The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-03-10
NIcholson PaYement.

Some Of the citizens of Indianapo-
lis have taken the notion that the
Nicholson pavement is just the thing
for their city, and a petition is before
the Common Council to pave Della
ware Street 8 distance of almost a
mile with that kind Of paving. Not
a little property has been purchased
on the street on the condition that it
is improved By the Nicholson pave
ment. The Journal of that city pub
fishes q letter from G. w. Smith,
Esq. Of Columbus. Ohio, formerly
General Freight Agent Of the Pitts
burgh, Cincinnati and ST. Louis Rail.
road Company, which we think is
worth copying, in order that our peo-
pie may learn the estimation in which
the Nicholson pavement is held where
it has been tried longest, and the
tests have been the severest:
COLUMBUS, o., Dec. 26, 1869.
My DEAR SIR: Referring to your
favor of the 2lst, we are pleased to
hear that the Hoosier City is once
again imbued with the spirit Of enter.
prise in the direction of Block or
Nicholson Pavement, and trust an
other year will not pass ere its adop-
ton on Delaware Street. Every citi'
zen of this city will testify to its merit
without a dissenting voice.
Three years ago it was introduced
on High Street, our principal street
and at the present time there is not {
foot Of it which shows wear or decay
in the length of one mile. The intro
duction of the pavement on this stree
has given such general satisfaction
that the citizens of Town Street haC
their street paved last summer with thu
same material, and preparation ar,
now making for paving Broad Street
it is notorious fact that no other elias
of pavement could be introduced il
the city of Columbus. The laying o
the block pavement has increased tn
value of the property fronting on tn
streets above named at least thirty
three per cent. There property il
ready sale; whereas on streets with
out this pavement it is a drag and W.
might say saleless. Twenty-one mile
of this pavement has been laid in Chi
cago during the past year, and | pre-
sumo as much more will be put dow
this season. The average life of tn
block pavement on the streets in Chi
cago, constantly in use say Lake
Washington, Clark and La Sail
; streets-is eleven years. / doubt no
> but what it would wear, or last in goo
repair on our streets here or in Indi
annapolis, full fifteen years.
Town Street is eighty feet wide
I that is to say in full width, the pawn
5 is fifty feet, and cost all complet
81 80 per square yard. | think tina
the excavation Of Delaware Stree
would be greater than on this Gown
if so it may cost five or ten cents NOR
per yard. By all means carry the ds,
and have the block pavement pu
down on Delaware Street; the con
trast would be so great from its pres
ent condition, that no resident woul'
ever consent to its removal.
? My house is about one mile fror
1 | my ofiee-all the way block pave
: ment, and l drive to aud fro twice
. day, and it matters but little as to tn
t condition of the weather, there Is n
: mud or ruts to hinder us from driv
g iDg as fast as we desire. This W
2 could not do, were Town and Hig
! streets in their old condition. w
o repeat, secure the block pavemen
: without fail Yours, very truly,
t 9. w. SMITH.