Note 67 — Chapter IX · WOOD PAVING.
Reading edition
The first wood pavement laid in London was in front of the Old Bailey, in 1839.
[68] Vide ‘Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers,’ vol. i. p. 131.
[69] This specification is the company’s own, as advertised when they first began business; for many reasons the boards have since been discontinued, and other alterations introduced into the system.
[70] I am unable to ascertain if this plan has ever been tried anywhere.
[71] It is also affirmed by the Borough Surveyor of Sunderland that this process dispenses with watering. Vide ‘Proceedings of the Association of Municipal and Sanitary Engineers and Surveyors,’ vol. iii. p. 72.
[72] Vide ‘A Practical Treatise on Roads, Streets, and Pavements,’ by Q. A. Gillmore, p. 166, which see also for a good account of wood pavements in the United States.
[73] Vide ‘Wood Pavements,’ by Henry Allnutt, 1880, p. 22.
[74] The power of absorbing water by wood varies from 9·37 to 174·86 per cent. in dry wood. In its ordinary state the power varies from 4·36 to 150·64 per cent. The quantity of water contained in wood in its natural state varies from 4·61 to 13·56 per cent. Vide ‘Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers,’ vol. lvi. p. 300.
[75] Vide ‘Roads and Roadways,’ by George Waller Wilcocks, 1879, p. 34.
[76] Vide ‘Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers,’ vol. lviii. p. 82.
[77] Ibid, vol. lx. p. 293.
[78] Ibid, vol. lviii. p. 45.
[79] ‘Report upon Asphalte and Wood Pavements,’ by William Haywood, (1874) p. 44.
[80] See ‘Paper on Wood Pavements,’ by R. S. Rounthwaite, Boro’ Surveyor, Sunderland, ‘Proceedings of the Association of Municipal and Sanitary Engineers and Surveyors,’ vol. vii. p. 48.
[81] The surveyor of the parish of St. George’s Hanover Square, London, says, “My experience of wood, and I have laid down 25,000 yards, is that it is perfectly free from smells, even on a cab rank.” Report of a Committee of the Paddington Vestry on Wood and other Pavements (1878) p. 30.
[82] Mr. Allnutt says on this: “As to the swelling of the wood, it has been remarked that even brick walls have been forced out. We do not see what provision can be made for this; but leaving the channel by the kerb stone for the last work may relieve the lateral pressure, and perhaps it would be as well for the blocks not to be so dry when being laid down.” Vide ‘Wood Pavement as carried out on Kensington High Road, Chelsea, etc.’ by Henry Allnutt (1880) p. 15.
[83] Vide ‘Report on Asphalte and Wood Pavements,’ by William Haywood, 1874, pp. 38 and 41.
[84] The Ligno-Mineral Paving Company and the Improved Wood Paving Company offered to maintain their pavements, if laid, for terms of ten years and fourteen years respectively; their tenders were not accepted.
[85] Vide ‘Paper on Street Carriageway Pavements,’ by G. F. Deacon, ‘Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers,’ vol. lviii. p. 23.
[86] If the road material thus excavated is macadam, it may be screened and used as concrete in the foundation, if approved by the surveyor. The granite pitching of crossings, channel gutters, etc., must remain the property of the sanitary authority, as well as the surplus macadam.
[87] It is important to give sufficient notice to gas and water companies in order that they may attend to their mains and services before the foundations are put in.
[88] Sometimes about half an inch of fine sand is spread upon the surface of the concrete upon which the wood blocks are bedded.
[89] If the blocks are to be creosoted, the number of pounds of creosote that should be absorbed in a cubic foot of the wood should be specified; this is generally about 10 lb. of creosote to 1 cubic foot of wood.