The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-10-03
COST OF ASPHALT pAveMgNTs.

COST OF ASPHALT PAvEMEkTs.
1t Is probable that Oklahoma City
Is laying more asphalt pavement st
the present than any city In the coun'
try, Chicago. New York. nor any OF
the more pretentious cities not ex.
cepted. II Is also probable that we
are paying a higher price per square
yard for It than is paid elsewhere.
The amazing thing In this connec-
ton is that these high prices are paid
here almost unmurmuringly when we
the crude asphalt and other In
gradients Of the admixture from
which the base Is laid right at our
door. We seem 10 entirely overlook
the fact that nature clearly intended
our town and cities to be the best
paved in the world II we may Judge
from the lavish manner in which she
has bestowed her bounties upon us.
Asphalt pavement Is made fiom as
phaltum, Portland cemeha crushed
rock and water All Of these mater
ials abound in Oklahoma.
crude asri altum is fo1nd kathe
southern part Of the state-in the
Chickasaw nation-in inexhaustible
quantities.
Portland cement Is being manufac.
tured at number OF places In the
new state and Is to be more exten.
siyely manufactured just as soon as
plants can be erected The deposits
from which 1t is made likewise
abound.
Limestone rock from which the
pavement base is made. Is found in
practically every county
In the light OF these facts. II seems
strange that the cost OF the pavement
remains so high. Surely It cannot be
because OF any scarcity OF materials.
or burdensome freight rates In get
ting the same on the ground
In this connection Il Is interesting
to note that the mayor and city coun-
ell OF Shawnee are Just back from a
trip on which they investigated the
asphaltum deposits near Ardmore.
In an interview. PUBLISHED In the Her.
aid. Mayor StearDs says:
We can get the Ardmore asphalt
Just as It is mined for $3.50 per ton.
on board the cars at Ardmore. A ton
will lay 10 square yards OF paving two
inches thick.
am satisfied that we can use a
four inch base In Shawnee. In fact,
every one Of our party believes that n
four inch base will answer the pur.
pose.
Ny personal opinion Is that we can
ave Shawnee streets with the Ard.
more asphalt at a cost not exceeding
81 per square yard.
From what have learned | am sat.
isfed that we can pave cheaper than
| Ardmorc can. Freight rates are In
our favor. Our cement will not cost
as much and II is possible for us to
use native stone for the base the re-
duction will be less than what It cost
| them.
| We are told that a plant equipped
TO produce asphalt ready for laying
will cost $4,000 would udge that
all necessary appliances. crushers.
etc, would bring the total up 10
about $4,000. Some think the city
would save money by purchasing n
complete paving plant This will se
considered by the council later.
From this Il is evident we are not
improving our opportunities. That is
TO say, we are overlooking the boun.
ties of nature right at our door for
the gracious privilege of paying some
OF these foreign paving concerns the
top price for asphalt pavement.
II the city OF Shawnee can lay as.
phalt for 81 per yard 80 can Okla.
homa city. In any event, the matter
Is worth looking into.-Oklahoman
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