New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-13
PAVE THE dVFNUF.

Senator Dorsey of Arkansas having intro
duced bill providing for the pavement of
Pennsylvania-ave., there has been some dis
cussiOn as to what material should be used,
whether wood or stone. The debate suggests
at once the remark of Douglas Jerrold, when
q wooden pavement was proposed for London,
." Let the Aldermen lay their heads together,
"and the work is DONE" 1t would be indecO-
rous to make any such remark concerning
either or both branches of our National Legis-
lature; still the District is heavily i'll debt, and
economy is very desirable, and Congress is III
session, and several things have happened
since the session began to show the kind OF
timber there is in the Senate and House. and
but we forbear to pursue the subject
The proper paving of the principal avenue
of the National Capital is a subject that has
been largely discussed both in and out of Con-
gress during the past three or four years. 1t
has attracted the attention OF statesmen, con-
tractors, and newspaper correspondents, and
great deal of talent has been developed by it
in one way and another; talent in measuring
in contracting, in legislating, in engineering
appropriations, in reyiving business. in adorn-
ing the city, and not least Ill describing the
work. The completion of the present
pavement was celebrated by what was called a
Carnival" and we seem to remember the re-
mark in various newspapers that the nation
owed a debt of gratitude to the persons who
had carried forward this enterprise, which it
mover could pay. Candor compels us to add
that the projectors have acted very much as
though they believed the statement them
selves. History records few such struggles as
they have made to get even. Several months
elapsed before the pavement was denounced
rs rotten and unhealthy, and by the Board of
Health pronounced nuisance. During that
time it was very highly spoken of by remote
newspapers, and its authors had frequent hon
Orable mention as public beneiactors.
Senator Dorsey now proposes another pave
ment And that, too, il an excellent idea. The
whole country will rise up to it. What the
country most needs to-day is another pave
ment on Pennsylvlnia-ave.. another procession
of bencfactOrs to lay it and measure 1t, an
other issue of bonds to pay for it, and another
"Carnivalr to dedicate it. Then business will
revive, and we shall all be happy. We regret
10 see, however, in one of the Washington
Ring organs, what we are compelled to regard
as covert attack upon the project put III form
of an argument in its favor. "Scnator Dor
"scy's bill for paving Pennsylvania-ave.,"
SAYS this journal, should receive i'm
mediate attention. And it adds: "Our
Centennial visitors will soon be here,
land we shall blush to tell them that our
"principal thoroughfare langnishcs simply be-
"cause it is the especial care Of Congress-"
Now there's plain temptation to Congress to
let the Avenue "languish." For nothing on
earth would call from all parts of the world
such crowd of Centennial visitors" rs the
announcement that the members of the Dis
trict Ring were going to "blush.' Ii would
be such n new departure for the Centennial
period. Everybody would want to see it. And
it would depopulate Philadelphia notwthstand-
ing the attractions of the Exposition. But we
don't believe the thing is possible; conse-
quently we wouldn't have the Avenue " Ian
"guishr in the vain hope of any such phenom-
cnon. BY all means pave the Avenue. And
use the commoncst and cheapest material in
the capitalize same one other place is paved
with-good intentions.