Telegram-herald., 1891-04-17
We WANT ASPHALT
That u the Unanimous Demand OF
Liverymsn-
siSIER on HORSES AID VEHICLES
Remarkable Testimony Of Horse osasrs
la Regard - the Enset ca HORSES 41a
Vehicles of Dfnssent Pave
aasals-AsphalI saPerior.

sxsaks-AsPh4&L sAgefiofs
The property owners stand alone and
unsupported IA advocacy OF cedar
blocks for paving Aonroe-st. The
tenants and storekeepess with singular
unanimity demand somthing IN keep
ing With the times and are therefore
opposed to the blocks. and while favor
ing asphalt are perfectly willing TO ae-
eept any other material that may be
substituted for ii provided that 1t
possesses the elements Of smoothness,
cleanliness and durability. The TELE-
esAx-HEsALD. singiy and alone, has
taken the trouble TO interview the
gentlemen most interested IN this I'M
portanE matter. Tins morning the
opinions of q number OF hverymen and
horse owners are gwen. They, too,
speak with one voice for asphalt Their
opinions are really more valuable than
any yet given, because they represent
the great majority, who while not con-
tribatlng directly 70 the cost OF paving
the streets, are neye-theiesscalled upon
To pay exorbltant bills for repairs TO
vehicles. injured and worn BY being
propelled over rough pavements and
are therefore iDduectiy taxed. The
opinions are as follGws:
Asphais - An Neans-
Mr.. Powers, OF Powers Il Cowens-
"The asphalt pavement for our bust
ness by all means. A cedar pavement
soon becomes rough. and rapid driving
over IL makes a terrible strain upon
light rigs, ioOsening burrs. etc. A rig
will wear twice as long driven over the
Canal-st. pavement as on West Bridge
st. IN the condition. that 1t now 10. An
other thing in favor OF the asphalt
pavement; Il IS not so slippery after q
storm. We have been driving along at
a rapid pace on Canal-st. after a storm
and as soon as We reached the cedar
pavement We would have to slacken
our speed We have noticed the differ.
ence great MANY tlmes IN the case of
street railway horses as soon as they
leave the asphalt pavement"
Asphair First and Last.
Mr.. c. NJ. Let's of the Eagle barn on
Lewis-st said: al am IN favor of as
phalt from beginning TO end, first. last
pavement we ever had in Grand Rap
ids, and think you will find that all
the men who have anthing to do with
horses will say the same thing. Just
take look at Monroe-st and South
Division-st. They have been paved but
q comparatively short space OF time,
yet they are rough already, especially
Monroe-st. Ii is impossible to keep
rough street clean. Ii the council had
to pay for vehicles and blacksmth's
charges for repairs they would pave
the streets pretty quick. The only OBJ
lection that / could possibly have
against asphalt is that it wears out
horseshoes very fast but horseshoes are
cheaper than carriages. Horses don't
clip on asphalt II the shoe calks are
long"
Easier On the Horses.
Fl. A. Greenley-"I am In favor of
asphalt. My experience has been that
IL has not been as hard on horses aud
II certainly is not as hard on vehicles.
III you ever noticed, won'll see that q
horse favors q smooth pavement. The
street car horses always turn out of the
track. If possible, and take the smooth
er surface at the sides. A horse favors
his legs at every possible opportunity,
and 1t IS not q very hard thing to knock
out q horses legs. Last winter no.
t;ced that, when out for parties, the
horses going down Morroe-st. had very
hard work to keep their feet, but as
soon ~ they struck Canal-st. they had
no more difficulty"
Common sense says Asphalt.
J. G. Cooper--'I have been in the
livery business but short time, but
from q common sense view Of the case,
should say give US the asphalt pave
Inent. A rough pavement, as q cedar
block one Is sure TO become, Is q very
dangerous thing to drive = horse over
at 4 fast gait. A horse Is liable to be-
come permanently injured by stepping
into holes worn In the pavement. The
wear and tear on rigs resulting from
driving over these rough streets Is
another source of expense to US.
Two for Asphait-One FOR Cedar.
j. l.. Lee hadn't made up his mind
about the subject but was inclined to
favor cedar blocks as asphalt wears out
horse shoes 90 fast. He also thought
that IN winter that cedar blocks were
less dangerous for smooth shod horses.
Clarsnce Marsh Is another Of those
who favor asphalt and every time he
wants TO drive ne picks out Canal-st as
the thoroughfsre. Beyond that he
thinks 10 makes . prettIer. cleaner
street and a pavement that does not
absorb filth of all descriptions to taInt
the air.
Andrew Tabor expressed himself a.
wanting asphalt pavement to save cx-
penses on account OF wear aud tear of
vehicles. and because horses stood
smooth pavement better.
HI. y. Pulver-"I belIsve that aside
from reasons that effect iiverymen and
all who use horses, that Monroe at
should be paved with asphalt. IL seems
20 me that the increase IA the value of
the adjoining property would make
more than the difference in cost. As
FAR as IIverymen are concerned they
certainly want The best and believe il IS
asphalt"
Best scr Property 0wserA
L. Telford-"weil, If they would lay
cedar block pavement as Il should be
laid. believe would rather see II put
on Mouroe-st. than asphalt I don |
know anything about this silky brick or
shea wnst-do-you-cali-ik The cedar
blocks should be lad on top of s-inch
plsnks or sand. Then they should have
tar and sand IN between them. III we
could get that, eefieve il would b.
less wearing on the horses. Still, |
think that asphalt would he the best for
property owners. Asphalt wears out
tres faster than hioekas
John Hall says that asphalt 10 slip.
rer,er than cedar blocks would be. h
lad properly. he prefers blocks. other.
wise, asphalt
Waste ~ Cedar Ri,~Re