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PHILLIPS
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
ENID. OKLAHOMA
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V. Z(o
106504
ifhillipt Univvrsitv UMHV
Enid, Oklahomt
From the collection of the
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San Francisco, California
2007
Volume XXVI
January — June, 1922
PUBLISHED BY
THE CIVIC PRESS
TRIBUNE BUILDING, NEW YORK
■^'^ ^'-ii-UiUl.LJ[>
Index
Adams, John D 61
Adams, Mildred 543
Agnew, Hugh E.... 11
Aiidress, Dr. J. Mace, 2 19
Ayres, E. F 114
Bankson, E. E.,
223, 343, 479
Bartholomew, Harland, 457
Bartlett, D. K 147
Bassett, E. M.50, 230, 625
Batchelor, VV. C 342
Belk, C. E 32
Besselievre, E. B. .. 356
Bethea, Helen 312
Bevitt, E. D 474
Black, Russell V. N. 254
Body, F. Leslie 369
Bosse, Benjamin ... 134
Bowers, Fred 594
Bradley, E. A. 375
Breed, H. Eltinge... 335
Budd, R. W 61
Buettner, Leo J 323
Butler, J. C 47
Buttrick, P. L 429
Cairns, G. H 420
Campbell, Carlos C. 475
Cann, W. E 567
Carlson, Samuel A.. 442
Carrington, T. C... 165
Carter, J. C 267
Child, Stephen H.,
5, 103, 437, 560
Colby, E. E 242
Cooke, Lee R 385
Corcoran, H. P 593
Cotton, O. D 219
Coulter, Waldo S. .. 427
Dana, John Cotton.. 359
Davenport, O. F... 125
Davidson, Herbert M. 52
Davidson, Lillian R. 52
Davis, D. B 220
Davis, D. E.223, 343, 479
Dollahan, H. L 573
Drernan, Thomas J. 566
Dunn, C. F 373
to Authors
Eisenbeis, B. H
Engler, Irvin
Evans, Frederick N.
Finley, C. A. 223, 343,
Foster, R. L
Franklin, C. J
Eraser, Gilbert S...
Fredenburg, Geo. B .
Gable, John E
Gaines, Price
Garrett, George ....
(albert, Aletha
Griffith, M. D
Gross, Edward Z . . . .
Hagmeier, O. C . . . .
I'all, C. H
Hansen, A. E
Hapgood, B. A
Hardv, W. F
Harth, W. H
Ilaynes, Edward M.
Headrick, VVm. C.
Hennessey, C. O'C.
Henry, R. G
Hilton, Fred E
Hinckley, T. L
Hirshfield, M. R...
Hirst, A. R 454,
Holmes, IHorence. ..
Horn, A. J
House, Harrison L.
Hulse, Fernald E...
Husted, A. M
Hyman, E. H
Taudon, H. S
Jellison, L. J... 233,
Johnson, Geo. A. 417,
Johnson, J. W
Johnson, Wendell F.
Jones, Ira B
Jones, P. A 171.
Jordan, Frank A . . .
Kelley, Robert F. G.
Kilman, Julian ....
