The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28
Fife AVENUE PAVEMENT.
FIR. Bcrgh's Views on Cur City Pave
nents.

mir. Ecrgh's Views Cur City Pave
ments.
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION orr
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, FOURTH AVENUE,
CORNER OF TwENTY-SECoND STREET,
March rs. 1874
To THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD:-
In your late editorials on the repaving of Fifth
avenue you are good enough to intimate that l
possess a certain influence, by reason Of my rela-
lions with the cause Of humanity to animals
which should be exercised on behalf OF the toiling
horse.
This would gladly do if l shared your fattering
opinion as 10 said influence; but the truth is, our
ill-governed city is so Durdened with debt that the
Department OF Public Works has scarcely the
means OF repairing the wretched pavements
which already so cruelty dsfgure the metropolis
and do not believe that 1t Is question of in1u-
ence at all, but simply one OF money. |, however,
do not like TO rest under the charge OF indifference
to the important subject, so venture to express
an opinion OF II. Our views generally, regret to
say, are SO often in conflict that IL affords me
peculiar pleasure to find that III the present mat
ter we are quite accord
| regard the Macadam pavement as Infinitely
best suited Tor streets and HIGHWAYS, and | reach
TINS conclusion alter having examined all others
III use at home and abroad; but even this has a
defect which perhaps you are familiar with.
Water permeates the roadted, and In our severe
climate, freezes ana lifts 1t cut OF place. An ind1-
vldual in New Jersey, personally unknown to me,
has succeeded IN remedylng the defect by mixing
a ultulllnOuS substance with the broken stones,
ana the streets thns lad are reported to be per-
perfect success
Another advantage the Macadam possesses over
all other paVements is the facility and inexpen.
siveness OF laying 1t and Keeping 1t IN repair.
Curiosity or necessity prompts our citizens to be
continually tearing up the streets and to no other
pavement IS so little injury done by the indulgence
OF this perennial taste as to the Macadam; Tor.
so soon as their taste or requirement is sat-
iS1ed by merely shovellng the debris back into
the hole again. the first passing vehicle begins
the process OF restoration. 1t lS true that In all
other countries but ours The pavements are only
disturbed by authority and the employment OF ex.
pertS but III our tdtSSez tdtre sort of government
the citizen generally dvests himself OF such
wholesome restraint, and hence you observe
everywhere about our cities depressions and ele-
vations, suggesting miniature Switzerland The
absence OF noise Is another agreeable feature of it,
Why progressive civilization has not long ago
slenced the upr0ar OF the street has ALWAYS been
a surprise 10 me; for | firmly believe that human
lille Is materially shortened thereby. Conversation
out doors at times is almost impossible while the
citizen within his sick chamber Is not permitted
to expire In peace until he has first buried the
pavement IN 'front.' Of his mansion with tan or saw.
dust.
In short, there is but one objection ever offered
to the Macadam pavement, and that Is dust
Wen, suppose we concede this. DO we not
already Day 100000 TO have the streets swept-
or, more properly speaking, not swept And could
not the nIacadamlZed street be kept clean with
one quarter the trouble and expense, especially
II IL be the Telford- Macadam before referred TO
ask your indulgence moment longer, while
make a feeble enort TO be runny, IN Difference to
complaint Oh me, more than once uttered in your
columns, THAT | am naoltually too grave IN the
prosecution OF the work | have In charged I
should leel mortified II you tailed to recognize the
hum0r contained III THIS concluding remark, "that
the very name OF Macadam has la tely endeared
itself to me by the most tender and doyelike
assoca tons. nave the honor to be your obedlent
servant, HENRY BEKGU