The Topeka state journal., 1905-10-03
BETTER THAN STONE.
Prof. Lovewelrs Remarkable Analysis
Of Bitulithic Pavement.


At the city council meeting last
night the following letter, written by
Prof. Lovewell. and a communication
to the mayor and council by T. H.
Webster were read:
Kansas Academy of officers,
1905. President L. c. Wooster, EN-
poria; secretary. j. T. LoveweH, Phi.
D.; vice presidents, T. H. Bushong.
Kansas City, Kas., W. A. Harsh
barger. Topeka; treasurer, Alva J.
Smith, EmpOria.
Topeka, Kas., Sept. 2S. 1905.
Mr. F. h Webster Topeka, Kas.
Dear Sir-Pursuant to your request
to make a careful examination of the
bitulithic pavement now being laid
about the state house grounds, I have
visited the plant where the material is
prepared. have watched the opera
tions in laying the same, and have
tested in my laboratory the qualities
of the stone, the bitumen, and the
completed product made from the
same, and the following are my find
ings:
Forty per cent. of the stone em-
ployed is from crushed granite bould-
ers having a specific gravity OF 2-65,
60 per cent. is from limestone, specific
gravity 2.62. To this per cent. OF
bitumen is added, having specific
gravity Of 1.24. A piece of completed
bitulithic compound, chopped out OF
the pavement just completed north
west of the capitol building, has spe-
cific gravity of 2-45-
From this it appears that the pave
ment has more than SO per cent the
density of solid stone. which illus
trateS its cOmpactnesS and freedofn
from voids. This is further shown by
immersing a piece of the pavement
in water for "a hours. There is prac-
tically no absorption in that time
This undoubtedly contributes to the
life of the pavement, where the rottlng
and disintegration comes always from
the action of air and water.
In a piece of Barber asphalt, taken
from Harrison street west of the
state house. I find a specific gravity
/ of 2.16 and when put in water 1t an
sorbed more than per cent of It's
own weight
The bitumen used in this bitulithic
/ pavement. is extracted from coal tar
land is completely freed from volatile
and soluble ingredients It's tunctloIl
] in the pavement is to cement lne
/ rocky particles together and at the
same time allow them an elastic free
/ dom of motion which prevents crack
4 ing. The durability is therefore
! greater than a solid stone pavement
would have.
the operations In laying the pavement
shows that all parts of the work are
done with scientific accuracy and eX-
| pertness-
The predetermined conditions for
the best pavement are secured by such
accurate weighing and measurement
as to insure a certain result. The mix
/ ing of material is checked at every
stage by laboratory tests, and with
4such care there is sure to be found uni-
formity and durability in all practical
qualities of the pavement.
(Signed) j. T. LOVEWELL,
Chemist.
Honorable mayor and council:
From the evidence previously before
YOU and this letter of Prof. Lovewells
YOU must believe that the bitulithic
( people can and will. if given the op-
/ pOrtunity and the pay, put you down
on Kansas avenue, an enduring sheet
i of stone > y inches thick for you to
use as a pavement.
Prof. LoveweIl tells you number
( of thinos each one of them vitality i'm
portant, and then speaking Of btu
lithic pavement and using ms own
words says, the durability is there
fore greater than solid stone pave
ment would have.
AS compared with solid stone
pavement please remember that We
have extracted the noise. made it elias
tic or resilient. given the horse an
ideal footing. and made it easy TO re-
pair
ment, and mortar pavement Between
the car tracks. stone; outside the car
tracks. asphalt. Both put down at the
same time. | will only call attention
to the condition of the asphalt and to
the very large percentage of its orig
inal cost that has been spent repair
ing it, and pass, leaving the considera-
/ ton of asphalt to others.
1t is not in our class. Bitulithic is
as far removed from asphalt as the
good is from the bad, or as the sheep
will be from the goats in the great
hereafter.
In the instance of Kansas avenue
and regarding this pavement of stone
How much has been spent facing
the pavement between the car rails 2
From present indications will it be
your children or children's children
who will have to repair this pavement
between the car rails2 Gentlemen
surely this is an age of progress and
things do happen.
You are all Kansans, either by birtf
or adoption and you may with pride
look backward, but for heavens sake
don't go backward.
F. H WEBSTER.