The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-27
THE COST OF PAVING.
The Fist Cost Is Not the Criterion
Lasting Qualities, Cost of Maintcn-
ance arc of More Importance Than
First Cost.

pavement, IL IS or vital importance
both to the city paying commission
and the propety owners and citizens
that the price bid be not considered
sole criterion" said John w. Sibley,
secretary and treasurer of the South
ern Paving Brick Manufacturers As
ISOLATION, who is guest at the Clare
mont Hotel and visiting Sumter in
the interest of vitrified brick for the
proposed contract to be bid upon In
the near future.
Mr.. Sibley is a resident. Of Birming-
ham, Ala. and was president uf the
Chamber of Commerce Of that city In
1912, and has been engaged in the
brick business for, rs years, in the
paving and building branches Of the
industry. He has served as treasurer
of the National Brick Manufacturers
Association for twenty years, so should
be In position to speak with some de-
gree Of authority on the brick situa-
ton.
He is not, he says. here to sell any
goods or to take any contracts, but the
association he represents desires to
cooperate with the city authorities in
securing the best type of material for
the splendid specifications prepared by
the engineers.
THE principal disadvantage that
brick labors under. In a comparative
bidding with most other forms of paw
ing" said Mr.. Sibly, lis the seemingly
higher cost. But when a careful
analysis Is made Of all the elements
that should be considered In ascertain
Ing the first cost, the excess Is more
tanned upon bonds or certificates of
the money to pay for the work is OBJ
tanned lupOn bonds or certificates of
long duration, with consequent semi
annual interest charges. If the pave
ment adopted should wear out. long
before the maturity Of the obligations,
1t would, be manifestly poor economy
to select such type simply to crafty
the ntaural desire to spread the paving
over the largest territory.
Sumter has had brick pavements
under constant traffic for several
years. which have cost nothing for re-
pairs and 1t has proven most dur
able and dependable material. In
many cities brick have been In use for
twenty years without costing a dollar
for. repairs, and arc still good for
many years 20 cone.
40 other form of paving proposed
for the work here can stow any reg
ord aDProximeting this anywhere.
2 Now. ~ some other form Of paw
Ing would have to be constantly re-
paired and re-surfaced within ten
years, as the experience Of so many
other cities proves beyond contradic-
ton, the sum of 90 cents to $1.OO per
square yard would have to be added to
the PRICE bid on, other materials in
comparing the first cost with brick.
I'm the matter of cleaning the
Streets the testimony Of the superin-
tendent Of street cleaning in the city Of
Cleveland. Ohio, shows that It cost
$4,000 less per mile per annum to
clean brick than any other kind Of
paving, or ZOO per mile inrten years
So that 20 cents more per square yard
should he added TO the price bid on
other material. In comparison with
brick. ...
"On account Of brick being the most
sanitary form OF paving. 1t is hard to
calculate the amount saved to the
from that standpoint. In
the noxt place, brick originates no
dust. which : side from comfort and
appearance. saves vast amount to
merchants in the business section and
housewives in the residence sections.
"Vitrified brick paved streets have
done more to increase the value of
item e Improvement The fact that
when IN. pavement is once down the
PROPERTY owner has no further ex-
pense is a forceful argument. 1t adds
to the beauty of the neighborhood. and
it's smooth, even surface reduces noise
to minimum. Nearly all the resi-
dence streets In the great city Of Cleve-
land. Ohio, are paved with brick. '
Brick has no oiled or tarry top sur
face to soften In the heat Of sum-
mer, to emulsify with waste or foreign
matter. neither does it reflect and in
tensify the heat, nor disintegrate by
low temperature, nor evapOrate in
high temperature; it remains intact
in all extremes OF weather.