The Construction of Roads, Paths and Sea Defences; With Portions Relating to Private Street Repairs, Specification Clauses, Prices for Estimating, & Engineer's Replies to Queries - By Frank Latham - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ...that the road bed upon which the material is placed is perfectly dry, otherwise the work may be a failure. Streets laid with tar macadam, when the work is properly executed, are sanitary, noiseless, and inexpensive roads. They are, further, easily kept clean, and afford general comfort to horses. CHAPTER XVII. BRICK PAVEMENTS FOR ROADS. The essential points to be considered in selecting a paving brick for roads are that they should be constructed from a good fine clay practically free from lime, and one that will stand high burning, in order that the brick may become sufficiently annealed to render it hard, tough, and impervious. The bricks should be as uniform in quality as possible. They should have a resistance to crushing of at least 7500 lb. to the square inch, and should not absorb more than 2 per cent. of water after twelve hours' immersion. A brick that appears to be impervious on the outside is not always so on the inside, so it is always desirable to break the brick before immersing in water. When one brick is thrown on to another, should the edges chip the brick lacks toughness. Porous or soft bricks should never be used for paving purposes, as they are very liable to become insanitary, to wear away very quickly, and to become uneven. Good bricks, well laid, make a fairly durable, sanitary, noiseless, and safe pavement. The City Engineer of Chicago, in comparing brick with asphalt, says: --" I believe that for general use shale brick, properly burned and of the right size, properly laid on a hydraulic cement concrete foundation, as superior to asphalt, as to its first cost, facilities and cheapness for repairs, its sanitary qualities, its ease upon horses, and last, but not least, its durability. Brick can be laid on a...