The Baptist headlight., 1894-08-08
PAVEM EN1-S.
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 1890
a total OF 10. S65 miles of streets were
paved at an average annual cost of
S25. , 81, 55l 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. PavemenLs
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, 600 popula-
JiOn are we'll 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 tor
every lnhabitant of the American
cities which had a population of not
less than 10, 600 in 1890. As the
cost o. street paving is paid by the
own rs of abutting 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 five, either
as owner or tenant (the later by in
creased r ntal', the average for those
w hn ic
year for a decade, though for busi-
ness streets this sum must be in
creased by an amount not easily de-
termned.
The paying qualities Of goo street
pavementS arc easily demonstrated.
The average resis 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, cohblestone.
earth, and sand road surfaces in about
equal proportion. That is, 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 bv the statistics for freight
tranSF SFOrtatiOn. 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 |
mile each way, the cost OF the |
haulS exceeding l40 million dollars,
II 1t be assumed that a load weigh |
ing ton cannot be transported q |
mile by means OFanimals and vehicles |
Tor less than 40 cents. A saving or |
tWo-thirds of this sum would amount |
TO 800 million dollars in ten years, |,
without making any allowance for the |
In rease in ira &c. But rail
road freight represent not more than
half of the street hauling. so it may
De concluded that the cost OF street
traffic largely in cities OF more than
10 900 inhabitants, could be reduced
nearly 300 million dollars In ten
years, or two billions in.lud ng in
terest This would pay for ., 600
miles OF street paving at a cost OF
so, 900 per mile
In these cities there are more than
bOO, oOO horses used for driving pur-
I'OSS~' Al (OSL uO1 tess IMAM SlUU DER
year each TO feed them Experience
SD ows they must he fed one fourth
more when driven ever uupaved
streets than when they travel the
same distan c over a solid AMI nearly
level sulface. Here Is a possible saw
ing OF 10 millions per year There
are 400, 900 vehicles In daily use for
riding purposes in these cities. The
-lres. spokes, springs, rivets, and
)ther parts which are strained by
will last twice as long in ser
vice on good payemcns a. rough road
ways The average yearly cost OF re-
pairs and Of wear and tear l. s25. 80
nat In this item there is a possible
aying Of five mill on dollars per /
'ear. Adding in for interest and the
'aVlng from these two items would
)ay Tor $50 miles CT street paving
'ach year IL made special tax. And
!" those important gains as IN asured
u dollars, We ought 10 add the large
a'lng In time and increased pleasure
'nd comfort deriyable from the use
D goods roads a. contras ed with bad
mes
Mrs. W NlckwErp: " hat d. .ba, y.<~.. -. | .