672 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



laid. The loose dirt, or what remains of it, should be swept off 

 the concrete foundation, and cement or bitumen should be put 

 between the concrete and the iron. 



As to the grooving, it is inexpedient. The omnibus men, who 

 propose it, do not pretend that it will save the cost of it; they 

 advocate it on the ground of humanity to the poor horses. But 

 Avho does not know tliat it is better for the happiness of horses 

 that tlieir career should be terminated as soon as possible after 

 they get into the omnibus service? The fact is, their proprietors, 

 to save themselves a small amount, in loss of horses, wish to 

 saddle the city with a loss of $20,000 a year, in interest, and extra 

 wear and cleaning of pavement; and to inflict a greatly increased 

 damage from dust, upon the goods and the clothing of those who 

 pass through the street. The grooving, boring holes, ramming in 

 gravel, and other quackeries, will do more harm than good. The 

 true remedy is iron paving. 



What form of indentation is best, is a question I don't wish to 

 study into, not having time to spare; but Mr. Filkins' appears 

 to be the best I have seen. I anticipate the introduction of car- 

 riages propelled by steam, compressed air, or some other more 

 convenient, if not cheaper, agent. And these carriages will do 

 all the work, both for passengers and goods. If this sliall come 

 to pass, grooving will be unnecessary. A good level will be 

 ample security against the slipping of human feet; and tlie slip- 

 ping of wheels is a question to be settled between engineers, on 

 one side, and on the other side, the visionaries who still declare 

 that wheels will slip if they are not roughened. 



After steam has underworked and thereby superseded horses, 

 in all kinds of vehicles, iron paving will be the only kind laid in 

 thoroughfares and wealthy streets. Then locomotive carriages 

 may be introduced by those who are constrained to economize; 

 and a man may, with his hands, do the service now done by 

 about every coach team; and his vehicle will cost a quarter as 

 much as the present coach, that is built to resist the violence of 

 rough and uneven, pavements. You may then ride for a quarter 

 of the present fares; and your eyes and lungs will not suffer 

 from horse dust, or pavement dust; your ears will be relieved 

 from noise, your clothes from mud, your boots — 



