Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-08
WAS A BUSY SESSION
Town Fathers Decide on Asphalt
Block for Street Paving.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE'SREPORT
Several Important Matters Discussed at
the Council Meeting Last Night.
Two Years for Pratt. Other
Items OF Interest.

The meeting Of the town council last
was both lengthy and Interesting, ana
a considerable amount OF important
business was disposed Of. When the
body was called to order by Mayor
j. Il. Hope there were present, Clerk
w. L. WestWoou and Councilmen n. S.
Groomc, s. S. Cunningham. ]. NJ. Cum
ming. Il. X. Tennis, J. G.. Outten, Alex
andcr Gardner and Thomas Hammond.
The report of the special committee
appointed by the council to visit several
Northern cities III the interest Of street
paving was received and after a con
siderable amount &C discussion the coun-
Gil decided upon asphalt block as the
hest material for paving the streets of
Hampton.
Another important matter which was
discussed at some length was the CON
structi"n OF the ordinance granted the
Newport News and Old Point Railway
and Electric Company. which compels
them to sell coupon tickets between
Hampton and Newport News during
certain hours at ten cents for the rounl
trip I.'
The question Of building new
engine house was taken up ana
after the council had looked ut
the matter from every imaginable
standpoint and especially from the point
OF finances it was decided to leave the
which will consult With a committee
from th:= Fire Department concerning
various matters
THE BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
The minutes of the last meeting, were
read and approved.
MIR. J. Z. Outtcn. chairman Of the
street Committee ana also of the special
committee which was sent by the rolln-
Gil TO Baltimore ana Washington for th.
purpose OF Inspecting the street paving
tI.Ac I-,Nl >n,,t l.
which covered three pages Of type
written matter and fully Went into de-
tail of the various kinds of materials
used IN those cities, as we'll as several
other places which the committee did
not visit. This infornlgl ton was oh
tanned by the committee through the
city engineers, OF the places named and
gave good insight into the matter tor
which the committee had been named
The report in part read as follows:
TO the Honorable Council of the Town
OF Hampton. Va.
-FOUR committee appointed by g raso-
luton Of the council at it's last special
meeting. TO visit the surrounding cities
With a view to recommending the maze
rails for paving, begs to report as fol-
lows:
Your committee left Hampton on the
I'D of August. arriving at Baltimore
on the morning OF the Esd. subsequently
visiting Washington and Richmond AMI
come to the following conclusions:
The best pavement. considering du-
rabllity, noiseleSSness, color and cost
is in asphalt block.
The asphalt block as Recommended
by Your committee is composed of
crushed rock from IS per cent to % per
cent. and aSphaltum from s per cent
TO II per cent. and is subjected to hy-
draulic pressure until it approaches
IL IN, +.
driven over pavement in Washington
Of this material which had been laid
fifteen years and was Still, in good con-
dition and was shown one here laid in
1885 composed Of limestone rock. which
is softer than tina rock now used ana
asphatum, which had been down thir-
teen years ana was still in good condi-
ton; your committee inspected some Of
the blocks taken from this pavement
Tor the purpose OF laying a pipe and
found the wear for the above time to
vary from ii to SIS; the size OF
this block was .N6x12: the sheet as
phalt is equally desirable on account
Of its noiselcssness and. durability but
is subject to the objection that it is
necessary to maintain a plant for re
pairs to which the block is not subject
as they can be repaired by an ordinary
workman ~ E&AS
This block is guaranteed FOR ten years
and 10 per cent of the contract pric.
= reservoir DE the city Tor repairs,
the amount used for REPAIRS be-
ing replaced by the contractor when
ever used, so that the full amount Of
l0 per cent. is always on hand for hat
purpose, the contractor to give bond for
the guarantee. this practically AMOUNT
ing to 4 twenty year guarantee. This
pavement can De Laird for 81. 10 per yard
Your committee reports that in sew
er;u places it saw vitrified brick pave
ments and generally speaking they were
notln good condition but your Commits,
was informed that the chipping ana
sinking was due to defective founla-
tin1ls and is of the opinion that con
sidering the many tests to which a good
brick is subjected, that a vitrified brick
will stand all the traffic which passes
on sQueen street, the most travelled
street in town, il a good brick
was laid on 4 concrete foundation with
4 bedding of INCHES OF sand.
The Nitrifed brick above referred to
can be laid for less than $500 per square
yard.
III case n vtriGed brick pavement is
laid there will be no guarantee except
that OF the local contractor the as
nhalt paving company guarantees for
telh.years which practically amounts TO
a tyenty years guarantee. In all cases
cited or brick pavements there were
slight repairs except one; if asphalt Is
laid there will be no expense to the town
ons$acount of repairs for ten years.
Y Respectfully submitted,
J. Z. OUTTEN,
Chairman,
1. C. 7. HOI4TZCT4AW,
]. b. HOPE. JR.
y discussion Of The report was gone
INTO and for some time the body took
un$every advisable point as to what
Wdnld be the proper things to be used