The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-08

yardage by Dec. 81, 1912 in the city Of
Chicago viii be approximately 1,000,-
600 square yards Of Creosote Block paw
lng. There are those uninformed who
are frequently getting the old obsolete
cedar block pavement confounded with
the modern up to date creosote block
pavement. 1t is true that in 1905 CHI
cago had 700 miles of wooden pave
ment and that last year this had been
reduced to 200 miles. Both the 700
miles and the 200 miles, however, are
exclusive Of the cresote block pave
ment and refer entirely to the old
cedar block pavement which was laid
on plank foundation.
1t may be of interest to Fargo prop
erty owners to quote from an article
appearing In q Chicago publication,
The Engineering and Contracting
Journal of Sept. IS, 1911, one of the
leading engineering publications in
America. giving a brief history OF the
creosote block paving used In Chicago
from It's Introduction up to the present
time:
creoeoted Wood Block Paving in
Chicago.
In the last two years. the city OF
Chicago has adopted the use of creo--
soted wood block paving to such de-
gree that It may be Of interest to give
a brief history OF the material in this
city, At the same time 1t will be the
endeavor OF the writer to point out
some of the lessons that have been
| learned here as a guide to other cities
using or contemplating the use Of this
form OF street pavement.
Creosoted wood blocks were intro
duced in Chicago under one Of the
previous administrations OF Mayor
Carter H. Harrison, and to him, per-
haps more than to any other individ-
ual belongs the credit for the use Of
the material in this city. Mayor Har-
rison was so well pleased with the
showing made by the blocks that he
gave 1t special mention in one of his
messages to the city council.
The frst creosoted wood blocks laid
In the city of Chicago were placed on
/ the east roadway of the Rush street
bridge in 1899. The blocks were placed
on the old foundation of untreated
planks and continued to give excellent
service until 1908 when, because OF the
decay of the plank foundation, they
began TO split and were removed. In
reporting to the mayor, the assistant
city engineer said: There appears to
have been * in. wear and that very
uniform. Am inclined to believe it is
compression more than wear"
The year after the blocks were laid
on the Rush street bridge, a small area
on Michigan avenue in front Of the
Auditorium was paved with creosoted
wood blocks. These were i've inches
in depth and were treated with twelve
pounds Of oil to the cubic foot OF
timber. Four years later another area.
adjoining that already paved, was laid
with four-inch block with a sixteen
pound treatment. Both pieces gave
good service until 1909 when they were
taken up IN the general plan for widen
ing and boulevardirg Michigan ave.
nue.. Mr.. Linn White. engineer Of the
South Park commission, under whose
jurisdiction the blocks were laid, said:
THE blocks when taken up were in
good condition, showing but little ef-
fects OF wear, and undoubtedly would
have given good service for many
years to come. They had worn only
about V in. In the nine years and were
In such sound condition that they are
to be used over again In other places
The first creosoted wood blocks to
be laid under the jurisdiction OF the
board Of local improvements was in a
small alley on the north side between
Garfield avenue and Webster street,
running west from Lincoln place. II
was paved in 1908, the total area be-
ing 1873 square yards. These three TN
stances might be termed the preface "a
the story OF the use of creosoted wood
blocks for street pavements in the city
tof Chicago The first two have fallen
victims OF municipal progress; the
third still stands as the oldest creo-
soted wood blocks in the city of Chi
cago."
/ It was In 1904. that the first street
pavement, still in commission. was laid
with the material. This was on Taylor
street from Canal to Blue Island ave.
nue., the total area being 1928 square
I yards The blocks were manufactured
from long leaf yellow pine, four inches
deep and the specifications called for 3
treatment of twelve pounds to the
cubic foot OF timber OF "Kredone oil'
or an oil equally good" The pave
ment was laid on six-inch, ] SO con-
crete foundations The street has q
double car track and is subjected tc
heavy traffic, leading. as 1t does, to the
Taylor street viaduct which connects
the great west side industrial district
with many Of the freight depots ane
railroad terminals.
Andrew NJ. Lynch, then president o.
the board of local Improvements. II
transmitting the annual report OF tn
board to the mayor said:
"The improvement Of West Tayioi
street Is particularly noticeable from
!. | the fact that It is the first street II
the city paved with creosoted block
/, This board. after thoroughly investi
eating the matter in 1901. has beef
, very anxious ever since to introduc'
| 1t here on account OF It's fine appear
ance, noiseiessness and wearing quail
. | tiles under all kinds Of traffic. al
!. shown by the experience or other citie
, where 1t is In use, and of our owl
during the past five years on one sid
! Slaiss' livery barn. They are doing !
: rushing business