The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-07
LAYING Of PAVING
CLOSELY WATCHED
Crowds Anxious TO Know About
Bituminous Macadam
COMPOSITION is SIMPLE
In Plain Words, 1t Is Made of Crushed
Rock and Patent Preparation
of Hot PItch--Makes
Pretty Street.

For the information of the hundreds of
persons who loiter along Third avenue
watching the work of paving that thor
oughfare and making inquiries as to the
composition of bituminuos macadam some
of the men in charge of the work have
given out the secret.
In simple words it is a composition of
crushed rock and patented preparation
of melted pitch.
As bituminous macadam paving is new
in Birmingham and in fact throughout
the United States, large crowd of curl
GUS persons stand on the curbing all
during the day intently watching the
laying Of the stone and the running of
the immese engines which press 1t into
shape So far the work has been COM
pleted on the north side of Third avenue
between Eighteenth and Ninteenth streets
and partly completed between Nineteenth
and Twenty-frst street.
w. 8. Horton, superintendent for the
paving company, says the work has
progressed very satisfactory up to this
time. notwithstanding short delays caused
by the gas and water companies making
connections beneath the surface. These
excavations have been made since the
paving company leveled down the street
and until the connections are made and
holes filled up the paving can not be
made complete
When ready for traffict bituminoue
macadam looks very much lige asphalt
though II has a rough surface which is
claimed as one Of Its advantages. 1t is
OF dark gray color and until under very
close observation appears to be as smooth
as a polished floor.
The paving Is about eight inches thick.
AS soon as the proper level is reached on
the street a thick layer of Stag is put
down. On top of this is layer of
crushed limestone, the pieces about as
large as a mans fist. Next is laid q
coarse composition of prepared pitch and
smaller pieces of limestone. On top of all
Of this is laid plaster of finely crushed
limestone and hot pitch. Steam rollers
are then run over the composition, COM
pressing it into proper shape and sticking
the parts together as compact as con-
crete. A thin layer of powdered stone is
then spread over the surface and the
heavy wagon traffic does the rest This
powdered stone Is swept off in few
weeks and the surface is as smooth as
asphalt. with the exception of the jut-
ting edges of crushed rock. These pre-
vent horses from slipping and are said
to be among the principal advantages OF
bituminous macadam
The paving Is absolutely waterproof
and free from dust after the first sweep
ing. 1t does not yield to the heat OF
summer like asphalt and remains perfect
ly firm.
The Nashville Roofing and Paving com.
pany has the contract for paving the
street. 1t has a contract for paving THIRD
avenue. between Eighteenth and Twenty.
first streets. as well as a contract to pave
Fourth avenue for the same distance
The company also expects to secure tn,
contract for paving Fifth avenue.
Bituminous macadam paving costs tn,
city of Birmingham $3.50 yard. This /.
cheaper than asphalt or Belgian block
1t is estimated that asphalt, If secured a
q cheap price, would cost ABOUT 32.25
yard. while Belgian block would COS
nearly SO. Brick paving costs something
like s1.65 yard.
As there are about 1870 square yards II
Third avenue between Eighteenth ant
Twenty-first streets. the paving now being
laid will cost the city about $4,000 for tbs
three blocks
The paving company has a crushing
plant at Nineteenth street and Tent
avenue. and all of the stone is broken int,
proper sizes there. The patented compost
ton of pitch is also prepared at THU
plant The plant works about forty men,