The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-05

tory. TIC even goes OH anu states that the concrete base, under the asphalt pavement now being laid on Tuscaloosa avenue, has failed in many places. Whilst the most careful inspection by the engineering depart ment and the contractor has failed to detect single instance of failure. A similar instance occurred in connec- tion with an interview given by chemist who was for number off years employed by the city for the purpose of testing the materials and mixtures entering into bituminous pavements. but who had had nothing
 10 do with the construction of the foundations under them, with the ex- ception of Tenth avenue, South there has been no foundation failures under any of the pavements where the mate
 rial was inspected by him. Yet. there are numerous instances of failures on
 the surfaces of such pavements evil
 dentlv due to the use of improper
 materials or mixtures inspected and
 approved by this chemist
 NOT USED
 It is regrettable that the last two linterviewers referred to had not con finea themselves to enlightening the
  in that portion of the work of which lthev were responsible. Another inter- viewer attributes gil of our troubles l to the use of bank gravel, in the con Icrete foundations of the pavements. As la matter of fact, not single yard or | any kind Of gravel has ever been so used Ii is wonderful how quickly the average citizen can easily become confused as 10 the facts with reference to public works. Here is an instance: Alter experimenting the character of Itl e pay. .,snt used on Highland avenue, from Twentieth street to the Country iCluh. and it's excellent condition after fourteen or fifteen years of constant luse the property owners were given the credit for it's selection and con Istruction.
 Now. let's see what the real facts were with reference to this pavement. When the paving of Highland avenue was ag;tatcG. the writer recommended l a class of pavement and form of con struction which was finally adopted; it having been sat,sfactor fly tried out on such down town streets as Third. Fourth and Fifth avenues, and Nine
 teenth and twentieth streets, and on South Twenty y-first street. The prop
 erty owners decided that they were
 entitled to q more classy pavement, and | consequently after a committee of Iproperty owners had visited several lcit:es. il was practically unanimously decided by the property owners to turn down the city engineers tecommenda- | tions and substitute wood block pave inent for Highland avenue, from Twen- tieth street to d co.l.t opposite MT. Cabiness' residence. The ordinance was accordingly adopted by the city,
 and the contract let and work started.
 B sfcre the paving of the car tracks
 was completed, it was clearly demon
 strated that this class of pavement was not suitable for H !ghlapd avenue, since
 it was a well-known fact among en- lgineers that wood block was satisfac- tory only when subjected to the very
 heaviest traffic.
 1 THEY LEARNED
 On petition of the property owners,
 the contract was canceled, except for the portion between the rails of the lst -et railway company, and the orig inal pavement, IS recommended by the ersin CT, was adopted. Later this lpavement, of the same materials, was lextended to the Country Club. So that in this case at least. the property own CTS acknowledged that they were not paving experts. The pavement was later extended from the Country Club, along Highland avenue, Twenty y-ninth street, Avenue q and Twenty seventh Istreet, to Avenue F.. The later pave
 ment is of sheet asphalt, on a five inch concrete base, the former on a s.ag base. The city a. that time em . iployed no chcmis; to analyze the as- |phalf'c cement used cn tie Iavements. | The asphaltic cement used by the
 contractor this job was sup piled by the largest dealer In the United States, and the character of the
 materials and mixtures was passed upon by it's chemist. The pavement lhas not been entirely satisfactory, and considerable amounts have been spent for repairs. Frcm Twenty third street, going eastward on the right hand drive. it is quite evident that the as
 phaltic cement used was too soft, and resulted in considerable movement in the asphaltic surface. Whilst on the left hand drive, the asphaltic cement iused was evidently too hard and has lresulted in excessive cracking of the lsurface, and on account of its nrit .le- ness, considerable areas have left ike foundation and had to be replaced It Is interesting to note, at this point, that this pavement was laid by a com Ipany of whom the contractor referred
 to above was 3" official, and whilst
 the concrete, base is of the same class
 that is criticised by him. not single
 failure has occurred in the foundation.
 whilst as stated above, the surface has
 proven to be anything but satisfactory. l Since so many of the parties inter- viewed laid stress upon heavier c<acrete ! foundations, it may be news and inter
 esting to many to know that none of the
 bituminous pavements in the dowtown district, which includes Third, Fourth. Fifth and Sixth avenues, Eighteenth
 Rub-My- Tism is a great pain killer.
 It relieves pain and soreness caused
 by Rheum. tism, Neuralgia, Sprains, | etc.