The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-16
The Council Decides to Use Montana
Red Fir on Main
Street
Nine Inches of Macadam and Two
Inches OF Sand for the
Foundation.
Everything Mapped Out and 1t Only Re-
mains to Make the Contracts
and Go Ahead.


That fact was settled at last nights meet
ing Of the city council. The only compet-
itor against fir was tamarnck, aud when
1t came to vote tamarack wasn't in it,"
The council spsnt a lot of time over the
paving question, and when they got
through they had arranged all the details.
beginning, as Alderman Steele put it, lat
the BOTTOM" The plan is to lay a. nine
inch foundation of macadam. or broken
rock. which will be rolled hard. On top of
this will be two inches of sand to sorve
as q bedding for the blocks. The red fir
blocks will be twelve inches in length, four
inches wide and six inches deep. They
will bc laid in rows, and a
strip of wood IN inch thick
and three inches wide nailed along the side
of each row. The blocks and the strips of
wood are to be treated to bath of coal tar
before being laid. The interstices between
the rows of blocks will be filled by coarse
gravel and coal tar. The surface will also
be treated to coal tar preparation. The
curbing and the cutters will be of granite,
the cutters twenty inches wide.
As soon as the paving proposition was
taken UP Alderman Thompson moved that a
committee of three be appointed to report
In two weeks the best method of procedure,
together with the kind and depth Of foun-
dation. Alderman Weber wanted the mat
ter referred to a committee of five, who.
with the mayor and city engineer, should
have full power to act, to decide on the
material and foundation and to make con-
tracts for tho work. Aldermen Thompson
and Steele were opposed to giving COM
mittee so much power. While willing to
let the committee examine into the matter
1ociSa oT1 ho oil ftav taH
report made to the council for its action.
Alderman Connolly was opposed to any
further delay. Alderman Wilmer finally
moved to lay both propositions on the ia
BILE, which was done, and the council went
layer The first thing was the primary
foundation: Alderman Steele moved that
it be macadam, which Was carried. Yhen
on motion of Alderman Gamer the depth of
tho Mncadam WAS placed at nine inches.
Alderman Fuller's motion next put two
inches of sand on top of the macadam.
Alderman Connolly wanted two.ineh
plank on top of the sand but the other
members thought this was Staying it on too
thick" in the language of one OF them, and
the suggestion was rejected. The size of
the blocks was next taken up. and it was
decided to have them twelve inches long,
four inches wide, and six inches deep, stood
on end. Planks an inch thick and three
inches wide We're then decided upon as
necessary to go between each layer of
blocks It was also made part OF the plan
that all the wood should be saturated with
coal tar, and that the crevices should be
filled with that material and gravel, and
the surface also treated to an application
of coal tar.
poned till the above details were arranged.
1t was as to what kind of wooG should be
used.
Alderman Lissner proposed Montana red
fir, which was grown around Helena. Alder
man Wilmer proposed tamarack. Alderman
men who had used quantities of wood in
building bridges, and they all agreed that
tamarack was not as durable as fir. Alder
man Connolly also spoke up for the fir. He
said 1t had been tried and tested, while the
tnmaraok's good qualities existed only in
theory. Another thing. the fir could be had
near here, and as all other places were OPP
posed to Helena he believed in taking
care of ourselves. Mayor Kleinschmidt
stated that, on the authority of Pro
fessor Swallow, the la"ch was
had in the neghborhood of Iron mountain.
while they would have to go to Missoula
anyway for fir. Alderman Lissner declared
that the red fir grew in large quantities on
Ten mile. Assistant City Engineer Helwig
gave mining men as authority for the state
Alderman Ha' 'rison, who was present, gave
testimony to the same effect from personal
experience.
By the time a vote was reached, tamarack
did not appear to have any friends left on
the floor. The proposal to use tamarack
was rejected, no one voting for it, and red
tir was adopted as the proper wood. 1t was
next desired to have the cutters aud curb
ing of granite, the cutters to be twenty
inches vide.
In keeping with the general plan of i'm
proving Main street, the city engineer was
directed to draw up plans for storm sewers
ut Cutler. State, Wood, Wall and Grand
streets and Sixth avenue.
The council will meet again Friday night
to rerfect tho plans in regard to the paving
of Main street, so as to get the work started
as coon as possible.