Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-06-18
TIMELY SUGGESTIONS.
The Proposition to Have Cement Side
walks CoIored Dark.

The Proposition to Have Cement Side
walks CoIored Dark.
DR.. Parkinson appeared before the City
Trustees yesterday and requested that body
to require all cement sidewalks hereafter laid
be colored, so that the refraction caused by
the bright sunlight of summer would have
a less injurious effect upon the eyes of pc
destrians. Another citizen contributes the
following in the same line:
EDS. REcoRD-UNIoN On last Sunday,
as l was passing along Tenth street, the
glare of the sun on the white stone pave
ment was so strong that my eyesight was
painfully affected. Having suffered at one
time from snow-blindness, | thought per-
haps my eyes were unusually sensitive, but
see by the press that the oculists of Oak
land are calling attention to the matter l
have felt impelled TO call attention thereto
before, but feared | might be considered
over critical. Let any one visit the locality
named, in the forenoon, and Judge for him
self of the advisability of darkening these
stone pavements, as recommended by DR..
Parkinson, and as already done by DIR.
Simmons.
DR.. PARKINsoN's IDEA.
4
Parkinson last evening, on this subject,
that gentleman said: The question of
coloring artificial stone walks a blue or
darker shade, which was brought forward
by the improvement Association, in con-
nection with the extension of the limits of
the present ordinance, is one of considera-
BILE importance. These concrete or cement
walks are ordinarily of dirty white, and
in the bright summers sun the glare or
reflection from them is very distressing,
even to the eyes of the strongest. This
will be remembered by those who have had
occasion to walk over the artificial pave
ment in the State Capital grounds during
bright sunshine. The effect in mild de-
gree resembles that observed when travel
ing over snow. In Oakland and Alameda,
where many miles of these walks have
been laid down, the subject has attracted
the attention of physicians generally.
DIR. P. Mclean, the Health Officer of
Alameda, mentions it in his annual report,
and strongly advises the adoption of blue
shade, which can be easily and inexpen-
sively produced by the addition of lamp
black. The improvement Association
had, IN response TO inquiries, received let
ters from DR.. Mclean, from DR.. D. D.
Crowley, the Health Officer of Oakland, and
from DIR. Southard, an oculist of the latter
city. This gentleman says that his atten-
ton has been particularly directed 10 the
matter during the past four years. He
finds, especially among school children, a
great deal of eye trouble, produced, in his
opinion, by the glare from the uncolored
walks. Parents had frequently remarked
that their children avoided these walks
IN the sun wls shining. and often
came in doors to rest their eyes. He very
strongly advises that the walks should be
tinted dark color-bluish or blackish-
at least as dark as the uncolored walk
when wet.
"Dr. Crowley also adverted to the fact that
there had been considerable complaint, par
ticularly amongst the children, regarding
| the unpleasant reflection. This has been
| the experience of residents in Oakland and
Alameda. In Sacramento, with lis annual
| average of $40 clear days and brighter
atmosphere, the evil will be increased ten
fold. The coloring of the walk is not an
expensive matter nor does it affect the
! durability OF the pavement. Lampblack
| appears to be the most approved coloring
material, and the proportions. as used by
| firms engaged in the business in Oakland,
are: One bucket of lampbIack to 20 buckets
each Of gravel and cement tor the whole
| thickness g inches) of the walk, or one
pound of lampblack and to 10 buckets
each of gravel and cement for the upper
crust Il inChes) only"