Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-19
PAVING PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.

No announcement has been made public for
long time which gave somuch pleasure TO the
citizens of Washington at large, and to visitors
20 the capital as well, as the statement pub
hshed in our columns a few day since that the
District Committee in the House are about to
report bill providing for the repaving of
Pennsylvania avenue. That this improvement
Is badly needed has long been manifest and
the high esteem IN which Gen. Michler is held
Is guaranty not only that his recommended
tions have due weight with Congress, but that
the work when once authorized will be pushed
forward without yodable delay, and executed
in the most substantiaIa and satisfactory manner
possible.
Assuming that the bill in question will re-
ceive the favorable action of Congress- and that
from the very nature of things, the improve
ment referred to cannot be much longer de-
ferred, the question what style of pavement
shall be adopted becomes one of great practical
importance. That which combines in the great
est degree durability and smoothness, with
freedom from noise and dust, 3 of course the
best and the best all things considered is in the
end invariably the cheapest.
With some little knowledge of the mauy adj
vantages of the Nicholson pavement over any
other heretofore IN use, we had come to regard
II, IN spite of some very serious defects as
probably the best thing attainable Just now for
ordinary street purposes. We are advised
however, by friends from the Pacific coast in
whose Judgment and statements we repose the
greatest confidence, that n pavement has been
IN use for several years past in San Francisco.
which, while it is free from the objections of
dry rot and cost and difficulty of removal or re-
pair, urged against the Nicholson patent, COM
Dines all the good qualities of that general IA
vOrite, with the added advantage of being con-
-fr tod rra.N ,Ir-r,
a ., the wedge foundation. BY the introduce
ton OF this feature perfect sectional surface is
secured each portion of which sustains the
weight placed upon il independent of the
other, and the longer 1t is used the fir1ner
IL becomes OF the cost of laying down this
pavement here We are not prepared TO speak
positively. In San Francisco, we find it is con-
structsd IN quantities of not less that one thous
and feet at - cents Gin coin) per square foot of
Oregon pine. or y cents of white cedar. and
that II Is guaranteed to be kept in repaIr for
One-half of one per cent per foot per annum.
Here owing 10 the great cost of lumber the ex-
pense would probably be greater, but Judging
from those figures it should be very far below
that Of the Nicholson or any first class improve
ment.
Whether or not this or any other pavement is
the best will. We trust, be- definitely Ascertain
cd before any conclusive steps are taken in the
premises, and we give prominence to the SUBJ
ject now in order that public attention NAV be
aroused and properly directed in time. Surely
he avenue of the American capital shouId
have the benefit of all the latest improvements
IN mechanical science, and nothing less than
thisoT at least nothing of an inferior character
should be adopted or for moment thought of
BY those having the matter in charge.
We may recur 70 this subject again as the
r9rr rNGle for h. IL.
and badly needed improvement increases In
the meantime, We urge that it receive from all
Interested the consideration its Importance de-
mands.