CURBING

CURBING. A "curb," when used as a noun, is a restraining ribbon of various materials, between the road for traffic and a pedestrian walkway; an enclosing frame, border, or edging; a raised edge meant to strengthen or confine; and an edging of concrete built along a street to form part of a gutter.

The first use of curbs can be traced back to the Romans who used them to control street traffic keeping it separate from pedestrian walkways and to define the road. Curbs also helped send the water runoff from the road, which were sloped towards it, down the gutter to the sewer. Curbs raise the walkway up from the street level which helped move traffic along the road faster than the sidewalks. Widespread construction and use began in the 18th century- specifically in the streets of London.

he United States, during the Industrial Revolution, 1780-1850, many people seeking a better life, and hearing of factory jobs for all who wanted one poured into the larger cities such as New York, and Philadelphia. The streets ended up being the conveyor or temporary storage of all types of wastes: human, industrial, and plain garbage. The only time the road carried the debris away is when it rained. When it rained heavily, the road carried all garbage laden water back into homes. One quick fix to keep the filth from reentering the homes was the building of curbs- sometimes a foot high- which would then channel the waste water away. Because of curbs, everywhere but the street was relativity clean. (1)

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Source:

1. "History of Curbs," WordPress, Online: http://concrete-curbing-machines.com/history-of-curbs/