CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND APPLYING MATERIALS FOR THE MAKING, CONSTRUCTING, AND RENDERING MORE DURABLE ROADS AND OTHER WAYS, WHICH MATERIALS SO PREPARED ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1828

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BENJAMIN MACNEILL, of Foleshill, Coventry, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date the Sixth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, in
the ninth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said John Benjamin
Macneill, His special licence that I, the said John Benjamin Macneill, my
exors, adiñiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said John Benjamin
Macneill, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND APPLYING MATERIALS FOR THE MAKING,
CONSTRUCTING, AND RENDERING MORE DURABLE ROADS AND OTHER WAYS, WHICH
MATERIALS SO PREPARED ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that I, the said John Benjamin
Macneill, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in which manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in
His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
annear
sil

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Benjamin Macneill, do describe
my Invention to be for the formation of a firm foundation in the making,
forming, improving, altering, and repairing roads, ways, paths, streets, & places
whereon there is a constant traffic, so as to keep down the clay or other
substratum, and prevent its oozing through the top surface, by which roads,
ways, paths, streets, and places have heretofore been kept continually in a
state of slop and mud in winter, and of consequent dust in dry weather, as well
as for preventing the surface materials (if such are used) from being forced
down into such substratum, as also for applying the materials formed for such
purpose to other purposes. This I propose to accomplish by mixing and
making up a conglomorate mass or masses, uniting together for that purpose
with a strong cement clean sharp river sand and clean gravel, or such sand
and chippings of stone, or such sand and broken pieces of flint, or such sand
and chippings of granite, or such sand and any such like substances, and either
forming the same into blocks or lumps of any convenient shape, and laying
them close together over such part or parts of roads, ways, paths, streets, and
places as may be thought expedient for the purposes above named, as well as
for mixing and making the said conglomorate mass of materials before named,
and spreading it all over such part of the surface of the soil on which any
road, way, path, street, or place of trafic is intended to be formed or repaired
and made anew, as may be thought expedient; or for making the whole of
such road, way, path, street, or place of traffic with such conglomorate mass
when other more suitable materials cannot conveniently be obtained, and also
for applying the materials so prepared and formed to many other useful
purposes, particularly to the formation of aquatic embankments, sea or river
walls, sides and bottoms of docks, locks, basins, canals, bridges, &c.
The method by which I put my Invention in practice is as follows:-
Having first brought the ground over which any road, way, path, street, or
place of traffic is intended to be formed, repaired, or made anew, to a trans-
verse level, I then proceed to lay down a platform as near as may be thereto,
formed of flat paving stones, or of bricks, or of boards or planks, which I take
care to keep clean, or any other sort of platform that may be found conve-
nient, with an edging or border on three sides thereof to prevent the waste of
materials, and which I make of sufficient capacity for mixing up such quantity
of the said substances as may be thought expedient to make into such
conglomorate mass at one time, and having previously provided myself with a
set of boxes for casting or forming the blocks or lumps in shape in cases
where I intend such blocks should be made, I proceed to mix up such a
quantity of clean gravel, stone, flint, chipping of granite, or such like sub-

page_text: stances, with such a portion of clean sharp sand and such a portion of the
very best Roman cement, and such a portion of clean water as will quickly
become one hard conglomorate mass, which in some cases I form into blocks
or lumps of such shape that they have a flat bed or bottom and sides and
ends to fit to each other, as per Drawing annexed, so that they may be regularly
laid down and fitted together by any laboring man, the top surface of these
blocks or lumps being so formed that they not only form a key for the sur-
face materials intended to be laid down, but also form channels in cach direction
for conveying the surface water into the side drains; but though I consider
the shape of these blocks or lumps as I have described them to be the best
fitted for the purpose, yet any other shape block or lump made be made if
required; as also though I consider the making a platform for the special
purpose of mixing up the substances before described the best adapted for
expediting the progress of the work to be executed, as well as to prevent dirt,
clay, or other matters from combining with the substances so intended to be
mixed, yet it is quite possible to mix and make up such conglomorate mate-
rials without the help of such platform, or on a platform made altogether of
a different shape; neither do I claim the exclusive right of making and
forming such platform. And although I have here described the plan of the
boxes which I have found most convenient for making or casting the blocks or
lumps, yet they may be made of other shapes and by other methods if required,
and when these blocks or lumps have become sufficiently dry and hard I then
lay a regular course of them close together over the ground so levelled and
prepared as before described, after which I proceed to lay on a coating of the
best materials that can be obtained for forming the surface of the road. The
proportions I have found most convenient is about one eighth part of clean
sand, one eighth part of cement, and the other six eighths of gravel, flint,
broken stone, chipping of granite, or such like materials mixed with a suitable
quantity of water (about one fourth part), but this also may be varied according
to circumstances, but these proportions will vary according to the nature and
strength of the work to be done. In other cases I mix up the said conglo-
morate mass, in the way beforo described, and immediately proceed to spread
a bed of it over the ground so levelled and prepared as before described, and
I take care to form channels on the top surface thereof, so as to lead the sur-
face water in such direction toward the side drains.
Although I have only described above two modes of making and forming
of roads, ways, paths, streets, and places for the purpose of keeping down the
substratum, preventing the surface materials from sinking, and leading off
the surface water, as I prefer making the top surface of other materials, yet

