Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-01-13
FIFTY YEARS AGO No, q.
by SCRIBE.
CONCERNING WALKS.


said would speak further on Streets
Right here wish to object to the present
mode of making such improvements, as
are needed in our cities and larger towns.
Now they are let to the "lowest responsible
bidder" aud an inspector in paid to oversee
the work. Could any higher premium be
offered for bribery and fraudP The con-
tractor has made figures, not such as he
hopes are below ill other bids. He knows
he cannot do the job we'll for the price, and
his aim is TO slight il all he can. II the
inspector in disposed to he too particular,
he will either be bribcd or in some way re-
moved. Contractors control the votes OF
numbers OF men aud ring of contract.
ors can quite ensily have things their own
way. ] would have the city make all her
improvements; paying all workmen by the
day, and Mt once di-charging any who
shirked or slammed. This might be more
expensive, but every piece Of work would
out last two as now done. OF the different
methods for paving streets, think plank
ing is the cheapest and the best, except
where heavy hauling is done; and there
Medina stone should be used. But the
planking should be done right and we'll,
and pains taken to keep il in repair. The
trouble is, that being done under contract,
the work is slighted; and when once ac-
nantal oil h.,r AFT ion 10 nj In tIQ
road or street until it is SO bad us to need
| to be replanked. The road-bed should be
carefully prepared, the stringers-three
with single or eight feet width
and four with double width properly
imbeddel, none but sound and full.edged
lumber used, the ends kept covered with
earth, the surface made crowning 30 that
water will run of; and the road. bed thor
ough1y drained by cutters running into
sufficient bitches at the aide. Then,as soon
as plank or strnger decays, sound one
should be put in its place. This will en-
sure the smoothest, easiest, cheapest and
most durable pavement that can be made.
But let every man who is engaged on the
work, be induced, by being paid good wa
ges, to take the same pains and use
the same skill as if he were working for
himself. A competent foreman or inspec.
tor should be employed, to make the most
OF the mems time, see that no poor mate
rial Is used, and ensure the work we'll done
Probably the first improvement made In
walks was the laying down of logs or rails
or single boards. Boards, by the way, are
no modern invention, as We read OF them
in Bible times. The saving may be more
late device-probably the boards we're frs
split out like shakes and slaves of the pres
!. ent day. From the single board came tn,
: idea OF using boards side by side. String
! ers were added and then nails or spikes
The last change WAS to lay the boards o.
. plank cross wise, and Use soft wood ratlie
than hard, as easier to the feet. Planl
4 walks, properly made, and kept in repair
q are not only the cheapest but the best
0 They will wear out; and, unless duly re
0 paired, they will go fast. They are NOR
! elastic and consequently easier to the feel
Various other materials have been used
:, among which may be mentioned the sam
: as have said were employed in pawn
streets, especially brick, asphaltnm an
stone. A brick walk is tasty, and doe
very we'll If the right kind of brick
employed. They should be hard and FIRE
from lime, or they will slack, An obiee
. tion to brick, aud to stone as well, is tina
when covered with ice they are dangerou
to limb il not TO lite. Another objecto
to brick is that water stays longer o
them than OH stone. But asphultum
Objectionable, being either too soft an
yielding or too hard and tiresOme on thu
account. Besides the cenrse sand and Ill
: Of boots and shoes.