Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-11
THE PAVING QUESTION.
Vigorous Protest Against Wooden
Pavemsnts.
An Old Citizen Presents Some
Figures and Observations,

EDITOR LEDaER:-As the wooden
pavement question is again coming up.
and as the experience Of the last TWEEN
ty.three years with wooden pave
ments in Memphis, seems to
learn NO lesson to a new
crop coming on, who are always ready
70 fall into line whenever any ex-
ploded humbug is presented in new
colors it may be well to give a brief
history Of some of our experience in
the paving line since pavements were
first introduced in Memphis.
In 1889 contest arose as to whether
our streets should be paved with wood
or stone, and to settle this contest
John Lowden was given the contrast
for " 70 per square yard to pave
Monroe and other streets west of
Front to the river with stone; and
John eager, of Chicago, was given a
contract to pave jefferson between
Main and Front with "Nicel-
son" at s. 90 per yard. 1t was
paved with the very best Of lumber,
oak, and the work was done in the
most perfect manner, as it was a test
job, and done with tn view of secur
ing the contract for p.ving the entire
city. ltwas, however, never claimed
by Its originators that under the most
favorable circumstan ,es would it last
more than ten years even in a northern
cline, where lumber, owing to its
slower growth, is of superior lasting
qualities, and where during the winter
season the pavements are covered with
ice and snow, which protect them
from decay, while here, owing to the
humidity OF our climate during the
winter season, the decay is faster than
during the hot summer weather. The
result was that in 1866 the eager pave
ment was entirely gOne, from decay. and
was again repaved by Taylor Nc Balm &
Co., at So 20 per yard. This second
pavement is also gone entirely, rotted
out, although like its predecessor, the
work and material we're of the very
best, and the third pavement, tho last
of stone, at 81 %, was last year put
down. Now, let us make an estimate
OF what this square, little over three
hundred feet on j jefferson street, con-
tanning say 100 square yards, has cost
lur city, and it will give very correct
idea Of the manner in which a debt
Of six millions has been rolled up
against US. Say:
.7C0 yards at IS. paid eager in 1859, in
ecIlpt III oVc...,,.......... .Sl7 00C
1900 yards atS5.25 IN 1857, paid T., Mob.
4 Co. in script at 40c... % 2sl
Interest on above, II years............... 1921
/ lfOO yards OF good stone pavement in
1881. at 81 25, cash. ..................... SEES
$50 3S7
$82,367 is what Memphis either
owes to-day or has paid in cash (the
S3825 cash paid for stone) for this one
square OF a little over three hun
bred feet on Jefferson street,
while the pavement on Monroe
and other streets west of Front, put
down by Lowden twenty three years
ago is as perfect to day as when the
Sork was first done, and even better,
as it is worn smoother-and that, too,
upon the streets leading to the levee,
| where the heavy traffic is done, and
upon a high grade, where the very
best kind Of pavement is required.
There has never been dime spent on
it since the day it was laid down, and
Tor all the purposes OF a pavement in
city like Memphis, with very little
expense, it is good for twenty-five
years more.
Now while every word here stated
is we'll known by every old citizen to
be strictly true, you will every day
hear it said that because st. Louis.
Chicago and New York use wood for
paving purposes Memphis should do
the same. They do not stop to reason
that what to those cities is a source of
economy is to us a confscation of our
property. There is more real wear
and tear upon the very narrow streets
of st. Louis in a day than in Mem
phis in month. The constant stream
of heavy traffic upon these narrow
thoroughfares will crush cut stone
or a wooden pavement before it will
have time to decay, and a wooden
pavement there under the immense
pressure of these heavy loads of FIVE
and six tons will last as long as stone,
either being crushed or worn out in
six or seven years. Such heavy traffic
is never seen upon our streets. Be-
sides, their property is OF such in
6nitely greater value-so much more |
compactly built-and their streets so
very narrow that what to us would |
prove actual confscation is to them
out trife.
A half mile of pavement in St. |
Louis bounds more value than the |
entire real estate Of our whole city |
limits, ana that only states it in half |
its force, as their streets are little
more than half as wide as ours. Look |
at Front rOw-a pavement 70 feet
wide in front ofWhat its name implies,
row, The entire property from
Adams street to the jail, half mile,
cannot to day be sold for what the
pavement if Of wood in front OF it has
cost.
Again, while our city has to keep up
streets, payements, sidewalks, gas,
sewers, waterworks, police, schools
and churches on a scale sufficient for
city of 10000 inhabitants, we
are not really, as a taxpaying power
(as compared with Northern cities), a
city Of 10000; one half of our inhabi-
tl1ts being dead weight upon tbs
body polite, not even paying so much
as poll tax, which would be applied
to the education of their children.
Now, with all our past folly, is it
not strange that q contract is now he.
ing entered into Ia again commence
laying wooden pavements, Tor which {
it's only claimed under very favorable
circumstances ten yeaTsis tho limit Of