Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-03-27
OUR STREETS AND OUR COUNCIL.


Editor Of the Tdndicator:
1t is greatly to be hoped, that the council
do not intend at this time to eXpend So, 900
on three tifths OF mile G,o52 yards) of Bel
gian block roadway, as proposed in the scheme
now before that body.
There is not street in the city that should
not be- as soon as practicable, thoroughly and
properly McAdamiZed from end to end. BY
property is meant, that the work shall be done
i'll workmanly manner, by some one who
understands the business, and that the super
fetal bits of metal shall not eXceed two inches
in diameter, instead of the great rocks, larger
than mans fist, which are frequently flung
on our streets, to the great injury of vehicles,
and discomfort of passengers.
1t Is shameful spectacle to lave to wit
ness, as we daily do, the efforts of horses in
dragging an ordinarily loaded vehicle through
many OF our streets. Not few of them are
roads. The sum. of $4,000 judiciously eX-
pended on them in grading, Wherever neces-
sary, and i'll Matchmaking, would give a
solid roadway to every street in Staunton
tage Of all the aade and travel of our city
And yet it is gravely proposed to spend that
sum on about thousand running yards of
Belgian granite block, and leave, it is sup
posed, miles OF streets, in other parts of the
city, to be travelled through the mud. This
would hardly suit, one would think, the con-
venience of our merchants, coal dealers, eX-
press wagons, liverymen or any one, indeed,
who wishes to use a vehicle in our city.
We believe that the Belgian block makes an
unsurpassed roadway. 1t is used undoubted-
ly, in large and wealty cities, ON streets where
property commands thousands of dollars per
front foot, and where heavy traffic moves in
an unceasing streams where tens of thousands
OF dollars worth OF business is done for every
ten dollars worth done in Staunton. We do not
mean to deprecate our worthy little city. 1t
has great natural and acquired advantages
and whenever many OF our public spirited
citizens, now engaged in building cities
among wheat-stubble shall rise to an appre-
citation OF them. and return to their first love
we expect StauntOn to enjoy the prosperity
by right hers, and to increase SO rapidly in
business and wealth as to require Belgian
block roadways, at an expenditure she will
then be better able to meet
One OF our natural advantages is to be
found In the great masses of limestone which
thrust themselves on our attention wherever
we tuln, and which is such an excellent mate
rial for BODYBUILDING, that backs would not
be turned on 1t anywhere save where it
abounds; nevertheless, its profitableness
should not be without honor in this its own
country. 1t is not, of course, as durable as
granite but it does not cost tenth as much.
Streets made OF it, if kept in proper repair
and not utterly neglected as they always have
been in Stauntnn~Wiil answer admirably all
the demands OF our traffic, and about ten
miles Of it could be made (about twice as
much as we would need) at the cost of three
| ffNts Of mile of Belgian block. Indeed, the
first years interest on So, O0D-the sum esti-
mated to be expended in Belgian block-would
pay the whole cost Of Matchmaking the entire
| di tance proposed to be covered by this block,
the interest being 81 ,320 and the cost of three.
| ffths OF q nils OF MoAdam-roadway, at s., 200
per niile being also Sl,32G.
That excellent roadways can be made of
| properly McAdamized rock is fully attested
| of the EINDICAToR Of the 18th inst, to which
| the attention of the Council is respectfully
invited. The writer, speaking of a carriage
"Ihe roadbed was as solid and smooth as q
concrete Jioor," and that he ''lcolSad for ruts
Or depressions bat there were none. the rea,
son being that the road was kept, and easily
kept, in good repair.
So far from being opposed to street improve
ments, we are greatly in favor of liberal ex-
pendture in this direction, provided it be
wisely and economically made. and on such a
general and we'll matlred plan as shall dc