The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-09
HOW TO SAVE THE STREETS.
\ Suggestion ss to the Advantages OF
Vida Tires.

Wide Tires.
The following communication is from
the Chattanooga Times, but is republshed
because of lis applicability TO Memphis;
s"SrR-During the present lull in street
paving, criticism and suggestion, l would
toss of few thoughts upon street pres
ervation.
"Given pavement, we may say OF il,
an ounce OF prevention il worth pound
OF cure. Generally we must say, would
have been, instead OF is.
MY object is TO show that the ounce
may be applied absolutely without ex-
pense, in which case il is worth more.
The thing is easily done, when It's done,
and 'twcre well twere done quickly too.
The difficulty is TO get the authorities to
do i. However, let the CALLED jade vince,
80 that our withcrs are unwrung
"Well, then, in order TO improve and
preserve streets, paved or otherwise, we
simply need TO make il an object TO
abusers Of streets, TO substitute street inn
proving vehicles, or rather tires, for the
destructive ones now used. This can be
done with advantage to all concerned, and
all are concerned. Tho induccment may
be offered in the shape of II prohibitory
ordinance and penalties, or u practically
prohibitory tax on narrow tires. The lat
ter is perhaps the better, because the more
persuasive method
"Let n tax be imposed upon vehicles ac-
cording TO their power for evil, rs pro-
duced by them upon the streets; that is,
in some inverse proportion 10 the breadth
Of tire per unit of load carried, The rate
OF taxation would vary inyersely as, let us
say, the tire breadth. This would be
within bounds, for certainly upon ordinary
pavements and under given load Tor
such a wagon with twoinch tire may he
even four tiDlcs rs destructive as one with a
four-inch tire. Now, while this relation
might not hold as between one and a
two-inch tire, and certainly would not for
xix and twclvc.inch tires, the difference Of
destructive power not being 80 great, |
think that IL may safely be said that two
inch tire will do more than Ten Times the
execution done by siN-inCh tire. Oh.
serve that this is for ordinary paycmcnts.
IL may be seen that we would reach "a
superior limit at about six or seven inches,
beyond which IL would he useless 10 in
crease breadth of tire For tires OF this
breadth the tax might be nominal
Sufficient has been said 10 show that
with a properly perfected system of taxa
ton upon vehicles the life OF paycments
might be heightened almost indefinitely.
"Now, for every damage 10 the street,
caused by a vehicle through its tire, there
Is an equivalent damage done TO the yehi-
Gle. (Newion's third law of notion TO
every action there is opposed an equal nc.
action Here is where the unoflending
streets take their revenge for being w un-
mercifully pounded II would never oc.
cur TO the surface of the pavement 10 strike
any one or any thing first, but inst let Il be
struck You strike against H. Tor instance,
and behold with what exquisite refinement
OF promp,i,ude; with what exact measure
OF poetical justice; with what beautiful
Portia and Venetian justice; with what in.
exornbly adamantinc gertrude II hits back
All of which goes 10 show the great adyan.
tages Of our system 10 the owners OF vehi.
cles, aside from the greater case Of hauling
over smooth streets. But this il not all.
Horses and loads would come in for their
share OF the benefits, not 10 speak of the
saving Of the public ear, eye and general
cleanliness. IL is not claimed that noise,
dust and mud can be entirely prevented.
but properly proporiioned tires would 20
lar toward abating such nuisances. In
view Of what has already been said, II IL
unnecessary TO say that broader tires
make lighter wagons available for work
formerly done by heavier ones. To my
mind II seems to be- a pretty question as
10 whether taking the weight from the sup
port part Of the wagon and adding Il
10 The wheels increases the draught. But
this is too fine question TO discuss here.
81 have contentcd myself with giving
conclusions without giving, In all eases,
the how or why The subject IL NJ best
firing one. ] hesitate TO make Il tire
some ~ well; besides, the public itself IL
supposed 90 know thing or two. One
should hesitate TO tell the public that four
" two plus two.
"As Tor any injustice In requiring that
present tires be changed, It In, perhaps,
not too much 10 say that thosc who are
caught destroying public property have
no rights, etc, nor Is Il necessary To al.
vance upon them with such 'rupiditiyo
cclcrilndc.' This consideration, though,
makes Il all the more important to begin
" advance nj once.