The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
OWNS PAYING PLANT
San Antonio Blazes Trail in
Municipal Economy.
MAYOR INvENTS NEW PROCESS
Uses City Quarry for Limestone,
which Is PuIverized, and over II
Is Poured Residue of Petroleum.
Result, DuStIess Streets, Nearly
as. Good as Asphalt.

san Antonio. Tex. Aug. I'm the erec-
tion OF a municipal plant for paving its
own streets. San Antonio has blazed a
trail in municipal economics. The build
ings Of this new industry have practically
been by completed. BY the middle OF this
month the machinery will have been in
stalled. and thereafter II san Antonio
wants streets paved. all IL has 70 do is 10
pass the word 70 the municipal street as
phalting plant
The site occupied by the plant covers a
city block facing on Victoria, Walnut,
Nevada, and Plum streets. A Spur Of the
Southern Pacific Railroad will facilitate
the hauling Of the raw material, much OF
which will be thick, crude oil.
While an asphalting plant in the strict
sense OF the word, the establishment will
also prepare the locally famous Cal
laghan pavement" san Antonio IS blessed
with a mayor who has penchant for
experimenting in pavement materials.
Mayor CaTaghan is never happier than
when in the society Of road building
plans and specifications. paving stones
and varieties of asphalt. knowing a
great deal about these things. il occurred
to him that it would be possible to i'm
prove the ninety-one miles Of macadam-
tied roads this city has. and forthwith
he invented the Callaghan pavement q.
Invents New Process.
Taking the limestone found in the city's
quarry and breaking it into fine pieces
and mixing this with small quantity Of
fine sand and a pitchy crude all, the resi-
due Of petroleum after breaking. a rich
paving material was produced. Patches
OF it laid down in local thoroughfares
have given most satisfactory results. and
"Callaghan pavement" in all probability
Will not only remain a fixed institution in
this city, but It's fame Is also likely to
spread
The wearing qualities OF the regular as
phalt pavement cannot be claimed for the
"Callaghan pavement" For this reason.
the street with heavy traffic viii con-
tinue TO be paved with asphalt The civy
has already seven miles Of street covered
with this, and it is expected that many
more will be added before the year Is out
The new pavement wiz be used on every
street in the city having light traffic. The
intention is 10 smooth down the mscadam
whore uneven and apply a coat OF Gala
CHAN pavement on top. Besides getting
an even and elastic surface. the street
VIII then be dustless.
The cost OF the pavement Is less than
one-third that of asuhalt and since Il
will have at least half the life OF an as
phalt pavement. the benefit to be derived
4f f- - al I oI
| tage Is that streets on which pavements
Of a more expensive type would be a
poor investment can now have a pave
ment answering every purpose
Owned by Municipality.
Like the city quarries and gravel pits.
the asphalt pavement will be strictly a
municipal affair. In the former prisoners
/ sentenced for minor offences do most OF
the work while in the latter regular
street PAYERS will be employed. The pos
session Of the plant viii Go away with a
great deal Of delay caused IN the prepara-
ton Of estimates and the making Of con-
tracts. Vexatious differences and suits
arising out Of the nonfulfllment OF con-
tracts and the imposing Of penalties Tor
such lapses will also he eliminated
The intention is 10 keep the plant IN
operation throughout tho entire year, the
winter never being severe enough 20 inter-
/ fere. Work viii not be lacking. OF the
! as miles of streets IN the city. only seven
are paved with asphalt. two with mes
/ quite blocks. ard two with bricks. while
ninety-one miles are covered with ma
cadam. Al the rate the city is growing.
! the plant will have TO work overtime IN
! case n IS &c keep every street in first
class condition-the object aimed al.
! While the capacity Of the plant is still
wrapped in uncertainty. TO some extent il
/ Is expected that Il can pave a mile a
week with asphalt and about double tha;
distance with "Callaghan pavement