Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-29
PAVING and PAVING MATERIAL
Some Speculations and Reflections by a
Wooden Block Champion.
SAPltsS CEDAR THE THING WANTED
Argument In Favor of substituting
Seasoned Wood for the Costly
Asphalt or RnttIing Gran
fte on Streets.

Bee Spring has come and 1t Is the season
to call the attention Of the authorities and
taxpayers to few things exceedingly I'M
portant to the general interest to be done
Farnam, from Twentieth to Forty-nrst street
should be repaved. So also West Cunning
South Sixteenth and a few other short
streets. This done Omaha would favorably
stand the inspection of critical neighbors.
Left in dilapdation. detriment to the entire
city surely follows.
The consideration of the kind of materials
to be used ir of the first importance. Gran
ite, sandstone, asphalt, brick, macadam or
wood can be had
Granite is rough, noisy and expensive.
The same may be said of sandstone, and
further, it is lacking in wearing qualities.
Brick is rather expensive and of doubtful
utility where the travel is so heavy as
upon the first three streets named.
AS indicated by our experience upon the
county roads, limestone macadam is too soft
for durability and in dry weather too dusty
for cleanliness in wet, the milky mud is
even more Objectionable. To insure salts
faction it should be surfaced with crushed
granite. Our county commissioners contem-
plating repairs may profit by this sug-
gestion.
Asphalt is desirable and can be made
dutable by paying handsomely for 1t. 1t is
the rich mans luxury, the poor mans bur-
den. The question OF the cost of pavement
should always be considered, and especially
at the present time. Now is there any one
ready to fly in the face of adverse public
opinion and say a word for cedar blocks? :?
There has been much unjust criticism of
those having anything to do with the use
this material in our pavements. AS mat
ter of fact. has it not done all that was
ever claimed for it? No one expected 1t to
last longer than seven to nine years, and it
is being left on the streets where used far
beyond that PERIOD and is being cursed be-
cause 1t does not continue lever fresh and
green" Wherever put upon a suitable foun-
dation 1t has served out, in usefulness, the
full period claimed for it, and let us ad-
monish your readers to not confound it with
cypress. that proved so short lived. We all
remember the cypress on Park avenue, and
viii not forget Capitol avenue as now seen
in front of the High school, 1t is we'll
known fact, moreover, that the life of
cedar block can be prolonged about five
years, If that portion of the block known
as the sap" Is removed before being laid
This is being done successfully and cheaply,
now, by machinery of recent invention. The
sap" which IS always soft and first to
decay, Is taken from the block, leaving only
the solid wood, and the cost is but little
additional. Why would It not be good
idea for the Board of Public Works and
city engineer to look into this and any other
matters bearing on the subject and report
their opinions to the public? l may add
it Is questionable whether a permanent pave
ment should now be laid on Farnam, as
believe the grade of that street should be
changed by cutting 1T from Twenty-fourth
to Twenty eighth, and thence west filling
same as far as, say, Thrty-first street.
1t might be too burdensome to do all
this when the times are hard, as now, but
sooner or later this will be done. So. also.
Tn vie
this 1t would be folly to think of putting an
expensive pavement on either Of these streets
at the present time, unless graded. In any
event, 1t is likely that the material will
be between asphalt and cedar and their
relative utility having been touched upon.
now let us compare them as to cost. If the
trinity of asphalt magnates do not form
combine, such as generally grows after
the spasmodic throat-cutting period of COM
petition has passed away, we may expect
their prices will be approximately such as
| will give. In doing this please note ]
take substantially their minimum price, not
such as prevailed prior to the last CORY
ARRAY, in which the combine was broken.
The work contemplated being repavng, the
cost will be approximately as follows, and
presumng common cedar blocks will last
eight years our first comparisons will be
made to cover that period
Cedar, block, common, cost, per square
Interest, at per cent for eight years 40
'ePafs '''''.'.'.'......'''.'..... 90
Total cost ........................... 81 40
Repairs after liter eiapse Of euarantv
Interest on cost at per cent for eight
years ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 30
Total cost NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 80
Now, while 1t is true that the cedar
blocks will be practically worn out and
the asphalt will be, we presume, in a good
state OF repair, 1t is also true that we
must continue to pay each year a large
amount to keep 1t In repair or it will
soon be as worthless as the worn-out ce1 lar
1t will be noted also that with am ex-
penditure for cedar equal to the cost of
asphalt. at the end Of eight years we can
put down another new cedar block pavement
and no more expenditure will be necessary
Tor eight years more, while II asphalt is
used we have not only expended sufficient
to pay for the cedar block pavement that
Is worn out, but to pay for new one and
besides must go on paying cents per yard
per year for asphalt repairs
Saples, cedar block, 1t Is claimed, will
last twelve to fifteen years, and will cost
about sl.25 per yard. Let us compare this
with asphalt:
Cedar bioek (sapless) cost per yard. ..... 81 %
Interest for twelve years, per cent. Is
Iotal ...''''.'.'..' '''.'......, ..,.....s2 90
Asphalt, nVe years guaranty ...........$2 20
II terest on same, twelve years, per
Repairs, eight years NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ca
Total ......... .........................s4 "a
Difference in cost to the taxpayers 1924 |
per yard; and, moreover, II asphalt is used |
the annual repair charge is continuous.
At glance 1t can be seen that the prop
cry owners are responsible for the city's |
onerous debt. for they, not the council nor |
the Board Of Public Works. select material |
for such improvements To the first cost |
must be added the continuous burden for |
repairs 20 get an adequate idea OF the ex-
pensiveness Of asphalt.
The time for the serious consideration Of |
this subject Is at hand.
Shall We go on pilng up a debt for an
Improvement that also entails continuous
annual charges for repairs in themselves
burdensome, or shall we reconcile ourselves
10 our present burdens so inconsderately
undertaken, but refuse to add to them by |
selecting a suitable and an inexpensive ma
Lerlal rs well?
Using cedar block, bids are open to the
widest competition; and hence we may ex-
1ect prices for that material will not be
higher than those mentioned, but possibly
OVER. while t is not SO necessarily, nor is
/ likely to be, II asphalt is used. 1t is true
he ring" has been broken. and this has
been done. probably, simply for the purpose
~ pettinp intO The hroken 'srinpu NAV |