Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-12
AyTI.IMPROVEMEyT MEETING.
TO PAVE on NOT TO PAVE?
That rs THR Question:.

paving End Them-What she Resi-.
dents on l2th and fifth Streets Think
about it.
A meeting of property holders on the line OF
18th and 18th streets was held at the Board OF
Trade rooms last evening to take such action as
they might deem necessary IN relation to the
proposed paving Of those streets. There were
about 80 property holders present. among them
Purser Bridge, NJ. Tally, T. A. Mclaughlin, C.
A. Doughefty, r. 8. Marion, w. Anne. j, w
Marin, J.W. Boteler. DR.. G. II. Leberraan. Gen.
n. l.. Jefries, j. w. Barker, G. L. Gardner.
ORGANIZATION.
Mr.. W. II. Clagett at length called the meet
ing 70 order and nominated Mr.. VIM. Orme As
president, and he was elected. Mr.. H. Clay
stewart was chosen secretary. Tie chair stated
18th and 18th streets were opposed to wooden
payements.
WOOD vs. STONE.
Mr.. q. W. Cochran suggested that the meet
ing had better discuss the subject before acting
on any resolutions, and decide whether they
wanted wood or stone. The city was now enter
cidedly opposed to paving 18th street with wood
at the present time, for the property is not pay
ing a revenue TO justify il.
COBBLRsTONE FoREvRRi
Mr.. q. L. Gardner submitted q preamble and
resolution setting forth that 1t is not best to
pave 12th street, between the canal and Penn
sylvania avenue with wood; that such pavements
are but experiments at the best, and that such
experiments are too expensive for the property
holders to indulge in; and Ii that portion OF the
streets paved at all cob6lestone should be used.
teman gave his reasons why that localIty-and
all know the neighbOrhood, (laughter)-should
not be paved with wood. Some object to i'm
prOvements because the money comes out of
their pockets, as they did to the sewer in 18TH
street He was not Judge of payments, but il
struck him that the question to be considered
was the
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF THE COMMIT
NIFTY,
not the wishes ofany particular property holder
along the line OF proposed Improvement. He
argued that wooden pavemsnts were certainly
preferable to cobblestOne pavements, because
for one reason they are nOiseless and OF ten such
pavements would greatly aid sick persons, some
BILE have their door bells muffed, and yet every
morning are thrown into high nervous excite
ment BY long string of cart passing over a
rough cobblestOne pavement. He would prefer
the streets to be paved with
MUD RATHER THAN COMMISSIONERS,
and he thought il was q wise act for Congress
10 Iass law authorizing wooden psvements TO
be laid, for the general good was thereby ad-
yanced.
Mr.. Gardner urged that q wooden pavement
would not last like stone, and stated that wood
vas not new as paving material, for he saw 1t
laid In New York in Sc as an e. experiment., aud
taken up the following year, SRd such pave
ments were stil experiments. 18th street, be-
low the Avenue, was commercial street, and
heavy loads were being hauled ON it each DAY.
He did not believe that q wooden pavement
would stand the wear on that street; repairs
would have to be made continually. Ii pave
ment is put down which will last 40 years il is a
good one, butif it stands but 2, the expense of /;
was money thrown away. He predicted that
the property holders on Pennsylvan avenue
than ever before, because OF the wooden pave
ment which will need repairs CONSTANTLY He
urged that if 18th street is to be paved at ali
which at this time las the stone from the avenns
can be had for the hauling) can be laid at about
halt the price heretofore paid.
Mr. ID. IL. Croggon asked II any one could in.
form the meeting as TO who and no many had
signed for q wooden pavement on 18th street
DT. leiberman stated that he had no. heard
Mr.. j. W Barker stated tina. he was one Of
thope who called the meeting, and was interest
ed on both streets. They had invited the repre-
'entatives OF the Second Yard in the CITY Coun-
ms, put they had not seen tit to come. Ii they
were here they would learn something - their
advantage, and they may do so yet. He had
been informed that the bin for 18th street had
been drawn upby
LOBBYIST FROM THE THIRD WARD,
Who was looking up job, and il was introduced
by Gen. Croker, who endeav0red to have it
pas sed the bill for I4th street had been passed
without due consideration, when thee was no
petition for the passage Of the bill. Hs hap
Pened in the Aldermen's chamber at the time,
and, having learned that such bill yas to be
secured enough votes to prevent iis
passage at the time. He was not opposed to
otfer wards forcing improvements on the peo-
Die at this ward, and had informed the Mayor
b at the citizens of The ward were determined
hat persons i-om other parts OF the city should
cot force Improvements on them. There were
10 petitions or either line, and he doubted
he ther the owners OF go front feet on either
inc were in favor OF the improvement. He did !
rot suppose that any would object 10 proper
but they should be made irdi- |
;iOusly. He said that petitions had been nr.-
AIRED, asking that the bills be not passed, and
uSscs.vu .. .t they bessign 81 before the meet |
NJ adjourned.
Mr.. W. H. Clagett said that no one would
hiect to proper improvements, but al this time |
he taxes were almost unbearable. The city |
.ss been depressed by the corporation being
IN for the benefit of politicians. and taxes were
low too high. There is q wooden pavement
company here who will
sHINsLE THB TOWN OVER
+ let alone; and it was time to fight them. Tho
asement was not all, but IL was the side walks,
he water pipe, sewerage, &c, which added to
be cost. He instanced that such taxes on one
quare of ground would amount to one-half its
ost. They
DID NOT WANT FOURTEENTH STREET PAVED
Iet, for the sewer was not laid its length, and
ut few water and gas connections had been |
made, ard on some squares there were no
louses. Ii the property holders OF 18th street |
wanted the pavement let them select what they |
want, and he would suggest the center be OF |
wood, and stone on each side, as the wood woula |
revent the noise complained of by DR.. Leiber.
man. They should 60 to the Councils and let |
hem know that they were not ready to have the |
own strangled yet. He urged that the old sys- |
EN- which allowed a property holder 70 say |
whether he wished improvements, was prefer |
able 10 the system which now prevails OF allow |
ng contractor to put bill through the boards
every time be wants work.
Mr. a. Grant asked permission 70 speak and
proceeded to advocate wooden pavements, which |
&C said would last longer than stone payements
I properly prepared and laid. The people here
lad been so slow that i.
WAS NO WONDER
he removal Of the Capitol had been talked of,
or whenever an improvement is suggested ell |
be property holders object. Mr.. J.W. ThOnp-
on.-Not all. want you to take that back.l
Well, did not mean to saw all. but many. He
lelieved that if 18th and 18th streets were paved
he property would be held % per cent. higher
ban now, and the property holders, having
our years TO pay for it in, would be the gamers
he referred TO
fHK PAYMENTS EEISG LAID on THE AVENUE,
'ayiDg that the Follansbee and Miller pave
nenfs will not last three years, and the Stow
will last longer, but it has no foundation. The
Robbins pavement was the best to be laid on the
avenue. He would not charge Secretary Cox
and Mayor Emery with violating the law in ref
ereDce TO the avenue pavement, for thew left
the matter with Gen. Michler, as an engineer
a 49, L.