The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-14
NEW FORM OF
 ASPHALT PAVEMENT
Which Is Superior, in Every Respect to Any Other Pavement Now Be- fore the Public-Noiseless,E Econom- tcal and Unsurpassed for Durability and the Satisfaction Afforded.


 Mercantile and Financial Times.)
 There Is now in course of construc- ton on the roadway of Thomas street, between Broadway and Mercer street, New York City, a new form of as- phait pavement, which Is an every respect far superior to any other form of pavement hitherto in use, whether Macadam, Belgian Block, pavement consists of what is known as compressed rock asphalt slabs, laid upon a concrete base, finished on top with a thin rubber coating of pure rock asphalt. These slabs are com posed of natural rock asphalt obtain ed from the mines of the Neuchatel Asphalt Co.,, Ltd. at Travers, in the Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland, ad- mittedly, the highest grade rock as- phalt in the market. The rock, af- ter being mined is ground to powder, which, after having been properly heated, as in the case of ordinary compressed asphalt, is compressed in special moulds under a hydraulic pressure of 5000 pounds, to the square inch. These slabs lwhen laid, are about 10 inches square and l 3-4 in ches in thickness, and are laid upon 8 concrete base to inches in thick ness, with a cushion of cement and
 
 thickness (about 14 of an inch) to level up any inequalities of the con- crete base so as to afford a firm and level bed for the slabs. The slabs are laid with the joints as close as possible, in exactly the same man. ner as tile on tile floor. When all the slabs are laid and levelled, the entire surface is sprinkled with water from sprinkling can, so that suffi- cient moisture may penetrate through the joints to enable the cement un- derneath to set up. After this. the entire surface of the slabs is covered with thin coating, not more than one quarter of an inch in thickness, of pure rock asphalt, heated in kettles and spread over the surface with a wooden float in the same manner as an ordinary rock asphalt sidewalk or floor, and dusted over with a light coating of dry cement, lightly brush is called the rubber coating, so call ed, from the "rubbery" nature of the wearing surface thereby obtained, which being composed of pure rock asphalt, the same material as the slabs, forms a comparatively soft yet tough covering, which, while 1t marks up easily, does not break or wear in to holes. On account of this rubbery character, the surface affords an ab- solutely sure foot-hold for horses, as their shoes indent the surface suffi- ciently to prevent any slipping what ever, while turning or backing in cold weather, or when the surface is wet invaluable quality for roadway in such a district where this present pavement is being laid. which being in the heart of the wholesale dry goods district of the city, is subjected to exceptionally severe usage. It is also form of paving, that has been devised to meet the requirements for the driveways and loading platforms, etc., of dry goods establishments, de- partment stores, railroad and express yards or any other places where there is exceptionally heavy traffic, and where considerable backing andturn- ing of trucks is required. This pave phalte Co.,, Ltd, of 265 Broadway, the American Office of the Neuchatel As phalte Co.,, Ltd, of London, England and Travers, Switzerland, the sole owners of the mines from which the rock asphalt is obtained. This com- pany lays this form of pavement un- der a ten year guarantee, which 1t can safely do as the cost of repairs are very slight.
 In process of time, if the line of traffic is all in one place, the rubber coating becomes pushed out as 1t were, on either side, and wears grad ually thinner and thinner until the surface of the paves themselves is reached. In this case all that is necessary, is to replace this thin rub- Der coating in the worn spots, the paves themselves underneath being absolutely uninjured, and becoming under the traffic gradually, so conn pressed one into the other, that all joints are closed, and the whole sur- face becomes absolutely continuous. Such pavements have been laid by this company at the following places:
 Warehouse for the Central R. R., Newark. N. J., in 1907; Trimble place, York City, ". r., in 1907 McCreery Bros, New York City, N. Y, 1910; No. 47-51 E. 52nd street, New York City, 1910; and the repairs to some since they have been laid, have been mere- ly nominal, and the pavements them selves, are in just as good a condition now, as the day they were laid.