. trace.
I'm addition to his dealings with asphalt In
various forms, Mr. Broadhurst makes tests Of
the Roscndae cement used In the concrete
foundation on which the asphalt pavement Is
laid These tests are made with machine pro-
vided for that purpose, which determines the
cohesiveness OF the cement under varying con-
ditions.
TIE laboratory has been in operation only
since the beginning of May. The results thus
far are satisfactory and II Is expected that II
will prove OF decided advantage to the city
Already Edward p. North Water Purveyor. In
, New-York City. who Is the official In charge OF