Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-06
STREET PAVING
WASN'T HARD
Work Last Year Affected by
War Conditions-Erie
Leads Now

Conditions in the material market
and the labor situation held down
the improvement of streets in the
third-class cities of the State to
very large extent during 1918, ac-
cording to figures issued to-day by
the Department of Internal Affairs.
During last year there were only six
miles of improved street paving laid
in 81 of the "a third-class cities of the
State against 81 miles in 1917 and
SS miles in 1916.
From figures received by our bu-
reau of municipalities" said Secre-
tary James f. Woodward, we be-
Heve that street paving is going
cities, especially those which cons cons
meet with the frst-class highway
system and where the State High
way Department is reconstructing.
The data compiled by ]. H.
knisely, chief of the bureau of mu-
inequalities, shows that of the ap-
proXimate total of six miles of streets
paving in third-class cities in 1918.
two and one-half miles were com
pleted within the limits of the city
of Erie in sections where the Gov
remaining mileage was scattered
among almost a dozen other cities.
With its paving extension in 1918.
Erie became the leading third-class
CITY OF the state insofar as paving
mileage is concerned, taking the
honors away from Harrisburg. The
paving report issued in 1918 showed
Harrisburg on the top of the list with
1923 miles of paving and Erie next
with 75 miles. This latest report,
however. showing figures for 1918,
gives Erie 77.5 and Harrisburg 77.05,
the northwestern city leading by less
than half mile.
Erie to Front
The city of Erie likewise leads the
paying -yardage list with a total of
is second with a total of 1,225,S2S
square yards. In this classification,
Chester Is third on the list with S67,-
600 square yards Wilkes-Barre is
fourth with S03,035.S5 square yards,
and Altoona fifth with 779,3S0 square
yards but in mileage tabulations the
Delaware county city is down to
seventh place and Wilkes-Barre is in
fourth place with Altoona holding
the third honors. With less square
yardage than either Wilkes-B Barre or
chester, Altoona has 1921 miles of
paving; Wilkes-Barre, 50.S9 miles;
Johnstown, 1928 miles; Allentown,
4O.57 miles, and Chester, 40 miles. A
wider space between curbs in parts
of Chester is responsible in a large
age and low mileage.
Mileage in the third-class cities of
the State ranges from approximate
ly one-half mile to more than II
miles, and the square yardage has a
range of from 22,62O to 1896
square yards The total paving mile
age in the cities of the third class at
present is well over 700 miles, while
the square yardage runs considerably
over 100000.
A wide variety of paving ma
terials issued in street Improvement
in the various third-class cities but
brick is used by most of the cities.
However. there are probably more
square yards of asphalt than any
other material. The principal kind
OF pavement in use in the cities prior
to January l. 1919, follows: Allen
town, asphalt; Altoona, brick, as
phalt and bitulithic; Bethlehem,
amiesite; Bradford, brick; Carbon
dale, brick; Chester, asphalt; Coates
Vile. bitulithic; Connellsville, brick;
Cory brick; Dubois, brick; Easton,
brick; Erie, asphalt; Franklin, brick
Harrisburg, asphalt; Hazelton, brick
and bicomac; Johnstown, brick and
asphalt; Lancaster. brick; Lebanon,
wood block; Lock Haven. brick; Nc
keesport. brick; Meadville. brick;
New Castle, brick; Oil City, brick:
Pittston. brick; Pottsville, wood
block; Reading, vitrifed brick, as
phalt hot mix; Williamsport, brick;
York. asphalt.
L WO OI lne ClLleSs Erie ana Harris
burg, where asphalt is the principal
kind of paving material used, own and
operate asphalt plants.
The paving tabulations made by
Mr.. Knisely's bureau go into details
of paving construction and mainten-
ance and show at a glance the cost
of materials, repairs, cleaning and as
sessment of costs in the various
cities.
How They Stand
table showing the paving mileage
in 81 of the cities as made available
by city authorities and compiled by
the bureau for 1916, 1917 and 1918
and the order as of 1918, follows: