New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
PAYMENTS OF HARD WOOD.
|AUSTRALIA GREATLY PLEASED WITH
THEM.
AN ELABORATE REPORT MADE TO THE PHILA-
DELPHIA CITY COUNCILS.
From The Philadelphia Ledger.


From The Philadelphia Ledger.
The report on street pavements Of Australian
hard wood. prepared by the Philadelphia CONNER
cial Museum and sent to City Councils recently is
contains much Information secured direct from the
officials Of Australtan cities The report indicates
fully laid on concrete base, are considered In
brick or asphalt Up to the present time the form
OF wood pavements best known in American cities
a soft foundation. This pavement has been very
unsatisfactory and has already been discarded by
paving treated Of by the Commercial Museums re-
port Is one by which blocks Of very hard wood;
carefully cut by machinery TO uniform size. are
closely laid on foundation of concrete.
This form Of paving has received tests OF ABOUT out
so satisfactory that all the larger Australian cities
pavement. and at least one city. sydney has dis
carded all other forms in favor of the hardwood
system. ..
During the last ten years number OF expert
ments have been made with this pavement IN Eu-
for sufficient length of time arrive ~ a very
definite estimate Of their durability In me .ne d
States there is hut one example OF street paseo
with Australian hard wood namely ;,v'
This stretch of pavement was laid about TWO years
EUCALYPTUS CHIEFLY USED.
The wood used In greatest quantities for hard.
wood pavements has been taken from the dinerent
species of the Eucalyptus or gum II Is OF interess
to note that nearly all OF the several species OF
this wood are heavier than water, and have
density greater han many metals. The average
Australia is from 50 70 to SO 80 per square yard.
From hs may be seen t o se the price of
which averages in the United states ABOUT 90
In Australia the maximum life OF a we'll laid hard
wood pavement has been estimated AZ ABOUT nlty
buitv of taking up the blocks at intervals OF about
fifteen years and running them through saM-
sze aIpe blocks taken from some Of busiest
streets in sydney at the request OF the % na
quarter to one-thrd OF an inch in ten or twelve
sydney has population OF about $4,000. and the
traffic OF the streets IS exceedingly heavy Ihete
are now fourteen miles OF hardMo0d nd these
under heavy traffic. The report gives full partieu-
lars to the method Of LAYING the 6ocSS the
surface of the pavement with similar soiu,ronc
Some of the advantages claimed FOR the nardWoon
pavement are the reduction Of noise TO minimum,
while it is little greater than on me nest aspma r
rbe slFht eastcty Of the wood breaks the shock
caused by wheels striking an elevation or dropplng
saving TO norseflcsh Wood pavements reflect less
heat than any solid pavement Inc EXPANSION c1oss
very slight: the fibre of the wood Is 50 very e,osS
that there is little contraction or expansion caused
by dry weather
EASIER FOR LOADED TRUCKS.
One other important advantage OF hardwoe9
pavements is touched upon by Colonel George "
Bell United States Consul sydney who speaks
Of the city by one Two or more horses ,,ce NH
B Bs saws G aa we IL Wood pavement fully
/
cent more than on the best asphalt street:
In order to arrive at a more Impartial opinion
! than would be obtained from any business houses
| Interested in hardwood timber, some OF the prn-
cipal officials in ach OF the Australian colonies
were addressed. The Commercial Museum report
contains the replies 10 a series OF inquiries sent
10 the city surveyors of Sydney. Melbourne, Ade-
iade and other cities all of whom declared that
the hard woods OF Australia superior for street
paving to any other materials The report also
| contains a list of the principal cities In England
which have used hardwood payements, and the
opinion OF their officials 10 its durability. Ihese
opinions differ but I'll speak In high terms OF WELL
| laid hardwood pavemenls.
The block OF Australian wood paving In New
| York city. says Colonel George Waring. recently
chief OF the Street Cleaning Department Is in many
| used In New York. Under certain conditions u
is slippery but Colonel Waring thinks this would
only require a certain amount of sanding to make
1t satisfactory The unanimous opinion OF the ten.
ants on the properties adjoining the block paved
| with hard wood In NewYork seems TO be that ~
presents an excellent surface. but Is too slippery
| in weather ne desirable for heavy traffic.
| II should be mentioned. however, that the frequent
| sanding regarded a. necessary In Australia and
| Europe in order hat a certain amount OF grit
| NAV work into the surface of the wood. has not
| been properly attended TO in New-lOrh City
The report discusses al some length the PROB
| able cost Of Australian hardwood paving In tho
| United States In compa rison with the pavements
| used present. and the conclusion is reached
that the first cost would not greatly exceed that
| In Sydney. While the freight charges from Aus
labor in the United States Is more efficient than
| in Australia and that cement. tar, pitch. gravel
and other materials are cheaper in the United