The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-24
EucAlYpn pAvEMENTs.

Monthly suggests the need OF a better
pavement than volcanic rock for our
business streets and is inclined to favor
wooden blocks or cubes laid In the way
that Is common in Sydney. The
Monthly says:
Prof. Koebele, while in Australia. was
Surprised in seeing the fine. smooth
streets that are kept In admirable condi-
ton in Sydney and Melbourne. On In
curry he found that they We're paved with
wood, the eucalyptus having been FOUND
by far the best adapted for this purpose,
when properly prepared and laid In the
manner that experience has proved 10 De
the best 1t withstands the heaviest of
traffic, and ten years experience mas
proved 1t superior TO any material mere
tcfore used for this purpose. lit can be
obtained in Sydney or Melbourne by the
shipload, and is being used there in pref
erence to any other. There are various
kinds of hardwood trees growing in Aus
tralia, but experience has shown that
some of the eucalyptus varieties are the
best for this purpose, lasting for nine or
ten years, and showing the annual wear
of only one-sixteenth of an inch of the
surface during that time.
In September, 1896, United States
Consul General Bell stationed at sgd
ney, made report on gum pavements
which he supplemented by an address
before the Merchants Association OF
San Francisco from which we take this
paragraph: From experience in Sgd
ney it has been learned that about five
varieties of eucalyptus are conspicuous
ly superior to any of the others for
paving purposes. They are red gum,
blue gum, black butt. tallow wood and
mahogany. There is a conflict of Opin-
ion as to the merits of the same wood
in different localities on the continent
but in the absence of any evidence on
that point / prefer to regard this hon.
est difference of opinion as the result. OF
local favoritism."
The gum tree grows in great forest
on Tantalus and can be found almost
anywhere in California, where its va
rieties are nineteen. The blue gum
which is very brittle when alive be-
comes, by a process of seasoning, as
tough as wire. A piece a foot long
which has been sufficiently exposed to
the weather cannot be split with an
axe. Such wood, when put through the
Australian process of highway prep
aration, would make an ideal pavement
even upOll SlIttNS NutIt ttlt llditiC IL
heavy. Illustrative of his San Fran
cisco address Mr.. Bell showed a block
of eucalyptus which, though bearing
heavy traffic in Sydney for twelve
years, had been worn only to a deptf
of one-tenth of an inch. Probably we
do not ear in saying that there is M
other kind of wood or any kind of vitrf
fed brick or macadam by which sucf
an exhibit could be bettered.
The Sydney experiment with eu
calyptus was preceded by years of tria
and failure with macadam, stone cubes
asphalt and other materials. Fighter
/ years ago the first pavement of thi
kind was laid in Sydney and now, a
Mr.. Bell put 1t, there are over four
/ teen miles. including the chief streets
paved with this material; this include
all streets with heavy traffic. No othe
material now would be considered an
it is rapidly taking the place othe
pavements as new streets are opene
or old ones being repaired
The method of laying the Sydne
pavement shows that thoroughness O
work has something to do with tn
good results secured as we'll as dura
bility of material. To attain the bes
results, as Consul Bell has shown
great precision in mathematical calcu
lations and great care in mechanics
construction are necessary. The block
must be exact in their uniformity c
size, three by six by nine inches, tn
six inches being length. A foundatio
is first laid in solid cement concret,
six inches thick with even surfac,
After being set this is covered with
mixture of cement and sand, event
distributed, which is allowed to harde
and settle for seven days. Upon TIL
the blocks, which have previously bee
dipped in boiling tar are placed i
|, transverse rows across the street, thre
. rows of blocks being first placed long
, tudinally along the curb. Prior to lay
ing down the blocks a two-inch bate
). or plank is also laid parallel with the1
, against the curb. When the blockin
is completed this batten is removed al
the space filled with puddled clay
, provide for expansion. The entire SUI
, face of the pavement is then covere
!. with mixture of tar and pitch sprea
, on hot and this again with pea grav
dried and heated, which is the finishir
touch.
g Assuming that something besides oil
. ordinary volcanic rock pavement WI
have to be used down town and takir
4. account of the wear and tear of a
= phalt and bltumen on the busine
) streets of San Francisco, it might !
$ well to look into the eucalyptus matt
: seriously. We have some materi
y right at hand as the Tantalus fores
Y for its own benefit, should be thinnt
out. More blocks, If required, cou
be got from California as easily as
cargo of dressed lumber