The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-30
Paving Delays.


The unanimous opinion OF all visitors
70 Seattle, and. We are certain. the
opinion Of great majority OF property
holders and taxpayers. IL that great
Injury IL being done TO the city by the
procrastinafion that governs In the
matter OF providing decent pavements.
Fasteners are amazed and disappoint-
ed when they ind that city Of which
they have heard 20 much, one that an
swers 20 their expectations in most
particulars. one that has pros
pcrity and enterprise written all
over II. can show only two or
three streets with sembiance OF
pavement. The condition OF all the
shoroughfares that lead up the hill
from the business district is Disgrace
full. Pavements must be laid. and the
work will have to be done soon. why
cannot the city council and the engi-
neer's department get spasm OF en-
ergy and rush them through without
more deiay7
There is no excuse for hesitation or
difference of opinion about methods
or materials The making Of pave
ments In no longer experimental IT
IN a science whose principles are as well
established AZ those OF the making OF
steam engines And yet we ind Seattle
debating about putting down macadan,
absolutely the most unflt surfaeing for
a city street In ,hls climate that could
be suggested, and an order to that ef-
feet for portions OF Madison street all
most carried into effect. For this there
Ia no possible excuse, and the only
merit derived from delay thus far IL
the abandonment A. that extraordinary
idea
Briefly stated. the facts relating %
pasements are these, There Il no pave
ment worth. having or paying for unless
u rests on a proper foundation. There
Is only one propsr foundation. which
il srou,lng or concrete. composed Of
broken stone and cement. firmly COM
pacted and arched so as TO form a
complete rock foundation. The only
materials that have given satisfaction
when laid a. surfaelng on this bed
are asphalt, vitrlned BRICK. woea block.
ana cubes u granite or sandstone
The best Is always the cheapest. aae
any good pavsmen, repays tourtole
les cost In additions to rental return'
and selilns values OF property 90 i'm
proved
The problem Il thus reduced 60 "a,
simple one u selecting from those sogi
materials the enc best suited 10 cllmat,
ana location, stone blocks ara ohiec
tienable because ~ the aeafenlnE nolsi
they create. but se sulsed to ilne
where drsying and other heavy irave
IL carried on, Wood hloeks sake
splendid pavement. hue t wears GA
more quickly u Ia only the surface
heweyer, that ever needs renewal IA
concrete sahstructure helng. with sa'
variety OF pavement. practically inds
s,ractible brick IL fayosite la man
places. provided make II selected tha
win no; chip and crack. THIS pave
ment. too. h noisy. Asphalt Ia b. al
osida the best, we mlKAt almost say n
only material for Residence streets |
cannot be used on steep inelines, te
cause the surface II too slippery Else
where e Is "a ideal pavement and Ia
been adopted IN nearly al o. The iarSe
cities OF the COUNTRY.
These facts. fortified oy multitude
et experiences extending over a quar-
ter OF century ami Including ,w'
continents. outline 4 prayer scheme o
street pavemvn,s for Seattle, Every
where the concrete foundation must b
put down. for without that there is n
pavement worthy OF the name. so
the heavy business streets down town
a surface OF stone or brick Fpr til