2 BULLETIN" 246, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



which these roads are giving when properly constructed, it is prob- 

 able that their mileage will continue to increase rapidly. The prin- 

 cipal advantages which brick roads possess may be stated briefly, as 

 follows: (1) They are durable under practically all traffic condi- 

 tions; (2) they afford easy traction and moderately good foothold 

 for horses; and (3) they are easily maintained and kept clean. 



The principal disadvantage is the high first cost. The defects 

 which frequently result from lack of uniformity in the quality of 

 the brick or from poor construction are usually to be traced indi- 

 rectly to an effort to reduce the first cost or to a popular feeling that 

 local materials should be used, even when of inferior quality. 



This bulletin purposes to furnish information relating to the con- 

 struction of brick roads and to supply suggestions for aiding engi- 

 neers in preparing specifications under which such work may be satis- 

 factorily performed. One of the most essential features of the con- 

 struction of brick pavements is the selection of the brick, since the 

 success or failure of such pavements depends to a large extent on the 

 character of the material used. In order that the significance of the 

 varying physical characteristics observed in brick manufactured 

 under different conditions may be more readily understood, a brief 

 discussion of the raw materials and processes used in the manufacture 

 of brick will be given. 



THE RAW MATERIALS. 



Paving brick are made from shales and fire clays. The " lean " or 

 less refractory varieties of these materials, which are found in the 

 carboniferous deposits broadly distributed throughout the United 

 States, are best adapted for this purpose. 



Shales frequently occur in such quantity and are so located that 

 they may be readily excavated by means of a steam shovel or other 

 mechanical device. Occasionally the deposits are comparatively 

 thin and underlie other material, making it necessary that they 

 be mined. Fire clays are usually found interstratified with coal 

 deposits which may or may not be workable, and must, therefore, 

 generally be mined. The principal difference between fire clays and 

 shales, in so far as the manufacture of brick is concerned, is essen- 

 tially a difference of color in the finished product. The shales always 

 contain iron in some form, and brick made of shale are usually red. 

 Fire clays are free from iron and should produce a light-colored 

 brick. Some low-grade fire clays, however, may be darkened by cer- 

 tain firing conditions too complicated to be discussed in detail here. 



Shales and fire clays as they occur in nature are not always well 

 suited for use in the manufacture of paving brick, but must fre- 

 quently be subjected to some modifying treatment before being used. 

 In general, deposits of these materials occur in layers or strata, and 



