The sun., 1909-01-23
STREET SURFACES.
\ Plea by Q Paver for Good Granite
Hl0cka

To THE EDIToR OF TIE SUN-SI: In
view Of the fact that the deplorable condi.
tion OF the pavement In our city streets and
avenues has become q public question and
that the present method OF street building
10 condemned by many public men. feel
II my duty a. Q practical paver to give my
opinion as to the best method or street
building and the character OF material TO
be used. The cost Of street paving was the
third largest item In Mayor Mcclellan 9
recent report OF city expenses. The public
ksnts a durable and noiseless pavement,
md Is entitled to It.
| Granite block pavement 10 the best and
cheapest pavement when the blocks are
made more uniform than the old crude
blocks now In use 10 our city streets. with
bunches OF waste granite on the sides and
top OF the block. These make rough sur
face and wide joints. thereby giving an
opportunity to horses and vehicles to wear
OF the edges OF the block and giving
greater Jolt to the wheels OF wagons and
trucks. which thus make q great noise
jumping from one stone to the next.
A smooth surface pavement is noise
less pavement, no matter what character
OF material is used therein. The proper
and best character Of pavement TO which
the public Ia entitled is granite block
five inches deep, laid on a sand cushion one
inch deep over q six inch concrete base.
The proport ions for concrete are about one
part Portland cement, three parts clean
sharp sand and Ave parts broken stone.
which should be two or two and half inches
In size; natural cement one par. two paIts
sand and four parts broken stone, Proper
tests should be always imposed Tor tne pur-
pose OF getting good cement. In FORMING
q roadbed upon which to place a pavement s9.
to the form Of the finished road surface
and should be thoroughly eonpsoted by
heavy rolling sioTs placing ,9e wSfer SG
nsnhole heads which cannot be reached
by the steam roller SHOULD be th3Srougny S ay
secret Of good streets. The above men
tioped granite block should be paved close
srout or tar and gravel should be put be;
tween tho joints. The grout joints VIII
leave q perfectly waterproof pavement and
The difference In cost between tho present
granite block pavement with is noisy
surface aud the new granite block pave.
will be very little. The old block Is eight
inches deep; the new block n FIVE inches
deep; the present sand cushion Il two incbor;
one inch OF sand. and tho cost OF removing
four inches less Of sub-grade, and the cost
oil ming the joints VIII likewise De ieSs
There Is three inches difference In the depth
Of the block, and there viii also he q say
ing OF labor In loading and unloading the
boat that W i'll haul the new blocks; the cargo
VIII cover a greater lumber OF square yards
of paving than the present block. The
new block after wear of eighteen or twenty
years can be turned over and reset on
The same base and the only cost will be the
labor aud tho material for the joints. which
viii be a great saving TO The taxpayers;
IL will also be a noiseless. smooth and ro'
q slippery pavement. For Curbs the North
River bluestone has proved good mate
rial. which should be set on a concrete base.
The Medina sandstone of western New York
has been quite extensively used for street
paving in Brooklyn; IL is O durable pave
ment, smooth and noiseless aud not slip
pery; the base Is the same as for granite, !
with cement grout joints.
Wood block pavement II unhealthful |
and likely to give rise TO disease. This is |
due TO the fact that the material of the |
pavement is porous and absorptive OF mois- |
ure and therefore Is a menace TO tho public |
health. Wood block pavement is slippery !
In hot weather, as well as in vet and frost y /
v Gather. and Is dangerous TO the life and 1
limb Of man and horse, and IL costs more ,
4 square yard to lay than granite, and does
not last half as long. THOMAS Rock.
NEW YORK. January -.