The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-03
KNOCKS CEMENT
As PAVING FILLER
Not Nearly As Satisfactory As Pitch
Brick Expert Tells Council
Committee.

The Times hit the nail on the head
the other day, when 1t said that the
use OF the rattler for the brick test
should be insisted on" said Mayor
Thompson. Monday morning. That, to
my mind, Is the only system OF max
ing a brick test which Is absolutely on
the square and worth while. AS q
friend said 10 me, BY all means let US
have the rattler, for II certainly can't
be fixed | WIS glad to see the ed
itorial In The Times for the matter
couldn't possibly have been treated IN
better manner"
X. NJ. Adams, general manager OF the
Detroit Vitrifed Brick Co., appeared
before the committee on streets, Mon
day morning, and told the members q
few things about brick. paving. He
didn't appear In defense of his brick.
for no fault has been found with 1t on
local paving jobs. He merely wanted
to give his opinions on the system
OF brick paving In vogue In Detroit
and incidentally ask permission to ad-
dress the common council along sim
FLAIR lines In this weeks meeting The
request was granted.
Mr.. Adams told the committee that
specifications were generally the
cause Of bad brick paving, explaining
that they usually call for the wrong
kind Of brick and filler for foundation
work. Under no circumstances, he
said, should cement be used for q
filler 1t always expands and causes
an upheaval In the pavement, he said
He suggested hot sand or pitch as q
substitute filler.
Experience shows said Mr..
Adams, that you have been working
along theoretical lines,' instead Of
studying the practical conditions and
results.
In the first place there Is very little,
II any, expansion In vitrifed brick, and
II there be any expansion. 1t is within
itself; land instead Of expanding out
wardly, H. expands inwardly, closing In
upon the voids; while cement, more
susceptible 10 heat, Is responsible for
ninety per cent Of all the expansion
that takes place In a brick pavement.
Where your specification was three
to one there still was some room for
movement. AS you increased the pro-
portion OF cement you added to the
expansion properties, and consequent
ly In q one-to-one mixture the expan-
sion Is so great that 1t Is impossible
to take care OF It In any known man
ner.
by the use of pitch any good brick
will not show wear to any great extent
for a period Of eight to ten years. I'M
der heavy trafic. Pitch Is the only
filler that will penetrate and fill all
the interstices In brick Take for In
stance. brick with Tugs, the PAYERS will
lay at least ten per cent OF the brick
with the two fat sides together. In
taking up the pavement, you find that
the cement has not filed one-half OF
the spaces, therefore causing an I'M
even strain, and a breakage where the
two Tub faces comes together.
Now, / am aware that the contract
ors are opposed to any other filler than
cement on account Of the tedious
methods we have TO use with a pitch
filler. am also aware that theoreti-
cally may be in error, but practically
know I am right.
Just one more argument in favor Of
pitch filler:
1T has been shown conclusively that
wherever street fushers are used for
the cleaning Of the streets. the cement
filler Is being greatly worn away. I
have just inspected a piece of pave
ment laid two years ago, on which
the fiusher Is used, and the cement is
at least three-fourths Of an inch below
the surface of the brick.
Now pitch will withstand all this
It makes a thoroughly waterproof pave
ment; prevents absorption; prevents
frost, one OF the greatest enemies OF
brick; prevents granulation, rotting,
etc: gives room for all expansion;
lessons the noise fifty per cent, and
takes away all disagreeable, rumbling
sound"
Work on the foundation OF the rat
tier to be used in Detroit. is now un-
der way In the eastern yards Of the
department Of public works.