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216
The crushing weight in pounds per cubic inch of York Stone, as compared
with Victoria, Croft, and Imperial, is as follows:
lb. per cubic inch.
Imperial 9,492
Croft 9,394
Victoria 8,321
York 5,714
It will therefore be seen that York Stone is very much softer and more liable
to wear than Artificial Stone.
Although I have pointed out some of the defects of York Stone, there is certainly
one important point in its favour, which is its great frictional resistance,
or its resistance to sliding, which in my opinion is far greater than that of
Artificial Stone. There can be nothing more objectionable, or tiring to the
body, than to walk on a pavement where every muscle is taxed, and every sinew
is brought into a state of tension for fear of sliding down.
ARTIFICIAL STONE.
The present is not only a most advantageous time to consider the question of
adopting Artificial Stone, from the fact that we have evidence of its wear and
durability, but it is equally advantageous when we consider that no less than
forty miles of footways, or 1,200,000 superficial feet of paving, will have to be
laid within the next three or four years, and, as I have stated in a former
report, that to develop the whole of the building land in Fulham would necessitate
the construction of 350 new streets, the above figures would be increased
to 107 miles of footways, or 3,300,000 superficial feet of paving.
It will therefore be seen from the magnitude of these figures that the
question as to how far economy and durability is consistent with the use of
Artificial Stone as compared "with York, becomes one of great importance.
The outlay in paving the footways of 200 streets with York would be
£49,999, and with Artificial Stones, £39,999, or a saving of £10,000, or
20 per cent. cheaper than York Stone; this would also reduce the cost by 1s.
per foot frontage.
The question now resolves itself into two points:
Firstly. How far this saving will affect Fulham ?
Secondly. Would the advantages to the owners interested outweigh
the consequent reduction of the labour market of
Fulham ?
Upon the first point, I have taken twelve roads of various lengths, and
ascertained to what percentage persons residing in Fulham, as compared with
the whole, contribute to the cost of making up these roads. I find the total
cost of these twelve roads amounts to £10,904, of which £7,776 is contributed
outside the parish, and £3,128 inside the parish, or showing that 72 per cent. of
the cost of making up New Streets is contributed by persons living out of
Fulham. This also shows that the saving to be effected by the use of Artificial
Stones to resident owners of property in Fulham, would only be to the extent of
about £2,800.
I think the advantages to the owners would not outweigh the consequent
reduction of the labour market: for whereas York Stone is squared and laid by
Fulham men, Artificial Stone needs no squaring, and would be laid by the
Companies' own workmen; it will therefore be seen, that from an economical