The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-27
PAVING MADISON srRrnr.
Seattle, wash, Dec. %, -

Seattle. wash, Dec. Is, 1882.
To the Editor: ] believe the Post'in-
teiligencer, under it, new management
Is anxious to be In vital touch with the
material advancement Of cur city ana am
TO be the leader Of public Improvement.
rather than simply its follower, and 20
believing I desire to arouse the calm.
dispassionate judgment Of it, editorial
department. a. well an the kindly ana
thourhtful consideration Of it, many
readers, to the necessity Of following the
wisdom ana experience of other cities ~
reference to the kind OF pavement 10 DO
used In public streets.
one IL often more foolish than wise to
present such communications on matters
OF Importance, for they often arouse
rather war OF words than calm, con-
'servative Judgment. Yet am 80 deeply
interested In the futurs growth OF this
''Empire city" have watched with sucn
enthusiasrn its emersence rom an oy ,ss.
grown country town into the larger Ire
Of city that cannot refrain from az
tempting. in my humble way, TO arouse
an intelligent public sentiment toward
the comparative value OF street pave
ments, which. II fostered and sustained
by the ability. enthusiasm and study OF
the press OF this city, will help us 70
avoid some Of the mistakes OF oider ana
larger cities
The city council Ii about to consider
the paving Of Madison street with some
kind of material, and while no doubt sim
cere In It's desire to do right In the mat
ter, IL uniformed or misinformed OF the
comparative merit OF different pavements.
They seem to be confronted with the
bugaboo of expediency, present economy
and overwhelmed taxation. unmindful OF
that great lesson Of political economy that
whatever IL worth doing at all Is worth
doing we'll" They seem unmindful OF
the experience of other municipalities
which have struggled with this method
OF beautifying, adjoining and making val
liable the property OF Its citizens. Inc
invariGble verdict has been to discard
wood brick and stone, no matter how
costly each may have been. and substi-
tute therefor asphalt, beautiful, sub
stantial, practical pavement, adapted to
our peculiar climatic conditions. pride
to our own citizens and the admiration
OF our visitors.
Let me illustrate some of the expert
eral way:
Cheaply built paving has proved to be
a dismal failure wherever 1t has been
tried. regardless Of material used.
Farnham street, one Of the principal
streets in the city Of Omaha, has rock
pavement from the east end to Fifteenth
street: Harvey and Douglas, parallel
have almost entirely diverted the aris-
tocratic retail trade from that street.
Asphalt gives tone to any city where
used; 1t II attractive, clean and easily
kept so. durable, adds value to prop
erty, and, properly built, has as good
lasting qualities as any material used.
In proof of this assertion I would ask
why you find in all Of our Western cities
whole blocks OF asphalt In use where
you cannot find or see even yards Of vitri-
I fled brick or macadam? 1t is because
asphalt has proved to be superior; actual
use has developed this fact.
The three named materials are general
" considered to rank as follows: Asphalt
first. then comes vitrifed brick a very
good second, macadam an exceedingly
poor third. 7 venture the assertion, too,
that 1t will cost more to keep macadam
in repair one year than either of the 9TH
ers In ten years We have here, as above
stated, climatic conditions that are espe-
cially adapted to asphalt. Comparatively
sive heat leaving the asphalt soft, plant
and elastic. and will furnish as sure foot
ing for animals as any pavement that
can be put down.
I would think or suggest that bonds
might be issued to run twenty years for
the payment of this work. This would
enable everyone to protect his property.
The expense of paving the crossings
in all parts of the city should in all Jus
tice and equity be borne by general taxa
tion. no matter where or when done. All
derive their proportionate benefit from
general Improvement. This policy would
greatly facilitate the growth and Inn
provement of streets
l would respectfully appeal to the tax
payers of Madison street for mature
thought on this subject.
Let us have one "tailor-made', street
and many will follow our example
G. w. KITCHEN.