The San Francisco call., 1899-07-07
STREET-PAVING PROBLEMS.

!, IIH good reason most of the space of the
w current number OF the Merchants Association
Review is given up to the report upon Street
Paving in Eastern Cities made after personal nves-
tigauon by l. NJ. King, superintendent OF the asso-
citation, The report is not confined to statements of
fact concerning Eastern paving but applies the re-
suits OF the experience there to the paving problem
IN San Francisco, and is, therefore, OF more than
ordinary value
After general review of the kinds and qualities OF
pavement most approved in progressive Eastern
cities Mr. King points that one obstacle in the
OF good paving in San Francisco has been
that Cheapness is often the main requisite when
such work has been undertaken. The result is that
Our pavements in many have not been properly
laid at the start, and therefore, soon prove unsatis
factory to the public.
In illustration OF the difference between the re-
suits obtained by cheap work as compared with good
work is stated that the depressions and IRREGULAR
ties in our bitumnous pavements. accepted here as
unavoidable evils, would be tolerated in the East
at all The report says: "In New York and several
other cities the streetcleaners use wide steel scrapers
instead OF brooms and thereby keep clean twice as
much pavement per our men can keep clean
Samples OF these scrapers were brought here some
time ago by this association and tried and it was
found 1npracticable to them because the pave
ment was not smooth enough The two principal
causes for the waves and uneven surface OF Our BIZ
luminous rock pavements undoubtedly the lack OF
binder and account OF not being rolled PROPERLY
1t is further argued that paving materials other
than those in might be resorted to by San
Francisco with good results, and it is said: "The
time has come when the bitumnous rock interests
should no longer prevent the use in San Francisco
OF asphalta material used in all the principal cities
OF the world, and which is also a California produc-
ton, plea is made also for the use in certain To-
caites and under certain conditions OF vrihed brick
and OF asphalted wood block pavements
The general conclusions are: Admit asphalt Wit
rlfed brick and asphalted wood block pavement in
competition with other pavements Change the spec-
hcaons for bitumnous rock paving so as to require
be rolled while hot with steam rollers Require that
all business streets when repaved with basat blocks
shall have the blocks laid a concrete foundation
and shall be grouted with gravel and asphaltc cement
Arrange if possible that all pavements shall be
guaranteed for ten years with good surety bonds
That the work OF repairing the basa1t block and cob
bic streets shall be done systematically bv dividing
the city into districts and keeping men continually at
work in each district and holding them responsible
for the condition of their districts That as is pro-
vIded in the new charter, the city itself undertake the
work OF making repairs trenches in the pavement
made by corporations and plumbers Finally do
away with the prevailing idea that cfeapness is the
main consideration. Good work costs money but if
properly performed is always worth the cost