STREET IMPROVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 200, 19 May 1920, Page 3

STREET IMPROVEMENT

THE BETTERMENT SYSTEM

HOW IT OPERATES IN

AMERICA

"Throughout the. United States of America and in Canada (says the City Engineer, Mr. W. 11. Morton, in his report to tin- City Council) the cost of permanently paving streets is "borne by the owners of property abutting on such streets, and is not a ehnrge against tha general revenue of the city. Sucih work is invariably carried out as it result of a petition signed by fifty-one • per cent.j or more, of the owners of the abutting properties. The municipality, after compiling the necessary rolls ami ascertaining that the majority have signed the petition, calls for fenders, and charges the work against the owners generally, according to the extent of frontage of tho various properties. In the city of Montreal ,it was found that these powers "had been granted to the province of Quebec only within the last rear or two; and that the possession of such powers was cordially welcomed by the engineer of the city as a moans of gelling the streets of the city into proper order and condition. "One was charmed with the-manner in' which mhny of.the best streets in cities of U.S.A. and Canada were kept. There were permanent bituminous pavements with' grass edgings nnd concrete footways and extensions in grass in front of the properties without any fences, and the whole kept in perfect order. ons could not help wondering how the cost of such work was met, particularly when in the same cities manv of t:lio streets were in a- very second-rate condition. This was, however, the result of the system outlined above. It waa cle.v that -many advantageous l'Mults could he -claimed for the American system of financing street pavements os 'compared with the system in INew Zea and. I'eoole who desire greatly improved roadways,, footways, etc., can get them if the majority are inclined to bear the cost, whereas ■ with the system that obtains here tho general practice is to battle' as hard as possibje .with the idea of obtaining some extra benefit from the funds subscribed by the general body of rate- I payers.

• "It is-necessary to point out that r <\ .oan to obtain the necessary funds fothe essential work of permanent paving for the streets of this city on which, the heaviest traffic obtains, and where the most- economical results would be deriv- . Ed, is not likcty to be sanctioned unless other worts of much less important ch<iractei' are included in the sanie schedule • for tiic various'outlying districts of the ■ city. This appears to show a waste of financial energy in endeavouring to secure what is most urgent and 'essentia!. It'is difficult to urge thot the residents of the outlying districts obtain any benefit from the permanent paving of one . of our most important city streets. Nor ■ can it be urged that the owner of city property, unles.? he is a motorist, is in any way/benefited by any sum of money expended on road construction in one of the outlying districts. >' , "In many instances 1 under the American system, the. municipality does not even take over the street after it has been ,pe-nmnently constructed, although there is in some States on agitation to this end. Generally iihe city becomes liable only for the repair of the road surface during its lifetime, and when renewal is required the owners of the properties abutting are again confronted with the cost of renewing the road surface._ but this of course is not of so expensive a, character as wihen the perir<aneiit foundation' has to be constructed, the latter , generally being- sufficient for . several renewals. The, system referred to is not confined to America, but is one which has obtained for many years in Germany. There is an immense amount of information to ■ be obtained on ' this subject, but in considering the oflroad construction and the meMcds by which the most excellent specimens of "road construction ire.. obtained in America it is necessary to inquire into this aspect of the matter. On leavi-e Ai"e.ri.Cjv ,it. ; seemed:.,j>erfectlv clear ..-that the 'greatest' perfection'attainable t-'He construction of Toads had boon oV:fynr>d in that country, and during th" remainder of my trip abroad I raw nntHnjr v-'iich caused me to a'.frr my o"rijo-i. This.' liowever, must-not -be fa ken to ni'mi that no class of road eonstruction ■than those. Adopted in America is worthy of consideration."