Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-23
Merchants Association Appeals
to the Board of
Works.
MAKE INVESTIGATION
OF TWO PAYMENTS
Drivers Use Granite Paving of
Plank Road Very
Little.

SlNetN that all classes of traffic, Tor
enc reason or other, preferred WOOD
block pavement. committee of the
Broad Street Merchants Association
appeared before the Board of Works
at its meeting this afternoon and
again urged that body to repave
Broad street with this material. The
principal report, giving in detail the
vehicular traffic on the Plank road,
was compiled by Harland Bartholo
NEW, assistant to e. P. Goodrich, eX-
pert for the City Plan Commission.
Plank road was selected as an illus
tration because of the fact that
nearly all the traffic between this city
and Manhattan passes over this thor
oughfare, and because it is paved on
one side with grouted granite block
and on the other with wood block.
Mr. Bartholomew. in his report, which
VISA submitted to the board by Moses
Plaut, president of the association,
has made an exhaustive study of
traffic conditions upon each style of
pavement. The characteristic condi-
tions of each pavement, he says, are
practically ideal, both having been
laid long enough for drivers to have
experimental with.
Observations were made for one full
week, from January IL to Is. Two
assistants were employed who took
note of the vehicle as to which direc-
ton taken, which pavement used
tonnage of the vehicle, its speed, the
kind of tire. sl1idding, slipping, etc.
Observing the ordinary rules of the
road excepting to the righe), all east
bound traffic should be on the granite
pavement and all west-bound on the
wood black The report shows, how
ever. that 66.7 per cent. of the east
bound vehicles changed from the
granote to the wood-block pavement,
and chat less than Is per cent. west
bound vehicles changed from the
wood block to the granite.
In conclusion, Mr.. Bartholomew, in
his $enort, says:
LAS it is the purpose of this report
To make a comparison of granite ana
wood block pavement only under the
conditions as they exist upon the
Plank road. it would be impossible to
consider the durability or the eventual
cost of each. for this could only ne
done after a period of years. 10 De
sure. the items of eventual cost ana
durability are of prime importance
in highway construction, however the
question of satisfaction to users is
necessarily factor to be considered
Various conditions require specific
kinds of pavement, while in many
cases one pavement may be as good,
apparently, as another, where the
chief considerations of durability anu
eventful cost are concerned, and when
such is the case the question OF satls-
faction to all concerned becomes par
amount With this in view the writer
has considered conditions upon the
Plank road under the two meanings
IN iron-tired traffic, and (2) rupper-
tired traffic, with the following re-
suits in each case:
"Since it was observed tnat 90. {
per cent of all iron traffic used Wooo
block pavement it would naturally pc
implied that this was much preferred
to the granite block, but since Inc
ratio varied upon each consecutive
day it became evident that there was
some apparent reason for such Varla-
tions. Upon questioning the drivers
II was found that almost all professeo
granite block to be the best pave
ment. basing their argument upon the
slipperiness of wood block. Yet, most
all admitted that wood block was
used more because of its easier rlu-
ing" both on horses and men. one
driver said granite block, in his es"
timation. was better than wood block,
vet he used the wood block of the
| Plank road because it had not yet
worn smooth. One rainy day showed
more vehicles on the granite bloch'
while a similar day showed a larger
percentage on the wood block. NOT
| single instance of skidding or Slip
ping was observed upon either pave
ment throughout the week. In view
of this testimony received and the
figures obtained there is practically
little choice between granite block and
wood block pavement as regards IRON
tired traffic upon the Plank road, the
larger percentage using wood block
however, would seem to show what
little preference there was to be for
| the wood block.
"In considering rubber-tired trafno
the figures obtained speak for them
selves. Practically 80 per cent. USED
wood all the time. No skidding was
observed and no unfaoyrable testi-
mony was obtained.
ITO conclude, since there is a sligh'
preference for wood block by iron
tired traffic, and since wood block is
preferred almost universally by the
rubber tired traffic, it is the opinion
of the writer that wood block is SUI
perior to granite block pavement un'
der conditions now extant upon the
Plank road"
Commissioner DR.. Charles F
Kraemer asked that copies of the re
port submitted to the board by Moses
Plaut be sent to the individual mem
bers of the board. He also stated tina
during the past few days he had re
ceived several letters from private in
dividuals and corporations who wer'
interested in the proposition, request
ing the board to set q date for
meeting some time at night, so tina
the matter could be discussed. Com
missioner Charles b. Gillen, chairmai
of the street and water committee
announced that the meeting would b.
held next Thursday night.