The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-27
ANEW PAVEMENT.
A Topeka Man Represents and Advo-
Gates BituIithie.


F. H. Webster is western repre-
sentative of pavement similar to
asphalt. called bitulithic. but not SO
/ slippery and, according to claims, far
more durable. Mr.. Webster has set
/ forth the situation to the city council
in the following communication, quot
ing in the letter a paragraph giving a
strong endorsement from the Munich
! pal Journal and Engineer:
Gentlemen of the streets and walks
tempt to treat with the vexed question
as to how to get the necessary coin
| to resurface Kansas avenue. That's
up to you who are wiser. This is only
i to call your careful attention to the
king of MISUNDERSTANDING
About one year ago I became con-
yinced-not as a civil engineer, but as
| a common citizen-that when the as
1 phalt streets of Topeka that have a
! car track in the center had worn out
and had to be renewed (not patched)
/ It would have to be done with sheet
/ pavement.
with this in view. when at the
| Louisiana Purchase exposition at st.
| Louisiana I was there three times
/ I investigated to the best of my ability
all pavements there represented, and
they were all represented there. final
| ~ concluded that bitulithic as shown
| by the Warren Brothers company Of
! Boston, was, all things considered,
[ QI GA4AAltE4IAg IAG real
II then talked to cheap clerks and
/ high officials of the board of public
/ works, road drivers, automobilists
I common Transfers; also, Anheuser-
/ Busch teamsters going on trot with
from five to six tons on wagons with
two and one-half inch tires. Without
exception, the users praised bitulithic
! unqualidedIy.
Later, I am proud to state, the
persons designated by the St. Louis
& ~
| Tor paVements, confirmed my Judg-
/ ment by giving to bitulithic the gold
medal. This was the only award for
street pavement made by the St. Louis
| exposition.
/ ''Nexa, I got into communication with
the Warren Brothers company, and
/ they accepted me to represent them
! here. Now, you know why I am here.
! ''Bitulithic is made by first selecting
/ perfect stone, which is crushed to
sizes from one and one-half inch down
to impalpable powder. This is then
/ separated by screens into six sizes ard
| a predetermined proportion of each
size put into a mixing apparatus de-
mechanically thoroughly mixed and
coated with bitumen. The mass is then
| spread upon the street hot and rolled
and re-rolled with very heavy steam
rollers until thoroughly solidihed. The
result is an absolutely waterproof
wearing surface of two and one-half or
/ three inches, as may have been laid.
/ and is % per cent solid stone. The
stone takes the wear. The plastic
/ bitumen cement holds the mass in
+ place.
Regarding stone: I have sent To
4 the Warren Brothers company Iabo-
ratory, at Cambridge. Mass. sample
after sample of the stone available
here. only to receive as their report
1 No good They finally said that if
any work we're done here the stone
would have to be shipped in. AS
1 last resort, I looked up the boulder
propositions boulders such as the Bap-
fist church is built of, and found that
sufficient quantity of them could be
/ obtained; so, sent Warren Brothers
conn any by express a 90 pound box of
/ tested and pronounced-'Good ma
/ teriaI.'
IF any work is done here it will
! be done by the Warren Brothers COM
pany. They do not allow plug con-
/ tractors by faulty and imperfect con-
struction, to deprive their pavement
with its 20 odd patents of its value.
| The Warren Brothers company, five in
number, are not only practical and
educated PAYERS, but are born PAYERS.
Their fathers, four in number, We're
/ the original TT macadam PAYERS III
/ Washington, D. c., a generation ago
/ When asphalt came in they accepted
| It as a better pavement and they have
all held positions high in the asphalt
trade. They have seen the rise of the
/ asphalt pavement and are now watch
/ ing its decline. II is not honesty that
makes them reject poor stone; it is
| only horse sense that they should in
sfst that all Bitulithfc be laid by them
out of perfect material, the work be-
| ing done by competent men in their
pay under their absolute control.
/ beg the Warren Brothers pardon for
| this kind of statement.
II could offer you testimonials by
the hundreds, but it has been sug-
gested to me by one of your number
to serve notice on you, however, that
we have got EN- by the barrel.
Here is something, however, that
insist does cut ice: Warren Brothers
| company commenced to lay this pave
ment in 1901 and at the close of that
year they had laid Is, 400 square yards
in six cities. At the close of 1904 they
had laid 2,500,000 square yards in IS
cities; an increase in three years of 49,
IA per cent. That is going some
thinks it puts the young lady with the
mileage book out of the game.
Now, gentlemen, please let US wait
moment and let the foregoing state
ment soak IN.
You are looking for a better pave
ment than we have.
What are you going to do? Listen
to my song and dance and order Bituli-
THO?
NOT muCn. nope you viii IN some
way thoroughly investigate. That is all.
And you know that is just what these
eighty-f1ve cities have done.
Z submit the proposition, that, if the
Warren Brothers company haven't got
the goods in this Bitulithic pavement,
they have. as evidenced by the phe-
nomenaI and unprecedented increase in
their business. fooled almost all the
American people they came in contact
with.
las to price: It is ordinarily higher
than asphalt. 1 am authorized to say
/ that they will remove your asphalt
here, that has not already left of its
own accord, and lay Bitulithic two and
one-half to three inches In depth, as
may be required to put the street on its
original grade, at from $3.50 to s1.75