National Republican., 1877-09-20
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT BY THE
COMMISSIONERS.
SEVENTH STREET.
rRorERTY.HoLDERs WANT A CONCRETE
PAVEMENT on THAT THoRouaIIFARE

PRorERTY.HoLDERs WANT A CoNCRETI
PAVEMENT ON THAT THoRouourARE
A committee representing the property
holders on Seventh street northwest, and con
sisting of eSMayor NJ. q. Emery and Mcssrs
W. W. Burdette, J. c. McKelden, VIM. Ballan
tyne, VIM. +. Mattingly, lIoratio Moran, Chris
tian Rupert, John Kcyworth and NJ. W
Beveridge called upon the Commissioners yes
terday in regard to the pavement now bcinl
laid upon that street, and presented petition
signed by 200 property-holders. Mr.. J. C
Mckelden, OF the committee, stated that the
propcrty.holders generally speaking objected
to stone pavement being laid the cntirC
length of the street While they admitted 1t.
durability, still they did not believe that II
would prove satisfactory in other respects
Parallel streets having a smoother surface
such rs the concrete bed supplies, thereby
making riding easy, would draw the travel on
| those streets, and as q consequence much of
| the trade that otherwise would 20 on Seventh
street. 1t was to prevent the detraction OF
| trade that they sought q remedy. IL Seventh
street was to be paved with stone the improve
mcnt would prove disadvantage to business
interests If they could have an asphalt pave
mcnt, then they would be equal with other
1
Mr. Bryan stated that the work had been
decided upon before he became member of
| the board, hut was begun since his advent, and
| he stood with his colleagues in indursing the
work so far as it has progressed. At present
| there was only the laving of the blocks con.
| templatcd-that in front of the Patent Office,
and the other along Mount Vernon square. He
believed that the Commissioners had been gov
| erned by the wishes Of the property holders
and those Of the business men on the street
Mr. Mckelden said that the business men
had no vci"c in the matter whatever and that
the property.holders were the only interested
parties, and they wanted a concrete pavement.
Commissioner Bryan thought that the busi-
ness men were considerably interested, mud
they certainly would be given an audience ii
they desired one. He remembered short
time since gentleman (Mr. McKeldcn)
headed another delegation, visited the Dis
trict cpmmissicners, and asked for granite
block pavement on seventh street Now that
same gentleman comes again, and said that
granite was not wanted, but concrete was.
How were such chdngcabic minds TO become
reconcilcd sufficiently us to know what really
was waute II
Mr.. McNrlden acknowledged the corn. and
in admitting that he had been so strongly ad-
vocating stone pavement, said that he now
was convinced of his error, and that a con-
crct, pavement would prove the most accept
Commissioner Bryan. "Wcll, at present. only
the work given out will be completed, and
with 1t the improvements must stop"
MIR. Mattingly. We eau stand that if only
two blocks are to be laid but we prefer q
smoother pavement for the entire street
Commissioner Phelps. Why 1t will be inl-
possible for \ concrete pavement to stand the
wear and tear on that street. Even the con
trarto have n doubt Of its durability.
Mr. McKcldcn. Why does it stand so well
In front of the Arlington hotcl2
Commissioner DcnnisOn. Because that does
not have much travel on it; nothing like the
pave nent on Seventh str, ct has to stand
Mr.. Burdcttc. ! carried around petitions for
several kinds of pavement on Seventh street,
and ! know that majority Of the property
holders prefer concrete.
Mr.. Emery. The pavement in front of
Williams furniture store is concrete, and that
is doing excellently.
Commissioner Phelps Well, that was con.
sidered failure, and il is breaking along the
railroad track
Commissioner Bryan. do not think there
will be any trouble about the pavement that is
being laid. The width of the stone blocks
must not exceed four inches. The best stone
pavement that have seen is that In front of
tord's operI, house. If i am able to judge, and
this one will be better than that one.
Mr.. Mattingly. 1t is true that stone Is the
most durable. but concrete will be the most
satisfactory, and will prevent the driving of
tavel on to other streets.
Commissioner Dennison. The board Is sat
isfied that the first AMI most important street
To be repaired its entire length is Seventh, and
they intend to ask an appropriation for that
purpose.
Mr.. Burdette. So it's not possible that II can
be paved from ID to NJ street this fall?
Commissioner Bryan. There are no funds to
do II with.
Mr.. Burdettc. VIII the stone having be
extended no further than has been named?
Commissioner Bryan. No further.
The committee then withdrew.
ACARD FROM MR.. McKELDEN.
IN inc notice IN the Sdr OF last evening OF an in
the COmmissnners Of the District on the subject Of
the pavement about to be laid on portions Of said
street scvcrn errors occur, which in Justice TO my
self should be corrected. did not intcrrupt Com.
missioner Bryan, nor did I say one word In an COX.
cited or any other manner about business men
having no voice IN the matter" and that It was
should tc lone" ! ,lmi; that waited upon the
Commissioners some time since with a view TO have
merely an eX@rlmenial piece of stone pavement
Iald, say 10 yards In length, Of a particularly
specified kind, an" to he laid in particularly
spccined manner. I admit that I said upon that
roadway Of the very best quality the best and
cheapest pavement In the long run that can be
laid; nnd ! so stated .on Yesterday, and consc-
had changed my vews,' for they had not been
changed. Again, the surprised look" Of the dele.
CATION was purely pigment of the reporters
fancy, for the delegation knew the part | had
taken IN the fist Instance, and knew that my
yie"s had not changed, but that preferred to
have frst-class concrete roadway To a rough un.
slightly stone one, such as disgraccs some portions
9i the railroad track nj present, and which feared
from the appearance Of the material already on the
hPnt We were about to have folsted upon us.
Inconsistency has not become my forte but of
two evils let Inc always prefer the lesser.
Respectfully, &C. MCKELDES.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1877,
LICENSING PATENT ATTORNEYS
\ DELEGATION VISIT THE COMMISSIONERS
Treasurer Dodge, in a communication to the