The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-20
The sprinkIing Nuisance.

The sprinkIing Nuisance.
With the approach of spring and the
citing of the contracts for sprinklfng
CUR city streets, we are reminded of
the fact that it has become almost an
open question whether the method of
sprlnkllng in vogue or unsprinkled
streets is the bigger nuisance. 1t was
bad enough, in the old days Of general
wooden pavements, to have them flood
ed several times day with oceans Of
water that rotted the material, turned
the surfaces into mud banks and stood
IN pools in every depression. 1t is
worse. if anything, now that so much
asphalt pavement is in use, to have
this old policy continued.
The people Of ST. Paul are about rina
for revolution in the matter of street
sprinkling. and what they want to
know particularly is why the asphalt
paved streets in the business district
cannot be treated as they are in the
residence section. Up on the hill there
is peace and comfort in the summer
season. You do not have to wade a.
small river to cross the street Wheel
men and women do not have to slow
down to snail's pace or else cover
themselves with filth and take the
chances of an ugly fall. The streets are
kept in satisfactory condition without
sprinkling, and everybody is comfort
able.
Down town it appears to have been
thought necessary, for Ito better reason
that we can discover than because it
has always been done, to keep up the
stantly wet. The specifications for this
years work call for the sprinkling Of
the asphalt streets in the business sec
ton seven times a day. 1t is true that
this horrible prospect is modified by
regulations that forbid flooding, and
require a narrow space to be left in
the wheel. We know exactly what that
amounts to. No contractor can be tied
down to an observance Of these small
details; and we shall have this sum-
mer, as we did last, a system of street
sprinkling that is really worse than
none at all.
Sprinkling is not the proper treat
ment for asphalt pavements. The fact
is so patent, and the consequences of
ignoring it are so uncomfortable. that
we had expected it to be recognized
long ago. The ideal way of taking care
Of asphalt streets is to have them
swept carefully and frequently through
the day and flushed from the water
mains at night. If it costs too much
to carry this out systematically, we
ought at least to follow that method
as far as we can. Have the down town
streets swept as often as funds will
permit and flushed at such intervals
as are practicable. But, for heavens
sake, let the street authorities save US
from the abominable method of caring
for asphalt surfaces that is involved In
the sprinkling system now in vogue.
1t means that about half the day the
streets are hot and dirty and every
passing breeze raises a little cyclone or
filth, while for the other half they are
covered with a sloppy fluid that spoils
shoes and skirts in crossing, whirls into
the air from every passing wheel to
fall upon the head Of it's rider, and
brings man, woman and beast to the
pavement in distress and frequently at
the cost Of serious injury If we can
not afford the ideal method Of caring
for asphalt-paved streets, may we not
at least get rid Of what we have SUI
fered in the past, and what threatens
us in the completion of contracts now
under way?