East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-14
SAID TO BE ONE OF
THE MOST DURABLE.
Repairs Are Easily Made and There
Is No Secret Process to BE Guarded
Philadelphia Streets Paved 13 Years
Ago With Brick Are In Good Repair
and HIVE Cost Nothing for Mainte-
nance.

read with interest by property own
ers who are Interested:
One Of the most extensively used.
and when properly constructed, one
OF the very best forms of pavement,
Is that OF vitrified brick. For some
years this pavement was in the lead
in the public favor. but recently in
some parts OF the country II has fallen
into disrepute.
It's failure has been no fault OF the
pavement as class of construction
but Is mainly due to mistaken poll
cy on the part of some cities i'm al
lowing pavements to be laid by in
competent parties, and out of low
grade material. a thoroughly up-to-
date brick pavement should hold its
own in competition with the very
best
Assuming a base constructed as de-
scribed above. the success OF brick
pavement will depend essentially on
three things; First, having n thor
oughly high grade brick; second using
proper skill in laying them: third
filling the joints between the bricks
with some substance that will bind
them together in n solid mass
high grade paving brick is an in
teresting article and its construction
is worthy OF study. The material of
which vitrified brick are made Is clay
which is essentially a compound Of
silica and alumina, together often
with lime and magnesia, and some
other substance that will act as a
flux. The last named substance is
often an oxide of iron, sometimes n
low grade iron ore If the lime and
magnesia are present in the form OF
silicates instead of carbonates they
will act as fluX. II not, then some
form of iron usually has to take their
place.
The body Of the clay and the flux
II II is not natively present in the clay
in sufficient quantity. are thoroughly
commingfed in the proper proportion,
then brought TO the proper cOnsistcn-
cy with water. The clay is then mold
ed into the form of bricks and burned.
The burning is process requiring
the highest skill. 1t can be properly
done only by n man who, mechanical
ly at least, understands something OF
the principles involved in the compo-
siuon OF the substances, and who has
learned by long experience and close
observation what the exact effect OF
certain degree of heat will be on
certain combinations Men who have
this ability whether from technical
training instinct or experience are
rare. and command high salaries.
Necessity for Care In Burning.
II the heat Is a trifle too high, the
flux combines with the silica and
alumina and forms n glass which is
analogous to the Stag of the blast
furnace. II It is a trlfle too low,
granules and laminations are left in
the brick, which render 1t worthless
II subjected to the proper tempera-
ture for exactly the proper time, the
brick will not be melted but will be
annealed or fused into a dense mass
of absolutely uniform texture. and
will be capable of resisting great
abrasion. Its hardness should be be-
tween that of glass and of quartz, and
II should be tough as well as hard.
When broken open the brick should
variation of color. IT is needless to
add that st must show no pebbles,
grains of sand or other INFUSED sub
stances.
The brick do not need to he red,
though they generally are so. This is
characteristic that depends entirely
on the nature of the flux: iron giving
a red or dark brown color, while lime
and magnesia give n lighter color
Pavements constructed of such
brick are among the very best known
Practically the only objection to then
is n deep rumbling noise emitted wher
wheels pass rapidly ove.' them. The
pavement is clean, slightly, easily re
paired and, except for the heavies
traffic extremely durable. Some o
the leading business streets of tn,
city Of Philadelphia were paved witt
brick fully 13 years ago, and recent!
the superintendent of public work
reported that the ones particular
referred to, had not cost cent 70
repairs, and were still in eXcellen
condition.
No Secret Process to BE Watched.
One Of the leading advantages OF
brick pavement is that 1t is an ope
page that anyone may read. The cit
need not be juggled by any secret pre-
cesses covered by mysterious patents
II is an easy matter to apply sue
tests to any OF the materials used o
will be sure to reveal fatal defects
they exist. It is equally easy to 81
cure such supervision for the cor
struction of the work as will max
poor service impossible. For this res
son alone many small cities and tow
have adopted 1t.
During the year 1901 new form
pavement appeared which has be'
giving its competitors vast amou
OF uneasiness. 1t is known as the
tulithlc pavement. The term in
entomology means a combination
bitumen and stone. The pavement h
thus far been In use only betwe
four and five years, so has not as y
had the final test of time, but 1t h
been subjected to almost every 9th
test and wherever II has been shoN
TO have been constructed in strict CO
formity to specifications, w has
ceived but little adverse critics
and In many cases 1t has been civ
the highest commendation.
Ascending to an article in Num-