The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-09-02

HAVING the honor to serve the city as a
member Of the present city council and az
one of the .arge majority who voted this year
(also LAST to Introduce into the city the wood
en- pavement over which SO much has been
said publicly, individually and through the
columns OF the Press, l would respectfully pre-
sent the following to your paper for publica-
| ton:
Without referring to the matter as it origi-
| mated in the last city government and with
out presuming to vindicate the action of any
gentleman of the council, offer to the public
the facts as they were presented to the coun-
Gil.
The first question was upon the legality of
the contract 1t is unnecessary to repeat the
various opinions expressed at the time or since
suffice it to say that the city solicitor bad not
sumcIent facts pertaining 10 the contract 10
positively decide in the matter as to the lap'h-
ty of the city.
The judiciary committee reported the cou-
tract in their opinion void; but It was hno W.,
that had ali of the committee been present .ue
report wonld have been reversed, wuile rom
outside opinion gentlemen OF the highest legal
| ability stated that the contract held good:
The case as it then Stood with all the infor-
nation that could be gained, resulted in an al
| most unanimous vote acknowledging the La
bility of the city to fulfill its part of the con-
tract.
But an item of Importance which also had
its influence was the expedency of introducing
eur streets. There is now in force an ordi-
nance requiring that one fifth of the apprOpri-
ton on streets shall be expended in paving
the necessity for which every citizen who has
noticed the condition of our streets will con-
cur in and approve of; admitting this is it not
aseli-evdent fact that it is the duty of this
city government or any other that may sue
coed it, to obtain the most suitable material for
paving? With this object in view your city
government last year and also this have CON
sldered 1t tor the public interest to practically
test a pavement which promises to be the most
suitable in durability aud therefore in cheap
ness.
1t wouli fill your columns to attempt to
quote from the innumerable articles which
have been written by scientific men who have
made the matter OF wooden pavements study,
for there is hardly an issue of such papers as
the Scientific american, american Artizan and
the public press in general but what
cording the improvements and the result of
careful investigation and practical tests of a
pavement for streets which is handsomer,
cleaner, smoother, safer, and more comfortable
for man and horse, less noisy and more dura-
BILE than any other pavement. Prof. Dore-
mus, of New York, says:
The mechanical advantages to humanity, to the
enumeration.
therefore cordially express my delight in the
nope that our city may enjoy the benefits Of this in
is superior to the Macadamiz ID road, in being
less dusty in dry, and less muddy in weather. as
wei! as needing less frequent repairs.
The Asphalt pavement though most acceptable in
many respects, would soften during our summer
heat.
The cobble-stone pavement, from its ,neouality.
unsuiiableness to the horses feet, and its noise is
out of date
The Russ pavement has necessitated the establish
ment OF the Association for the Prevention of Cruel
ty TO Animals, and the Belgian is only shade bet
ter OF all wooden pavements, this. ia my judg-
meht, Is tne best yet presented Tor criticism.
&c 30
why the city government of Portland upon
careful investigation, have SO unanimously
voten for this pavement and it is but reason.
able to presume that every citizen who will in
vestigate the matter impartially, will ackpowl-
edge its merits and endorse rather than cen.
sure the action of your agents in whom Won
have trusted the affairs of your city, not ex-
cepting the street department. **