Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-26
WOOD PAYMENTS.

IneEe seems 10 be growing disposition in
the different American cities to test other forms
of pavement than the stone pavement, so OBJ
Jectionable IN many respects. The weight of
evidence from experience IN various localities
seems TO b. largely in favor of wood pave
ments. In Baltimore, the property holders on
Fayette street, between St Paul and Charles
streets. have awaited themselves of the pro-
vision OF the new ordinance OF that city, giving
70 the property holders the privilege OF select
Irg the material for paving, and have con-
tracted for the repaving of that portion of the
street above alluded 10 with what is known as
the Nicholson pavement. This style of wood
pavement is much in use, but there Is another
KIND Of wood pavement said to be greatly su
Perior to II in durability, cheapness and th,,
oapability of being taken up conveniently for
repairs. 1t is rather remarkable that wood
pavement in such general use elsewhere has
never been tested in Washington. Probably
there Is no other city IN the country so well
adapted 10 its use. We have none of the heavy
draysge of commercial cities, requiring clumsy
blocks Of rough stone to make a pavement
equal TO the enormous pressure, and to enable
the struggling horses to get a foothold IN the
inequalities of surface. What we re-
quire essentially in Washington are smooth,
clean streets, suitable for light vehicles.
We want, If possible, to get rid Of the chronic
ruIsances of dust and mud. This can never
be done on our wide streets and avenues so
long as the paving material Is of stone. The
constant attriuOn from the passage of carriages
over a stone pavement serves to make a fine
granite dust, caught up by every wind. and
VIGOROUSLY the most injurious to the throat
and lungs of any substance that can be intro.
duced To them. With the large amount of
streetase IN Washington, the quantity of such
dust mSnufaeturtd constantly is epormus,
serving ia dry weather not only TO blind and
choke every body, but to spoil all the finer
goods exposed for sale in our stores In wet
weather this dust is converted INTO most Of
fensive mud, IN favor with nobody but the
boot-blacks and the vendors ofover-shoes Now
let us suppose these same streets laid with
firm level pavement of wood. The scene
would bs changed as by magic. The dust would
be buried ''out of sight and out OF mind;r and
there would be no material 10 make more dust
Without dust there would of course be no mud.
What an Improvement it would be
70 Pennsylvania avenue to have il
paved in this way. This street, by its fine
lines and magnificent proportions, al ways at
tracts the admiration Of visitors, and the class
Ga buildings LATELY erected upon it are OF a
style to correspond with the noble character of
the street, but it has a great draw back in its
detestaole pavement, full of holes and juttIng
stones, over which vehicles must creep at a
snails pace, or pay the penalty of a speedy trip
to the carriage member. Pennsylvania avenue
ought TO be the finest drive in the world, and
would be If paved in the manner we have de-
scribed- But there is not a street in the city
that would not be immeasurably improved,
and the property on il doubled in value, by a
dry, smooth, noiseless pavement, tree from
dust and mud. II our City Councils wish to
distinguish themselves most credifably, they
will speedily enter upon the work of provId-
ing style of pavement for the streets of Wash.
lngton such as is suited 10 the needs of the city,
and as will remedy the great defects Of the
present system.