Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04

IL LIE T. LIN NU > al
soon becomes evident there is no need of
1t. so exactly do the blocks fit. Once the
wet sand settles the pavement is as solid as
If 1t were a single block.
The concierge of the apartment house 1
inhabit had come out to take the air, and
stood chatting with the inspector and my
self.
How much is this going to cost Nine la
Comtesse?" / asked
Meeting the Cost.
The concierge, a discreet old man,
shrugged deprecatingly. Ma fol, madame
has paid nothing yet, and says she will pay
nothing as long she can fight it off, he
answered with covered smile, because
Nine. la Comtesse, our propretaire, al
though a comtesse in her old age. began
life as a ballet dancer, more given to receiv-
ing than paying money, a trait that has
followed her into her declining years.
She fought the improvement tooth and
nail. When the petition to woodpave the
street was going about she used her in
f1uence"-whiCh is nil-to kill it. At last
majority, not of individual property owners
but of frontage meters owned signed The
petition. That is to say, the actual ma
jority of individual owners was not in favor
of the Improvement, but the owners of
najOrity of the meters of frontage.
The petition went up to the project OF
the Seine by way of the municipal council
lor of the ward. 1t was he, heavy prop
erty owner in the block, whose adhesion
gained the day. The decree came down,
irrevocable. The wood pavement must be
laid. Then shortly, without any more dis
cussion, there appeared the citys workmen.
The street remained torn up three weeks.
Today one-half the work is done. Half the
block is fresh and bright with the new
pavement. You could eat off of it! they
say. The other half of the block remains
torn up. Three weeks from it will be
fresh and bright. Then, three months later,
the bill will be handed in to each property
owner.
When n Street Is Perfect.
Our street-which is a street 900 years old
is thus, at last a vote classe in state
of viabilite detinitive, and as such, at the
complete charge of the municipality. In
ciassed' stress are kept in repair at the
expense of the property owners, and the
improvements that at last completely re-
lease them are so extensive that the hest
tation of the countess is understandable.
Complete viabiiity includes the perfection
of the sewer, the laying of water pines Gn-
Guiding the high-pressure prises d'eau thai,
tapping the man pipes. afford the fremen
strong head of wa.er with a simple hose
connection; street paving in stone,
phalt or wood sidewalks in granite or BIZ
tUmen (never brck; street naming and
house numbering Expense of the municipal
ity), the laying of gas pipes expense of the
gas companies), street lighting and water
plugs for street cleaning and gutter wash
ing.
This street of ours now illustrates In its
short length the three kinds of paving in
vogue in Paris Its lower end remains
stcn, paved Gas it was 800 years ago, an i'm
pCrtant suburban highway, running through
a swamp. the watercress nursery of the
kings of France). The two blocks near the
Avenue des Champs Elysees sport the new,
smooth wood pavement, while just across
the avenue although it bears another
Qame) this street Is m3catamlZed for
seN eral blocks until 1t mergeS into the
Avenue Montague. This latter shows, what
is a common thing in Paris, that the mac
adamized pavement may have its modern
suburban and country roads
The Different Kinds.
Each of the three kinds of pavement has
it, particular appropriateness. AS l have
said, the stone-paved street with heavy
blocks six seven inches square and al
most as deep, will for a long time remain
tn" Paris pavement for heavy traffic. This
is because of its strength its little need Of
repair and the safe footing it affords t.
horses dragging heavy loads. That pecu-
la winter nuisance of the Paris streets.
the verSlas, thin sheet of ice formed
rather by the freezing of dampness than
rain. has little effect on stone-paved streets,
when asphalt and wood pavementS are rem
dered impossible. Macadamzed streets
supposed to be indicated where the traffic
is little more than light carriage driving,
as in aristocratic side streets in the western
residential quarters and avenues leading to
the. Bots. 1t IS easily broken up and needs
continual repairing The wood pavement Is
the ideal for bouleVard5 and city streets
which have t. bear great deal of light
and middle-weight traffic. the easiest on
horses. the cleanest. the most hygienic, the
least noisy after the macadamized street.
The wood pavement has come to stay il
Paris. STERLING HEILIG.