The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-24
A Venerable Omcial ON the Road,

The proposition to repave Fifth avenue
aroused the official indignation of Mayor
Havemeyer, and, putting on his overshoes
and spectacles, the venerable official started
for that thoroughfare few days since ON a
voyage of inspection, accompanied by his
efficient Superintendent of Police, Mr.. Mat
sell. The examination was confined to the
short space between Washington square and
Sixteenth street, but whether because tho
Mayor did not understand that the contem-
plated improvement covered the whole avenue
or whether in consequence of fatigue does not
appear. Within the sixteen blocks, however,
the Mayor discovered only two or three de-
pressions and some half dozen holes, and SO.
after consultation with Mr.. Matsell resolved
to address memorial to the Legislature pro-
testing against the proposed work as an ex-
travagance, an Outrage" and q ''usurpation."
Fifth avenue is one of our finest thorough
fares It's present pavement is disgrace to
the city and cruelty to the fine animals that
are driven over it. Four-ffths in value of the
property owners are in favor of its repaving.
A largo majority would favor the Macadam
in London and Paris, and would be CHAD to
have the avenue placed under the control and
supervision of the Park Department At the
same time the whole people would derive the
advantage of having one fine drive, extending
from the lower part Of the city to the sub
urbs, always kept in good order, and to be
driven over without danger to horses and de-
-. 30 o1,s al No do ,af hOyu M
venerable Mayor and his sage and expe-
rienced Chief of Police can, under these
circumstances, regard the proposition to
repave the avenue in the light of
an ''outrage" and usurpation." Certainly
the humane Mr.. Bergh, who is honest and
energetic, if not always practical, will tell
them that the present dangerous pavement is
an "outrage'' on the horses which are COM
PEELED to travel over it. We trust the Mayor
will think better of the matter and withdraw
his opposition to an improvement desired by
the property owners in interest advantageous
to the city, demanded in the cause of human
ity and certainly greatly needed. 1t may be
we'll for him to remember that the officials of
neighboring city have been indicted for
neglecting the repair of the street pavements.
Meanwhile, if he did not gather much infor-
nation from his visit of inspection to Fifth
avenue, we congratulate him and his Chief OF
Police on having crossed Broadway in safety.
New York shows painfully the results OF
unusual and eccentric experiments in the dis
covery of new methods for paving streets.
There is probably no subject upon which we
have more information than the proper ma
terial for street paving. Wood, plain and
prepared /; pebbles, chemical combinations of
sand and tar and asphaltum have all been
tried, and with the same result. Our climate
will not admit Of any substance for streets in
New York that will yield to the sun, the snow or
the rain. Every pavement we have tried has SO
yielded, except the old Macadamized Belgian
way. Our streets, many of them, are not only
remnants of the Tammany wickedness in the
way of misgovernment and misrepresentation
of money. but dangerous and uncomfortable.
We have spent money enough to learn what
are the worst materials for paving streets.
Upon this subject no people in the world arc
better informed. Now let US gather up all
these lessons CT an expensive experience and
once for all, build roads that will last-roads
worthy of the Romans in their strength, en-
durance and comfort.