The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-10

HE Russ PAVEMENT IN THE DOWERf.-We nave
before. on a very recent occasion, recorded our
| full and entire appreciation Of the measure pass
| ed by the Common Council. of New York au-
| thorizing the celebration O. q contract with
Messrs Russ & Reid for laying down their ex-
| cellent pavement throughout the extent of
the Bowery. We think, and tbe common seq IT,
ment of the citizens is, that it was the most
commendable measure which canld have signal
lied the action Of the corporation But we NJ
gret to find that the Mayor has vetoed the mea.
sare. That high functionary is nodoubt actua-
ted by good and proper motives in assuming
the attitude he has taken in thus opposing the
action of the Common Council and the popular
desire He gives as the reasons for his veto
that in his opinion the Common Council has no
power vested in them to authorize such a con-
tract, that it was possible to get as good and
durable a pavement at a much more economical
rate, and that the public should have had&n OPP
portunity of competing with those contractors
before any monopoly was given.
AS to the fist proposition, we cannot see its
bearing. If the Common Council be not vested
with the power to authorize contracts, in what
body does that function lie? As general rule,
we are free to admit that the two latter propo-
sitions are fair and reasonable But in this spe-
cial case we also fail to see their application.
All other systems Of paving the streets of New
York have been tried and found defective
The common coble pavement and that of
Perrine have alike proved utterly unfit for a
great thoroughfare like the Bowery. The
Russ pavement laid down in Broadway has
been the only one which has united the great
desiderate of smoothness and durability and
the company have secured patent which du-
ring its existence prohibits any imitation of
their system as an Infringement on their rights
In point Of economy, too, we are convinced that
experience will decide that all other systems of
pavement hitherto tried in this city have been
on the whole more expensive. Every winter
the streets paved with coble stones have be-
come entirely broken up in ruts, and in places
almost impossible, SO that there was an IN
ceasing outlay for repairs. Not so with the
Russ pavement, which is adapted to resist all
weather. No repairs have yet been found ne
cessary, and in Broadway, through which
four-ffths of city traffic passes, the Russ pave
ment appears as whole and perfect as when
laid down.
The Bowery is thoroughfare which impera-
lively requires such pavement. Next in point
Of Importance to Broadway, that street has
been mainly prevented from becoming equal
to the other by the terribly bad state Of its
road. Vehicles are injured and shattered.
and horses are knocked up. by the dilapi-
dated condition in which its pavement is
for nine months out Of the twelve. And
the natural consequence Is to overcrowd
Broadway with carts, wagons and omnibuses
which would otherwise have made. the Bowery
their route. Still in spite ofths great drawback,
this street is rapidly increasing in wealth and
in Importance, and being the only thoroughfare
for the eastern quarter of the city, and the
direct road to Harlem it now becomes abso-
lutely necessary that the evil which has so
initiated against its prosperity be removed.
The one and only way to do this IL by carrying
ont the ORIGINAL MEASURE cf the Common Co1l-
Gil, ard we hope hat that VIII be done, aud