The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-13
COUNTY HAS LONG. BEEN ADVOCATE.
 OF BETTER ROADS.
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 gravel particles have become dislodged due to the film of clay which coated them. Most of the slabs have developed transverse cracks and some show long itudinal cracks, but with proper main- tenance this street apparently will last indefinitely. A patented metal joint was used and most of the joints are high. with the inauguration of the pre- sent street improvement program in 1920 the specifications were changed to incorporate the best practice in con- crete street construction. Present city specifications require the use of washed sand for fine aggregate and washed pebbles. crushed stone or furnace slag for coarse aggregate. Proportions are one part cement, two parts fine az gregate, and three parts coarse az gregate.
 "A standard thickness of seven inches is used except in lightly travelled resi- dential sections, where a thickness of six inches is sometime used. Integral curb is constructed on all streets where eurbs are not already in place,
 Particular attention is paid to the consistency Of the concrete and to the time of mixing. A two-inch slump gov erns the amount of water used, and the time of mixing is controlled by a batch meter which is set for one-minute mix.
 Joints are made with prepared as phalt filler which is one inch wider than the depth of the pavement. This Is trimmed so as to project about one quarter of an inch above the finished pavement. Transverse joints are placed every 30 feet and longitudinal joints are placed along the curbs in roadvays up to 30 feet in width. On wider road ways the pavement is built in two tsirps separated by construction joint. In future construction the prepared joint filler will be used also in the longitudinal center joint.
 ''The original town of Tuscaloosa was laid out by the Federal government in 1920, using the rectangular sys- tenn of streets. The surveyors chain was used as the unit, the blocks being made four chains by five chains in size. The two main, axial streets are two chains in width and the other streets are 1 15 chains wide. These wide proportions of streets area to lot area are unusually great. As the income of the city is limited, the entire cost of
  ting property, including intersections, the cost of which is divided throughout the block for half a block in each di- rection.
 Parkways On Some Streets
 "To reduce the paving area, some streets are built with a center parking space, dividing two parallel driveways while on others the roadway is narrow ed by using a wider grass plot on each side. Both methods have their ad- vantages. The double driveway regu- lates traffic and the center parkway presents pleasing appearance when it is properly maintained. Experience has shown that where the center parkway is used, the burden of maintenance falls on the city. In the case of the single driveway, the burden of main- tenance is shifted to the property owner. With this design, also, the driveway is placed at greater distance from the house and cars parked at the curb interfere less with traffic. The single driveway has proven more satisfactory and less expensive to abutting property.
 Tuscaloosa has taken rank as one of the most active of smaller cities in con- struction and paving work. In fact, in proportion to the size of the city, Tus- caloosa's record ranks well with that of any other in the south.
 "A very marked transformation has taken place during the past two years and the building program is still go- ing forward with unslackened mo- mentum. It is said that 1924 work will exceed $3,0OO,OOO.
 Hundreds of new residences, large number of business buildings and many miles of paving were constructed in 1922 and 1923.
 Tt is estimated that around POO homes were completed or started during 1923 alone. More than a dozen busi- ness houses, theatre, several garages and filing stations were also on the years list.
 'The Merchants Bank and Trust com pany is now building an History bank and office building. In 1922 the City National bank constructed a very hand some building, while the First Ma tional Bank completely renodeled its building.
 During 1922 two new churches, Methodist and Presbyterian, were fin ished. The Baptist are now building a large Sunday School structure, and this is to be followed later by new church.
 "A city hospital, costing around $100,0 0,000, was one of last years impor- tant projects.
 At the present time a new high school, costing over $20O,OO0 and GOV ering a square block, is in course of construction.
 There have been many other pro- jects, such as the work at the Univer- sity and the Bryce Hospital, the re- modelling of q business building into a hotel and several city schools that have contributed to the remarkable growth of Tuscaloosa.
 This is one side of Tuscaloosa S building program. Paving work con stitutes the other.
 Paving on an extensive scale usual ly marks the transition of communi- ty from a town to a city. It is an asset that goes hand in hand with churches, schools, ''strial plants and other factors that give life and growth to a city.
 ''Tuscaloosa's paving work has kept pace with general construction.
 Before 1922 only two principal streets were paved for any distance portion of Greensboro avenue and Broad street-University avenue.
 'In 1922 the new program of pay ing was fully developed and this has been steadily enlarged. Last year more than five miles of paving were laid and two miles of sidewalks. Other pro- jects are under way and still more in prospect.
 Greensboro avenue is now paved from the Louisville and Nashville sta tion to the A. G. s. station, a distance of more than a mile.
 Half of the distance on Queen City avenue from Broad street to the A. G. $. station is paved and the other sec ton is now being built. Pavement on