Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-03
TALKING OF PAYMENTS.
ALDERMEN CONFBRRING WITH
PROPERTY OWNERS.

Is BrouRhton Street to be Paved win
| Asphalt or StOne-PrOperty Owners
Express a Preference for Asphalt, But
are willing to Leave the Matter With
the Council.
The Broughton street pavement ques-
ton was pretty thoroughly discussed be-
fore the City Council yesterday afternoon.
Between twenty-five and thirty of the
principal property owners on Broughton
street between Abercorn and West Broad
appeared before the Council, and with
two exceptions all who expressed pref
erence at all were in favor of an asphalt
pavement.
The conference was invited by the Coun-
Gil for the purpose OF discussing the kind
Of pavement TO be laid.
The bids received on Monday were read
and after an Informal discussion as TO the
merits and cost OF the various kinds OF
pavement, the property owners present
we're asked as to the kind they preferred
whether asphalt or stone.
All but two expressed a preference for
asphalt. Quite number, after stating
their preference. said that they were will
ing to leave the matter wholly with the
Council and did not wish TO be understood
as debating what kind Of pavement
ought to be selected.
DR.. j. j. Waring made a strong argu-
ment in favor Of sheet asphalt as dura-
bic, nOiseless, and clearly pavement,
easily taken up when necessary to lay or
repair water or gas mains, and the cheap
est, with one exception, Of any pavement
for which bids had been offered. He read
letters from the government engineers in
charge of the streets in Washington, ID.
c., in support Of his argument, indOrsing
the sheet asphalt in preference TO any
other pavement.
Alderman Wells replied to DR.. Waring,
and gave the result of his Investigations
during recent unofficial visit to Wash
ington. So tar as he had Investigated he
had found the asphalt to be inferior to
stone pavement. He expressed de-
oided preference for the GrRywacke pave
meDt, the same as that laid on portion
OF Bay street aud on Wheaton street, he
believed it to be the best as we'll as the
cheapest pavement, easily taken up for
repairs Of water, gas or sewer pipes, and
the most durable beyond question OF any
pavement laid. The asphalt he did not
believe to be suitable pavement for a
street through which there is heavy
traffic, as there will be through Brough-
ton street as soon as pavement IS laid.
DR.. Waring, in reply to Alderman
Malian, United States army engineer in
charge of the streets of Washington, and
also referred to the reports of Capt. f. V.
Greene in regard to sheet asphalt pave
meDt. Capt. Greene recently visited
Europe for the purpose of examining
pavements in the principal cities of the
Old World. Before going abroad he went
to all the ten or eleven cities IN this
country where the asphalt pavements are
in use for the express purpose of
making comparisons with the pavements
in Europe. In all the great foreign
capitals, he says, it is definitely estab-
lished that they will not tolerate the roar
of stone pavements. and that smooth and
quiet pavements will be laid as fast as
they have the money to lay them. There
are only two cities in America, he adds,
that compare with the European cities IN
the matter of cleRnliness-Wa shington
and Buffalo. Washington has the most
asphalt (nearly 20 miles }, but Buffalo has
the cleanest streets, the amount of asphalt
being about 20 miles. Omaha has good
streets, having about miles OF asphalt.
In Boston asphalt has been laid on streets
in the heart of the business section, where
traffic is as heavy as anywhere in London
or New York. To the surprise of most
people it has worn we'll and without any
repairs for four years.
Considerable discussion took place in
regard to the cost OF keeping the asphalt
pavement in repair. Upon this point
there was considerable difference between
the statements of DIR. Warning and Alder
man Wells. The conference lasted nearly
two hours, and a general interchange of
views was had. The Council does not
propose to award the contract It'll IL has
canVassed the matter thoroughly.