The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-12-22
EHATTTCOSTS.
Parkcrsburg's Experience With
Street Paving.

SHOWS WHAT can De uOnc mere ata Tess
Cost-lf it Costs S1.3O In Parkers-
burg it can not cost as much here
An interesting Paper with mnch Ito
Help Morgantown in it.
The question of paved streets has
been agitated here for long time
but the cost has proved the great
deterrent so far. An address read
before the mayors convention at
Clarksburg by the mayor of Park
ersburg may prove of interest to
those who have been thinking on
this subject. 1t shows that the cost
has been very much overestimated.
The article does not deal with theo-
ry but is the actual experience OF
that city with the problem with
which we are now wrestling.
Estimates have been made by
people here which show that pave
ment can be laid here of the very
best material at a cost of 70 cents a
yard. This is cheaper than the low
est limit which has been reached by
Parkersburg. Many people have an
exaggerated idea of the cost of such
Improvements but the paper will put
an end to this.
Some time ago it was proposed to
pave a short distance on Main street
and all the abutting property owners
except the Odd Fellows were on the
agreement. This body had the mat
ter up for its consideration at a
meeting and when the statement
was made that pavement could be
laid at such cost many of the
members were incredulous. Here
are the figures for the belief.
A square yard of pavement can be
laid here for less than a dollar, prob
ably as low as so cents. The differ
ent items in this estimate are brick
so, costing 30 cents if common red
brick is used. Fire brick will cost
so cents. Excavating will cost at
the highest estimate Is cents a yard
that is under each yard of pavement.
The sand and stone used in prepar-
ing a foundation should not cost
more than the same sum and 'maybe
done for less. The labor in laying
the pavement need not cost more
than 10 cents yard. This brings
the cost up to 70 to 30 according to
the kind of brick used. Allowing
for the greatest possible cost for ev-
cry item the yard can not cost more
than dollar.
Main street can be paved nearly
in its entirety for $4,000 cost to the
town. This will seem to be an OK
aggerated statement but if the OBJ
.ector will do little figuring with
Parkersburg's experience as basis
he will find that the estimate is not
too low Once paved the cost of
keeping the streets in repair will
amount to minimum. The small
piece on court alley is an object les
son on that subject. In the four
years in which it has been used
there has not been cent paid out
for its maintenance. In other part s
of the town there has been expend
ed enough to pay the interest on the
investment which paved streets would
and they are never in fit
condition in many periods of the
year. Ent what is the use of argu-
ing for paved streets There is but
one side to the question and when
the people know how cheaplv they
can be had they will be quick to get
them
The mass meeting to be held next
week is respectfully asked to consid-
er these statements and the paper
which is the text of this article In
the meanwhile this paper will be de-
lighted to hear what the people have
to say on the subject and invites
suggestions on the matter.
The paper is as follows:
On the subject Of " What kind OF
pavement will come within the limits
of the finance of small towns?" Mayer
Thomas, of Parkersburg said:
"Street paving is subject at pres
ent attracting the attention of mu-
nicipal authorities all over the coun.
try. An important question that
arises in its discussion is "What kind
of pavement will come within the
limits of the finances of small towns?'i
"For myself, think this question
has been answered by the advent OF
vitritied brick or block and fire clay,
not only because of its cheapness in
comparison with other paving, but on
account of its durability, and, from a
sanitary view, the ease with which it
may be kept clean. While it is com
paratively new material it has been in
use long enough to prove its fitness
for certain requirements in the con-
struction of good streets.
every town and city in the coun-
try, no doubt, has had puzzling and
often disastrous experience in trying
to solve alone, or with the aid Of a
few hints from the outside, this very
trying problem. 1t may be interest
ing to the members of this associa-
tion to hear something of the practi-
cal experiences of our town, Parkers-
burg, West Virginia.
81 will first state that our city
charter provides that street paving
may be ordered by council in response
to petition of majority of the abut-
ting property owners on any street, OF
by three-fourths vote of the council
in favor thereof, without such petit
tion. Two thirds of the cost of such
paving between street crossings, or
between street crossings and alleys is
chargeable against the abutting prop.
erty owners, the remaining one-third
together with all street or alley cross
ings is paid for by the city.
When the council orders street
paved an ordinance is passed to that
effect and the city engineer is directed
to make an estimate of the work to
be done and draw a profile of the
street with cross-sections that bidders
may know just how much material is
to be removed. This profile together
with the specifications for such sork
is placed in his Office for the inspection
and guidance uf bidders. Advertise.
ments for proposals are then published
in the town papers for at least ter
days prior to the opening of the same
each bid to be accompanied by sam.
pies Of brick OF block, gravel and sand,
bid on. After the opening OF bids
council decides upon the make OF brick
CT block to be used, and awards tht
contract to the lowest bidder in &C
cordance with the material selected
The grade Of the street being estab