Mr Hope on Wood Paving. 253 



In the experiments on wood paving (the results of which I 

 now submit), the blocks were laid in the best manner, on the 

 same sort of concrete substratum, and on the same line of road; 

 so that all varieties had the same amount of traffic, and the 

 same attention paid to their almost daily examination, for the 

 space of eighteen months. 



I. On the Position of the Fibre, 



It will be quite unnecessary to notice the arguments that 

 have been adduced to support the several systems in practical 

 operation, beings under circumstances, such as locality and 

 traffic, which prevent comparisons being accurately drawn. 

 These I have, however, guarded against, and the measure- 

 ments taken were not of single blocks but of many. 



I may here remark, that I am decidedly of opinion that a 

 superior concrete substratum is absolutely necessary, and an 

 essential feature in the successful application of wood for pav- 

 ing. 



A reference to the following table will shew the exact 

 amount of wear which wood blocks, with the fibres varying by 

 15 degrees from vertical to horizontal, sustained for the first, 

 second, and third months, and each successive three months 

 to eighteen months ; and also of granite sets for the same 

 period. 



VOL, XXXV. NO. LXX. OCTOBER 1843. 



