Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-08-16
PAvEMENTs.
Some Startling Figures OF Interest to
Smaller Cities.

Some Startling Figures or Interest to
Smaller Cities.
"Paving and Municipal Engineer
Ing" published at indianapolis, gives
some interesting information, partly
drawn from the latest census reports
During the ten years ending In 1880
total OF 10, S65 miles Of streets were
paved at an average annual cost Of
S25, go, SOL for construction and re-.
pairs 1t is presumable that very
large part Of this expenditure was
for repairs and for gravel, broken
stone, and powders, Pavements
made Of better materials than those,
In accordance with the methods now
most approved, would have cost more
than double the amonntN reported.
Hence 1t may be considered probable
that less than one-third of the streets
in cities Of more than 10, 900 popula-
zion are we'll paved. There are sup
posed to be reasons for assuming it
as probable that the cost for the pres
emit decade will amount to $50 tor
every inhabltant Of the American
cities which had a population of NOT
less than 10, 600 in 1890. AS the
cost OF street paving Is paid by the
owners Of AUDITING property 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 I'VE, either
as owner or tenant (the later by in
creased r2ntal, the average for those
who must pay the expense is $40 per
year for a decade, though for bust
ness streets this sum must be i'm
creased by an amount not easily de-
termined.
The paying qualities of good street
pavements are easily demonstrated
The average resis ance to traction on
as halt wood blocks, bricks, apd
granite block roads Is less than one
third that on the streets of city
having only macadam, cobblestone,
earth, and sand road surfaces In about
equal proportion. That Is, a horse
can draw for ten hours three times
as heavy 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 for freight
transportation, In 1890 the railroads
Of the United States moved a little
more than 700 million tons Of freight.
The average street haul could not
have been less than a quarter OF
a mile each way, the cost OF the
hauls exceeding l40 million dollars,
II 1t be assumed that load weigh
ing a ton cannot be transported o
mile by meansOf animals ana vehicles
for less than 40 cents. A saving OF
two-thirds of this sum would amount
TO OBS million dollars in ten years,
without making any allowance for the
annual In rease in tralic. But rail
road freight represent not more than
half Of the street hauling, so 1t may
be concluded that the cost Of street
traffic, largely in cities OF more than
10, 900 inhabitants, could be reduced
nearly 100 million dollars In ten
years, or two billions includ ng in
terest This would pay for 2s, 900
miles Of street paving at a cost Of
$40, 900 per mile
In these cities there are more than
600, 600 horses used for driving pur-
poses. 1t cost not less than 800 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 distan e over solid and nearly
level surface. Here is a possible saw
ing of Is millions per year. There
are 400, 900 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 Of wear and tear Is 1875, 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 Of street paving
each year If made special tax. And
TO those important gains as m assured
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
Jnes.