Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-03
ASKS PAVING VETO
Be RECONSTRUCTED
Moaes Plaut, Broad ST. Assn
Ecad, Requests Mayor to
O. K. Wood Block.

Plaut, president of the North Broad
Street Business Mems Association, in
which Mr.. Plaut sets forth his rea>
sons for desiring the Mayor to with,
draw his veto to the paving of Broad
street with wood blocks.
Following is the communication in
fall;
Feb. IS. 1913.
TO the Honorable Mayor Haussling:
After reading your reasons for OBJ
jecting to the requirement. Of Broad street
with wood blocks, l take the liberty of
replying to same and offer herewith in
the most concise manner possible facts
that will fully meet your objections.
Your reply to claim one is an admis
sion that wood blocks is the least noisy
pavement known; therefore if the noise
of the vehicles other than the street cars
we're eliminated, it would be great re-
lief, and when you add to that a lessen
ing of the noise of the cars, then this
should count materially in favor of wood
blocks.
There is no noise from the iron tires
nor from the horses hoofs striking the
wood. and there must necessarily be con-
siderable noise when stone and iron
come in contact, whether the stone is
grouted or not
You say there is no experiment with
modern grouted granite pavement; on
what experience or statistics do you base
that statement? Grouted granite has
only been laid for the past few years,
and certainly not long enough to base
such a statement upon.
What roet Of Ranair NVouId Re
Ordinary granite pavement is acknowl-
edged as lasting, and can readily be re-
paired, whereas grouted granite means
granite blocks cemented together with
the best Portland cement grout, or
binder, which, when set and hardened,
makes the surface of the street prac
tically one solid stone, and when n re-
pair is necessary, the stones must be
drilled or Clipped out, making cost of
repairs many times that of wood, and
when the grout is not of sufficient hard
ness to be equal to that of the adjoin-
ing stones, such pavement, would not be
any better than the ordinary granite
pavement. as the tops of the blocks
would cobble in very few years, as is
illustrated in the modern grouted granite
pavement on the Plank Road, laid less
than year ago. See how the edges of
each block have been Clipped away; then
| would suggest that you take look
at the wood block pavement on the Hack
ensack bridge laid over eight years ago,
which today is smoother than the day
1t was laid. and while there, just take
notice of the difference in the noise
caused by a two-horse team going over
the granite and over the wood. They
Hre side by side, where comparisons are
equitable and fair.
You refer to the width of Broad street
AS a menace to wood blocks, and to say
this is revelation, is putting it mildly.
If your information is correct, why Isl
Market street, Philadelphia Dust as wideI
as our Broad street,, not going to pieces,
ms you suggest or why is wood blocks
laid on upper Broadway, Twenty third
street, Thirty fourth street and Forty
second street, New York? Are we to
assume that the highway engineers of
the greatest city in America are fools
and incompetents, or are you willing to
say that it is the result of job on the
part of politicians? IL must be one or
the other.
Quotes Planning Commission.
You say the cost of maintenance of a
wood pavement would be burden. Per-
nit me to quote from the report of the
engineers of the City Plan Commission
of this city, page .:
Fremont street, Boston, laid in 1900.
The city engineer of Boston reports that
practically not one cent has been spent
on that street for repairs, and that the
spavement will be good for at least ten
years longer, according to present indi-
cations. Clinton avenue, Brooklyn, was
paved in 1908. and not cent has been
spent upon maintenance"
And here is case right at our door.
West Park street was paved with wood
blocks for eight and a half years, when
It was taken up to remedy cave-in of
the street These same wood blocks were
laid down again-are there now about
ten years, and have they cost the city
N cent for maintenance or repairs? And
does it look as If 1t will be likely to
need any FOR years to come:
you say that the manufacturing and
commercial interests and the vast body
of citizens are against the use of wood
block ] am anxious to know upon what
grounds you base this assertion. Have
the leading manufacturers and merchants
protested to you? If so, why did not
thew appear at the advertised public
hearing. or at the hearing you so kindly
granted 10 our association? cannot
conceive that the vast body Of citizens
have suddenly awakened from their
lethargy and taken sufficient interest in
this, or any other civic question, to ex-
press their views, either pro or con-
believe you are laboring under mis-
apprehension in both regards; firstly, as
to the objection of the manufacturing
and commercial interests, and secondly,
as to the great mass of the citizens. The
great mss have had no opportunity of
Judging of the merits or dement's Of
either pavement.
",Ierchants Most Competent to Judge"
IL a main thoroughfare of this otty
now had wood block pavement where 1t
was under the constant observation Of
this great mass of citizens. such pro-
test. if any. might be justified; but un-
iii such time | feel that the Broad street
MERCHANTS and property owners. who have
Thoroughly investigated this subject, are
the most competent to judge, when that
Judgment is backed up by that of the
best highway engineers of this country
1t has been custom in the Board OF
Works to pay heed to a petition for any
imyreyem -st when same was made by
n ne1ogssy of the adjoining property
owners; but in the case of the two most
important streets in this city, you have
dearned II expedient to veto such re-