New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-09
BLOCK PAVEMENT FOR BROADWAY
Use of Asphalt Opposed by the Motor Truck
Club of America
To the Editor of The Tribune.


Sir: Can it be possible that New York
City is going to pave Broadway with as
phalt, merely because a few owners of office
buildings along that street have been manu-
featuring a sentiment in favor Of that type
Of pavement?
Asphalt on Broadway is no experiment. An
asphalt pavement was laid on Broadway be-
tween Canal Street and Fourteenth Street in
1901 under a contract whereby the contractor
was to take care of the maintenance of the
street for ten years. The repairs were so
extensive that the contractor had to abandon
his contract in less than seven years, not
withstanding the contract had been let at
the very high figure of $40 square yard.
The amount remaining with the city on this
contract was totally insufficient to maintain
the street and special revenue bonds had to
be issued for the purpose. This was before
the day of heavy motor trucks, such as we
have to-day. The street was not subjected
to anything like the heavy traffic that Broad
way Of the future is to be subjected to.
Even in those days, when the traffic was car
ried lin units of very much lighter weight
than at present, repair gangs were on this
pavement every few weeks. trying to keep
it in condition.
Six hundred and six thousand two hundred
and eleven dollars and nnety-six cents rep
resents the actual amount expended by the
City Of New York Borough Of Manhattan,
during the years 1908 to 1914. inclusive Gall
the figures available from the various re-
ports of the borough presidents), to cover
the repairs and maintenance of asphalt pave
ments on abandoned asphalt contracts.
This is just that many dollars loss and
waste to be borne by the taxpayers Of New
York City because type Of pavement was
laid on certain streets of the city which was
entirely inadequate to the service for which
it was guaranteed by the original contractor.
Only few weeks ago the Borough of Man
haitian completed the laying of new asphalt
pavement in front of the Park Row Build
ing, 10 to 81 Park Row, and to-day there are
four large holes worn in this pavement along
the line of the rail, one Of these actually be-
ing a constant danger and menace to vehi-
cles, as it covers an area of at least two
square feet and is not less than three inches
deep.
Our investigation has proved conclusively
that granite block pavements as now laid
in Manhattan, are the safest for horse, motor
truck and automobile traffic, and the least
expensive ultimately, even though they do
cost more intialy, and we have interview ed
over 495 business men directly on the first
and second floors Of the section of Broad
way between Vesey and Twcnty-third Streets
and this many have actually signed our petit.
ton asking that granite block pavement be
laid in this section, while a very large trans
portation company and every large user Of
teams and motor vehicles, coal companies,
wholesalers and the Society for the Proven
ton Of Cruelty to Animals and the teamstcrs'
and chautfeurs' unions and the Central Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor have all Endorsed this re-
quest for granite CHARLES G.. BOND,
Chairman Law and Traffic Committee Motor
Truck Club Of America
New York, Feb. 3, 1917.