Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-20
STREET PAuEMENTs.
A Letter Containing Food for Thought by
81. Paul Tax Payers.

A Letter Containing Food for Thought b,
| 81. Paul Tax Payers.
The following letter to Judge R. r
Nelson, in answer to request tor infor
nation, was by him laid before the board
of public works at the meeting held yes
terday afternoon. The matter of stree
paving is now, and will fol
several years to come, b.
one of the most important
to be considered by the city authorities
eral the discussion of the merits of the
different styles Of paving, now at the
| commencement Of paving operations, the
better in the end. For this reason the
GLOBE takes pleasure in laying the letter
to Judge Nelson before its readers:
ORANGE, N. j., May, 1882.
Hon. r. r. Nelson: Dear Sir-I am in re-
cept of your favor, saying that the march OF
Improvement as to roadways, has finally
reached your beautiful and thriving city, and
asking me for statistical information relative
to our roads, cost, durability, etc, that you
can lay the same before the city fathers to aid
them In determining as to the best method
of proceeding with the contemplated work.
It is well for them to be cautious, for the re-
suit of their legislation will be remembered
with gratitude, or condemned with unmiti.
gated censure. l see by the slip you enclosed
that quite number of your property owners
are disposed to try wooden pavements.
Ii any of them are friends of yours,
do not hesitate to urge upon them that native
mud, however deep, spring and fall will be in
finitely better. Wood pavements have had a
thorough test, and are, as to durability, re.
pairing, similarity, expense, or good appear.
ance total failure. They have been thorough
ly tried in New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia,
Newark, and other cities hereabout, and aban.
doned. Elizabeth has been ruined by them,
and is not now able even to remove them. IL
some climates they last longer than others;
some kinds are better thar others, but the ioal
result is the same. This is short synopsis
OF wooden pavement. ALI are laid un.
der patent and expensive When first laid
they are very attractive. Dampness
will find g way to the foundation
when gradual decay commences. Some blocks
Of wood give way sooner than others. Then
comes uHevenness and finally numerous de-
presslons. Water soon settles throughout
and malaria follows decomposition. Con.
tinued repairs cannot keep an even surface,
row. When finally abandoned, the cost of re-
moving is almost as great as the laying, for
the excavation must be filled with something.
The taking up and laying down of wood pave
ment, for the laying of pipes, etc, is lmpracti.
cable, for unless done by the most skilled
workmen humps and unevenness will result.
Now word about Telford roadways. In
our county have seen the beginning and
ending Of our forty miles of streets and road
ways, and noticed the wear of twelve years.
The foundations are better to-day than when
first laid hnaonaa c01id fhau
must continue to grow for all time. The sur
face can be repaired cheaply and continuously,
and need never be worse than when it left the
contractors hands. When I tell you that
scores of byoicles travel over our roads,
mountain avenues and all, every month of the
year, you can form an idea Of their smooth
ness and solidlty.
The Telford road is built with an imper.
ceptible arch, and sheds water as perfectly
as slate roof. It can be built from curb to
curb, or only portion of the roadway. Our
county road board built only twenty feet in
the center OF their hundred feet avenues, and
the entire roadway is always in order. For
city and township roads twelve inch depth
was the standard; for country roads and
avenues nine inches. The cost was from 81
to $3.50 per square yard, according to the
convenience of material. AS you have stone
for foundation so accessible and granite for
surface, your reads should be built for less
than 50 per square yard, or say
for forty foot street from 81 TO $3.50 per
running foot Zone half on each side), from 81
to $3.25 for each property holder. This pave
ment can be taken up and replaced as easily
as cobble stones. A spin over good Telford
road from st. Paul to Minneapolis would be
worth trip out there. l hope you Will have
it ere long. will give you further details
that may be of use as soon as I get time,
meanwhile hope you will 60 on with your
road improvements, for nothing will increase
the value of real estate faster or more per-
manently, am truly yours, etc., D. NJ, B.