Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-08
THE PAVEMENT QUESTION.
Wood OF StOne-WhIch Shall il
Be?

the citizens as to the material with
which our streets skouia be paved.
and while he has obtained a prepon-
derance OF testimony in behalf of
stone, there are comparatively few
who have given the subject that at.
tentlon that one of such vital imports
ance should command. The great
majority have simply expressed their
opinion from the fallacious idea that the
old and worn out Nicolson pavement
wa was the cause Of the epidemic in '78.
They persist In arguing from their
standpoint that wood will not last and
IS therefore totally unfit .ior paving
purposes, and when completelyhemmed
IN they point With pride to the Front
Row pavement as contrasted with the
worn out NicOlson, attributing TO the
latter the cause Of all our evils. /
wonder how many Of such have ever
given the matter thought. Do they
not know that the Nicolson Wien nut
down was objected to by many of our
largest property owners and tax
payersI among them, and that it was
done at time when great many Of
us had no voice Ia selecting our
rulers? We we're simply tax PAYERS
not tax gatherers. That there was
fixed and determined policy to compel
US to do then what we Of course would
not do now, viz: 20 support ring.
and pay that price for an article that
under ordinary circumstances would
be done for at least one>half; and
while we all agree that the pavement
then put down was of very poor mate.
rial and badly put down. yet with
four or five hands constantly
employed they could have kept the
repairs with one fourth less cost to the
taxpayers than it requires now to re
place with poor stone such as we have
been receiving lately. Will the advo
Gates OF stone favor us with one soil
tary stone pavement, that has lasted as
long without any repairs as theM onroe
or Jefferson street psyements. On the
contrary, have not most of them been
repaired in less than six months? But
they say that the material
can be used again. Suppose it can:
does that imply that it is more eco
nomical? | insist not. Suppose you
take ths cost OF all the repairs and add
that to the cost OF the stone, and |
think it would be largely in favor of
block pavements. | have no doubt
that it Poplar or Second streets were
paved with good cedar block on the
Nicolson plan, there would be no ne.
cessity of any repairs being done (from
the usual wear and tear) for the next
five years; but suppose it we're only
for two or three years, to say nothing
OF the comfort and pleasure, free from
the dust, noise and confusion the for
mer would create, that of itself, with.
out any further advantages, is or
should commend itself to the sober
thinking masses as being the most
practicable, common sense view to
take The advocates of stone. or soma
OF them, however, think those wha
prefer wood pavements to be either
idiots, fools or knaves. To all such
| would simply say this is a question
that will bear discussion. There are
two sides; one has as good right as
the other to express his or her opin
ion, and while | do not profess to be
able to convert any advocate of stone
pavement, do insist that | am still
in possession of my mental faculties
and that | am not interested in any
ring or clique; that | am no possessor
OF any carriage, buggy or any vehicle
whatever; therefore do not advocate
the wood pavement from a desire to
satisfy my own welfare, or enjoy the
pleasures and comforts OF
a pleasant ride over
nice, smooth pavement, and there.
fore cannot be Classed with those who
the opponents would, and have. de
nominated as fools and knaves. There
are those who have asserted boldly
that the Nicolson was the prime cause
of all our troubles in rs aud 70
They seem to express themselves as
believing that had it not been for that
we would have had no yellow fever.
| wonder how many of such have ever
thought OF the constituent elements
that compose the wood2 Did it ever
occur to them, that the very elements
composing wood were, AID are now,
considered the NEST effective disin.
fectants2 aud, instead OF producing
disease, has greater tendency to pre-
vent and mitigate. Pyrogylic spirit,
wood spirit, or wood alcohol Much
could be eliminated on this subject but
for fear OF occupying too much space
we must necessarily be as brief as posi-
BILE, and shall therefore content myself
with simply stating that, ii wood al,
cohol will disseminate yellow fever
then perhaps there may be some
grounds for the objection to wood
payements, We're a property holder
on SECOND street ! would by all means
advocate wood pavemeuts Tor that
street. First, because it is cheaper
more durable, requires less repairs
muon pleasanter, more agreeable, aud,
| think, healthier. Second, in less
than five years there would not be a
vacant store, Main street would lose
over half of her travel, and would Ill
timately be the means of creating an
other business thoroughfara, which, il
for nothing MORE, should commend
iteelfto our authorities as the increas-
ed valuation Ofall the property would
more than compensate them for the
expense, even though it did not last
as. long as stone (Which ! Dc not sa-
nit - '"'
IN view, therefore, of all that has
been said and the many expressions
for and against wood pavement, would
it not be simple act of justice on the
part Of the authorities to give us at
least two through streets with wood
pavements, as there are now so many
ntharq IN vad NTH ukonoo Hl.A--t1