Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-27

the fact that it will become unsanitary in
due course. When the oils which have
been forced into the blocks have eXuded
to mc-eXtent the blocks themselves are
then capable Of absorbing the pollution
of the streets. The result may be
Imagined. 1t would, of course, be neces
sary TO use diSinfectants or deodorants
in case such conditions arose here, as.
indeed. | have been told, they have been
usedein other places to some extent.
Again, for considerable period, wood
blocks give off such quantities Of oil and
kindred matter as to constitute Il great
nuisance. This is particularly trnc in
the summer season. The city Of Chicago,
! am Informed, has been made the de-
PENDANT in heavy suits for damages arts
ing out Of such n condition as | suggest.
streets Width Detriment.
An objection that applies particularly
to the use of wood block in Broad street
arises from the fact that the width of
the highway is so great. / am told by
persons who have no objections to the
use of wood block in narrow streets that
in wide streets, under the many sudden
anu extreme changes Of temperature to
which this latitude is subject, the blocks
creep or runs, rising into humps or
falling into hollows, disturbing the whole
surface of the street and causing much
ditions.
Another grave objection and one which
n'lshS very heaNlIy Win me, is tnat
there Is apparently no competition
worthy OF the name in this style Of pave
lnent. While, of course various con-
tractors will be found bidding on the
Work, the material. am Informed, almost
invariably comes from one source, which
Is IN the possession of number of
patents. ! would be unwilling to throw
the paving of our principal street into
the hands of monopoly and. because
OF the patent control of which have
spoken, the city might iud itself in pro-
longed litigation, with eventual heavy
expense, should it attempt TO encourage
real competition.
] would venture to suggest to Your
honorable body that you obtain figures
on the cost of paving Broad street with
granite block, according to the modern
method: that the work be divided into
ut least three sections, so that the
liVeliest kind OF. competition may be had +;
that the bidders be required to submit
proposals involving the use OF the present
blocks broken or dressed to the standard
size, as well as for the use of entirely
new blocks 1t has been suggested to me
that the Use of the old blocks, dressed to
the modern size would mean "A great
saving. ! would also suggest to your
honorable body the adyisability Of ex
Gliding from the repaying that section of
Broad street lying south of Camp. |
have not had an opportunity of going
into this detail thoroughly. but there
seems to be considerable opposition TO
the putting down of any new pavement In
the section mentioned
There has been Il suggestion to the
effect that | might, In this matter, divesi
myself in some way of responsibility aud
transfer the blame, If there should be
any, to the shoulders of those who spoke
for wood block. ] find myself unable to
agree to this proposition. Ii seems TO me
that l was elected by the community al
large TO CARRY out Its wishes so far as
understand them. and the pledges that
have made TO them, and that | cannot
in In 1t
volved in such situation The SAINT
burden of responsibility. 1t seems 10 mo
rests upon other officials who have to dc
with this problem. II | lave misyead 81
do misread public sentiment in this nut
ter. am prepared 10 accept .bc con Sc
HiisLceS