The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-08-23
MOUND CITY MATTERS.
Tho Heated Term and the Can't'Get'
Always.
Progress In Paving Granite, Displacing
Gum and Macadam.
Minor Matters and Stray Notes.


age. There wan the prehistoric age in thu
history of our Streets, concerning which
even tradition is sNent but scientific infer
ence is to the effect that they were navi
gated by canoes, and \that what are nov
our commons, were once mere alligator
ranches. Then came the\age Of tradition
and legends exist of the unfortunate popu
lation being drowned in their back yards
After that came the period ofauthentic his
tory, which informs US Of quaghires in oul
streets, and swampy places on our com
mons. The urchins fshed for porgies OF
the back yard fence. In the dark\or mid
die ages, the street commisslonerspiled
brush across the streets and when the II
beasts of burden got mired, they puRed
them out by the tails. Then came the
modern age, when the streets were paved
with macadam-a soft stone. which was
soon pounded fine by the wheels OF COM
merce, and made dust knee-deep in all our
thoroughiares in dry weather, and mud OF
equal depth in wet. Then lite was bur-
den to the citizen.
AN INVALUABLE POW DER
invaded the household, sifted through
closed windows, drifted under doors, per-
colated into closets, settled in gray mist
upon furniture and all exposed surfaces,
spsead itself upon the food of the citizen,
before il could be eaten, and assaied him
wherever he went by day and by night, in
one form or another. The age OF light has
finally dawned; the swampy aspect OF the
streets has vanished; the quick-sands have
disappeared, the irog-ponds have been
drained, and public opinion has been Gre
ated by the newspaper press IN favor OF a
substantial and rational system OF street
improvements which has brought us to the
door of enlightenment through which we
shall presently be ushered. Granite blocks
about twelve inches long, four inches wide
and eight inches high, are now being laid
on a number OF our principal business
streets, making strong. substantial ana
durable pavement. the commissioners
state that they will not cease TO push these
improvements until the thoroughiares ira
yersed by heavy vehicles are covered with
this kind OF pavement. The cost is consld-
cradle, being about S57 per square. Expe-
riments have been made by several parties
with different materials, but the result, for
heavy traffic has not been satisfactory
Sheet asphaltum will probably be adopted
in the residence part OF the city, to a con-
siderable extent, on account OF its cheap
ness as compared with granite, aud because
that travel over it is less noisy. This latter
pavement has been tried with success in
Chicago, Washington city, and elsewhere
faVlng zone Win
GUMWooD BLOCKS
has been on trial here for several years,
and the result has not been wholly a fail
ure. The difficulty has been heretofore to
get the work properly done. When the
blocks are properly treated, are OF sufficient
depth, and are laid in a concrete founda-
ton, it has been found that in those streets
where there has been the heaviest traffic
there has been an annual abrasion OF about
three-sixteenths of an inch. This kind of
pavement COSTS about half as much as gram
tie. Its use Will be adopted on some of the
streets where granite is objscti enable on
account OF its great cost. AT any rate we
shall have better streets. And whereas,
the city has heretofore been noted for the
bad condition of its pavements, it will i'll
the future, probably be celebrated for its
solid thoroughtares; and it will, likely at no
distant day, be possible to haul load OF
bran over them with a sixmule team witbs
out getting stalled in the midst thereof.
We have had another case of
sHYLoCK AND THE POUND OF FLESH
in this city, aud a law and u just judge to
punish him. A poor woman, whose hus-
band is sick, borrowed money of a. money
lender, and gave mortgage on her house
mold furniture as security tor the payment
of the loan. After having paid all the
money back in interest and more, in the
course of six months. the rapacious rascal
6tlLeu luc pOOI SOOhS
for the principal. The villain was brought
into court on complaint OF the poor wo-
man, and held by the judge to answer TO
The grand jury. The name of this human
shaIk is Evans, and it transpires that he
has accumulated about $50, 900 in this man
ner He is red-haircd, bran-iaced citizen,
with q corruLa ted skin running cross-wise
over the surface like the. identations in a
tanned aligator's hide. He is representa-
tive OF a class ofmen here who live on the
misfortunes OF poor and ignorant people,
who are friendless, and in some instances
rs helpless as children. The effect Of this
case will be salutary. it is to be hoped, and
DIcak up pernicious system OF robbery
and extortion which has long been prac. |
ticed here.
THE CITY is STILL DESERTED
by many OF its Weather citizens, and there |
are numerous houses in the better part OF |
town with the shutters closed, and the |
storm-doors barring the wide entrances.
The return will commence in about two |
weeks. when the advance guard of pleasure
seekers will be among us again, with brown |
faces and vivacious stories Of summer expe- 4
riences. In the meantime we, the toilers, /
are not altogether without our eDjoyments /
aud our pleasures. On Wednesday afternoons
we have fine music In Lafayette park for
several hours, which Is paid for by volun-
tsry contributions and which the poor as
stil - tIlt IlCu Chu tuJOys AAcoC SOhScANo
usually attract large crowds Of women and
children with a sprinkling Of the dude and
the man Of affairs, who are attracted by
the sweet arias OF Strauss, Auber and Men
delssohn. The weather lately has been
superb, and out OF doors amusements have
been more than usually attractive. During
these days, the sky looks blue and tender,
Recently gang OF burglars have been
making rather free with the property OF
sundry householders who have heretofore
been relying on the vigilance Of the police
for protection and safety. Robberies are OF
almost nightly occurrence. and every DAY
The police authorities have some new case
70 investigate. 30 far there has not been
much progress in suppressing this kind OF
rhine here. Only q few nights since two I
;raksmen attempted 10 rob a safe supposed
o contain large amount Of meney, in the
tore Of German on the ST. Charles Rock
road. They succeeded in drilling holes in
he door of The safe ana had prepared fuse !
nth which 10 blow Il of its hinges, when /
hey became heightened at the approach Of /
police, and fed through the win :
low, which they had conveniently left
pen Tor their escape. The officers gave I
.hase and fred ct them but they escaped.
here IL no end Of vicfedpesses IN large
.ify, and lust nov 81. LouIs seems 10 &c /
lver-run VITA thieves Of ell grades and |
inds. The police court dOckets are crowd
4 With Gases Of ieiOns. sDd II j. doubtful II !
nvone car LOOK on the long list Of Oheuses ,
leninsf morality and society and Thick the
Torid is growing any better. Only yesier-
ay morning Justice TEsfs sent young /.
lsn Of twenty yesrs Of age. 20 the work
Ouse because be wanted 20 Whip his
lother.
Preps-sflons Of sn elsborste character
r. gong igrvsff for II
aoaIIArI DfsFLaT
4 The Streets during the nights d TIE week =
{ The far. Many strsnrsrs VI - e.
-arted = 81 lc.tls. ard 80 elorr vi - .
Inde r. mate lie occasion rnerlcretleI
~ in TIE arnais q this aunuEi segU.