The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-06-26
STREET PAYMENTS.

Elsewhere In this issue will be found an
article clipped from the st. Louis Republi
can 10 tho matter of street paving. II ap-
pears tina. all the leading cities and towns in
'hs country are now bestowing considerable
attention on this important subject, and
why should not Dallas be AT least investigs
ting its merits against tho day of action? Ac>
cording 10 the statement set out to the conn
Gil bV the st. Louis Street Paving Company,
the latter propose to pave certain streets
there with their Burgess wood and concrete
psvemen,s u. cost of SIG so per 100 square
feet, exclusive of grading, which tho city is
to have DONE Other companies and pave
meet patentees have made similar prop
ositions. We know nothing what
ever about the merits of one kind of pave.
ment over and above another. Doubles.
soma materials. whether of wood, stone or
some other thing, are n.ore desirable for one
place or climate thrn for another. This is n
subject of investigation, but we are fully per-
suaded of the pre-eminopt desirability and
necessity for street paving for Dallas. Cam
not our council examine into the matter |!
1t might be well Tor the citizens TO move first
b. presenting to that body apeliton or re-.
quest to investigate the urgency of such pro,
posed Improvements. Assuming that a
proper species and style of pavement and
material were determined on, and assuming
tho cost TO bs equsl to that suggested for
St. Louis, a calculation would show that say
for Main street, We have per square n length
Of 200 feet, which multiplied BY 60 feet, the
width Of the street gives q total Of 100 900
square feet, which, at Sl6 so per foot, would
cost $4,000. Assuming further, that the
grading would necessitate an outlay Of S400
and we have total Of 81. 400. Now, as there
are l6 lots In the square, on the two sides o.
the street, there results cost of $3.50 to each
lot. The pavements under consideration b.
fore the st. Louis council are guaranteed ia
last 10 years without repair, this netts ST.
per aunum for each lot which is only POI
cent. year for $1,000 lot. Now there i
not tenant that would not be willing 10 pay
this increased amount of per centage or out
lay made by hi, landlord. Let but one blocl
be laid, and our word for |,
presto, occupants on other bushes
blocks will bo eager TO duplicate the proce
dure. Dallas has the broad reputation O
being sp|endid city as a business point, bu
arepu,a ion broader still as being Que of tn
worst built In the country OF any place Of it
size. Inquiries will show that ladies au,
also gentlemen from other cities are not a
all attracted to II rs place Of residence be
cause Of tho poor style Of architecture, Ia
wretchcdly muddy streets in winter and sui
focatingly dusty ones in summer; the man
traps Of sidewalks Of rot,ing wood and ma
laria.breedipg matter. I. is time for all hi
10 be changed. 1t is time for the torchligh
and the little lantern, and the 'bull's eye" I
DO put away and replaced by III
gas lamp and tho metropolitan pavl
mer'. Tho city 10 growing rap
Idly, real estate IL largely on tho sdvanS
with rents on the increase. Next fall, wit
oil The lines Of. railways centering hero an
corresponding heavy hauling business, "
will DO sASsd 70 the utmost TO get about o
street aud sidewalk. The ma..or Il urge,
and requires prompt attention