Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-08-17
AN EXPERT TALKS
ON MACADAM

wife, Is spending few days in thi
city as the guest of Mr.. aud Mrs
George A. Meyers, Walnut street Mr..
Kim was "A former resident of thii
city leaving here in 1871 He is a
! present Street Commissioner of Col
umbia, a position which he has filled
with the exception of brief intervals
for nearly twelve years past.
Mr. Kim is much Interested in look
ing up the old landmarks of Danville
with which his early life was assOciat
ed. He is pleased with the improve
ment on Mill street, although he was
candid enough to say that he has bat
little admiration for the remainder or
our streets, which he thinks are IN
about the same condition they were in
when he left DsnVille nearly thirty
years ago even if not worse
macadamized streets and points with
pride to what has been accomplished in
this line in Columbia That town,
which contains population of IL, 000,
has not single paved thoroughfare
| but maintains splendid system OF
macadamized streets, which max G S
the town unique among other munici-
palities To show how thoroughly the
streets are constructed and what at
| fpnfinn 10 civ n fho 1atail nf Hrai in
ago Mr.. Kim stated that no matter
how heavy nor how prolonged the rain
in less than five minutes after the rain
ceases person can walk across any of
the principal streets without getting
his shoes muddy and all this in face
of the fact that Columbia has no sys-
tenn of sewers
Columbia employs limestone exclu-
| sively in the construction of its streets,
although Mr.. Kim agrees that cinder
makes very good bottom for the
macadam and if properly crushed may
| be used TO advantage instead Of lime
stone in one or more of the courses.
In maoadamizing streets Columbia
employs about the same method follow
ed in constructing the State highway.
| An excavation Is made to reach the
| subgrade. The first course applied il
one of limestone, six inches In the
center and slanting to four inches al
| the sides. This is rolled, after which
another course of limestone smaller il
! size 2l5 to inches thick is applied
which is also rolled The top course
Is made up of gravel or screenings Of
crushed limestone, sprinkled and roll
! ed.
! The cutters. which the property
owners have to take care of, receive
great attention. The use of cobbl,
stones are not permitted brIc6 in al
! instances being used to pave the gut
| teTs. Back of the gutter over spaC,
| fifteen inches wide the Borough lays
I row of fiat stones, which prevent
washing and assists to carry off tn,
water The streets as a rule are sixty
feet wide, which in addition to tn,
roadway leaves ample width for {
pavement and space between the lat
ter and the gutter which is kept neat
ly sodded and where trees are oultiv
ated
On the whole the streets of CoIum
bia, the drainage and all are so salts
factory to the Inhabitants that the,
have mouse for paved streets. which
to begin with cost infinitely more thar
maoadam, are difficult and expensive
to keep clean, and are hard on horses,
causing. especially during the winter
many to fall sustaining broken legs o
other injury.
| Mr.. Kim is surprised that Danville
considering its close proximity t,
limestone, has not long ago macadam
! lied its streets. The natural drainag
at many places is excellent noWher
is it bad. All that is needed is to brinj
some practical skill into play. con
structing a road according to scientific
principles.
1t Is question whether Mr.. Kim
views are not entitled to good dea
of consideration. with the single ex
ception of Mill street the streets o
Danville are little short of disgrace
| Beyond a couple of squares on Eas
MARIE street where paving is talked
of nothing permanent i'll the way o
street repairs is contemplated Her
| and there where mud holes occur
cart load of clnder is dumped on tn,
streets, a system of patching whici
renders the street unsightly in appear
ance and uncomfortable to drive upon
| The harvest of all this will be plenty
Of mud in times of rain and volumes
of dnst when the weather is dry.
The question might be asked wheth
er the time and outlay of money re
quired to pave two or three squares o.
| East Market street as contemplated
would not macadam that thoroughfart
over the greater part of its length anC
| insure "A better and more permanent
| job.
| Take other parts Of town where paw
| ing is literally out of the question al
/ II -