The record-union., 1896-11-09
WHERE THE CITY CAN SAvF
MONEY.

This city is putting down good deal
Of bituminized pavement on much trav
e1ed streets. The problem of extending
thelife of these pavements is therefore,
before US. It has engaged the very best
engineering and scientific thought of
the East and of Europe and very con-
siderable literature has grown up out
of the subject
One of the most recent papers on the
question, and perhaps one of the best,
is in the Engineering Magazine" for
November. 1t ought to be studied by
our city authorities, and lead UP to
study of other papers that do what
this does not, give details and direc-
tions. It treats only of and repair of
asphaltum and bitumen in street paw
tions. It treats only of repair Of
asphaltum and bitumen street paw
we are pursuing the worst possible
policy with our newly-paved streets,
and it will be but short time, COM
paratively, before we will have to renew
them at heavy cost.
It is conceded that he who builds a
house is unwise who does not take pre-
cautions 10 prevent its decay. We
should apply the same rule to the BIZ
tuminized streets, say all the authori-
ties. not theorists, but those who speak
from experience. The coating of earthly
and refuse matter we leave upon these
new paVements is sure to hasten their
rapid decay. These improved highways
so largely contribute TO the good
health, comfort and convenience of the
people that we ought to give much more
attention to their preservation than is
now done. Beyond sprinkling them and
then running a sweeper through the
thin coating Of mud, We are not caring
for them at all. AS a matter of money
saving, we ought to do a great deal
better by them.
No matter how good pavement Is,
It must in time yield to wear and tear.
Its life, therefore, depends, for it's length
upon the reduction to the minimum Of
that wear and tear. The essayist in
the Journal referred to well says in
paraphrasing a famous saying, that
the price of good roads is eternal vigil
lance" and this applies to macadam
alreets as well as the bituminized. In
both cases, to proiong their life they
must be properly and frequently clean
ed. In Sacramento we have no pro-
vision whatever for cleaning the ma
cadamized streets, nor any ready means
for their repair the moment a spot
shows signs Of decay.
A blanket of street dirt, says En-
gineer WINERY, one of the most prac-
ticed experts. viii surely injure these
pavements, especially the asphaltum
and bitumen roadways. They should
not be sprinkled any more than is alb
solutely necessary, he adds, To lay the
dust, and proper cleansing viii very
nearly eliminate the necessity for
sprinkling.
The free use of water on macadam
streets is the swiftest way to destroy
them, while light sprinkling is neces-
sary to their preservation. Mr.. Whinery
protests warmly against the hauling
upon either OF these streets of any
thing. the droppings OF which will grind
into and cut the surfacing. such as
gravel, broken stone. brick and refuse
he especially refers TO. He points out
how rough material dropped in a slight
depression on a paved street doubles
the blow of the next wheel that rolls
over IL and starts a spot that VIII speed
lily wear. All such spots should be re-
paired instantly, on the principle that
a stitch in time saves nine"
The sum Of the judgment of the best
authorities and of the experience of eth
er cities is this: If we wish to preserve
our new streets and reduce the cost
OF their maintenance to the lowest pos
sible figure, we must properly clean
them, and repair them the moment
wear develops We must keep them
free Of coating OF earthly matter. and