Streets of the Metropolis. 295 



rank of rammers behind. The fact is, the rammers should be 

 before, and not behind the men who place the stone. Pavement 

 laid on a sufficiently solid foundation, needs very little after- 

 ramming, if properly bedded in sand, and laterally connected. 

 The labourer, in using his massive implement, directs all his 

 attention and powers to produce regular smoothness, instead of 

 durable firmness. The stone which happens to lie too high, 

 receives repeated blows of the rammer, while the very next, 

 perhaps, which has been placed too deep, is scarcely touched. 

 This, it is true, makes neat, but not durably firm work; for 

 unless every individual stone in the surface receives an equal 

 share of the rammer's force, the pavement will soon become 

 irregular from the action of heavy carriages. 



To obtain, therefore, a smooth and durably firm pavement, 

 the bed of soil on which it is to be laid should first be put into 

 proper form, and equally consolidated ; and, if possible, of 

 equal consistence throughout. A carriage road, whether paved 

 with stones, or Macadamized, requires a solid, yet somewhat 

 depressible bed to rest on : otherwise the surface material would 

 be soon worn down by the grinding action of wheels. The 

 surface material, which yields a little to pressure, lasts much 

 longer than a road which reposes even on a solid rock. 



A few words may be added respecting the watering of the 

 streets; this, when done timeously and properly, has many 

 advantages sufficiently obvious. But it is too frequently done 

 carelessly : too much water is thrown on at once, which not 

 only lays the dust, but is soon trodden into a deep covering of 

 filthy mud : the watering carts then disappear till this mud is 

 again dry, and flying in clouds through the streets, when it is 

 again diluted into mud. This watering should be done pro- 

 perly, or not at all ; and were the dust, when moderately moist, 

 swept off and carted away immediately, it would save the 

 scavenger much trouble and expense, and render unnecessary 

 their laborious and bespattering scoop-work. M. 



