Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-15
TRADE BOARD EXPERTS
ADVISE PAVING CHANGE
After Long Observation Committee Reports That While Wood
and Concrete Are Unexceptionabe the Presevatve Re-
qured by the Specifications is MonopoIzed Product

typical of the general comment on
the subject:
"a widespread annoyance due to
the heat was the tar and oil ooze
that came up from pavements all
over the city. In the loop district
there was such a deposit of gum on
streets paved with creosote blocks
that the street department required
the contractors to sprinkle sand not
only at crossings but over entire
blocks. This was small relief. Pc
destrians continued to find their
shoes smudged with the adhesive
preparation. Every sidewalk
downtown bears blackened marks of
shoe imprints. At the La Sale Ho-
tel, in the vicinity of which the melt
ing tar was particularly a nuisance,
the doormen and porters were kept
busy sweeping the corridors and en-
frances. Guests paused at curbings
to scarpe the gummy substance from
their shoes. Just what damage
from the present heat wave have ac-
crued in spotted rugs and carpets in
hotels and residences can only be
conjectured.'
zone explanation attributes the
cause of this to what may be termed
the adulterations of creosote oil or
dead oil of coal tar which has a spe-
cific gravity ranging from 1,03 to los,
with coal tar pitch, in order to raise
the specific gravity, as required by
the specifications, to Ito or higher.
THAT there is monopoly control ~
this high-priced product, which thus
far has seemed inferior to the
cheaper oil, is recognized by unbiased
students of the situation.
1.-THE inference that the Chicago
Board of Local improvements and
the Chicago and New York conven-
tons of paving officials, in specify
ing high gravity oil, played directly
| into the hands of these oil and wood
| block interests, is a justifiable con-
clusion under the circumstances.
| 1.-THE president of the Board of Lo-
| cal Improvements public works. of
| Chicago in his letter of June s, 1911,
to the commissioner of public works,
states:
Tt is also maintained that this
tar product specified by this depart
ment fills the voids produced by the
vacuum applied to these paving
blocks, but does not thoroughly pene-
| trate the wood and become a part
thereof, as did the former oils used
for this purpose, and that, therefore,
during hot weather this product is
drawn to the surface by the sun
producing a Shiny tar coating, seer
on these wood pavements laid within
the past two years
1.-THE Chicago wood pavement speci-
fications of 1912 show that the re.
quirements for preservative were
changed, as result of the investiga.
ton, so that good and competing
creosote oils which had previously
been in successful use there for many
years and used in many other places
were provided for in the specifica
tons of that city.
This committee therefore believe,
a that If there is a monopoly or con.
trolled product required by the speci
fications as now proposed for repay
ing Broad street, Newark, that it lie.
in the preventative described II
technical language in said specifica
tons; also, that there seems to b,
evidence and records which indicat,
the possibility of enhanced cost O
such pavement and with some re
suits, In respect to bleeding or oozn,
of tar products upon its surface
which might be Objectionable"
Therefore it was resolved that tn
Board Of Trade of the city of Newarl
advises that the specifications TO
the Broad street wood pavement b
so drawn as to permit the use o
such wood pavements as have provel
to be durable and efficient, and i
actual use on streets of various elite
subject to severe climatic and trafn
conditions.