Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-24
THE PAVING INSPECTORS.
Return From Omaha, st. Joseph, Kansas City
and Topeka-An Interview.

sentative business men and property own
ers left in special car over the Rock
Island for trip to the above named cities,
for the purpose of inspecting the pave
ments in those cities. They were the guests
of the Barber Asphalt company. The
party returned Friday evening. One of
their number, Hon. G. w. Clement, was
interviewed yesterday.
ing of NJ. NJ. Murdoch, James Allison, A.
w. Wassam, NJ. w. Levy, F. n. Peck, A.
". Oliver. Q. ?. Barnes, G: H. Blackwell
der, C. r. Miller, W. A. Thomas, L. F.
Sherwood and myself, left last Monday
night to visit st. Joe, Omaha, Kansas City
and Topeka for the purpose of inspecting
the different kinds of pavement used in
those cities. The Rock Island kindly
placed at our service special Pullman
Sleeper, which took US with much comfort
to st. Joe. our first stopping place. Here
we were met by the city officials, and I'M
der escort of the city engineer driven over
the city and shown the different kinds of
pavement. They use chiefly the granite
block, and the asphaltum, lately using
more of the latter. 1t seems to be conced-
ed hat the granite block is the most dur
able, but not SO pleasant for use. it being
more noisy and mnch harder on horses
and carriages. ST. Joe has shaken off the
sleepy lethargy of the old time Missouri
towns and is today wide awake pro-
gressive modern city with good share OF
western push and energy. From st. Joe we
went to Omaha, arriving Tuesday night.
On Wednesday morning we met at the
board of trade rooms large number OF
business men and city officials We were
taken to South Omaha and shown the
great packing houses of Armour & Co.,
Swift, Hammand and the Omaha Pack
ing Co. These industries were much
greater in extent than we expected to see,
though no one Of them is equal in modern
appointments to the Dold plant of this
city. When the Whitaker plant is COM
pleted the capacity OF Dold and Whitaker
will nearly equal all those of South
Omaha. In the afternoon we drove over
large portion of the city to examine
the different kinds of payments, of which
they have forty-fve miles in all.
That most largely in use is the
granite block. from Cedar Fails, Iowa,
This is a very hard and almost indestruct-
ible rock that shows no signs of wear, but
takes on polish and becomes very smooth
and slippery. 1t is very easy to take up
and replaceifor putting down pipes, etc.
The great objection urged against this
pavement was the noise and wear upon
horses and carriages; also its expense
costing more than any other kind. The
next Is the aSDDdICum pavement OF WHICH
Omaha has some eight or ten miles. 1t
consists of a concrete Ease-finely broken
stone and cement-of six inches, then a
cushion of sand and asphsltum one-half
inch, then two inches Of Trinidad sheet
asphalt" for wearing surface. This makes
a very hard, smooth, durable surface that
wears very slowly. 1t is comparatively
noiseless and very pleasant TO drive upon,
and streets using this pavement seem to
draw the travel and the business. The
people of Omaha seem to speak
almost universally in its praise.
The next pavement examined WIS the
cedar block" of which large amount
has lately been laid in the residence part
of the city on account of its cheapness.
While new and in good condition this
pavement gives good satisfaction, but its
life is short compared with either Of the
Others. Some two years ago parties bought
a large tract of land three miles from the
center of the city, had it graded curbed
and paved with cedar blocks, and it is now
rapidly filling up with first class resden-
ces costing from $4,000 to $4,000 each. The
finely paved street is what has drawn
people to this part of the city.
Omaha is a grand city of 10000 people
and dates it's rapid growth from the COM
of paving. II has large
number of magnificent public buildings
and many elegant private ones.
There is no good reason why Wichita
large and AS good a city as Omaha is to-
ton and productive surrounding territory.