3o8 



BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



There Is an increasing use of large, hewn blocks of granite 

 for the sidewalks and for cross-walks. They are strong and 

 hence are not so liable to be broken by heavy traffic, but the 

 projecting points of the surface are soon worn quite smooth 

 and slippery, when wet, and the little inequalities are apt to 

 hold water and stay wet longer than the blue-stone, whose 

 uniform wear results in an even surface which retains a 

 gritty texture and is not slippery.* 



In the more recently paved streets up-town, there is a 

 noticeable use of artificial stone, especially in front of private 

 houses. For curbing, granite and blue-stone are used al- 

 most exclusively. 



Pavements. — The roadways of the streets are paved with 

 cobble stones, stone blocks, macadam and asphalt. Cobbles 

 and small boulders, obtained from the drift formations, were 

 formerly in use almost exclusively. In many of the older- 

 paved streets, particularly on the east side and down town, 

 trap-rock is seen. Granite block is taking the place of both 

 the Belgian block and specification trap pavement. The 

 Russ pavement has all been taken up. The following sta- 

 tistics show the areas and lengths of the several kinds of 

 pavement for the date June 30, iSgo.-f 



KIND OF PAVEMENT. 



Specification granite. 



Block granite 



Specification trap .... 



Belgian block 



Cobble 



Asphalt 



Wood 



Russ 



Macadam 



Square Yards. 



2,225,810.75 



673,402. 

 1,248,528.82 

 3,045,214.04 

 101,642.76 

 71,190.43 

 516. 

 2,964. 

 908,354. 



8,277,622.80 



Lineal Feet. 



529,107.73 

 136,717. 

 355,821.90 

 695,290.60 

 27,174.60 

 17,692. 



158, 

 621. 



133,748.90 



1,896,331.63 



Miles. 



100.21 



25.89 



67-39 

 131.68 



5-13 

 3-36 



•03 

 .12 



25-34 



359-15 



*All stones like the granites, which are capable of receiving a polish, are inferior 

 to the sandstones for sidewalks ; wear polishes the former. 



f From F. C. Fox, superintendent of streets, department of public works. 



