IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS AND WAYS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Fagg at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th May
1864.
I, GEORGE FAGG, of Highbury New Park, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PAVING ROADS AND WAYS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the method of con-
structing and supporting pavement, the object being not only to afford a
better footing for horses, but to construct a more durable pavement than any
hitherto laid down, and to enable such pavement to become freed from water,
mud, or dust, and to afford a good and sure footing for horses in frosty weather.
Some portions of the Invention are also applicable to the support of the
permanent way of railways.
I propose by my Invention to construct a pavement presenting a surface of
stone or wood, or both in combination, in such manner that there shall be a
space left on every side of the stones or blocks, so as to afford a good
longitudinal and transverse holding power for the feet of horses, and to
permit of the running away of the rain and mud, and of the descent of the
dust and dirt.
Now I propose to effect these objects by a totally new construction of
pavement. I form the bed of the roadway (above which the pavement is to
be made,) of concrete covered with a waterproof cement, if necessary, or of
any other such like materials or compounds suitable for the purpose. This

page_text: bed should be formed of an arched or sloping form from the central line, in
order to permit of the slush and rain running to the sides, and passing into
the drains. It is above this bed that my roadway is to be constructed and
supported. I propose to lay a series of blocks or sleepers of stone, iron, or
timber below the edges of the kerbs, on which blocks or sleepers I rest
transverse girders or beams of iron extending across the entire road in one or
more lengths according to the width of the road or longitudinal girders or
beams in line with the roadway. These beams or girders are to be inverted
Tiron, the base resting on the blocks, the vertical portion or division of the
iron is to be provided with transverse divisions or frames on each side, if
necessary, for the reception of the paving blocks of stone or wood; these
paying blocks will rise an inch or two above the flange, so that gutters will
be formed running across or in the line of the road, and between each stone;
these gutters or channels may be about half an inch wide, more or less,
according to the width of the flanges or divisions. The blocks might be made
so as to fit the spaces accurately, or if necessary a small quantity of cement
might be used to set them firmly in the iron sockets. Now in order to
permit of the passage of the rain, mud, and dust, below and between the
blocks of pavement a transverse or longitudinal space is left between the
beams or girders, so that a narrow opening is left completely through the
construction, and in communication with the concrete and cemented bedway
below. the ironwork. These spaces or openings with the short longitudinal
transverse gutters running therein, serve for the exit of the wet and dust from
the surface of the roadway, and the arched or sloping bed then carries away
everything to the drains, so that the road or street is always kept clean. I
propose to make the surface of the road perfectly flat, since there can be no
necessity for sloping the surface as is now done, and the flat or plane surface
will be most beneficial for traffic, and for the footing of horses. I propose to
strengthen the iron girders or wooden beams by means of longitudinal or
transverse supports either of inverted T iron, or other form, placed at intervals
of about eight feet apart, and resting on the concrete, in any case proper
spaces or openings should be left in these supports for the lateral flowing of
the slush and rain, probably arched forms of iron would be most suitable for
the purpose. The beams or girders for the reception of the blocks may be
made of an uniform thickness or strength, or they may be deeper in the centre
if thought desirable. Or the frames and sockets may be supported by arched
beams, stretchers, or girders, connected at each end by tie rods in the usual
manner of forming such work. This method would allow of a slight elasticity
or spring in the road, and would tend to lessen the jar occasioned by the

page_text: passage of heavy traffic. I also propose to apply similar arched and yielding
supports to sustain the longitudinal sleepers of the permanent way of railways,
or the transverse sleepers laid thereon, where longitudinal sleepers are not
used. By these means the jolting or jumping motion of the wheels of engines
and carriages would be avoided since the bearing of the rails would be equal
at every point instead of as now unequal at all points on and between the
sleepers or stone blocks. When I employ wooden beams or supports for the
reception of the paving blocks, I cut suitable recesses therein according to
the shape of the blocks or otherwise, and face each beam with iron plating to
hold such blocks firmly in position. The beams or girders may be formed
sufficiently wide to contain one, two, three, or more rows of stones as may be
found most advantageous. The surface of the blocks may be of any desired
shape and dimensions, I should prefer, however, to make them square, and
about four inches each way, but this would be determined by experience.
Should any portion of the road require repair, or should it be necessary to
take any part up for other purposes, it will be easy to remove the blocks and
girders, and to replace them again. It is evident that it will be impossible
for the surface of the roadway to become uneven, and thus a very great
durability will result. I do not limit myself to any particular form of girder
or beam, or to the arrangement and shape of the sockets or frames to contain
the blocks, since many forms may be devised for effecting these purposes
without departing from the main objects of the Invention, as first stated, I
shall define them more particularly in the Final Specification.