Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-14
Its Monthly Meeting Held Last
Thursday.
UNUSUALLY LARGE ATTENDANCE
Interesting Report Respecting
Streets.
Recommsnda dations That All Teams BE Com
pelled TO Keep TO the Right aud That the
superfiuous vehicular Traffic on Market
Street be Discontinued.

WAS as follows:
| To the Gentlemen Of the Board of
Trade Your special committee on
kFtreets appointed at your last meeting,
WOULD respectfully submit its report
aRfollows:
Ne would say first, however, that
thW Board of Trade left this committee
unrestricted as to the scope of its
dut8Rs. and unadvisod as to its methods
of procedure. Your committee has
therN Nfore deemed it wise to incorporate
in I'll &s report such things as pertain TO
stre% paving and street use, and to
Becu4e information pertaining to such
matters it has secured numerous inter
views and letters from the leading tax
payers and street users of our city. We
will endeavor, therefore, to lay before
this board not our own views alone,
but a consensus of the views and
opinions OF such citizens of our city as
have been interviewed, and while our
report might well be subject to criti-
cism from the standpoint of scientific
street making, yet we have endeavored
to secure for this board such informa-
tion and suggestions as appeal to the
( mind of layman.
Wilmington comprises total street
mileage of 81 miles, of which approx
mately AZ miles are improved and ~
miles are yet unimproved. The paved
portion of our city included 81. 100
miles of granite block pavement, which
has been laid at an average cost of
81. GO per square yard; l3 40-100 miles
of macadam or teltord, laid at an
average cost of 62 cents per square
yard; IA 11-100 miles of rubble stone,
which has been laid at an average cost
of 10 cents per square yard; 49, 100
miles of asphalt block, laid at an
average cost of 81. % per square yard and
6 25-l00 miles of fire or shale brick or
block laid at an average cost of 81. 0715
cents per square yard.
Granite block is system of paving
well known to all. 1t has been the
natural paving material for generations.
1t has been well tried and it's results arc
well known. and on streets devoted to
heavy traffic it is not likely to be en-.
tirely superseded by any other ma
terial. OF the approximate 10 miles of
granite block paving in our city, there
are some special portions that can
stand as splendid specimen of this
system of paving, and the whole of the
granite block streets under the ex-
animation of the committee proves to
be generally in good condition. Fol
lowing this in natural stone paving,
we find II 11-100 miles Of rubble stone
pavement of which little can be said
other than it makes solid street bed
at small cost, which is meant to serve
only until it can be replaced with
better material. OF macadam there
are 13. 40 miles laid at an average cost
'.of 62 cents per square yard This is a
system Of paving of crush stone origi-
mated in England about "A century ago
by John Loudhn Macadam, aud for
almost a century it has been in use in
England and has proved to be an ex-
tremely satisfactory system of paving
for country roads and outlying dis
tricta. But because of the tendancy Of
the stone to grind into powder and
thus creating disagreeabe dust, it
cannot be put into general usuago in
the built-up portions of city. This
system has been very iudicially used in
this city, and by icing properly
srrinkled in dry weather, will serve its
purpose in very satisfactory manner.
Coming to artificial paving material,
the first used in our city was asphalt
blocks. This is a paving material com
posed principally Of asphalt and lime.
stone made into blocks. This has not
taen very extensively used and from
IL results ia not likely to be used
again. Tho bottom side of the block
becoming damn, causes the limestone
to dlslntegratc thus causing it to be
said that it wears out faster ut tho
bottom than on top The almost
unanimous oniniun is that il ia an un.
, the hnlikelihond Of its hoing used
!. again needs no further consideration,
\ Vhe only Other artificial paying ma.
~ hial that has been used is fire OF
shah bFfek,s or blocks. This has bepr
quite extensively used aud covers q. 9-
miles of our streets and has been laid
at an average cost for grading, laying.
Nc, Of S2.07ls pcr square yard. This
is paving material composed of fire
clay or of shale or ground rock or Of I
combination of the two nodded into
bricks or blocks and burn To certair
state of vitritication. The manufacture
Of this paving material sroms to he still
in an experimental stage The manu-
facturers are still cndeavuriny 10 sccur,
aproduct that viii be porous enough /,
be tough and ut the same time Ia be Wit
rified TO sufficient stare OF hardness t,
stand the wear and prevent ABSORPTION
This combination seems difficult to oh
tain. The different manufacturers main
tain different theories as to the inrre
dients required, both as 10 quality ant
quantity, and experts differ widely il
their artificial tests of tho nianufac
tured article. The only true trst seem
to be the natural one of use. and tina
test has not proved satisfactory in thi
city. On Delaware avenue, for in
stance, where the brick u uset, In
indications are that the possible life d
the pavement under the traffic tu wiir
1T IL subject, is nine or ten years, az
meanwhile the repHira viii bu con
siderable and unsatisfactory. hrin
always noticeable and sel,iun IeveI
On this basis paving bricks although
maFes very pleasant street fur the us
oil llght traffic, proves ~ he Il very TX
penalve paving material There hHy
been improvements made in the mani
facturo OF paving bricks since Drii
ware avenue was Paved, and ot
Street and Sewer Department hi
taken advantage vi the impruyrHcn
and selected brick of hrt.rr materi,
Tor their later paving. but taxing int
considerations the Cust and duTalilit
OF fire clay and shaie bricks an
having in view the cost ana duraliii.
OF other artificial paving material il /
deemed unGdysabIa To further rantinu
tho uae OF paving brick rs pnyin
material ON our streets eN"ant parhpr
itoa limited eytrnt under some partict
lar circumstances.
Thus, we lind, tho condition Of TN
streets Of Wilmington at thus limo, an
those who recall the conditions Of OH
streets ~ years ago. may see muc
cause for congratulation that our cit
hAg maln hmGh striNna IN .nnui.i. !.