The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-02

I 10 prove It's HtneSb LOT cerlhlH require
ments In the construction OF good
| streets.
Every town and city in the country,
no doubt, has had puszllng and Of
ten disastrous experience In trying to
solve alone, or with the aid Of a few
hints from the outside, this very trying
problem, II may be interesting to the
members of this association to hear
something OF the practical experiences
Of our own town, Parkersburg, West
Virginia,
Il will first state that our city char
tes provides that street paving may be
ordered by council In response to pc
tition Of majority OF the abutting
property owners on any street, or by a
three-fourths vote OF the council In
favor thereof, without such petition.
Two-t thirds OF the cost Of such paving
between street crossings, or between
street crossings and alleys is charge
able against the abu;tlng property
owners, the remaining one-th third togeth-
err with all street or alley crossings Is
paid for by the city.
When council orders street paved an
ordinance is passed TO that effect and the
city engineer is directed to make an esti-
mate Of the work to be done and draw u
profile OF the street with cross-secttons
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 tnspec-
ton and guidance OF bidders. Adver-
tlemeats for proposals are then publish
ed In the town papers for at least ten
days prior TO the opening OF the same;
each bid to be accompanied by samples
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 tn accordance Win 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 ctrbs 20 the depth Of twelve
inches below the finished pavement. The
specifications provide that the contractor
shall remove the eXcnvated material TO
a point directed by the city engineer OF
not 10 exceed oRe-half mile. II In eX-
cess of one-half mile, tho contractor re-
celves additional compensation therefor
This excavated material is made Use or
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 thorough
~ rolled with seven ton roller II any
portion OF this sub-gradc so prepared
shall he euft and Yielding from any
cause. II must he made OF uniform solid
It's with the other part of the grade by
tafnping or other means. II Is especially
essential that this foundation be thor
oughly prepared, as the durability. even
mesa and beauty OF the finished pavement
depends upon the thOroughness With
which this iifss work IL done.
II q street lays low and Is inclined to be
damp, | would recommend a drain-tile,
or two OF them, laid lengthwtse OF the
street, at equal DISTANCES, before paving"
for the purpose OF keeping The street dry
II the street Is laid along the side Of
hill that Is disposed to be damp. or with
water running out, would recommend Il
drain tile laid along the sidewalk about
TWO feet from the curb and two feet deep
which will serve to keep the paved street
perfectly dry. As the pavement mus.
res, upon the natural earth II can only
support II 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. bed OF clean SHARP
SAND Is ltiu upon this gravel to depth
Of two lnches, on which to place the
brick or block These are set on the sand
edgewise Ms closely and compactiy a.
possIbp at right angles with the line OF
tho curb. All Joints must be broken by u
lap OF Mt least three Inches Sand Is well
broomed IN upon the bricks thus laid,
and the surface we'll rolled with The roll
Ter. Finally, layer Of sand three
fourths Of an inch In depth Ia spread over
the entire surface. This completes the
contract. The sand ~ allowed to remain
until all spaces arc compactly nlled,when
The balance IL removed. This pavement
n properly done is impervl0us TO water,
ns we have found upon examination by
opening up such strectF
The contractor now gives bond TO an
amount of not less than one-half the
contract price as a guarantee that the
work done ana material furnished under
the contract shdli De and remain IN rood
condition FOR term Of i've years after
the completion Of the work under con-
tract, except such reasonable wear as
may be naturally expected
Tho work being finished and accepted,
the city engineer makes and files With the
city clerk an estimated assessment
against each OF the said abuttlng prop.
eIqy owners along rald street. The clerk
~ poon as gaid assessments have been
filed with him, causes notice OF the come