successful improvement in the way of horse-shoes. I consider 

 there are good opportunities in this direction both in respect 

 to the form of shoe and the method of shoeing. 



We have not yet succeeded in finding a suitable description 

 of street-paving calculated to afford a sound and good foothold 

 for the animals, and at the same time durable and inexpensive. 

 The shoes which are put on horses are made to obtain this 

 kind of foothold ; but the shape and form of the shoe are never 

 thought of in the construction of the upper surface of the road- 

 way, and it is absurd thus to give a purchase to the animal in 

 pulling his load without some suitable going for a good grip. 

 The present street-paving is not at all satisfactory, and con- 

 sequently nearly always more or less under repair. Had the 

 same pains and expense been incurred in forming the old- 

 fashioned granite roads as is now incurred in keeping the 

 present wood-block paving in position, the result would have 

 been much more satisfactory and much less expensive, as the 

 first outlay would be the only expense attending it. I feel cer- 

 tain that the granite-paved road, on a hard Portland cement bed 

 well laid to a good curve, would be much more durable, better 

 for the horse's feet, and much cleaner for the foot-passenger, 

 than any other kind which has since been devised. It would 

 be a saving to the ratepayer, in this respect that repairs would 

 be less frequent. The maintenance of our present system of 

 paving forms a serious item, and anything likely to reduce the 

 burden should not be thrown away. 



Again, under the present condition of our streets at certain 

 times in wet weather, it is quite impossible for a foot-passenger 

 to pass along the populous thoroughfares without being be- 

 spattered with mud of a very adhesive description. Such is 

 not the case with stone-paving laid to proper falls, which is 



