The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-15
TO BE BRICK OR ASPHALT.
THE CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS
THE PAVING QUESTION.

Commissioner WiIIfnk's Reasons for
IndOrsing Brick-The Cost of Re-
pairs to the Asphalt Pavement the
Chief Objection to 1.-THE Warren
scharf COmpany's Claims in BE-
half of Their Pavement-The EstI-
mated Cost of Laying Brick Paw
ing.
The city council will hardly pass upon
the question Of the use Of asphalt or vftri-
fed brick for the South Broad street pave
ment tonight. 1t is understood that
special meeting viii be held for the pur-
pose of discussing the two pavements,
when the advocates of each material Will
be given a hearing.
Public Works Commissioner Wfllink is
not endeavoring to influence the members
Of the board in favor of vitrified brick, but
he holds to the position taken by him in
an interview in the Morning News several
days ago, in which he gave figures show
ing the cost to the city Of repairs on the
asphalt streets. He holds that with any
great amount of asphalt paving the cost
to the city of repairs Will. after the expira-
ton Of the five years guarantee, given by
the asphalt company be so large as 10
consume the greater part of the annual
appropriation for paving.
The city now has about 90 200 yards of
asphalt paving. With the $4,000 yards of
South Broad and portions of Abercorn
and Habersham streets, which it is pro-
posed to pave with asphalt, the total
would be 200 yards. AT the same rate
as that now charged by the Warren Scharf
Company for keeping Broughton street.
from Abercorn to West Broad street in
repair, 10 cents per square yard per an
mum. the annual cost for repairs to the
asphalt paving when the guarantee ex-
pireS would be 81, go.
Commissioner Willink prefers vitrified
brick because 1t makes a good pavement,
is almost as smooth, noiseless and sani-
tary as asphalt, does not cost as much
TO lay in the first place and can be main
tained at less expense 10 the city When
necessary to lay or mend water mains,
pipes, sewers and gas pipes the pave
ment can be easily removed and replaced
at small expense. When necessary to do
such work on the aSphalted streets the
cost is considerable, varying from g to
$2.3S per square yard. There would be
frequent occasion for such work on South
Broad street.
A. L. Alexander, who represents the
Warren-Scharf Company, answers Com
missioner Willinks claim with the argu-
ment that while the asphalt surface may
be worn out in time, the concrete founda-
any time at about half the first cost of the
pavement, whereas when the brick pave
ment wears out there will be nothing left
and it will be necessary to lay an entirely
new pavement.
Health officer Drummer stated that while
he prefers asphalt on sanitary grounds he
believes that the fact of South Broad
street being so well shaded would prove
an injury to asphalt, as ii would prevent
the evaporation of moisture which is inju-
riOus to this material.
Representatives of the brick companies
who are in the city stated that vitrified
brick pavement could be laid for consid-
erably less than the estimate of City
Engineer VIM, which is $1.75 per square
yard.
In the meantime Mr.. Alexander has
gotten nearly every one of the property
owners on South Broad to sign the petit
ton which he will present to council in
favor of asphalt.
The petition will be accompanied by a
map showing the frontage owned by each
property owner whose name is attached.