Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-03-25
STREET IMPROVEMENT.

STREET IMPROVEMENT.
a THOROUGH SYSTEM FOR PAVING PRINCIPAL
| STREETS MATURED.
| THE Council have had for some time under
| careful consideration, the matter OF commenc.
ing a thorough and first-class system for paw
Ing The principal business streets Of the city.
| The committee in charge of the subject pre-
scented their report at the last session OF the
| Council, nd it will be found In full In the
SPECTATOR today. This important interest hag
been carefully studied in its whole scope by
the committee Of Councilman in charge of it.
| and deserves the attentive consideration of
| the Taxpayers and property-holders, who will
no doubt. most cordially approve It's conclu7
sions.
| TIE REPORT.
| To the Honorable. the Council for the City of
Sydur,ton.-Your committee to whom was refer
red for consideration the question of paving
with Belgian Blocks, certain OF the business
streets of the city, beg leave to submit the fol.
lowing report
After due and careful consideration OF the
me tier, ascertaining the cost and character of
the material to be used. and the cost of laying
same, and after personal inspection by mem.
Der of the committe OF similar work recently
put down In the city of Norfolk (wiere consid-
cradle paving has been done) and after cores
pondence with the Street Commissioner Of
| that city and others, we find that the proper
| material to be used Is Granite Blocks from
either the Virginia granite quarry, or the
Greys one quarry OF North Carolina Of the fol-
| lowing dlnlensions-3 to Ii inches ioag 5 to 7
uoe'' 49, IN . ~ -'"'-o' 10
-. :. -
49, 49, -, -, a., ,-o-,~ ,,,,,,,..o
- 49, ,,,,,,s.. so - -
- -. a. ~ 80, ofs,-oot ,,.,,oa
Tto s+otar,a,,. s,,o.,,, the ostin,ota
49,, s.ro,t ~
~, 49,. $50 ~ -, r. .. toot - ba,eo,,
49, -
Nou s,ro.t f.o,, ,r,,z rarrt-uo,s. 70
NJ org g.
r.aaa.,otr f.or, A,,arst, - We ON -
49,, 60, - $500, ,o,7 -
-. - -" - - So ooo -
$3.50 go. - -
ao-'.,, ,so 8,
.,,o,,,,o &C.,, NJ, r,or-,-11onso 70 n g.
n -. o,s g
Total. ....e.... ....;......-.. ..."-.3.l57 #
This gives 1922 square yards to be covered.
OF which 1874 square yards will be the space at
the intersection of streets. The cost of paving
this at So % per square yard, will be $4,000.
AS to the ACCESSIBILITY OF the city undertake
ing this work, your committee are clearly of
the opinion it should be done. Under the pres
emit system of macadam izing these streets.
over which most of the heavy traffic of the
city is carried on, it is almost impossible to
keep the streets In good order. and to a true
surface. and we recommend the paving. not
only on account of its cleanliness and beauty,
but for actual econ omy as a means of saving
money to the city and Taxpayers.
The metal now used on the streets is costing
the city from eighty-fiye cents to one dollar
per cubic yard, and has to be constantly re-
newed. as it is soon ground into dust, in dry
weather to be blown in clouds into the bust
ness houses. and In wet weather to be washed
of by the rains or left standing IN unsighty
N I'd on the streets and crossings until it is
scraped up and hauled away by the City
hands.
There Is no better evidence of business thrift
and energy in any city, or one that M ore ia
vorably impresses strangers, than well. paved
streets. The City of Roanoke, appreciating the
advantages to her growth and progress. with
a population not double our own, has just vot
ed an appropriation of sl5O.CO0 for street i'm.
provemente, and the same amount for seyes-
age
Our present rate of taxation is less than that
of any city in the State, and it is not necessary
to increase 1t to make this Improvement, AS
shown above. the total estimated cost of the
work Will be about $4,000. OF this the City
will have to pay for paving the intersections of
streets 1874 SQUARE wards. s, 1854, and one half of
the residue SIO.1tS. leaving a like amount to be
paid by the propertv,hotders on either side of
the streets in proportion to their frontage. the
cost TO them being about 81. IL per front foot.
ADOPTING plan that has been in usa in sew
eral of the Western cities. and which has given
great satisfaction. we recommend that the City
issue its bonds for the whole cost of the work.
s22,O0O-or as much thereof as may be found
necessary a. 500 thereof to fall due in one year;
81 500 to full due in two years. 81 500 to full due
in three years. 81 500 to full due In four years;
and the residue 81 OOO to full due in We years.
These bonds can be negotiated. and tho whole
work paid for. The amount due from the pro.
perty- holders along the streets, to be divided
into Fl va equal parts, and one part with inter-
est on the unpaid whole, to be collected each
wear and applied in payment in part of IL e
bond to fall due that year. This will give the
property holders assessed, five years within
which to pay their portion of the cost. For
examnIe 80 feet front 81 55 per foot ss7 so: or
81 20 -. e, 80 - ,xo., -.
-. - 49, $3.50 -o,,a,,,,aa