New-York tribune., 1895-02-10
ASPHALT NOT UNHEALTHFUL.
AND DISADVANTAGES OF
ASPHALT PAVEMENTS.

WHAT THE BROOKLYN HEALTH COMMISSIONER
SAYS ABOUT THEM-THE EXPENSE OF
LAYING THEM SHARED By PROPERTY
OWNERS AND THE CITY
The propostion to lay an asphalt pavement in
one OF the uptown Brooklyn streets has raised
ouo,,ion "a N the effect OF such pavements upon
the health OF the people occupying the adjacent
houses Not that there is anything hoXious III
the asphalt itself, although in hot weather ',ie
odor arising from it is disagreeable to some dell
cately organized persons II is well Known now
ever that asphalt is mpervious to moisture. ana
still more so to gases. and hence II Is contended py
those who doubt its heathfulness that exhalauons
from the SOIL which would escape into the air
through stone pavement would he driven ih''
the open spaces Immediately in front or houses
and possibly into the houses themselves unless
indeed their cellars happen to be paved WIN
asphalt The ordinary treatment OF cellars Is
to their floors with cement wnich Is eN
ceedingly porous and furnishes no protection what
ever against the invasion OF any poisonous gases
that may be in the earth underneath In one case
it is supposed that attack or malaria may nave
been caused by the asphalt pavement put down
not long before in 'front.' of the house where II
occurred Tae patient had never had an attack De-
fore and OF course il ~ open question wnetner
any relation OF cause and effect exists between
the two circumstances.
4 statement OF the facts and surmses mere set
forth was made to Health Commissioner Emery
day or two ago and his opinion on the matter WIS
sought As to the OF malaria ne was uh-
willing 10 express positive Judgment without
fuller acnuaIntance with all the facts. but he dd
not hesitate say that he did not believe tha' t'e
pavement had any direct bearing upon II. In MS
own practice ne said that he had never known vi
any attack o. disease that could be positively at
tributed TO change from stone pavement 10
no hai
in streets where such a change had been made ana
he was unable 10 see that IT had caused any SUD-
stantial difference
where the houses are placed few feet back
from the building line and where there are un-
naved wards in front" continued Or Emery. ut
seems TO me- that abundant room Is provided Tor
the escape of exhalations from the soil. and that
there IS little likelihood OF their actually pe1etrlt-
Ing into houses. The soil OF all our streets l.
pretty well impregnated with Illuminating gas;
that il made evident every time there l. any turn
ug I'd OF trc earth. But under ordinary condi-
tions we arc not aware that any or IL Is rising
from the surface OF our streets. That seems 10
be tho principal thing in the soil II cannot OF
course max" It's way through asphalt. and II 1t
has 10 get 1t will seek 10 escape on inc si'cS
OF the street Where there are broad Tagged
sidewalks 1t will find little opportunity 10 get free
until II TO the front yards in ordinary streets
which are .scly built up.
But 10 not consider this source OF mtch
danger as far as human beings are concerned II
is a serious OF danger TO trees. which often
droop and wlther in asphalt paved streets inc
gas in the earth is very bad for them; and then
again in a street paved with asphalt very little
water IS liable to penetrate TO the roots OF the
trees But n n street like ClInton-ave. where the
houses are separate. as n rule and there IL plenty
OF open ground there would be no difficulty on that
score. Thers is doubt that an asphalt pave
ment is hotter in hot weather than stone; the heat
seems to radiate from II in great waves In
windy weather too. an immense quantity OF dust
rises from these pavements. The wind IN 'sct'
svoeps them clear and drives the duAi into every
crack and crcvice OF the houses so true Is this
that am told that In Clinton-ave. the ladies' are
compelled to take down their lace curtains every
six weeks and nave them cleaned
"On the other hand there some decided ad-
vantages In asphalt pavements. 'he reduction OF
noise Is one Of the chief advantages. and tacre
can be no doubt that they are "A great blessing to
nervous people. The general introduction Of such
pavcmenis throughout the city wou.d unqusstion,
OF nervous diseases For those who drive there ~
need OF pointing out the superipri,y OF asphalt
no comparison with our aDominabie coDDestone
1t Is curious though: thaI "hen ~ mere IS AZ a thii
veneer as It wcre-that is the worst sort Of paye
calRs on a horses shoes viii take hold and give
a firm footing but on this veneer or Ice ~ seems
impossible to get any fooihoid at ~ It Is as ~ u
not look upon asphalt pavements ~ unhei th'ui
though thee are both advantages and disad
vantages They have to be weighed against each
other but | think II ~ the general opinion that
the advantages turn the scale And have no
doubt that II the entire rity were paved with as
phalt-the residence streets. at all evcnts-there
would be Il pcrceptiblc diminution In nervous
diseases
I'm laying asphalt pavements The process gone
through is first petition 10 The Board OF Aldermen
from "A majority OF the property-o~ncrs in the
whore such pavement - desired. " tho
Aldermen act faVoraby the matter ~ placed in
the hands OF IN, Department OF city Works and In
.lue time a contract for the work Is given out
rhe is divided between the city and the prop
erty-owners equally. and in the case OF the latter
T. a lien upon the property in the same way that
taxes "hc cost To the owner OF an ordinary
house Ia from $50 10 sh. varying according To the
width OF the street and the amount OF work done
in the neghborhood. II costs more. for example.
to pave a single block that II would tf half dozen
contiguous blocks were paved at tho same time.
II is not desirable to pave a street that H. not
fully butt up. since the pavement VIII soon bc
torn pieces " IL has To be dug up 10 make
numerous connections with water and gas pipes.
one man In front OF whose house an asphalt pave
ment is proposed says that he would like Il and Ia
perfectly willing To pay his share of the assess
mcnt that will ensue. but he fears that there will
be further expenses involved. AZ. for instance.
a private contractor to keep the street clean That
Is the practice In some neighborhoods where these
pavcments prevail