The Sun.
London, England, 1815-12-28 00:00:00

r. VI AND ItOADS.

rtE6ULATIONS 'NECESSARY FOR THE razstiutrA-
TioN ot, THE PAVEMENT.
There are few who will not anticipate that the
principle on which the stability of paving depends,
is that of an arch, although this is tint so evident
in large open spaces as in the streets ; but the fre-
quent pressure or--heavy carriages does nut apply
to the former case, nor is there any complaint
against the state of the paventent in such places.--
It might be- tedious to demonstrate in what man-
net the .principle; of the melt applies to street-
pavement, Atilt it is not necessary, because every
person knows, that a sin le stone placed on its
end in sand or loose earth, may be driven down
without much labour, but When forming p.t of a
good pavement, cannot be so driyen down. The
*tability of pavement, therefore, depends upon the
coherence and mutual pressure of ititirarts ; and
when its contionity bas once'heen Violated; no-
thiog short of the greatest care, that is, of inte-
rested care, can be expec.ted to consolidate the
new work woli the old.
But what uto -we see ? Those who by law, or
.by sufferance„exereise a right of, bi.eat.ilig up the
pavement for their own-purposes, have no reason
to extend their care farther,and the removed stones
arc usually tossed in without ceremony, to the im-
minent danger of all carriages which move On
springs, until the paviour at a [wore time is sent
to place them in a better torm ; .but it rain inter-
venes,a hole is formed full of mire, which scarce-
ly adhlits of solid repair. Nor in any case does
the law of chances afford a 'reasonable hope
of replacing the pavement with s original sta-
bi;ity, to-Which it is indispeusable, either that
the same stones be laid dowi, in their original
order and positioo, or that a choice of new
stones Should be at- Itioul, to inSul'e the arch like
wedging, which alone is etiteacions ; and even
thus, a level with the rest oldie pavement cannot
be insured at one attempt. The first of these precau-
tions is impracticable, except in very small spots,
the second is seldom or never raciised, because
expensive ! whence it follows, not only that the
pavement is constantly uneven, or broken in, but
that the renewal of the Whole becomes necessary
in a space of time to which custom has somewhat
reconciled the inhabitants of the Metropolis, but
which, elsewhere, is without example.
The result of all this seems to be, that allowing
the convenience of the subterranean works,which
produce such frequent deformity of the surface,
they do not fairly repay or etimpensate the pave-
ment for the detriment they occasion, inasmuch
as the renewal and replacement of the stones
creates not only present injury, butt progressive
ruin.

The only effectual remedy trust: be by a legisla-
tive provision, fair between ti.A: patties, and there-
fore beneficial to the public. • Suppose, for in-
stance, an enactment, that all Commissioners or
Trustees for Paving .he empowered to contract
with their paviOur for the good condition of his
work for five or seven years after the pavement is
first laid down ; and to enable him to undertake
this. with safety to himself, .a further enactment
would be necessary, to provide that no person ex-
cept himself shall break up or relay the pavement
on any pretence whatever; that when, for the
purposes of sewage, water-pipes, or gas-lights,
the pavement MUSt be violated, ti9tietishall be
given to the paviour to that effect, 'and he shall
break it up as,far as required ; that similar notice
shall be given when the subterranean work is coin-
pletetl, le,t unnecessary delay of replacement in-
tervene ; in other words, that time paviour shall
be made responsible for the immediate renewal
of the pavement for the- accommodation of the
public. . As 'to the accuracy and solidity of his
work under .t he above conditions, there can be no
doubt, he being interested by .the nature of 'his
contract to have a view to permanence in his ope-
rations.

Regulations must he added, as to the charge
which he shall be authorised to make cgainst
those who are thus bound to employ him ; in jus-
tice it should be considerable enough to rehu-
burn hint for the hest of workmanship, and some-
thing more, as time renewal of the entire pavement
must; in spi:e. of al his care, be accelerated by
every breach, of its continuity. In reality, an al-
lowance for. thrice paving may not perhaps, on
due investigation, appear to be too mush ; 1:alf
the allowance to go to the contractor, half to
those who must in process of time renew the pave-
ment.

in truth, those who break up the pavement are
indirectly ansWerable for the whole of its defects,
whether. caused immediately by themselvesor
otherwise ; ior if an additional tier of pavement
Could be laid on that which now have, it
would go near to outlast the life of man, or the
duration of loftier buildings : for tmozonry might
then be applied to it. Bit the subterranean ac-
cess so often required, operates as a complete bar
to such a Solid, Roman-like pavement.
Au Act which should' contain the regulations
above specified, could scarcely appear phjection-
able to any Pavement Commissioners, or Parish
Committeest.as. merely conferring on them polyer,
without requiring any duty at their Bands ; and
the Sewage Commissioners have no real cause .to
make objection to such increase of their even-
diture, sehith would gn to lower the pavement
rate levied on the same individnals; who, in fine,
would be gainers in povkct as well as in pave-
ment, by thus 'enabling the Pavement Couriis--
sioners to pave more elhetually.
The Pipe-water Companies, who have the usual
motives for frugality in the administration of
their own affairs, would he watchful that the le-
galised scale of remuneration to the-paviour should
not be exorbitant ; anti their claims,ought to be
fully discussed and settled on equitable grounds ;
after which they -would, no doubt, concur tOge-
titer in raising their seater-rents;anttnat with no
more real exp-.lsse or-detriment to the public than
its the.case of the sewers.
_ _ _

. As to,the Gas-light Companies, their interfer-
ence With the pavement stands on very recent
usage, and if the p r ,;),) oscd law gives them a_qua-
lified right to break. up ..the povement for their
purposes, they would gladly be put under the
same condiaous as the %Voter-pipe Companies.
The custoni • of protruding cellars under the
streets util;ht be aboliblied.by an injunction to :11,

district sprVC:,tots, unless they r9uld spew cause
for a continuance of that usurpation.
Some surprise may possibly have been excited
in the mind of the reader at such parts of the pro-
posed law as empower the pavement Commis•
sinners to make coniracts which they are already
at liberty to make ; but some of them are under
circumstances that require them to be so em-
powered by a general law ; and others of them
might he moved to a new practice in consequence
of the suggestion.
The constitution of the authority by which the
streets are paved, shall be the subject of my next
Letter.

X. Y.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.