National Republican., 1875-06-15
THE AVENUE.
Suggestions About its Improvement

nbVAb 4b1 pEVNCAuCAbs
1t has become q fixed fact that Pennsylvania
avenue must be repayed this season, If We would
save our city from disgrace, great loss Of trade
and perhaps ruin to many merchants doing bust
ness between the Capitol and Treasury Depart
ment. The Avenue Will soon be almost impsssS-
bic for all kinds Of vehicles except heavy teams,
and by next spring It must from the nature Of the
case, become entirely 80. In view Of this fact
(Which is patent to ALL what is to be donef Early
next spring this city will be flooded with visitors
from not only every State in the Union, but from
nearly every country Of the world, and what shall
ne pi5S 70 OF Opt ,vsIy m1 our
It would be lasting disgrace not alone to the
residents Of Washington, but to all Americans.
sonsrs the imPortance of saTipE PT3 the % work cOm
menced at once under the existing law, and at
the next session Of Congress ask It TO refund the
entire cost, which Will Re done beyond question,
as IT is national highway, and especially as &c
was paved before wholly ct the expense Of the
tii that the Avenue must be repaired, the ali in.
portant question is with what Kind Of pavement,
and how shall It be done? Certainly with the
best Of material and in the most substantial man
ner. Wood is probably out Of the question. 1t
has gone into disuse IN nearly every city of the
Union; though IT makes fins esrriageWay for
Then It must be relaid Mt its original cost, which
is nearly or quite that Of any other kind, includ
ing cobols and stone blocks. known as Belgian
Certainly, no one would wish to see our beauti-
ful Avenue ruined BY being paved with cobele-
from Twelfth street TO Fifteenth; street, from
Thirteenth to, and including Vermont avenue,
can be obtSined II is true that miles Of concrete
and asphalt pavements were laid In this city by
ignorant and incompetent contractors. The fault
is in the manner and form Of construction. We
all know that thin-soled shoes are excellent fer
the house or ballroom, but will not answer for
hard outdoor travel in wet and dry weather. So
with light payements, ofUhGteYer material they
are made, will soon give way and wear out unless
there is Q substantial foundation, Gs We have 20
our sorrow abundant proof in this city. For our
back and lttle-trAveled streets II may answer the
purpose required, but thoroughfare like Penn
sylyania avenue, which 10 constantly Travelled by
all kinds Of vehicles, from sulky To heavy teams,
something more permanent 10 required. Andthat
We have before uS, IN the shape Of Q new improved
pavement which combines the good qualities Of
the Abbott, Arlington. New ChSttelle, and other
patents, with the addition Of strength and dura-
Is called the Efptie Pavement, which We
think is superior to all others, when finished &C.
cording 70 the spOcihcationB We have seen. It
can never break up into ruts or holes, - you
may see in @ and other streets, for the more
compact II becomes. II ID nolaeless and not slip
perry, and It nnst last for years With occasional
repAtre when cut into TO get at The gas or water
pipes. The proprietors will contract TO keep itin
repair for twenty years, at the cost annually OF
very Email per cent ever the original contract
price. How much more economicallt would be to
have such pavement laid on the Avenue, even
at slight higher drst cost, than continue with
the rotton wood, and other miserable pavements Of
this city requiring constant and expenGlve repairs
uB have the best. We care not who does the work,
only that Il 10 done this season and IN the most
substantial manner 90 that we shall not be VexOd
with expensive repairs every year.