The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-04

THE Russ PAVEMENT AND THE COMMON CoUN-
MISUNDERSTANDING the length of time that
has elapsed since the putting down oil the Russ
pavement, the Common Council have taken no
steps to reward Mr. Russ for his enterprise and
skill, or to pay him even for the bare outlay ex-
pended on the work. A petition was some time
since presented to the Board of Aldermen, from
several of our most respectable citizens, praying
that Mr.. Russ should be Unidentified for the cost
of paving the block between Chambers and
Reade streets. This petition was referred 10 the
street committee, who begged to be relieved
from its consideration the ground, that they are
not practical men, and therefore are incapable of
Judging of the value of the work. AS if they
could not have consulted the street Inspector,
whose duty it is to advise the Street Committee
in such cases.
But we are told the street inspector himself is
incapable Of forming an opinion of the value of
such work. If this be so, what right had he to
undertake the Office The law requires the
street inspector to be acquainted with practical
surveying. Is the street inspector unacquainted
with simple admeasurement He either is or is
not acquainted with it. If he is, the street conf
mittee, having him to advise with, have no right
to give as an excuse for taking no action on the
is not, he should be at once dismissed from
office, and some practical surveyor be en-
ployed.
But the matter afterwards was referred to the
finance committee, who very properly asked TO
be relieved from its consideration, as it does not
come within their province, And so the matter
is pitched from one TO another, like shuttlecock,
until it is finally permitted to drop.
Council to pay Mr.. Russ, or TO adopt his pave.
ment, arises from the fact, that by so doing, they
lose the political capital they have been hitherto
in the habi, of making, by employing men about
every month to patch the streets, The Russ
pavement would be permanent, and would not
require patching. great many votes would be
lost in consequence. This is the real secret of
this artful lodging the part of the street CON-
mittee, and it ought to be exposed.
We believe this pavement TO be one likely to
last and we are DESTROYS that Mr. Russ should, at
least, be paid for what he has done. The com.
mitee on roads and bridges of the American lnsti-
tute made the following report on the Russ pave
ment during the last fair =
Extract from the Report of the Committee Roads and
Nineteenth Annual Fsir:-
On the Russ Pavement, the committee are Of opinion
that pubic oDhRalons TO MT ltuss
for the great attention which he has given to the
of pavements and for the Enterprise uud with which
he has brought into use, his pavement in great
thoroughfare to sufficient extent TO enable the pablo
TO appreciate its value and for Trial ts test its durability
AS that trial now going on and as the effect of win
ter and spring be appealed to- the committee
deem unnecessary any expression OF ornion as TO its
durability but they would be pleased if the Institute
would express in suitable way its of the
vics rendered the public ty MIR Russ in what he has
done towards an improvement in the pavement of
streets
Respectfully submitted
(signedD HoRATlo ALIEN,
JNO. JERVIS,
JOHN ID. WARP"
az certify that the above is copy of the report
file, and that silver medal has been awarded to Mr..
Russ for the mechanical skill evinced in this specimen
oil pavement.
H. MElGs, Recording Secretary
October Goth, ls46"
We trust that justice, however tardy, will be
done in his matter, and that Mr. Russ viii be re-
imbursed, at least to the amount he has expended
on this pavement.