East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-02-13
B|TUL|TH|C is
FAVORED BY
COMMITTEE
PATENT PROCESS TO BE REC
OMENDED TO CITY.
COUNCIL.
WILL REPORT
NEXT MONDAY
l.. G. ROGERS SAYS 1T is SUPE-
RIOR TO ASPHALT.
ENGINEER THINKS BEST
PAVEMENT is CHEAPEST
PATENT PROCESS TO BE REC
OMENDED TO CITY.
COUNCIL.
l.. G. ROGERS SAYS 1T is SUPE
RIOR TO ASPHALT.
THINKS BEST
PAVEMENT is CHEAPEST

(Morning 'Astorian, Fep. 2, 1929
In a report to be submitted to the
city counci/at its meeting next Mon
day afternoon, the members of the
committee on streets and public
highways, including Councilmen Bel
land, Knobloch and Curtis and City
Surveyor l.. c. Rogers, will unani-
mously recommend that the bitulithic
type of pavement be used in the ex-
tensive campaign of street paving to
Astoria this year.
The members of this committee,
have all arrived at the conclusion that
bitulithic is superior to all other
kinds of paving and is better suited
to the needs and conditions of this
city than is asphalt.
The committee decided strongly in
favor of bitulithic, following a trip
of investigation of various types of
paving used on the streets of port
land, and after ascertaining the ex-
perience of numerous other cities
with bitulithic, Hassam, asphalt,
wood block. stone, concrete, macad-
am, Westerlite and other kinds of
paving.
In discussing the subject yesterday
for the information of citizens and
taxpayers, Mr.. Rogers gave his opin-
ion as an engineer, in which he un-
qualifiedly stated that bitulithic is
the superior pavement He said in
part:
Asphalt is not suited to the condi-
tions in Astoria. 1t is very slick, and
when the weather is wet and cold,
asphalt can't make a rough surface,
which is required on hills such as we
have here. Bitulithic, however
roughens, and in Portland it has been
a success on the hills. 1t has given
satisfaction on two streets in that city
that have 81 per cent grades.
"Bitulithic is much getter in ear.
ing than asphalt. A piece of btu
lithic which / took, myself, from
Fifth street, in Portland, where il
has been laid for eight years, shows
little wear, although this street car
ries about as heavy traffic through
"Bitulithic is a patent asphalt prep
aration, and it has other patent stuffs
in it. When the pavement is laid, il
is mixed hot with rock, varying in
size from "a of an inch to the finest
particles The whole theory of btu
lithic rests on the fact that it is the
stone that makes the wear. In Sc
iecting the kind of rock, the city may
choose either hard basalt or granite
But Astoria has the advantage of a
whole quarry of fine basalt.
when the pavement is in use, the
rock wears with the bitulithic, and
doesn't break out as in the case OF
concrete. Bitulithic is pliable and
adhesive, and adapts itself easily tc
changes so that if a street says or
account of a break in the sewer, the
bitulithic conforms with the lowered
grade without breaking. When {
street is patched the bitulithic as
simi,ates Immediately and goes into
the old pavement and makes a soliC
body just as good as when it wa!
new
'In the construction of bitulithiC
pavement, 4-inch layer of 1-2 incl
crushed rock is first placed on the
street. This is rolled with a 12-tor
roller. on top of it is put a layer OF
| hot bitumum as a basis of the pave
ment. Then a squeegee of sand ol
| stone chips is spread over it. On this
| is placed the wearing surface of The
| pavement itself, consisting OF crushed
rock varying in size from "a or al
inch to dust, which is mixed with no
bitumum in a mixer and then spread
on the street at a temperature o,
about 270 degrees. After this i:
thoroughly rolled, it gives a finished
pavement.
In my judgment, bitulithic woulC
last forever on the residence street.
of Astoria. That this process OF
pavement is far superior to ordinar!
asphalt has been proved in the larger
cities time and again. Bitulithic is ;
permanent pavement. 1t does moi
go to pieces, and hardly ever has t
| be repaired But if it does become
necessary to repair it, the city viii
only have to go over it with a tor
dressing, which sticks to the lower
coat.
| The macadam streets on the hill.
OF Astoria are in bad shape and viii
soon go to pieces entirely, unleS
they are thus covered with bitulithic
which would not only make fin,
streets of them, but would eliminat,
the necessity for constant mainten
ance.
"In this connection, it is pertinen
to observe that the city last year spen
$1,000 putting in rock repairs on ou
old streets. In my opinion. thi
money was wasted and might just a
well have been thrown away. Btu
lithic will save the enormous yearl
cost of up-keep.
"In my opinion, bitulithic is so ia
superior to bricks, wood blocks, stone
asphalt, Hassam, Westerlite, concret
and other kinds of pavement tina
there isn't any room for comparison
"One thing in favor of bitulithic