The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-08
A Pavement Veto.

Pavement Veto.
The Mayor has just issued veto against
five wood pavement jobs. The Mayor does
not approve of wooden pavements in those
highways where large amount Of business is
done, and the wear and tear of heavy vehicles
tells hardly upon the vegetable pavement He
prefers to hear ''the car rafting DER the stony
street" in these vicinities. He cites Church
street and Mercer street as cases in point, and
draws attention to the fact that the wooden
pavement In Wall street has been ordered to
he renewed and the pavement in Maiden lane
Is rapidly wearing away. These statements
may be indisputable with regard to the wooden
and other patent pavements in our city. But
what is the reason that our wooden pavements
cannot bear the pressure of heavy
traffic, and that they do not last,
except, as the Mayor says, Sin side
streets, where they afford convenience to
dwelling house residents. in SO far as the pave
ments present smooth and noiseless roadways
for light carriages and vehicles" Is it not
because our pavements are miserably con-
structed; that they are laid carelessly, in the
first instance. and are left to take care of
themselves afterwards, until they are worn
Into ruts and holes, and some unhappy horse
or citizen breaks his neck? Then we begin
the work of repairing work, Of course,
which, under such system, will never cease.
That it is not the pavement, but the manner
of laying it, which is at fault, we have only to
look at the beautiful streets of Chicago, where
wooden pavement has stood as much wear and
tear from the cartag. Of merchandise as any
street in New York, and has been always kept
In good repair, and is as perfect to-day as it
was fifteen years ago. 1t would be a good
Idea to send committee of competent gentle
men to examine this pavement and report
upon it. The same is true of Cleveland and
Cincinnati only that the streets paved with
wood in these Giles are not subject to the
same amount of business traffic as
In Chicago. We might cite also the
macadamized streets of Paris as an example
of perfect pavement; but it is perfect only
because the streets are carefully looked after
and kept in thorough repair. Jobbing in the
construction Of our pavements and neglect to
keep them in order ara the real misfortunes
under which they labor.
When the Mayor proposes that no Especial
pavement" should be laid without the consent
of majority of the property owners on the
line of the proposed improvement, we go with
him. His suggestion, toe that the expense
of improvements of this kind ought to be
borne by the taxpayers at large, and not by
small portion Of them in any vicinity, is fair
and democratic enough. Everything which
contributes to the interests Of the city is
shared in by every citizen. But it is curious
that the Mayor refers tho matter of street
improvements to the Legislature, and not to
the hollow shell known as the Common Coun-
ell. Mr.. Hall assures us that it is probable "a
general plan of paving the city at the general
expense will be adopted at the next session
of the Legislature.
He therefore respectfully submits to the
Common Council whether it is not better TO
await the action Of the Legislature before au-
fhorizing the paving of the streets covered by
your resolution, or of many more streets,
whether now requiring first or demandn G
second pavements. Probably the Common
Council will accept the suggestion as the best
thing it can do, if the Albany Legislature
is going to take charge Of the streets. The
resolutions and ordinances which the Mayor
Setoes embrace the paving of portions Of
Fiftieth street, One Hundred and Tenth
street Church street, One Hundred and
Thirty-second street and Eighty sixth street,
with Hamar wood-preserved pavement. The
Mayors objections are mainly based upon the
fact that, as he states from the expression of
delegations who have waited upon him, the
majority Of the property owners are opposed
10 the pavement selected.
SOME OF THE THoUGHTLEss members of
Congress think OF continuing the law now in
ehect for perpetual Congress, so that when
the Forty-frst Congress adjourns on the
eth OF next March the Forty-second immedi-