Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-17
CHANGE MADE IN COMMITTEE.
Macadam Suburban Road Cheap
er and Better, but Automo-
bilists Prefer AsphaItum.
so the City Council Committee Blocks
Wishes Of Property Owners In
Favor of Aristocrats.

The property owners on First South
street, between Second East and Tenth
East. are wiser but not richer, except
In experience from their recent en-
counter with the common council OF
Salt Lake City.
When they learned that First South
street would be paved within a short
time. the people living on that street
began TO hold meetings. They Knew
from the. experience of the people on
other streets that the ordinary cement
concrete asphalt pavement is excessive
Nv expensive besides being noisy. IL
was therefore. suggested by number
of the residents along First South that
what is known as macadam pavement
should be adopted,
CONTEST ABOUT ROAD MATERIAL
Committees were finally appointed to
lay the matter before the council. 1t
seems that q large majority represent
ing about 4,500 feet of the abntting
street property. endeavored to get
macadam pavement laid, while NIL
nority representing about 1900 feet or
AUDITING property argued In favor of
the cement asphaltum pavement
The majority appointed committee
consisting OF MesSrs. Goshen, Keysor,
Miller and probably another,
The minority appointed Messrs.
James, NJ. Hamburger and Doremus.
For some reason only the minority
committee, each of whom spoke, was
heard by the street committee OF the
council. The argument that seemed
to be chiefly relied upon was that the
cement-concrete and asphaltum road
liz the best for automobiles. and that
the macadam road win not stand US
age under the wheels of the heavier of
these forms of road engines. This ar
gument completely captivated the city
council committee. The majority
property owners We're not heard in de-
Tense of macadam. and finally compro-
missed with the minority committee in
favor OF Utah asphaltum.
THE MAJORITY DEFEATED.
AT all events, the majority did not
get what they had resolved upon. Mr.
Black of the council was especially
active in defeating the macadam pro-
position. He was heard to say that
he had had enough of macadam.zed
streets. He lives on Sixth East,
where one of the recent hascos with
blue limestone macadam is in evil
dence. But he also said that he was
opposed to all macadamized roads.
The compromise on Utah asphaltum
did not please him, and in the regu-
lar council he further attempted to
substitute the California oil product
called asphaltum for the real material
found in Utah.
COST OF PAVING.
1t is now uncertain as to which
kind of asphaltum will be used on
10, nj ct for M "
ing the street was not let because the
bids We're too high as compared with
the estimates Oh which the assess
ments were based. The estimate OF
the city engineer was that the paw
ing of this street with cement-as-
phaltum viii cost S11 per front foot
on each side of the street, or S14,652
PER linear block 10 the abutting prop
crty owners. besides the city's pro-
portion TO be paid for by all taxpay-
crs amounting TO between $500 and
S4.s00 per linear block.
Some property owners preferred
Utah asphaltum with macadam
base, at cost OF $3.50 to $3.50 per
foot according TO width. Others de-
sired macadam at from 81 10 Sc pei
foot.
The street-paving matter has been
prominently before other organiza-
lions
At recent meeting of the good
roadt committee of the Commercial
club, the merits of the best materials
for acadamizing were carefully con-
sldefad.and recommendations were made
that the city council be petitioned 10
investigate the qualities OF the rock 10
be found In Dry canyon, whore the city
has extensive holdings OF its own. II
was also urged that the reports of the
United States department of agricul-
ture ON the relative values for road
making purposes OF the different class
es OF rock found here be especially con-
sidered, and that a practical test be
made of the material referred TO by
the good roads committee. In n formal
communication drawn up for presenta-
ton to the council, the latter was
asked 10 investigate also the cemented
gravel which is plentiful along the
Davis county road.
RELATIVE MERITS.
The relative merits of the various
competing kinds Of stone owned or
offered by individuals or corporations.
however, Is not the question. The
News" has simply this to say on the
merits OF competing materials: that
none should be used that has not been
tested according TO established methods
and found worthy according 10 stand
ards adopted by scientific investigators
and the practical experts OF the de-
partment OF agriculture,
From all dat can be learned. now
ever, the proposition 70 use asphalt IN
stead or maeadam on the suburban
streets, Is not In the best interests OF
the people OF this city, chiefly because,
as shown above, the cost Is SO heavy
that the property owners VIII scarcely
be able TO bear It. From tho sanitary
and social aspects macadamlzed road
OF good material seems more satisfac-
tory than am other pavement where
the traffic is net heavy, for the follow
ing reasons:
L. II " less noisy.
2. II gives a little 10 the horses feet
and Is therefore less injurious to the
animals,
3. It's dust Is less offensive than that
fIon, asphaltum streets. or course
tho blue limestone dust from the re-
ant "a iltrsa ,cudQtnn-H n tltig nan