Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-05

Asve are now about to pave and otherwise
improve Eome of our streets with a view {,
making them what they should be as lead
ing streets OF the capital Of the nation it is de-
sirable that we should start right, using the best
methods that science has furnished aud experi-
ence has vouched for.
just now the question of the best pavement Is
being discussed with considerable animation in
the New York papers That city has just pulled
up ie concrete or "poultice" pavement In great
disgust; no form Of stone pavement seems to be
satisfactory, and il appears pretty certain that
the wood pavementis to be the pavement Of the
future in that city, as the weight Of evidence
from all points where IL has been tried bears
quite conclusively In its favor.
We notice that the controversy in New York
has brought out that distinguished physician,
DIR. Lewis M. Sayre, who discusses the question
of pavements at considerable length, mainly
from a sanitary point Of view; and he comes to
the conclusion that the wood pavement is the
healthiest as well as the most useful and agree
able.
OF all the pavements that have come under
his notice as property holder or physician he
pronounces the concrete annoyance OF Fifth
avenue" the worst. Experience in this country
has shown, he says, that the m aterial employed
in paving streets must be either GOOD or stone.
each Of these materials, some of which have
been universally condemned. For instance,
the ''cobble-stone," which is simply an abom'-
nation in the sight of horse and man. The
''macadam" produces dust which Is not onlv
disagreeable, but deleterious to health.
The objects soughtin paving streets are clean
illness, health, health, comfort, facility OF Io-1-
motion, the consequent saving OF time, labor
and expense of transportation. Pavement of
stone does facilitate transportation, but at the
expense Of horse-shoes, horse-fesh. and of great
wear and tear Of vehicles. The danger - rider
and driver, on stone, is. to the least unpleasant
while the rafting and Gathering noise, the side
tripping and sliding OF wheels, and slipping o.
horses, is a positive discomfort. Bc7id.s il ha,
been estimated that the dirt from stone paw
ments exceeds that from wood by at least one
third This dirt contains, With other dsletsr-
iOas substances, pulyerized stone, which en-
tiers the lungs in minute particles. and will
sometimes make a Judgment in the most delicate
membranes Of the air-cells, and often create ir-
ritation and even Inflammation. On the other
hand, wooden pavements are easily kept clean,
they are smooth and elastic, they give certainty
of footing, ease Of draught, and We ride, drive.
and haul over them with little noise, with g.eat
safety, comfort and satisfaction.
Now all that can be said in behalf of wood
pavement for New York applies with greater
force. we take it, for Washington, because we
have no heavy drayage here, and because from
the great width of our streets, the pulverizat;oa
OF stone pavements, whereby dust is created, j.
increased many fold. The desideratum here il
pavement that shall keep those two great
nuisances Of the city, mud and dust in subiec-
non, and no pavement yet discovered will do
this 20 efieetually as the wood pavement.