Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1913-06-27

lloIt VI tue NdtlOndl WOOD BLOCK Pav
Ing Company, and Mr.. Lersch, repre-
senting Texico pavement, made it pos
|sible for our party to see much of tn,
1pavements and park driveways in Chi
Icago. At Whiting. East Chicago ant
Hammond, Mr.. Gill, president of thu
lWestrumite Company, together witt
several others connected with the
company, afforded us every opportun
Iity to examine other payements as
well as Westrumite
iWestrumite Street Surfaces Inspected
We were taken over many of the
Westrumite streets in Whiting, in East
Chicago and in Hammond, all in the
state of Indiana. One of these was
Just being laid on a macadam base
and others of varying ages, said to be
as much as five or six years, wers
gone over and examined These were
all found to be in excellent condition.
One Of these in East Chicago we had
been told was in very bad shape and
was said to be going to pieces. saw
only two or three places, however.
where there was any evidence OF
travelling. Alderman HasweIl and /
made an effort to see the city engineer
Of East Chicago on a second trip which
we made to this street but the engin-
eer was not in his office. A young
man there, however, told us the street
had been down about six years and
that its condition was satisfactory to
the residents of East Chicago. The
fire chief told us the same thing and
said that in going to fire on motor
cycle the change from Westrumite to
brick was unpleasantly noticeable. We
saw some good brick pavement in
East Chicago and the young man in
the city engineers office told us a
contract had just been let for about
two miles of brick pavement.
In Hammond we saw many Westru.
mite streets and also a number of 9TH
ers, both brick and asphaltic concrete.
The city engineer OF Hammond, Mr..
Peter ]. Lyons, stated that when adj
vertising for bids he asked for tenders
on four different kinds of surface and
that after the opening of bids the citi-
zens We're given ten days in which 20
decide upon the type to be accepted.
He said that during the year 1912
about two-thirds of the pavement laid
in Hammond had been Westrumite.
to about $4,000 square
yards. The four kinds Of pavements
upon which tenders were asked. to-
gether with the average contract price
of each, are as follows:
l. Asjhaltic concrete, s2.25 per So. /
yard.
?. Brick on edge, 1920 per So. yard. |
3. Creosoted wood block, $3.50 to
$500 per 50. yard.
4 westrumite pavement, sl.88 per
So. yard.
Where a concrete base is used this
Is made six inches thick. Many of
The Westrumite surfaces are on an |
eight-inch macadam foundation.
Mr.. Lyons said that he did not feel
rec to express his opinion of the rela-
i've merits OF the different pavements
lsed but said for year or more in
he beginning he was skeptioal of the /
of Westrumite and had to I
'e shown" Now, however he has no |,
objection to this form of pavement
'ver other forms and states that on
he Westrumite streets in Hammond. /
many of which have been in service
nder traffic conditions which I be-
leve to be as severe as those which
'btain in Bryan (if they are not more h
evere) for more than FIVE years with
nut having needed any repairs what ,
ver He stated that Westrumite street I
urfacing was in service on twenty or
nore streets in Hammond. h
diverse Opinions Regarding Westru-
mite.
While every one in Whiting, East =
hicago and Hammond to whom !,
ilked concerning Westrumite spoke .
ighly of it, effort was made to ascer- r
ain from those opposed to the pave
lent their reasons for disparging it. 8
he most pronounced of these oppos-
lg opinions was given by the assist q
Mt engineer of the board of public =
improvements of Chicago who stated =
} Alderman Levy and to me that he :,
ould not have Westrumite as a gift; a
lat it was soft after being laid. went n
pieces under traffic and was alto
ether unreliable. These opinions he :,
Ised upon what he had heard of the