The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-29
MAcADAM FOR STREET BASE.

1t appears that the residents along
First and Second avenues, deferred by
the example of macadamiZing shown on
Sixth East street, are no longer In ia
vor Of macadam for those avenues.
That is to say, we suppose, they are
not any longer in favor of relying alone
upon the macadam for the street I'M
provcment. 1t is held that the rock
used is not the best for macadam pur-
poses, and that tins is the reason for
the dissatisfaction with the macadam
street.
But. as a matter of fact, that is not
the real reason. The real reason Is
that a macadam street is not fiji for
city use. We mean the simple maca-
dam, macadam street with good
foundation and with top dressing of
rock asphaltum, such as the city has
plenty Of in its Thistle purchase Of
couple of years ago, would make the
finest streets in the world for the resi-
dence districts, with but little added
expense over the macadam.
The trouble with the macadam street
is that with the very best rock pos
sible 1T begins to wear and grind into
dust almost as soon as it Is finished
This dust is mud, or it flies with the
wind, and makes things disagreeable in
the dry season. And there Is no way
TO clean off macadam street. 1t can
not he washed; it cannot be swept to
advantages; and 1t cannot be sprinkled
without being nasty. AS we pointed
out at the time, it was mistake to
rely upon the macadam alone for First
and Second avenues. The experiment
on Sixth East has proved the sound
ness of that opinion,
We do not think that. anything has
been lost, however, so far as Sixth East
street is concerned, The plan appears
to be good, the material fair, and as
good, probably, as stone would average
anywhere, The work, provided the
foundation is what it should be, as we
assume that it is, is all right as far
as it has gone. What is needed now is
that when the macadam is completed
on Sixth East to put on a top dressing
of rock asphalt. and the people
there will have one of the finest streets
either IN this city or in any other city.
The same will be true of the paving
of First and Second avenues. The ma
.cadam is all right provided 1T is given
firm and sufficient foundation and
top dressing of rock asphalt. This as
phalt is not so hard as some asphalts
of material which was used between
West Temple street and First West on
Second South street in this city, That
is sort of yielding material, tough
and lasting. IL makes a good dressing
for a street; the only thing necessary
being that the foundation for it be
made secure and level, so that it will
not give and break the asphalt surfac-
ing. We do not think that anything
is necessary on First and Second ave
nues beyond n little addition TO the
specifications. this addition requiring
sufficient top dressing for the macadam
of rock asphalt will be all that is nee
essary TO add; with that done. both
streets would be ideally paved The
property owners along them we are
confident, viii be thoroughly satisfied,
and the residents would thus have
street that would be good for life
time; easily kept clean, not slippery,
and serviceablc for all kinds of weather
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