The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-12-22

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shall be soft and yielding, from any
cause, 1t must be made of uniform
solidity with the other part of the
grade by tamping or other means. 1t
is especially essential that this foun-
dation be thoroughly prepared, as the
durability, eyenness and beauty OF the
finished pavement depend upon the
thoroughness with which this first
work is done.
If a street lays low and is inclined
to be damp, / would recommend a
drain-tile, or two OF them, laid lcngth-
wise of the street, at equal distances,
before paving, for the purpose Of keep
ing the street dry.
If the street is laid along the side
of hill that is disposed to be damp,
or with water running out, | would
recommend drain-tile laid along the
sidewalk about two feet from the
curb and two feet deep, which will
serve to keep the paved street perfect
ly dry. As the pavement must rest
upon the natural earth it can only
support THY being kept dry.
Upon this sub-grade is placed an
even layer of clean small gravel, free
from clay or loan, TO depth Of six
inches, which is also well rolled with
the above mentioned roller A bed of
clean sand is laid upon this gravel to
depth of two inches, on which to
place the brick or block. These are
set on the sand edgewise as closely and
compactly as possible at right angles
with the line Of the curb. All joints
must be broken by lap of at least
three inches. Sand is well broomed
in on the bricks thus laid, and the
surface we'll rolled with the roller.
Finally layer of sand three-fourths
of an inch in depth is spread over the
entire surface. This completes the
contract. The sand is allowed to re-
main until all spaces are compactly
filled, when the balance is removed.
This pavement, IL properly done, is
impervious to water, as we have found
upon examination by opening up such
streets.
The contractor now gives bond to
an amount of not less than one-half
the contract price, as a guarantee
that the work done and material fur
nished under the contract shall be
and remain in good condition for a
term of five years after the completion
OF the work under the contract, ex-
cept such reasonable wear as may be
naturally expected.
The work being finished and &C
cepted the city engineer makes and
files with the city clerk an estimated
assessment against each of the said
AUDITING property owners along said
street. The clerk as soon as said as
sessments have been filed with him,
causes notice of same to be published
in two newspapers or actual notice to
be served upon the abutting property
owners to the effect that such assess
ments are on file in his Office for their
inspection. Any property owner
claiming to be aggrieyed by any irreg-
ular or excessive assessment, may,
within fifteen days after such notice,
petition council to correct such as
|sessment. Investigation of the fact
then is made by council and action
taken, which action shall be conclu-
sive.
While We have used a tar filling on
some of our streets, heretofore paved,
| do not think the payements thus
treated are any better than those
with sand filling. 1t costs more, about
ten cents square yard, and has some
disadvantages, especially when the
street has to be opened for purposes
of connecting new buildings with
sewer, water or gas mains in the
street. 1t is impossible to avoid
these openings, as the improvement
along the street constantly require
these connections to be made. We
have used several kinds of brick and
blocks, common and vitrified, COM
mencing in 1885,. and / believe the
only proper material for paving bust
ness streets is the vitrifled block, and
for the resident streets the vitrfied
brick or tire-clay brick, which have
given us entire satisfaction.
The first paving put down in our
town was in 1888, according to what
is known as the charleston plan. .
Il believe Charleston, w. Va. was thu.
pioneer of street paving with brick In
this country That plan is the same
in excavation as before described,
then three inches of sand was placed
M hic n lax p
of one-inch boards, previously dipped
in being tar, on top of this two
inches of sand, and then the
common building brick on top of this
sand, at cost of $l.30 per square
yard. This pavement has been re-
paired and needs renewing, but not on
account of the foundation.
The next year we used common
brick with the present specifications
costing $l09. Some of this pave
ing needs renewing also, after being
in use eight years.
In the years 1889, go and 81, we
paved with fire brick at cost of 81. 40
per square yard with tar, and $3.50
without tar. This pavement is now
in good condition. 1t is worn some
but it is good for many years yet. We
then paved several streets in 1894 and
'95, using various makes of vitrified
brick and block: Athens, Jones,
Harris, Bellaire and Bernard, at prices
ranging from S3 cents to Ss cents per
square yard. These streets do not
show any wear as yet.
This year, 1897, we adopted the
"Spillman Vitrified block" and find
that it fills all the requirements for
first class pavement. 1t is West
Virginia product, made by the CAM
den Clay Company, cost 79c, sic and
Sic, according to the distance hauled.
Two things are necessary to insure
good pavement:
First-A solid foundation
Second-Good paving brick or block,
which should be hard burned and
properly annealed. These should not
show over two per cent absorption in
forty-eight hours. Sixty brick will
pave one square yard, while it takes
only forty-four blocks for the same
space. Blocks should have beyeled
edges to give horses better foot-hold.
The true test of the material as to
wear and tear Is its practical use.
Manufacturers of paving material
are constantly endeavoring to prove
their wares. A perfect foundation
With a perfect brick or block, seems to
me to be almost iDdestructable.
Deafness Cannot be Cured
by local applications as they cannot
reach the diseased portion of the ear.