The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-12

s miles; making a total of 362 blocks The
total cost -of this pavement, including
grading, curbing, etc. was 81, go CO. I he
first pavement laid in Topeka was natural
lake asphaltum. in 1887, at cost Of $50
per square yard, with a guarantee for
five years Since the expiration of the
maintenance bond, the city has paid over
s54.5Oe.00 for repairs, or 10 Per cent CT the
first cost
Colorado sandstone blocks ON sand
were laid in lSs7-1Ss9, at cost OF 1923
a square yard, and this pavement has
given excellent satisfaction where there
is heavy traffic, and has cost practically
nothing for repairs. The red cedar block
pavement was laid in 1ss7-lSss,. and it is
In a failing condition and in short time
will have to he replaced. This pavement
cost s219 a square yard. Against the adj
vice of the city engineer. the city coun-
Gil in 1890 paved Sixth avenue east, with
native blue limestone blocks on sand.
This pavement has almost entirely dis
integrated, and Will have to be repIa ced
with other material. 1t cost $l.40 per
square yard. -
First Brick Pavement
The first brick pavement in Topeka was
laid in 1890, at a cost of SITS per square
yard. This same kind OF pavement, dur
ing thirteen years, has cost absolutely
nothing for repairs. and is giving general
satisfaction The method used is that
of laying one course of brick fiat on four
inches Of sand, roll this first course
thoroughly, then a cushion of one inch
of sand and layer of brick on edge, roll
this with a self propelling roller weigh
ing from four to six tons, fill all the inter-
sections with clean, dry sand, and then
cover the whole surface with one inch
of sand and leave the sand on about
thirty days, when it should be swept off.
A great many cities pave with one
course of brick on concrete, using a ce-
of the state where sand is plenty and
paving brick are manufactured in the
vicinity, in my opinion, the two courses of
brick on sand is preferable, as the cost
is considerably less, as well as the noise
occasioned by traffic, and the pavement is
easily and cheaply taken up and replaced
in case OF repairs, or alterations being
needed as to water, gas or sewer pipes.
City Has Experimental.
Topeka has Experimental with five diff
ferent kinds of pavement Brick, and
sandstone blocks have been success.
Asphalt, while very favorable to travel
and easily kept clean, has been very ex-
pensiye to maintain; and red cedar blocks
and native blue limestone blocks have
been a failure Taking everything into
consideration; l believe the pavement for
Kansas towns, where the traffic is not
extremely heavy, is brick 1t is cheap,
the cost of maintenance is light, it is
easily kept Clean consequently it's sani-
tary qualities are excellent, and its ease
of traction AM favora bleness to travel
are fair. Aside from the merits of the
case on the score of utility. durability,
and cost, there are other reasons, finan-
cial in their nature. which deserve con-
sideration. Shale, capable of making first
class paving brick, is found in various
parts of Kansas, and the making of paw
ing brick is large and growing industry
In Atchison there is a vitrified brick plant
with a capital of $4,000 Invested which
manufactured 4,725.000 bricks this year.
The Union Brick company of lola has
a capital invested of sl25, 900 and their
capacity is $1,000 brick per day. The
Lawrence Vitrified Brick and Tile COM
pany has a capital invested of $4,000.
makes 10000 bricks daily, and pays out
for labor and coal alone 81, 500 each month.
The Coffeyville Vitrified Brick and Tile
bac y1la 10
Cherryvale, Independence and Chanute.
producing paving brick. The combined
capacity of the four pants is 20, .0c0
brick per annum. The capital invested
is 100000 and they pay out for labor
each year over $4,000 Natural gas is
used for fuel and costs about 81, 600 per
annum.
About Brick Plants.
Two brick plants. The Capital City
Vitrified Brick and Paving company and
the Rogers & Earnest company of Topeka
have $4,000 invested in their plants. and
spend annually for labor and coal $4,000.
Their capacity is about 70.000 brick per
day. Ottawa and Salina have paving brick
plants, but / have been unable to secure
any information regarding their capacity
of the plants mentioned, with the excep
ton of Ottawa and Salina, is $780, 600. and
their annual capacity is 3O.257,Oo0 brick
The amount paid out annually for labor
and fuel by the Coffeyville Vitrified Brick
and Tile company. The Lawrence Nitri-
fed Brick and Tile company and the
two Topeka companies is 500, coo.
Quantity of Brick Made.
The brick made annually by the differ
ent brick companies mentioned Will cover
a surface of 3025 square yards, using
two courses, or 4S2. $50 square yards with
one course of brick Using one course of
brick on broken stone or concrete, 1t
will pave a roadway twenty feet wide
and 36S miles long or the entire distance
between Wichita and Winfield In paving
with brick therefore, the money used
is about entirely kept within our midst,
while money paid for most other pave
nnents is taken out of the state.
In conclusion. wish to say that there
are few things better calculated TO en-
nance the appearance of city than we'll
paved streets, which are kept in good
repair and well cleaned. The comfort.