Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
is far cheaper in the long run. That it
better and makes a heffer r

is far cheaper in the long run. That it
wears better and makes better appear
ance no one doubts. Brick pavements are
laid upon ed of sand, and the roots Of
growing trees force them up in irregular
ridges forming depressions for rain and
making convenient tripping places for
pedestrians. Several years ago it was al
most the universal practice for pedestrians
to walk in the street. Even now they do it
when it rains, for in some Of the streets 1t
would require a pair of hip boots to wade
through the puddles.
Early Experiments.
The first deviation from an old brick
pavement was made during May, 1858, when
the old corporation of Washington pass
ed an ordinance legalzng a concrete side
walk, known as the Smith & Burlew pave
ment The first of this was laid in the
grounds of the Agricultural Department.
Other pieces of work were laid in other
parts Of the city, but the pavement was
not a success, and the city soon returned
to brick walks.
Since that time various patent pave
ments have been tried with more or less
satisfactory results The city went into
the business itself about three years ago,
and treated the old asphalt taken up
out Of the streets that were to be resur-
faced, with the idea of utilizing it for
sdew alks. A trial was made on LIST street
northwest for several squares, but the
material proved unsuitable for the pur-
pose ana Tie luea was abandoned.
Finally, after many tests, the District
adopted two kinds of standard pavement,
enc known as granolithic, the other as
phalt block. The former is an artificial
stone Pavement; the latter name tells its
own story. Under a contract with the
District, now in force, granolithic pave
ments are laid at $1.33 per square yard.
These pavements are made Of a combina-
ticn Of broken stone and cement, SO COM
tined that when set, hard, serviceable
pavement results. There is only one OBJ
jectien to these pavements. When water
pipes burst under them, or it becomes
disturb them, they have to be cut The
pavement Is thereby more or less injured.
Asphalt Block Pavements
This is not the case with the asphalt
block pavement. A; the name indicates, it
is made Of. asphaltum. A secret and pat
ented process is used to make the blocks
hard. and fine selected pebbles are used
in the mixture. Asphalt block costs 81. As
per square yard, and makes good. serv-
iceable pavement. 1t has this advantage
over granolithic pavements. The blocks
can be removed and replaced without in
juring the pavement.
AS stated above. few brick pavements are
laid these days. They are all put down by
days labor, and the District does the
work. No contract is made for these pave
ments. The District buys the brick and
lays them. and best OF all to the majority
of property owners, it also pays the whole
bill, which amounts to about 50 cents per
square yard.
The appearance OF dwelling is in
creased a great deal by the sidewalk in
front of 1t, and property owners are real
izfng this more and more every day. The
result Is that the Commissioners are be-
sieged with petitions for improved side
walks. The District would be glad enough
to comply with all the requests IL It
oh n
the work. But the extent of these i'm
provements is regulated by Congress- for
without a permit fund" the Commission
the Commissioners that 1t would be an
economic measure to increase this fund.
The sidewalks Of the District are a public