The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-02-13
COmmun Gated,
street H'RVCnsents.

1t is known to everybody in what
wret ched condition the streets of our
rapidly-gowing city arc found esp t.
cially in wet weather. tits therefore not
remarkable that last week the city
council resolved to have the streets in
the business por ton OF the city covered
with gravel. But the manner in which
this is to be done considering the location
otthese streets, and the material employ.
ed for this purpos e, furnish no guarantee
of any long duration of such improve
ment, In the business centre the streets
are so nearly level, and without cutters,
that drainage il almost wholly wanting,
and hence after every rain, in conse-
quene OF the great travel, the mud and
ponds increase to such an extent as to
render the streets nearly impossible
Nooy@ring them with gravel may, for n
time, renncdy the evil, but 10y degrees
the gravel viii Sar,k and disappear in the
mud, or be ground down ill the middle
of the streets become level agaf.e .and all
the work will have to be done S,yer
again, or resort must be had to some
better and more durable method. One
must, therefore, conclude that it would
have been better if the city council had
fixed upon some other more elective
mode OF street improvement.
Whnn IpNpnpAp vn lnply mama
into the subject, we cannot disapproye
the resolution of the board without ex-
aiming the following questions:
First-Does the natural status of the
streets allow of any adequate improve.
ment Of long duration by means of
wood or stone2 Either material would
not be sufficiently solid or lasting, and
would necessitate too frequent repairs
Second--Would the financial re.
sources of the city be such as to allow
the board to carry out an efficient wood
or stone pavement?
This question, too, must be answered
in the negative Though the Rnances
have of late much improved yet con.
viction of their weakness has no doubt
led the council to resolve at present
on! Ky upon the use Of gravel,
lhere 10 an abundance OF gravel ne
also of wood, in convenient distances,
but hard stone is very scarce. Railroads
are now penetrating into the West. and
as soon as the Texas and Pacific r,il.
road, or the Dallas and Wichita railroad
shall have been constructed one hun.
dred miles from here, they will reach
regions that can furnish inexhaustble
supplies OF hard stone, which will he
used not only for the paving of streets
but also for the erection OF handsome
stone buildings, since then such mate.
rial will no doubt become quite chem
Many persons may, therefore, suggest
that the Improvement of streets be
deferred till that time but from what
has been said, the application of gravel
is not Tor duration, but till future time
when better pavement may be applied
BY that time the gravel will have sunk
so deep in the soil as to form an excel.
lent foundation for lasting stone pave.
ment which condition must be partcu.
larry taken into consideration in tho
horizontal portions Of the city
The citizens OF. Dallas will see that
future demands upon them can be met
by them more readily if the city council |
continue their present economical nd. |
ministration; therefore, at the an
preaching election the taxpayers Will
select such men as have distinguished
themselves by their intelligence and
public spirit as well as by clear in.
sight and comprehension of our future
condition, and total absence of a
spirit OF greed and selhshness. I
In conclusion, it may be added that
an improved condition of the streets Is
calculated not only to advance oar,
commeroial interests, but ..must also
greatly ameliorate the health of orr
citizens J.