The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-12
COST OF CREOSOTING
CITY AUTHORITIES GET SOME FIG
URES on THEIR NEW FAD.
Loud Demand for n Widening Of the
Fall Greek Bridge at Meridian
Street-Sprinkling Bids.

The members Of the Board Of Works. the
Mayor and others interested in paving con-
tracts held conference yesterday afternoon
in regard to the proposed use Of creosoted
blocks for pavements. The city's representa-
tives are very enthusiastic in favor of creo-
soted blocks. While the cost Of creosoting
the blocks is about 50 foot on each side of
a forty-foot street, the fact that, when creo-
soted, the Southern yellow pine probably
makes the best block for paving purposes
enables the use Of much cheaper material
than has heretofore been put in the streets.
A thousand feet, lumber measure, Of blocks
Will lay twenty-five square yards of pave
ment which is five feet across a forty-foot
street. The cedar blocks which have been
used heretofore have cost 81 thousand feet,
which. If creosoted by the cheapest, or boil
ing process, would cost $3.50 a thousand
feet This process of creosoting simply al
lows each block to absorb whatever amount
OF the liquid 1t will take up, and all blocks
are not evenly treated. on account of the diff
ference in their texture.
The other process is to heat the blocks,
and. while hot, subject them to strong air
pump while they are inclosed in an alright
tank. This removes all moisture from them.
Then they are placed in another tank, which
Is filled with creosote and closed pressure
applied and the creosote Is forced in until
each cubic foot has taken up twelve pounds
of creosote.
The Southern pine blocks can be bought
here for SIS thousand feet and be
treated by the pressure process for about $22
thousand feet, which would make the cost
$37 or just SO more for a thousand than the
cost OF the untreated cedar blocks. This Is
81 foot on each side Of a forty-foot stree.
The cost would be only 10 cents more on rne
thousand than for cedar blocks creosoted by
the boiling process.
p. c. Reilly, general manager of the Mica
Roofing Company, of Haughville. ATTENDED
the conference yesterday. He says he will
give the Board of Works definite price for
creosoting pine blocks before the board's
regular meeting tomorrow morning. He is
now unoer the impression that he can creo-
sote the blocks SO as to reduce the total cost
to considerable extent. Creosoted blocks
were offered for $50 a thousand at New Or
leans. 1t was estimated that the contractors
could pay the freight on them and get them
here for less than so thousand, and Mr..
eu 1l awning to be had dim in New orleans
Several blocks were brought back by Mr..
Downing and Mr.. Johnson. who went South.
one block s bs which was d1 from
was sound as when put Gown and had
worn off less than three-fourths of an inch.
creosoted blocks prepared for use They are
extremely heavy, probably heavier than
green yellow pine.
The Board of Works will decide tomorrow
at its meeting, what 1t will do in regard to
creosoted blocks. Bids were received last
week for creosoted cedar blocks but they
are high as to bar the use of such ma
terial. If the price to be given by, Mr..
Reilly is low enough 10 justify 1t the board
will reject all bids on these streets and read
vertse, calling for creosoted yellow pine
blocks.
Controller Johnson was asked yesterday
who was to pay for the expenses of the
iun6eting trip to Galveston. He said he had
not given 1t a thought yet.
81 will wait until the newspaper reporters
have discussed and settled the matter before
deciding" said he
When the question OF admitting the Ber-
mudez Asphalt Company was before the old
Board Of Works two members of II went 10
other cities to inspect some pavement, and
when they returned were informed by Con-
troller Trusler that the city could not pay
the expenses OF the trip. They were COM
PEELED to lose the amount.