Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-03-19


intention 10 procure the paving Of such
partitions of our principal thorOughtareS aS
are devoted chiefly to business purposes
namely, the section of Main street lying be-
tween Spring and Factory: the section of
Limestone between Main and Munr"e; and
the section of High between Spring and
East streets This laSt-named bit of pave
ment is evidently intended to promote the
convenience and pleasure of people who
ride in carriages. a. well A. t" facilitate the
road transportation ot raw material t" the
EaSt-Street Champion shops. The
other sections of streets to br
paved are those most thronged with
articles of all kindS-carriageS and loaded
wagons.
BY virtue of a timely and just amend
ment. offered by Mr. LeSSner. "me-third of
the expense of the proposed pavement is 10
be taxed On the city" one-third upon the
property holders on one side Of the portions
Of the streets to be paved, and the other
third upon the property holders on the ol,-
poSte side.
If the pavements prove satisfactory it is
not likely that the proPerty-holders will
complain of the tax.
Our city fathers have grappled with an
important but most perpleXing problem, and
il wouldn't take much of prophet 10 pre-
dict that their troubles have only just
begun. The general public has right tn
presume that the council has got 80 far on
its way Ia a solution as 10 be very sure that
the proposed pavementS will be better, on
the whole. than roads treated with gravel
and broken stOne-that, in fact Mr.. Nc
Adams theory of road-making is to be rel
egated To the rural districts. But what sort
OF pavrmentS are We 10 have? The granite
quarrieS are thousand miles away, and it
is a question whether, from the paving
standpoint we shall ever wish they wert
nearer. Granite pavementS may endure
and they may not There is a granite
which is granite and is nice and there j.
a granite which is not granite, but is gueiSs.
This kind of rock is one of granite
poor relations and is of i'll
ferior quality. But when grauite
proves enduring in a pavement the queS-
fiS~Ais not fully settled. The noise of We
NIX passing rapidly over granite pave
ments, which are never very smooth, i
deafening. One who has heard 0mnibu>e>.
express wagons. ct cetcrd pass over the
Strand in London. one of the most thickly
in alternate sections of granite wood, and
asphalt, can see how quickly the roar ut
travel subsidies a. the numbering vehicles
pass from bit of granite road on t" bit
of asphalt Washington and Paris have
the finest streets in the world. Pemnsylva-
mia avenue and its sister thOroughfares, ard
the bOIlevards of the French metropolis
are as smooth and hard as house floors; and
they are easily kept clean, which is a point
to be considered. Each evening machine
sweepers go over the entire area Of these
streets, and the refuse and filth are carted
off, and in Paris and London the cutters
are flushed with water and thoroughly
cleanSed. Ii is our opinion that good as
phat pavement is the best that has ever vet
been invented or cOnStructed-and that a
poor one is the worst If We are to have
asphalt pavements We must have them
kept scrupulOusIy clean. If this is done We
shall have a pure atmosphere "n our busi-
ness streets. as well as the very best facili-
ties for transportation. and at least two i'm
pOrtant ends will have been gained. If as
phalt pavement of the best sort. shall ap-
pear, on thorough investigation. to be the
best. and. all things considered. the chesl,-
est and We get the best results when the
streets are built We are sure that they will
prove source of continuous pleasure. cont
fort. and town pride.