The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1890-01-03
STREETS OF AsHl:vII.I.E.
what Thev Will do for states
Counties and Cities.

| Editor Citizen Our streets must b
permanently improved. There ism neet
of sentiment, or patriotism, or loca
pride to argue to this end. The simpl,
consideration of self interest is sufficient
Dollars and cents are involved, and to {
degree not fully appreciated.
This winter has l,een unusually tavora
BILE, yet after rain Of one day, oul
streets are such as to disgrace any city
town. village or hamlet. We lose NOR,
money each year from this cause alone
than would be needed to make the re-
pairs. The trouble is that the money
hitherto expended, has not been wisely
used.
No reflection is intended on the present
past nor future administrations. but SC
long as an effort is made to do good
work. with the material at hand, just as
long will the money be wasted.
Every effort should be made to accom-.
plish OH Improvement. which promises
to be prominent. Anopportunity is now
presented, which should at least be fully
discussed and investigated, before it is
either accepted or rejected.
A representative of the Hale patent
brick pavement happens to visit Ashe-
vile on other business, and his represen-
tation Of the advantages OF his pavement
are such as to excite much interest.
Both the material and construction, to
me, are of novel character. After suita-
bic excavation, layer of some absorb
ent material is placed. upon which is
laid covering of oak plank one inch thick,
rendered impervious to moisture by n
coating of coal tar; on this is layer OF
gravel, which in turn supports a course
of vitritied brick laid on edge; boiling
pitch is then swept over the surface, fill
ing every crack, and while this is still hot
a quantity of sharp sand IS shovelcd over
it, completing the whole. and giving a
surface smooth, noiscless and durable.
Such is the company's statement, as |
understand it. The great question to
my mind, is that OF durability-and this
is answered by proposal to enter into
bonds with security to be approved by
the board of aldermen, to keep up all re-
pairs for a long term OF years, at an an
nual cost of five cents per yard. The
cost of construction. l understand. will
be one dollar and sixty cents per yard.
While ] repeat. that both as to material
and construction. this is new idea to
me, the advantages attending success
will bc SO great, that it is most unwisc
not to consider it most carefully. 1t is
used extensively at Columbus, Ohio. a
city OF two hundred thousand inhabi-
tants, and subjected to heavy traffic;
also, at Birmingham, Chattanooga,
Mobile, Memphis and several other cities.
from all of which the company offer en-,
dorsements Of efficiency.
am told that this matter will
probably be discussed tonight before
the board of aldermen, and suggest that
many of our citizens should bc present.
Every one is Interested deeply; some
thing must be done. and it is certainly
wise that all chances should be taken,
every proposition well weighed, and
wise. conservative and progressive action
adopted, to remove what is the most
serious drawback to Ashevile's pros
perity. The financial trouble will of
course stare us in the face, but Ashcville
is young in the march tn cityhood, and
"ln the bright vocabulary Of youth,
there's no such word rs fail"
T. ". PATTON.
NlOBRf 4 n AL ADA