Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-07

General sherman declares, In a published let
ter TO a gentleman OF Chicago,-after first tell
ing him that he has seen the streets of Pom
Fell and drives along the Appian Way at
Rome, that in his Judgment 1.-THE only pave
ments which Will endure are the Belgian and
the Macadam," and he furthermore confidently
expresses the opinion that these will yet take
the place OF the excellent asphalt pavements
now laid in the streets of Washington. What
the eminent soldier probably meant to say was
that the Two payementS named Will last longer
with less cost OF repairs than any others; for IL
may be taken for granted that no pavement will
"endure, the primary meaning OF which term
Is Ito continue In the same state without perish
1ng,-under constant and hard usageS unless
II is promptly repaired when broken and proD-
erly cared for at all times.
Ii such was his meaning, General Sherman Is
undoubtedly correct in his first proposition.
But Is endurance or durability the only quality
to be taken into account, or the only element to
be considered in the selection OF a street pave
ment? If so, why does not General sherman
himself wear iron hats and wooden shoes, and
recommend them for the soldiers under his
command? And Is the pavement which is best
adapted for one locality OF purpose necessarily
the best for all localities, and for all purposes?
NO person or common sense, not even General
Sherman, himself, we take it, would seriously
claim that For commercial or manufacture
ing city. where heavy hauling is the rule. the
Belgian block pavement Is undoubtedly the best,
or at least as good as any and for suburban
roads and park drives the Macadam If properly
constructed and cared for, probably has no Supe-
rior. II an equal But for city made up largely
of private residences, where SmOothneSs clean
Illness and silence are essential, and whose
streets are used mostly for light driving.-such
WASHINGTON
named is too rough and noisy and the latter Is
too dusty or muddy, according as the weather
may DE dry or wet. 1t is too late day i'm the
worlds civilization TO sacrifice everything else
to the mere reduction of expenditure in dollars
and cents. The rights, feelings and comfort OF
those living In the near vicinity OF streets and
roadwayS, and OF those having to use them, are
entitled to consideration not less than the mere
question OF economy and durability OF material.
just as the soldiers have right to be protected
from the use OF iron hats and wooden shoes
because they happen to be cheap and lasting
1t VIII deeply pain the citizens Of Washington
to be Obliged to differ with General Sherman In
any matters involving opinions or Judgment,
but 1t is nevertheless safe to assure the world
and his Chicago friend In particular that they
do very widely differ with him On the points he
has raised. In the face of his having seen the
streets of Pompet and driven along the Appian
way at Rome, ninety-tfve out OF every hundred
OF her citizens consider the best asphalt pave
ment now laid In Washington as the very best
for their uses, all things considered. that has
yet been devised; and in spite, Also OF his conf
dent prediction. they will never consent to ex-
change II for either the Belgian or the Macadam
as substitute. These, however, are only mat
tiers OF opinion and Gen. sherman has the same
right TO his views that other people have to
theirs. and the same right, furthermore, to ex-
press them as freely and as loosely as he
sees nj. But when he comes TO state
mentS OF facts he should be more ex-
plictt and careful Further along In his let
erhe assures his correspondent that most of
the aSphaits In Washington have cost from 10
to 80 per cent year for repairs" This Is neither
1ntellgible nor true. Had he confined his re-
used here there might have been some ground
for them, but they dc not apply In any sense or
In any degree to the asphalt pavement lately
laid down. With It's foundation constructed as
1t now is that part or the work is good for a
hundred years or more; hence all the repair
needed is little smoothing over OF the surface
when broken. and this, it Is safe to say. can be
done when promptly attended to ar an expense
not exceeding two per cent per annum on the
original cost Of the work. The asphalt pave
ment on some OF our streets has been in use
now for seven years, with its surface is firm and
as smooth as when first laid. and in that time
Rot cent has been expended for repairs on IL.