Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-08-11
PAVEMENTS.
Some Startling Figures of Interest to
Smaller Cities.

/ Smaller Cities.
''Paving and Munich al Engineer
ing" published at Indianapolis, gives
some interesting information, partly
! drawn from the latest census reports
| During the ten years ending in 1880
a total OF 10. $50 miles of streets were
| paved at an average annual cost of
S25. 256, 55I for construction and re-
pairs. 1t is preSumabIe that very
large part of this expenditure was
| for repairs and for gravel, broken
stone, and powders. PavemenUs
made of better materials than those,
in accordance with the methods now
| most approved, would have cost more
than double the amonnt reported.
Hence it may be considered probable
| that less than one-third of the streets
in cities of more than 10, 900 popula-
zion are well paved. There are sup
| posed to be reasons for assuming it
as probable that the cost for the pres
ent decade will amount to $50 for
every inhabitant of the American
cities which had population of not
less than 10, 600 in 1890. AS the
cost Of street paving is paid by the
own rs of AUDITING properly in most
cities, the municipality paying only
for the intersections and or the pro-
portion chargeable to public property,
the costs falls directly on real estate.
If paid by one person in five, either
as owner or tenant (the later by in
creased r ntall, the average for those
who must pay the expense is $40 per
year for a decade, though for bust
N 81 70 hi 1C+ 10
creased by an amount not easily de-
termined.
The paying qualities Of good street
pavements are easily demonstrated.
The average Tesis ance to traction on
as halt, wood blocks, bri ks, and
granite block roads is less than one
third that on the streets of a city
having only macadam, cobblestonc,
earth, and sand road surfaces in about
equal proportion. That is, a horse
can draw for ten hours three times
as heavy a load on streets Of the first
class as on the second. The possible
gain from this in dollars and cents is
indicated by the statistics foE freight
trans OrtatiOn. In 1890 the railroads
of the United States moved little
more than 700 million tons Of freight.
The average street haul could not
have been less than quarter Of
mile each way, the cost of the |
hauls exceeding 40 million dollars,
II it be assumed that a load weigh |
ing a ton cannot be transported a
mile by means Of animals and vehicles
for less than 40 cents. A saving OF
two-thirds of this sum would amount
ri n
without making any allowance for the
annual in rease in ira nc. But rail-
road freight represent not more than
half Of the street hauling SO it may
be concluded that the cost of street |
traffic, largely in cities OF more than
10, 900 inhabitants, could be reduced )
nearly !, 900 million dollars in ten |
years, or two billions includ ng in |
terest This would pay for %, 600 |
miles Of street paving at a cost Of
SO, 600 per mile.
In these cities there are more than |
600, 600 horses used for driving pur-
poses. 1t cost not less than 500 per !
year each to feed them. Experience |
sh ows they must be fed one-fourth !
more when driven over uupaved |
streets than when they travel the |
same disuan over solid and nearly |
level surface. Here is a possible saw
ing of Is millions per year. There !
are 400, 600 vehicles in daily use for |!
riding purposes in these cities. The
tires, spokes, springs, rivets and |
other parts which are strained by |
traction will last twice as long in SER
vice on good paVemens as rough road !
ways The average yearly cost of re-
pairs and CT wear and tear is S25, so |
that in this item there is a possible |
saying Of five mill on dollars per |
year. Adding in for interest and the |
saving from these two items would |
pay for $50 miles CT street paving |
each year if made special tax. And !
to those important gains as measured |
in dollars, we ought to add the large !
saving in time and increased pleasure
and comfort derivable from the use
of goods roads as contrasted with bad |
ones