page_text: I claim the right of making roads, ways, paths, streets, and other places
entirely with my conglomorate mass or masses, if in some cases it should bo
found expedient; and although I have named Roman cement as the articlo I
prefer for binding and forming my conglomorate mass, from a conviction of
its superior advantage over any other cement for the particular purpose, yet I
claim the right of using any other cement or lime that may be found of suffi-
cient strength.
And further, I do hereby set forth that the said conglomorate mixture may
be very beneficially applied to the formation of aquatic embankments next the
sea, or adjoining rivers, canals, &c., either by forming the same into blocks or
lumps of any convenient shape and setting than in the usual way of mason's
work, or by providing a temporary wood or other fence, shield, or screen next
the water, and filling in at the back thereof the conglomorate mixture, and
thereby forming such aquatic and other embankments into one solid mass
capable of resisting the greatest possible pressure.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Benjamin, Macneill, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and twenty-eight.

page_text: Side view of a Block for Road Work
End view of a Block for
Ground Plan of
Do.
Birds eye view of Do.
Do.
End view of several Blocks placed side by side.
The Box for Casting the Blocks on Lumps formed
on a Board or Plank and on wheels for convenience
of moving, The sides being fastened together by
Bolts or otherwise, and the partitions being moveable
Longitudinal Section of the Box for Casting the
Blocks on Lumps.
Side view of one of the moveable partitions so formed
as to give the bevel to the top of the Block.
End view of a moveable partition.
Side view of the Box for Casting the Blocks or Lumps
shewing the notches for the partitions to drop into.
and the angular pieces for giving the bevel to the
end of the Blocks on Lumps.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BENJAMIN MACNEILL, of Foleshill, Coventry, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date the Sixth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, in
the ninth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said John Benjamin
Macneill, His special licence that I, the said John Benjamin Macneill, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said John Benjamin
Macneill, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND APPLYING MATERIALS FOR THE MAKING,
CONSTRUCTING, AND RENDERING MORE DURABLE ROADS AND OTHER WAYS, WHICH
MATERIALS SO PREPARED ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that I, the said John Benjamin
Macneill, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in which manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in
His Majesty's Iligh Court of Chancery within two calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said John Benjamin Macneill, do describe
my Invention to be for the formation of a firm foundation in the making,
forming, improving, altering, and repairing roads, ways, paths, streets, & places
whereon there is a constant traffic, so as to keep down the clay or other
substratum, and prevent its oozing through the top surface, by which roads,
ways, paths, streets, and places have heretofore been kept continually in a
state of slop and mud in winter, and of consequent dust in dry weather, as well
as for preventing the surface materials (if such are used) from being forced
down into such substratum, as also for applying the materials formed for such
purpose to other purposes. This I propose to accomplish by mixing and
making up a conglomorate mass or masses, uniting together for that purpose
with a strong cement clean sharp river sand and clean gravel, or such sand
and chippings of stone, or such sand and broken pieces of flint, or such sand
and chippings of granite, or such sand and any such like substances, and either
forming the same into blocks or lumps of any convenient shape, and laying
them close together over such part or parts of roads, ways, paths, streets, and
places as may be thought expedient for the purposes above named, as well as
for mixing and making the said conglomorate mass of materials before named,
and spreading it all over such part of the surface of the soil on which any
road, way, path, street, or place of trafic is intended to be formed or repaired
and made anew, as may be thought expedient; or for making the whole of
such road, way, path, street, or place of traffic with such conglomorate mass
when other more suitable materials cannot conveniently be obtained, and also
for applying the materials so prepared and formed to many other useful
purposes, particularly to the formation of aquatic embankments, sea or river
walls, sides and bottoms of docks, locks, basins, canals, bridges, &c.
The method by which I put my Invention in practice is as follows:-
Having first brought the ground over which any road, way, path, street, or
place of traffic is intended to be formed, repaired, or made anew, to a trans-
verse level, I then proceed to lay down a platform as near as may be thereto,
formed of flat paving stones, or of bricks, or of boards or planks, which I take
care to keep clean, or any other sort of platform that may be found conve-
nient, with an edging or border on three sides thereof to prevent the waste of
materials, and which I make of sufficient capacity for mixing up such quantity
of the said substances as may be thought expedient to make into such
conglomorate mass at one time, and having previously provided myself with a
set of boxes for casting or forming the blocks or lumps in shape in cases
where I intend such blocks should be made, I procced to mix up such a
quantity of clean gravel, stone, flint, chipping of granite, or such like sub-

