The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-06-08

to be built at Johnstown, Pa.
Government Issues Brick Road Film
With its latest motion picture re-
lease-a brick road film-the Depart
ment of Agriculture, thru the Blu
reau of Public Roads, has made avail
able to the public, motion pictures on
three types of modern paving: as
phalt, brick and concrete. Due to
this activity of the government the
general public, through farmers gran
ges, city civic associations and the
like, can obtain, graphically, infor-
nation on modern highway con-
struction.
The brick picture starts with the
mining of the shale or clay, and gives
a clear idea of the heavy labor and
fuel expense in connection with the
manufacture of this paving material.
The shale first is finely ground I'M
der rollers weighing several tons, and
is then mixed with water in pug"
mill that looks like bread dough
mixer. When it reaches the desired
mud-like consistency, it is forced thru
die under tremendous pressure and
escapes from the opening much like
tooth paste escapes from its contain
err, except that it is perfectly moulded
and compacted into solid mass.
After being automatically cut to
the desired width, the brick, travelling
along on a moving belt, are lifted by
hand and stacked on cars for storage
in the dryer, where the water used in
mixing is evaporated.
When almost dry they are stacked
in kilns where, with a heavy con-
sumption of coal, they are heated to
the melting point, a process which
takes more than a week. This brings
about vitrifcation, or the fusing of
the shale particles. The brick are
then allowed to cool very slowly,
which results in annealing or tough
ening. When they are ready to be
taken from the kiln they are perhaps
rs per cent as hard as diamonds, and
so tough and dense as to Withstand
the heaviest traffic without cracking,
or wearing away.
Extreme care is used to see that
only perfect brick finally get into a
i pavement. They first are sorted as
they leave the kiln, all broken,
cracked or Clipped brick being thrown
aside. They are sorted a second
time when piled in the cars for ship
ment. Then third time, after they
have been laid in the pavement and
before the filler is applied, an in
spector goes over them thoroughly
and any that will not pass visual in
spection are thrown out.
The picture shows the "rattler," a
machine in which brick are tested Of
ficially. The RATHER is like an iron
barrel in which the brick are placed
with large and small iron shot, the
large shot being bigger than a base
ball. The barrel is then revolved at
a set speed a certain number of times
and if the brick, when removed, have
lost more than a certain set percent.
age Of their original weight, they are
refused.
After portraying the details of
manufacture and inspection, the film
shows the unusual diversity in the use
of brick for surfacing city streets and
country highways. Brick streets in
use today range from the more simple
designs, where the brick are laid on
the natural soil without any artif
cial base, up through the more elabo-
rate designs to a point where thick
bases are specified because of exceed
ingly heavy traffic.)
The picture shows in detail several
modern methods of laying brick sur.
f faces on various types Of bases and
with different kinds of filters between
the joints, and closes with the sub
title: "Vitrified Brick makes a high.
class durable pavement, suitable fol
, the heaviest traffic, expensive in first
, cost, but cheaply maintained"