The age-herald., 1899-08-13
DIET WILL REASSENBLE AUGUST 6
 ID DECIDE FATE OF THE CANAL BILL

 part of First avenue in this city. The noise on granite pavements Is perhaps the great est objection. The pavement is uneven, consequently the wheels of vehicles passing over same receive constant blows. Some astute mathematician has figured it out that in one year of travel over granite pavements a buggy will have dropped in distance equal to a mile and a quarter. Bicyclists are mo doubt prepared to feeling ly corroborate this statement. The blocks being irregular in size, the interstices are larger, and consequently become reservoirs for filth and excrement from horses, ser1- ous object from a sanitary standpoint.
 Asphalt has a beautiful appearance to recommend it, but is very slippery and hard upon horses, because of no cushion to give 1t spring and elasticity; in summer, very hot and dust intolerable; most costly of all pavements, and short-lived. Only two weeks ago the city of Chattanooga let a contract to relay Market street with vitrified brick, as the asphalt had worn out. Brick pavements laid at the same time in Chattanooga as the asphalt have mot required one dollar of repairs
 Macadam is good for country roads. and has cheap first cost to recommend 1t to some cities, but requires constant repairs; is dusty in dry weather and sloppy in wet weather. It can be said to be good and
 
 snow.
 In vitrified brick, the civil engineer finds just what he is looking for. The combined silica, alumina and iron gave a resultant material that is harder than steel. It is the only substance that will successfully resist the calks and heels of the horses shoe, the greatest enemy to all pavements. When brick are properly manufactured and thoroughly vitriied, the blacksmith will be kept busy sharpening the chisels on the calks and heels of the horseshoe. And when in the process of time the brick do wear, it will be uniform all over the brick, so that the pavement will present smooth surface even when the brick are half worn away. Of course, if a poor or improper foundation is put under any pavement it will not stand the traffic on account of unevenness.
 Vtrifed brick, being flon-absorbent and uniform in size, when laid present an ab- soute water-tight pavement, which can easily be cleaned by washing or sweeping, thus affording the best sanitary pavement yet discovered
 Brick paving can easily be repaired, when repairs are necessary, on account of uni- formity of size. Brick pavements are com paratively noiseless, and less slippery than granite or asphalt. They have been in suc- cessful use in Holland for hundred years, and in this country, at Charlestown, W. Va, without any repairs, for twenty-five years; in Columbus. O.. Galesburg, Ill.,, Omaha and other cities for ten to fifteen years, and are now the standard pavement for Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis, New Orleans, Atlanta (the home of granite), and Montgomery, Ala, and many points in Georgia and Florida. Many other cities north and south are adopting vitrified brick for paving their streets.
 MT. Sibley, in reply to inquiry from the reporter, stated that his company was at present finishing large contract at Tam consecutive contract at the city of Mont gomery, Ala. It will thus be seen that Coaldale brick have an enviable reputation both at home and abroad.
 The reporter was shown testimonials from the city officials in great many of the cities where Coadale brick had been used for the past six years, and they all testify to it's excellent qualities. The com pany has never yet been called upon for repairs to any of the streets built of it's brick.
 It will thus be seen that Jefferson county, in addition to its vast mineral resources, furnishes the material for the manufac- ture of paving brick that has surpassed all tests both scientific and under the heaviest traffic.
 The Coaldale plant seems to be equipped with the latest modern machinery and patent dryer apparatus, and eight large down draft kilns giving 1t an annual ca- pacity of over seven million brick The property represents an investment of some sixty thousand dollars. Judging from the experience of so many other large cities, Birmingham can make no mistake in paw ing her streets with the material from this home county factory.