The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-05-26
DR.. J. D. Taylor, Former Grand Forks
Mayor, Talks on Paving Expert
ence of Home City.
EXPEDITES BUSINESS; SAVES
TIME, WEAR ON VEHICLES.
With Present Sand and Gravel on
Streets, Paving Would Be Cheap
Here, Says Doctor.

The sentiment for paving spreads
like a disease. After you get the
first block you always want more,"
said DR.. ]. d. Taylor, for years
mayor of Grand Forks, N. D., in a
interview this morning in which
Bemidii was given several valuable
and practical suggestions in regard
to the paving movement which is
now growing rapidly in this city.
with sand and gravel at your
door, in fact already in position on
your streets, Bemidji could put in
its own pavements at about one-half
the ordinary cost. Cement paving,
similar to granitoid, ought not to
cost you more than $1.35 per square
yard.
Paving expedeites business and
anything that does that is in keep
ing with the progress of the town.
Your teams loose considerable time
in passing through the sand, and
the wear and tear on your vehicles
is remarkable.
AT Grand Forks our paving has
been very costly because we have
had to ship the materials long
distance. The gravel which we use
is hauled about two miles to the
train and then shipped 20 miles by
rail to Grand Forks. The cement
blocks of course have to be sent
from a long distance. -
In regard to the creosote blocks
of which you speak, 1 wish 10 say,
personally l have always been
opposed to having any organic pave
ment. While creosoting preserves
the blocks for long time, ultimately
they will decay. The creosote pave
ment when new is beautiful but in
clined to be slippery.
We have one mile now of bithuli-
thic pavement and will lay several
miles more this year. This is CON-
posed of six inch concrete base
with top dressing of tar, crushed
granite and cement, spread two
inches deep and rolled with a heavy
steam roller. In my judgment this is
the best pavement of the several
kinds that we have in Grand Forks.
This bithulithic pavement is also
known as Donelite from the name
of the Duluth man who manufactures
it.
We are also putting down
granitory pavement composed of
cement. 1t is smooth when laid
down but lacks elasticity and
| question its wearing quality.
We have laid in Grand Forks, in.
Guiding the plans for this year, a
total of 90 blocks of pavement.
MY idea, as far as Bemidji is con-
cerned, is that it can put in its own
pavement with the sand and gravel
right at its door and that the bes,
paving would be the cement kind
similar to the so.called granitoid
This, in my judgment, can be laid in
Bemidji for about one-half the ordin
airy cost. You already have cement
curbing in place, which can BIT
eliminated from the actual cost o.
paving. 1t seems to me that this
would be the proper plan for Bemidj
to use.
With the material already laid
where you want it, you should be
able, as | said before, to put down
this pavement at about $1.35 pei
square yard. Cement was never a.
cheap as at the present time.
In Grand Forks the pavemen,
is assessed to the abu,ting propert,
and owners have 20 years in which
to pay for it, in annual installment:
if they 50 desire, but l understand
that your charter will not permit
this policy in Bemidji. 1t woulc
be wise for you to change your
charter. You are going to have a
thriving city here and will need city
improvements and city comforts.