Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1897-12-17

may be Kept clean. While IL is COM
paratively new material it has been in
use long enough to prove its fitness
for certain requirements in the con-
struction of good streets.
Every town and city in the coun-
T try, no doubt, has had puzzling and
often disastrous experience in trying
TO solve alone, or with the aid of a
few hints from the outside, this very
i trying problem. 1t may be interest
ing TO the members of this associa-
tion to hear something Of the practi-
cal experiences of our town, Parkers-
burg, West Virginia.
. will first state that our city
charter provides that street paving
may be ordered by council in response
to petition of majority of the abut-
ting property owners on any street, or
by a three-fourths vote of the council
in favor thereof, without such petit
ton. Two thirds OF the cost Of such
paving between street crossings, or
between street crossings and alleys is
chargeable against the AUDITING prop
erty owners, the remaining one-third
together with all street or alley cross
ings is paid for by the city.
+ When the council orders street
paved an ordinance is passed to that
effect and the city engineer is directed
to make an estimate of the work to
be done and draw a profile of the
street with cr0ss-sections that bidders
may know just how much material is
to be removed. This profile together
with the specifications for such work
is placed in his office for the inspection
and guidance of bidders. Advertise
ments for proposals are then published
in the town papers for at least ten
days prior to the opening of the same;
each bid to be accompanied by sam
Piles of brick or block, gravel and sand,
bid on. After the opening Of bids
council decides upon the make of brick
or block to be used, and awards the
contract to the lowest bidder in ac-
cordance with the material selected.
The grade OF the street being estab-
lished the contractor begins his work
/ by eXcavating the full width of the
street between the curbs to the depth
of twelve inches below the finished
pavement. The specifications provide
that the contractor shall move the
excayated material to a point directed
/ by the city engineer of not to exceed
one-h half mile. If in excess of one-half
mile, the contractor receives addi-
tional compensation therefor.
This excavated material is made
use OF in filling low places in the
streets and alleys. The foundation
thus secured by excavation being
made to conform with the finished
pavement, is then thoroughly rolled
with d seven ton roller. If any por-
tion OF the sub-grade so prepared
shall be soft and yielding, from any
cause, it 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, evenness and beauty Of the
finished pavement depend upon the
! thoroughness with which this first
work is done.
If street lays low and is inclined
+ to be damp, | would recommend d
drain-tile, or two Of them, laid length
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 a 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 it by being kept dry.
Upon this sub-grade is placed an
even layer Of clean small gravel, free
from clay or loan, to a 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
a 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 well 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-