page_text: stances, with such a portion of clean sharp sand and such a portion of the
very best Roman cement, and such a portion of clean water as will quickly
become one hard conglomorate mass, which in some cases I form into blocks
or lumps of such shape that they have a flat bed or bottom and sides and
ends to fit to each other, as per Drawing annexed, so that they may be regularly
laid down and fitted together by any laboring man, the top surface of these
blocks or lumps being so formed that they not only form a key for, the sur-
face materials intended to be laid down, but also form channels in each direction
for conveying the surface water into the side drains; but though I consider
the shape of these blocks or lumps as I have described them to be the best
fitted for the purpose, yet any other shape block or lump made bc made if
required; as also though I consider the making a platform for the special
purpose of mixing up the substances before described the best adapted for
expediting the progress of the work to be executed, as well as to prevent dirt,
clay, or other matters from combining with the substances so intended to be
mixed, yet it is quite possible to mix and make up such conglomorate mate-
rials without the help of such platform, or on a platform made altogether of
a different shape;. neither do I claim the exclusive right of making and
forming such platform. And although I have here described the plan of the
boxes which I have found most convenient for making or casting the blocks or
lumps, yet they may be made of other shapes and by other methods if required,
and when these blocks or lumps have become sufficiently dry and hard I then
lay a regular course of them close together over the ground so levelled and
prepared as before described, after which I proceed to lay on a coating of the
best materials that can be obtained for forming the surface of the road. The
proportions I have found most convenient is about one eighth part of clean
sand, one eighth part of cement, and the other six eighths of gravel, flint,
broken stone, chipping of granite, or such like materials mixed with a suitable
quantity of water (about one fourth part), but this also may be varied according
to circumstances, but these proportions will vary according to the nature and
strength of the work to be done. In other cases I mix up the said conglo-
morate mass, in the way before described, and immediately proceed to spread
a bed of it over the ground so levelled and prepared as before described, and
I take care to form channels on the top surface thereof, so as to lead the sur-
face water in such direction toward the side drains.
•
Although I have only described above two modes of making and forming
of roads, ways, paths, streets, and places for the purpose of keeping down the
substratum, preventing the surface materials from sinking, and leading off
the surface water, as I prefer making the top surface of other materials, yet

page_text: I claim the right of making roads, ways, paths, streets, and other places
entirely with my conglomorate mass or masses, if in some cases it should be
found expedient; and although I have named Roman cement as the article I
prefer for binding and forming my conglomorate mass, from a conviction of
its superior advantage over any other cement for the particular purpose, yet I
claim the right of using any other cement or lime that may be found of suffi-
cient strength.
And further, I do hereby set forth that the said conglomorate mixture may
be very beneficially applied to the formation of aquatic embankments next the
sea, or adjoining rivers, canals, &c., either by forming the same into blocks or
lumps of any convenient shape and setting than in the usual way of mason's
work, or by providing a temporary wood or other fence, shield, or screen next
the water, and filling in at the back thereof the conglomorate mixture, and
thereby forming such aquatic and other embankments into one solid mass
capable of resisting the greatest possible pressure.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Benjamin Macneill, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and twenty-eight.