Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-04
REALITY.
Doubling Citizens Convinced at Last.

Doubling Citizens Convinced at Last.
That Water Street is to be Paved.
In the spring of 1887 Mayor Macomber, in
his annual address, called the attention of the
| City Government to the necessity of paving
| Water street. During that year no action
was taken on his suggestion, but early in the
last spring the matter was again brought up,
and at the Mayors request, committee of
the City Government consulted with the
| Portland Street Commissioners in regard to
building the sewers and paving. On their
return special committee on paving, con-
sisting of the Mayor, Aldermen Staples and
| Williams, and Councilmen Blaisdell Dyer
and Stone, was given full power to make all
necessary arrangements and contracts, in re-
gard to both paving and building the sewer.
An appropriation of 50 800 was made for the
purpose. Water street was surveyed, and it
was found that ZOO square yards of paving
was needed, the contract for which was
awarded to the Hallowell Granite Co. The
Company gave bond of SIS 900 which insured
the delivery of the paving on or before Aug.
Is. 1888. The contract for building the sew
er was given to II. o. Nichols, of this city,
the stipulation being made that Augusta citi-
zens should be employed as far as practic
able in its construction. The dirt was re-
moved uader the supervision of Street Com
missioner Dutton 1t has been used in grad
ing on Rines Hill, Bridge street and filling in
on Bond and Water streets near the Edwards
Cos mill.
The contract for building ten surface water
catch basins was given to Joseph +. How
ard of this city. Everything has been under
the general supervision of the Committee.
Secretary Dyer reports that all the work has
been satisfactory, and that the paving blocks
are of first class quality. 1t was not intended
to begin paving before the 10Th inst. but the
despatch with which the various contractors
have fulfilled their agreements, has allowed
operations to begin two weeks ahead of time.
Nearly all the stone has arrived.
Large crowds lined both sides of Water
street yesterday, watching the quickness
with which the paving stones were put in
place, and calculating how much time the
paving of the street would take. The paw
ing contractor, Mr.. John A. Turner, was
Inn all in IL hut,
found time to explain few points to the
journal man.
Il have been in this business thirty -three
years said Mr.. Turner. land have put
down all sorts of paving in almost every city
of eastern Massachusetts,, including Boston,
Cambridge, Chelsea, Lowell, Fitchburg, and
other places. When | first learned the
business the only stones used were the
round cobbles which are SO plenty on some
of the beaches. These cost nothing but the
picking up, but it was terrible job to lay
them evenly. Being of different shapes
and sizes, the only way in which they could
be kept in place was to lay them in bed of
sand and pound them down flush by main
strength. Then after they were laid they
formed very disagreeable road to ride
over, fit only for heavy drays. They made
a loud jarring noise, too, and in wet weather
were not only slippery for horses, but the
dirt collected in the cracks made the streets
almost as muddy as before it was paved
Well, these stones finally got scarce
and high, and various other kinds
of paving were invented and found
useless. | laid seven different kinds,
all patented, in one street. Among these one
that had a great run at first was the wooden
paving. Pieces of seasoned spruce were cut
into blocks about eight inches by four, and
when laid with the sawed ends up, made for
year or two very good paving. But it
didn't take long for them to wear into ruts
just like an ordinary dirt street and become
so slippery that on wet day they were real
ly unsafe
The paving stones now used were first
made about twenty years ago at granite
quarry located, | think, somewhere in New
Hampshire, They make the best road, all
things being considered, in the world They
never wear out, or into ruts, and if properly
laid are not disturbed by frost. All new
streets are covered with them and as fast as
the old cobbles or wooden blocks are taken
out these fill their Places
docs it take long to learn to lay paving?"
"Well, it looks simple, doesn't it? But
like many other trades there's more in it
than anyone would think. It's trade that
a man can't learn in one year or two, and
the more he lays paving the quicker he can
do it. The great thing to learn is to lay the
stones evenly. A very smart workman will
pave over fifty square yards per day, if he
has no shovelling, pounding or sand spread
ing to do. A paving layer does harder work
| than any other out-of-door workman His
wages are $500 day. After the paving is
laid sand is swept down between the cracks,
and each stone is pounded down solid"
why are pavings laid in sands'
For several reasons. Principally be-
cause the sand binds and holds them in place
better than ordinary dirt could do. Then it
is not SO likely to be displaced by frost. and
readily absorbs all the water which soaks
down between the paving"
| How long will i, take to finish " alter ST."
Somewhere between four and five weeks
NV regular crew will consist of ten men,
/ four of whom will lay the stone, three will
/ get the sand-bed ready, and three will spread
the sand on top and pound the stone. Water
street is forty feet wide from curbing to
| eurbing between Winthrop and Oak streets,
but is wider the rest of the way. If the
expect TO advance from 40 to 50 #. day"