The National tribune., 1911-04-27

Bank. At Il little distance rise the
handsome church editiCcs erected by
the Pres bvterIans and tIfc Methodists
and the up-to-datc school house. All
three are Of attractive design and
construction, and would be ornamcn-
tai TO amy town in the North This is
particularly true of the church build
ings and the p2rsonagesi which are
built of brick and form grateful va
ricty to the general Use .of wood in
construction. As. far as orc can see
in any direction neatly painted houses
arise amid the green trees, and on
closer inspection these are shown to
have well-cared-for and attractive
grounds surrounding them. In front
OF the houses young trees are planted,
which will in Il short time make The
streets well-shaded promcnades.
The only Objectionable feature IS
the sand, which has been sadly cut up
in the principal streets by the neces-
sary heavy hauling in building. This
will soon be hidden from sight by
paving the principal streets and COW
ering the sand with Bermuda grass.
Bermuda grass grows luNuriantly on
the sand, and soon forms u carpet as
delicate and firm as any that ever
came from the looms and dyed an
cye-restful and never-fading green.
On the grounds of the Shaker settle
ment this carpet is seen at its best.
making Il sWard as soft to the foot
and as attractive to the eye as any
that can be found in the best lawns
Of the North. In most of the older
towns in thc South the sand is COW
cred with This carpet, which spreads
everywhere and is far more perma-
nent than our Northern grasses are.
1t does not seem to want renewing or
fertilizing or tho necessary treatment
of Northern lawns. but tho Bermuda
grass grows because it wants to grow
and will grow lIIXuriantly wherever 1T
has Il quarter of Il chance. The work
Of covering the sand in the city limits
with this beneiicent crop has already
begun, and within n few months the
sand will be hidden from view and
The Bermuda, grass take the place of
the" saw palmetto, which is now so
much i'll evidence on the vacant lots
and littlc-uSed streets. When this Is
done the townsite of st. Cloud will
look like "a great web Of green velvet
dotted with houses and yards. flower
beds and fruit and shade trees:
The Question of Paving.
ON my recent visit | found the peo-
pie much interested in the question
of paving New York avenue from the
station as far us the National Bank
Building. This is now the center of
business, with Il great deal of heavy
hauling on it every day. which cuts up
the sand into yunsightly ridges and is
disagreeable to walk on. Public SELL
timent seemed to trend in the direc-
ton of Vitrifiett brick. ] suggested 20
them the old-fashioned Nicholson
pavement instead. When honestly and
Gl- fIIfn1Iy- laid Ntf.Ian1.,,, 4.
has many advantages over any other
kind of pavement with possibly fewer
features. 1T was quite
a favorite pavement 20 years ago, but
went out of esteem because of dishon-
esty and Incompetence in laying il,
and under the blare of the cranks
who sec disease germs in everything
1t forms a better footing for horses
than any other kind of pavement, and
II watched can be made to last in
definitely The Nicholson pavement is
returning 10 favor, and the great cities
Of London and Paris are. paving many
miles with blocks brought from Aus
tra'ia' and elsewhere
CEDAR blocks were formerly greatly
usad in the pavement. -bu; the people
of st. Cloud have a. cheap material in,
the long-leaVed pines that can be
made to last as satisfactorily as cedar.
There is also an abundance of cypress
around st. Cloud. which is more dur
able even than pine or cedar.
The old way; of laying a Nicholson
pavement was 10 make crown of
Garth. and then lay on it one-inch
pine planks. treated more or less
ihoroly with coal tar. The blocks
were set upon these. coal tar run be-
tween them. and then a coating of
coal tar and gravel spread over the
top. -, -
II Is doubtful whether the hourin,
OF plank is useful. The planks rot !