The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-06-03
THE TRUTH ABOUT MOSCOW PAVING

would not exceed $4,000 or five an
cne-third per cent of it's valuation il
place of the 48 per cent as stated Il
the circular
In paragraph 20, the statement il
made the figures given do not includ
any additional cost or expense which
may be required" This is false: III,
facts are that the city engineers es
innate includes $4,000 to cover miscel
lareous expenses and installing paw
! ing and $4,000 to cover the cost O.
the storm sewer system
Water
In paragraph 20 the statement is
made that more water will be needed
for street cleaning with paving that
as at present This is false. The
facts are the other way Less water
/ is needed to lay the dust on a water
proof pavement than on dirt and
rock street, because there is less dirt
and dust to moisten. The street sprin-
kler can be set to throw finer spray
oil pavement than on macadam, and
tank of water should cover twice
the surface. Paved streets are not
cleaned by water. They are swept
by power brushes There will be less
water used on paving than on macad-
am, hence the water shortage scare
is also false
Storm Sewers.
In paragraph 20 it is stated that
Moscow is so fiat that storm sewers
cannot be made to work. This is not
only false, but it is ridiculous. 1t is
a joke. In Idaho we have such towns
as Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Twin Falls
and others, built on much f1atter lands
than Moscow, each of which is paved
and has storm sewers. There is more
fall in Moscow than is really neces-
sary for this purpose.
COnfiscati0n of Property.
In paragraph 25 we find another
statement regarding the east half of
block |, Original Town, which claims
that paving will work a confiscation of
property. The assessed valuation of this
property is given as $1,000 1t be-
longs to widow and the assessor very
wisely assessed it at much below its
actual value We are informed that
the owner asks $1,000 for it. They fig
ure the cost of paving at $265250
This property is vacant except
wooden building in one corner and
a bill board. 1t is very unattractive,
covered with rubbish, poor sidewalks,
and no macadam on the streets around
ii. 1t is rather an eyesore in that
part of town. The cost of paving
against this property, which has
streets on three sides of it, is figured at
500 per yard. This can be safely
cut to twothirds of this amount, or
about $500, as a total, or $3.50 a year
and Jntprpct at ho
streets were paved the old building
on the corner could then be rented,
and would bring enough in rent to
take care of the entire paving cost,
as it became due. This is not con-
fscation, but must have been selected
by Taxpayers League" for this per-
nicious example as no other piece of
property within the paving district can
be found with such low valuation and
so large a street frontage to pave. In
the residence district of the town, the |
paving will be 20 to 80 feet wide, and
each lot will have less paving to pay |
for 40 to Is feet) than the width of |
the sidewalks on Main street
The Macadam Pavement.
In paragraph 81 it is stated that
the macadam pavement would have
to be removed if asphalt, hassam or
other pavement considered should be
constructed This is false. No prop
erty owner on Main street would favor
paving if this were So The macadam
IS the best foundation for paving that
can be had. The only change made
would be to take some off the center
Of the street and fill in the cutters,
80 as to reduce the crown, or arch of
he street. This is all the change that
will be made. 1t takes less crown in
street to shed water after it is paw
ID than before. The macadam being
IN these streets will reduce the cost
# paving them, as it is the best of
and the layer of paving
'laced on top will not be so thick on ]
hese streets as it will on dirt streets.
n this way the property owners will :,
et the benefit of the money put into
lacadam.
Slippery Pavements.
In paragraph 20 complaint is made +
hat pavements will be slippery, and ,
OF furnish good footing for horses.
his is true of some pavements, but
OF of all Fortunately slippery c
ne slippery pavements are more il
ostly. While we cannot forecast the !.
ct1on OF the bidders, nor of the ccun-
Il, we feel certain that this question S
i'll be considered in letting the bids t.
ONE pavements are practically as h
lfe for teams as any of the present 6
reefs Of Moscow
Opposed Other improvements
We are glad to note that "Tax-
ayers League" in paragraphs 80 and
!, advocates the matchmaking of the N
de streets of Moscow as fast as DOS il
bic, and points with pride" TO the h
cord of the macadam on Main street. n
lring the eleven years is has been y
use Yet, if memory plays no tricks n
It'll us, this same class of citizens, h
I'd possibly many of the same indi- fl
duals, who now oppose the onward :,
'ogress of the city by trying TO de- :.
at paving, were then working II
'ainst macadam, sewer system and to
king high taxes, city indebtedness, II
operty confiscation and unequal dis :,
ibution, the same as today The o
orld progresses, and we note that pl
csc people are also progressing, al
ough about eleven years behind. No
e puts macadam on city streets =
Cities pave Villages ma
damize Country road districts ma =
damize Lewiston is paved. Colfax :
paved. Pullman is going to pave
all Moscow pave? Or macadamize?l
is up to you Be sure and register