En Samling Afhandlinger Om Veje 1876-1881

18 OUR ROADWAYS. which means a swelling in wet weather and a shrink- ing during periods of dryness. This continual ex- pansion and contraction, of which the range is by no means narrow, must in a comparatively short space of time loosen the blocks, and this being the case, they must take a set the one against the other, and the whole roadway will be destroyed. Carey's Wood Pavement.—The only special merit to be found in this system is that it dispenses with any preparation of foundation—it can be laid with great rapidity; but it is sufficient to say that the want of a good foundation must entail, to say the least of it, far greater inconvenience and much more waste of time than would be caused by making the under surface of the roadway firm and lasting. To lay wood blocks on a haphazard foundation is to en- sure their irregular subsidence; the consequent un- evenness of roadway, and a never-ending patching and piecing, becoming far more costly and annoying than the proper laying of a foundation would prove. Messrs. John Mowlem and Co.'s wood pavement is laid on a good bed of concrete, and is no doubt an ex- cellent roadway, but it lacks one desideratum, namely, thorough imperviousness to wet. The surface water ought not to be allowed to reach the concrete bed, where it must sooner or later injure what should be a thoroughly enduring foundation. With regard to the Improved Wood Pavement, no better comment can be given than that contained in