The record-union., 1894-12-01
Preserve Our Graveled Streets

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: In these latter
days of broken rock and asphalt, grav-
eled streets are looked upon with dis
favor. We must, however, be mindful of
the fact that they cost considerable
money, and were a godsend when we got
them. They were the best we could af-
ford then and are the best we are willing
to pay for to-day, as shown by the appar-
ent disinclination to do much Of the more
expensive macadam work at present.
Graveled streets are far preferable to
the bottomless roadwayS we would have
without them, and, AS we must be con-
tent with them for some time to come,
they deserve more care than they are
getting.
If the usual order, or disorder, of
things is observed, there will be consid-
erable money expended next spring
cleaning off the mud anu filling up the
! holes that will be much larger than they
should be as a result of neglect between
now and spring. The result of the dis
| order will be muddy streets ali winter
! and ragged, rocky roadways next summer
/ a little mud during the winter months
would do but little harm, while the usual
| depth will result in every spoke of our
VehIcleS carrying handful of the mud
| to be shaken off on our bitumlnous or
| crnshed-rock streets.
1t is folly To make expensive streets
that are to be subject to burial in this
| manner every winter. But mud is not
the only thing the wheels plow up and
| carry oil. Along with each spokefuI will
| be lew particles of the finer and more
desirable portion of the gravel for which
we fought and bled." The accumula-
ton OF earth when left on the streets
soIens when moIstened, and acts as a
| sponge to absorb the rain that would be
shed from the crown of a dry, hard, clean
street like from the roof of a house
W here mud remains each wagon track
| becomes a reservoir, we'll leveed in, to
hold the rain until it softens up the earth
or gravel underneath, thus rendering it
more easily gouged out and carried off by
| the next wheel that comes along
| II the soft mud should be removed
| from the streets alter the first rains
many small holes VIII be found. These
should be rut1ed up and filled with some
material OF hardness equal to that already
| IN the street. The finer grade OF per-
tectly clean gravel is cheaper than com
mon gravel at half the price. 1t cannot
De 100 clean, as there will be plenty OF
mud lett on the street to furnish all the
binder that will be necessary. We must
count on an accumulation OF dirt during
the winter, as shown in the recent eX-
pertinent on X street, where barrels of
dirt are swept up each day. There will
! be at least enough to make smooth dirt
roadway for summer driving. We drive
| IN winter mostly as matter of business
and can stand a rocky road, but in sum-
mer we all have more of an eye to
! pleasure.
! l have repeatedly called attention to the
! fact that our present system gives US
muddy, dirt roads in winter and ragged,
rocky roads in summer, on which we
use our light buggies in lieu of the long
needed rock-roiler. We have now had
two rains and practically no streets
cleaned, and judge that we are to have a
continuation OF the old system, though it
| costs as much as the other. The only
difference is that we have a low rate of
taxation this year, which has to be made
up next year. AS long as the work has
to be done, why not do it while it will be
OF most value? Scarcity of money in the
street fund is no excuse, as surely some
money has been provided for the care of
| the streets. and our graveled streets.
which cost half million dollars, deserve
such share of the taxes as will cause
| them to remain at least as good as gravel
| can be. We must not expect property
holders to keep on improving streets if
! they are to be neglected after the city as
sumes control. Gravel compares very
favorable in quality with the care ac-
corded even our high-class pavements.
DOUGLAS A. LINDLEY.