The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-27
WOOD PAVING IN LONDON.
\ Report Upon the Subject From the
Acting Consul General.

\ Report Upon the Subject From the
Acting Consul General.
Richard Westcott. Acting Consul Cen
er2l for the United States at London, has
sent to the State Department an inter
( eStIng statement concerning wood paw
ing at the British Capital After calling
attention to the fact that the duty OF
paving and maintaining the streets OF
london deEoIves upon the local authori-
Ties, and not upon the London County
Council, Nj Westcott says:
The cost of the construction of soft
wood yellow dead crecsoted paving. laid
on bed of Portland-cement concrete c
to or s to y inches in depth, ranges
Il London from S24S to 1922 per superb
cial yard, and Of hardwood australian
paving. from 1872 to $3.50 per square yard,
The annual cost Of maintenance in the
case of soft-wood blocks is from to 4
cents per superficial yard; but reliable in
formation is not obtainabIe with regard
to the wear and tear of hardwood blocks.
In the borough of St. AIarylebone,
London, a large area Of Swedish deal
block paving has been treated with Gre
osOte or other similar compound, the
greater part being simply grouted with a
composition of pitch tar. etc the oils Of
which permeate the wood This material
lasts from to years in streets of heavy
traffic and from Z to 13 years in streets
Of lighter traffic The blocks are from
> e. s inches in depth, and are usually
l2-5 upon foundation of Portland -ce-
inert concrete
II is found that untreated wood blocks
put down in carriage ways where they
re very liable to decay, and it is con-
sidered by many that it is advisable to
treat all soft paving with creosote, car
bolineum, or other compound. as this
treatment conduces to the life and sound
ness Of the material and renders it more
sanitary and heaIthful-1
The following is a standard specification
for laying wood paving sent by Mr. West
colt
The carriage way shall be laid with
wood paving The entire area. under She
wood paving and the adjacent cuTbs.
shall be formed Of Portland cement con-
crete, Of the depth shown On the draw
inss, and shall De properly hoated on the
top with fine stuff The whole of the con-
crete to be composed Of Portland cement
and ballast in the proportions and other
wise as described in clauses Is, Is. and 10
the fine stuff for the floating to be com-
and the surface to be properly ruled and
finished off and left hard and smooth
When the concrete foundation has been
properly formed and has thoroughly set,
tie space between the curbs Is TO be
paved with wood, as hereafter described.
The paving is t, be Of new wood blocks.
six inches deep by nine inches by three
inches but out Of the best approved
Swedish yellow deals (Gothenburg
thirds. thoroughly sound and square,
properly and uniformly cut. entirely free
from sap. shakes. large or dead knots
and all other defects. and creOsoted 50 as
to be increased in weight not less than
twelve pounds per cubic foot
As soon as the concrete foundation is
thoroughly set to the satisfaction Of the
engineer. the blocks are TO be laid upon
its surface Il VOWS at right angles TO or
radiated across the street; a space Of
three-eighths OF an inch being left for
the 5eint. At each side of the carriage
way. two courses are to be laid Iongitu-
diHalIy "a suitable margin, two inches
wide. filed in with approved clay. being
left next the curbstone to allow for swell
ingJ The blocks at all intersections Of
streets are TO be laid with proper angle
courses. Each block is to have three ap-
proved cast-iron studs fixed thereto aC-
cordiug TO sample at the Office Of the
council. or some other approved means
shall be adopted for keeping q. uniform
Joint The joints are to be carefully and
fully flied up with groUt, composed Of
one part Of PorcIaad cement ard five
parts of clean. sharp Thames or approved
pit sand mixed with water in q Srout
truck and sWept into the joints. Don
the surface Il top dressing, one inch in
thickness. of fine ballast is TO be spread.
after y hiCh the traffic is to be fenced of
for six days. Where the wood paving
abHIS against any maCadam road. "a d9u-
ble course of approved granite sets
fgroutedj is 20 be laid on concrete along
the whole length OF the joint. between the
wood paving and the maCaGam. The con-
crete under the wood paving shall be con-
tiHued on TO form the bed Tor the pitch
Ing and shall project at least three
inches beyond the pitching
If the engineer shall 50 order. the
wood paving, instead of being laid with
open joints as above described. shall he
laid with close joints. run III with pitch
and tar to the engineers approval and
as he may direct. IN all other respects
the provisions Of clause . viii apply
Instead of the deal blocks mentioned
in clause ,, Ehe wood blocks shall be the
best quality Of karTi or jarrah timber.
laid with close joints and run IN with
pitch and tar These blocks are to be
nine inches by three inches deep. and
viii not require creoSOtinE. but shall be
dipped once in boiling tar at the time
they are Iaid. in all other respects. the
provisions under clause p viii apply