The Monte Vista journal., 1906-11-24
IND0RSE WOOD PAV|NG'
FAILURES DUE TO POOR FouN.
oATioNs, guy ExPERrs.
Experiments In Many citiss 0sIna
Watched with Great Interest
) Precautions Urged Against
Decay.

oSao cApciieuCc VI many ClIlo9, tho
bureau Of forestry OF the government
maintains that paving blocks Of
wood make very satisfactory and
economical street II adequate founda.
tons are laid and II proper precau.
tons against decay are taken. The
government forest experts. say that
the failures OF the past have occurred
because round cedar blocks were
used. without precautions against de.
cay and without sufficiently strong
foundation.
The forestry bureau is now con.
Quoting an experiment which will go
far toward deciding which woods are
best. The progress of the experiment
can be protitably watched by all cities
In which street paving with wood Is
considered. An experimental pave.
ment has just been laid in Minneapo.
lis as a cooperative undertaking be-
tween the city government and the
forest service.
Different woods were used and all
were treated with creoso,e. A pub.
LEGATION OF the bureau OF forestry says
OF the experiment:
THE woods used were longleaf
pine, Norway pine. tamarack. white
birch. western iarch and Washington
FIR. All blocks were laid with the
grain vertical, and were four inches
In depth. four inches wide. and from
four to ten inches long. These blocks
were impregnated with creosotc and
laid upon foundation OF Portland
cement concrete. Successive sec
tons OF the pavement were laid In
different woods. Also the angles OF
the courses were varied. one being at
right angles to the traffic. another ut
IS degrees. and a third between the
two. or GIN degrees.
This experimental pavement was
laid on street which carries the
heaviest trafiic OF the city. so that
comparative results can be obtained
In as short time as possible. Traffic
records will be made twice a month.
on different days Of the week. and
from these records an accurate knowl.
edge Of traffic conditions may be OBJ
tanned.
This investigation should furnish
definite information on the following
points: The suitability Of the various
woods. the relative value Of heart.
wood and sapwood. the best dimen.
sions for the blocks. and the most
serviceable angle for the courses"
The government experts are posi-.
i've In their belief that wood pave
ments have decided advantages. They
say:
Recent use Of rectangular wooden
blocks for street pavements has given
excellent results. Many engineers b.
lieve that these blocks. when prop
erly creosoted and laid on \ concrete
foundation. make . pavement which
possesses high excellence In . great.
er number Of essential qualities than
any other now In use. Among these
qualities are great smoothness. low
traction resistance. minimum noise.
and considering its smoothness. com.
paratively little nlipperiness. Slip
periness has sometimes proved OBJ
jectionable. but IL not greater for
wood than for sheet asphalt. all TEN.
perature conditions considered: and
wood II much less variable In this
particular than IL asphalt. 1t IL prob.
able that no other pavement with
equally slight traction resistance will
be found less slippery. Wood pave
ment II also easy TO clean and to
maintain. and when well laid gives
promise OF proving more durable than