PARK AND CEMETERY 
425 
Westrumite, the New Road SprinKler. 
The dust problem is one of such great importance that any 
method claiming to solve it should receive our closest atten- 
tion, says M. M. Wood, in the Good Roads Magazine. 
A short time ago “Westrumite” (so called after its inventor, 
Leonard Schade van Westrum) made its appearance in this 
country after having met with marked success throughout 
Continental Europe. This compound is the result of careful 
study and long experimenting with all manner of substances, 
such as crude oil, tar, salts of every kind, glass solutions, 
etc., extending over a period of seven years, in search of 
some means of overcoming the unbearably dusty conditions 
of the roads around and through Mr. van Westrum’s country 
place. 
“Westrumite” is a chemical compound, soluble in water, 
never used in its pure state, but always in a solution of from 
two to twenty-five per cent. It possesses the quality of 
making the street body hard and elastic, without any incidental 
bad effects. It is sprinkled on the street or road surface by 
means of an ordinary ' water cart, into which it is pumped, 
and in which it mingles freely and immediately with the 
water as does milk in coffee, without the necessity of any 
stirring. It dries completely in from one-half an hour to four 
hours, according to the temperature, and the street need not 
be closed to traffic while it is being applied, although it is 
advisable in case of heavy traffic to apply it at night. 
The surface of the street, no matter whether of asphalt, 
wood, Belgium blocks, brick or macadam, is not rendered 
slippery. Westrumite does not adhere to the tires of vehicles, 
shoes, etc., even immediately after being applied, and does not 
injure clothing, rubber tires or varnish, and cannot be washed 
away even by the most severe rainfall. All the foregoing 
claims have been proved by the treatment of thousands of 
miles of road in every climate. 
In Chicago, the South Park Commissioners have, for some 
time, been treating two miles of the Midway drive with 
Westrumite, and although since the first application was made 
sprinklings have been repeated only at intervals of from seven 
to ten days, with a 3j4-per cent solution (31^ per cent West- 
rumite and 96^4 per cent water), the surface layer has become 
so well caked that neither wind nor traffic can raise any dust, 
and the water during a rainfall runs off the surface, and the 
formation of mud is entirely prevented. 
The weak solution has no injurious effect on trees, shrubs, 
plants, grass, etc., but, strange to say, after continuous applica- 
tions, it kills weeds growing on the surface of the roads. 
Westrumite is the deadly enemy of mosquitoes, and is as 
well a powerful disinfectant. 
As Westrumite penetrates deeply into the street body, it 
renders the latter water-tight, and also absorbs the water 
that may accumulate in the small holes caused by the vibra- 
tion incident to the traffic ; thus closing these holes, it renders 
freezing of the street surface impossible. Every road en- 
gineer will appreciate the value of this feature. The cracking 
of streets in the spring is thereby prevented, and this advan- 
tage alone more than offsets the cost of the Westrumite 
treatment. 
The question presents itself, why has the treatment of roads 
with crude oil and tar not been permanently adopted else- 
where than in very warm climates? The answer is, that aside 
from their offensive smell and the fact that they render the 
streets slippery, cause mud to form, and injure tires and 
clothing, they permit water to fill the hollow places caused, as 
above described, by the vibrations incidental to the traffic on 
the street surface, and it is this water when frozen that causes 
the pavement to crack. 
The cost of Westrumiting is in most cases the same, if not 
less, than that of water sprinkling, because of the saving in 
labor, since Westrumite is sprinkled but once in from seven 
to twenty days, and water two to nine times each day. In no 
case, however, will the cost of Westrumiting appreciably ex- 
ceed that of water sprinkling. In this comparison only the 
actual cost in money is considered. When we also take into 
consideration the facts that : 
1. The dust is laid both at night and by day, and not as 
with water, by day only ; 
2. The binding material is firmly held together; 
3. The formation of mud is prevented ; and 
4. The cost of cleaning the streets is greatly reduced ; 
the cost of Westrumiting is always considerably less than 
that of water sprinkling. 
It is impossible to give exact figures on this point, in view 
of the fact that the conditions as to material, location and 
traffic differ with each street; but the main fact remains. 
While dirt and macadam roads freely absorb Westrumite in 
any quantity, onh^ weak solutions can be applied to granite 
block, limestone, sandstone and wood pavements, since the 
absorption capacity of pavements of this character is only 
0.06 to 8 per cent, and even that only in cases of very weak 
solutions. But a very weak solution will suffice to keep streets 
of this character dustless for a period of from seven to twenty 
days. 
Asphalt pavements can only be washed at night with a solu- 
tion of 2 per cent, and will remain dustless for from two to 
four days, according to the conditions of traffic. 
Each succeeding rain-fall binds together and cakes the al- 
ready created dust, as well as that blown on the street surface, 
since Westrumite absorbs water to the extent of 6 per cent 
of its own weight. 
Another great field of usefulness for Westrumite will, how- 
ever, be found in the building of roads. 
The greater majority of our roads will for a considerable 
time to come be constructed of macadam and dirt. Dirt roads 
can be converted into dustless and mudless roads if they are 
properly saturated with Westrumite, and if such treatment 
is continued periodically (which can be done at slight cost), 
they will be passable for all kinds of traffic and in any kind 
of weather. Detailed information in regard to this class of 
roads is not possible within the scope of this article. 
Macadam pavements are and will ever remain the healthiest 
and best kind of pavements, provided : 
1. The dust can be laid ; 
2. The formation of mud can be prevented ; 
3. The street is able to withstand the pressure of modern 
traffic; and 
4. Freezing can be prevented. 
All of these requirements can be satisfactorily met with 
Westrumite. 
Macadam costs only $0.50 to $1.75 per square yard, and 
presents the following advantages : 
1. Good foothold for horses; 
2. Easy traction ; 
3. Moderate first cost; and 
4. Comparative freedom from noise ; 
together with the following objections: 
1. Dusty when dry and muddy when wet; 
2. High cost of maintenance by heavy traffic, the cost run- 
ning up to $0.65 per square yard per year; 
3. Impossibility of keeping them cleaned; 
4. The presence of a glare on the surface that is objection- 
able and injurious to the eyes. 
Westrumite preserves all the above advantages, and reme- 
