Year: 1874

[Ftom the American Railroad Journal, New


York;


In our Detroit exchanges, we End in
the official report Of the doings of the
council Of that city, some facts
and testimony bearing on the subject
of wood pavements. which at this time
have special value and interest not only
to the taxpayers Of New York, but all
other cities that use, or contemplating
using wood for paving purposes.


It appears that the board of common
council appointed a committee consist.
ing Of the Mayor, the President of the
board Of public works, and the Con-
troller. to proceed to different cities and
examine into the merits of the different
methods of preserving the wood from
decay, as we'll as the various plans in
use for laying down the same to resist
the wea; and tear Of street traffic.


1t is only to that part Of the commit.
tees report relating to the treatment
Of the wood that we desire now to d.
rect attention.


After careful analysis and compari-
son OF the different methods in use, this
committee seem to arrive at very pos
tive conclusion that the Seeley-Pelton
process is superior to all others, not
only in the simplicity and economy of
its application, but in the subsequent
durability of the blocks so treated.
Hence thu lcommittee recommend
that in al, future use of wood as 8
paving material, it be carbolized or
treated by the method above referred
to.


The cit ty journals, from which we de-
rive these facts, also strongly endorse
the Seeley-Pe]ton plan.


And from pretty exhaustive inves-
tigation made into this same subject
some time since, we can cordially add
our testimony to the above.


In conclusion perhaps we cannot do
better than append the following letter
received by the President Of the Board
of Public Works from Gen. Cram, who
had entire charge of the St. Clair Flats
Ship Canal, and whose opinion upon
this treating process ought to be en-
titled to great respect


GLOUCESTER, AAss., Aug. 8, 1874
Harvey King, ESQ.,, President Board OF Pub


lie Works, Detroit: -,


DEAR SIR: Your letter Of the lst
inst, has just been received. In reply
l have briefly to say:


First-H wooden pavement is to be
made in your city, / think the best
known process for preserving the block
is the Seeley process of carbolic acidiz-
ing, which is what used for the tim
her laid in dirt on the St. Clair Flats
work.


Second-I have none Of nv printed
reports at hand setting forth the dura-
bility Of wood subjected to this process
or l would send you one, nor can l get
into the full explanation Of the process
in letter.


Third-In this country the process
has not yet been tried long enough to-
say how l:ng it will prevent timber
and wood. subjected as a pavement
would be, from decay; but in Europe
it proved, after thirty-two years, as
sound as when laid down, and how
much longer it will last remains to be
seen. Very truly, T. j. CRAM.


Since the foregoing was in type, later
papers have come to hand containing
an official report Of the final action Of
the Detroit common council, adopting
the Seeley-Pelton process Of preserving
wood from decay, as the one to be here.
after exclusively used in that city.
This is pretty strong, practical testi-
mony, as we view it, in favor Of that
system:


WHEREAS, The special committee
who visited Pittsburg and Cleveland by
the authority of this council did, in
their report of August l1th, recon.
mend that all wood used in the paving
Of streets in this city should be treated
with the Sceley-Pelton, or some other
equally good preserving process, there
fore be it >.


Resolved, That this common council
do adopt the report made by said COM
mittee and its recommendations, and
they do hereby request the board of
public works to adopt as specification
for all wood pavements that the wood
shall be treated with dead oil by the
Seeley.Pelton process, believing that
this treatment will result in a great
saving OF money to the taxpayers by
preserving the wood from decay, and
making it unnecessary to repave only
at long intervals.


Laid on the table.


On motion Of Alderman Thompson
the resolution requesting the board Of
public works to adopt as specifications
for all wood pavements that the wood
shall be treated with dead oil by the
Seeley-P Pelton process. was taken from
the table and he moved its adoption.


Alderman Daily moved to amend by
excepting cedar blocks from the re-
quirenents Of the resolution.


The resolution, as. amended, was
adopted.