King, J. H
Koiner, C. W
Kuhnert, Julius
, January — June,
565 Earner, Herbert B.. 435
169 Lee, Robert E 340
136 Leland, Arthur 241
479 Lenhardt, L. G 564
283 Lewis, D. Hodson. . 65
431 Lewis, Nelson P.... 209
537 Lewis, W. 1 449
566 Lill, Thomas R 181
27 1 Lorg, James H 121
373 Madison, Charles I. 242
33 Mandel, Arch 37
240 Marple, Albert 7
209 Marsh, H. W 442
450 McLean, Bobby .... 145
477 McLcw. H. L 354
59 Metcalf, Ernest L. . 138
39 Moore, Cora Lee... 251
595 Moreland, James B. 132
32 Mosher, Wm. E..152, 623
33 Moynihan, A. J.... 231
568 Mui,.ny, G. T 271
171 Niles, Chas. M.. 366, 446
625 Olsen, Louis 137
138 Palmer, Georsre T... 555
275 Parmley, Walter C. 443
591 Parsons. Frank J... 195
310 Pennybacker, Mrs.
553 Percy V 627
611 Perry, Chesley R... 599
595 Peters, Dr. A. O. .. 322
1 Pierce, W. Dwight,
215 109. 327, 607
179 Phinney, Sedley H. . 258
478 Pinson, James H... 63
29 Pollock. "J. R 118
317 Prichard, Asa B 568
669 Rahn, W. W 269
20 Raitt, C. B 567
36 Rail, J. F 621
34 Rather, L. H 539
4r4 Rebok, Horace M... 341
165 Peed, D. A 361
43 Reed. P. B 143
273 Ridley, Clar'-^ce E. 563
316 Rieke, H. W 136
623 Rightor, C. E 339
149 Robinson, D. E 371
1922
Robinson, John I... 132
Rolfe, William E... 452
Schaphorst, W. F.,
67, 491, 613
Scharff, A. K 379
Scott, O. S 28
Sellers, Charles L.-. 470
Shatts, W. Phillip.. 593
Shepherd, C. H 583
.Sherman, Caroline B. 277
Sherwood, H. F.... 61
Sim, George 449
Simmons, Charles A. 379
Smith, C. A 107
Smyth, R. P 478
Spear, Walter E.... 23
Spencer. D. G 63
.Stafford, James G... 476
Steele, V. H 341
Stephens, J. H 235
Stineman, Norman M.314
Streed, F. L 32
Street, A. L. H.,
79. 185, 289. 393,
.505, 605, 629
Sul'er, A. E 213
Swan, Herbert S 579
Tracy, J. A 177
Linger, Adolph 448
Washington. H. A.. 466
Watts, John C 421
Weil, Lionel 549
Welch, Major W. A. 319
Wells, M. D 243
Wenzel, H. C 337
Westoby. H 477
White. Charles E. . . 47-4
Whitin. Frederick H. 123
Whitten, Robert ... 541
Williams. Stuart L. 592
Wilson. H. Lee 557
Wolfe. Thomas F... 467
Wollmuth, E. W... 377
Wood, L. A. S 3, 425
Woodward. James F. 576
Wright, Stanlev ... 227
Wyatt, Roscoe D . . . 267
Yarger. F. L 448
Index to Subjects, January — June, 1922
As an aid to readers of The American City in
looking up references, the page numbers of the indi-
vidual issues of the volume are given:
January. 1-101 April, 307-415
February, 103-207 May, 417-531
March, 209-305 June, 533-647
Accident Prevention
— Analysis of Public Accidents (pamphlet
notice) 293
— Highway Travel Dangers — Blinding Headlight
and One-Light Car (photograph) 229
— lantern Warning at Night 7
— Neplipence of City or Traction Company in
Trolley-Pole Accident Not Proved — Gn\i-
port. Miss. — (legal decision) 187
• — Publication on 85
— Road Accidents Minimized in Maryland.... 368
— Road Design, Safe 553
— Steps for Public Buildings, Safe'. 405
Sec also "Fire." "Light'np," "Traffic"
Accounting, Municipal and County —
See "Finance"
Americanization
— Logan. Utah 371
— Rochester, N. Y 273
Aurlitoriums — Sec "Buildinps"
Baths and Swimming Pools
— Baltimore, Md., Bath-House with Laundry.. 43
— Birmingham. Ala 312
— Frostburg, Md., Swimming Pool 165
— Harrisburg, Pa., Bathing-Beach 449
— Johnstown, Pa., Swimming Pool 557
— Omaha, Nebr., Bath-Ho'ise in Small Park.. 34
— Palo Alto, Calif., Swimm-ng Pool 130
— Polling-Booths Used for l?ath-IIouses, New-
ark, Ohio 449
— Waterproofed Cement for Outdoor Swimm!ne
Pools 297
"Before and After" Pictures riniiiO
— Highways ' )lj)ji<^
Polk County, Fla. ^ 29
Springfield, 111 r,i.\i-Z-- 269
Transportation Facilitiep In^pr/avedj.l.-; . 49
^ A
In-
^
Bill-Boards and Signs
—Bill-Board Blight
— Highway Sign-Posts
of Concrete
Portsmouth. N. H
— Street Signs
Knoxville, Tenn., Board of Commerce
stalls Signs
Pontiac, Mich.. Tries Oversize Signs. . . .
San Francisco, Calif
-r-Traffic Signs
Somerviile Mass., Uses Old Hitching-Posts
— Wntrr-Supply Advertised, Wayndotte, Mich. .
Bond Issues — Sec "Finance"
Bridges
— Cantilever Bridge Planned for Decatur, 111..
— Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Business Section with
Seven Bridges
— Concrete Bridge. Rome, N. Y
— Fort Smith. Ark
— Turkish Bridge near Mt. Parnassus (photo-
graph)
Buildings, Public
— Hickory, N. C, Municipal Building
— Newton, Kans.. Auditorium
— Plainfield, N. J., Municipal Bu-lding (photo-
graph)
— Plain view, Tex., Auditorium
— Sound-Proof Construction (pamphlet notice)
— Springfield. Mass.. Municipal Group, Etching
— Steps for Public Buildings, Safe
— Waterbury, Conn., City Hall
— Watertown, Mass., City Hall (pamphlet
notice^
Sec also "Chnc and Commercial Organiza-
tions," "Commtinity Buildings"
Celebrations, Civic
— Fourth of July
Cemeteries
— American Cemetery Law (t ook review)
Chamber of Commerce Activities in
Public Affairs — Sec "Civic and Com-
mercial Organizations and Their
Work"
46
61
474
.563
253
56.S
03
34
446
554
137
593
129
477
511
595
405
130
191
627
633
Charities
— Chicago, 111. (pamphlet notice) .
— Community Chest, Cleveland, Ohio
— Fuel Yard, Sharon, Pa
— Legal Aid, New York, N. Y. (pamphlet
notice)
— New York, N. Y., Municipal Lodging-
House
— Panhandlers
— Poor Relief
Massachusetts, 1620-1920 (book review) . .
Toledo, Ohio
Child Welfare
— Chicago, 111. (pamphlet notice)
— Child Labor Decision, 1922
City Manager Plan
— Bluefield, W. Va
— Kenosha, Wis
— Lima, Ohio
— Watertown, N. Y
City Planning and Replanning
— Administrative and Financial Machinery for
Carrying Out the City Plan
— Aerial Photography — A New Aid in City
Planning
Richmond, Calif., Airplane View (photo-
graph)
— American Falls, Ida
— Asheville, N. C
— Bristol, (Tonn. (pamphlet notice)
— Chicago, 111. (pamphlet notice")
— City Planning Commission as Publicity Agent
— Decatur, 111., City Plan a Moral Force....
— East Orange, N. J. (pamphlet notice ")
- — Engineer's Part in City Planning
— European Countries
— Germany
— Granville, N. Y., to Have City Plan
—Hamilton, Ohio (pamphlet notice)
— Hightstown, N. J
—Holland
— Insect Pests Must Be Considered in City
Planning
— Johnstown, Pa
— Kokonio, Ind
— Layout Plan, Preparation of
• — Massachusetts
— Memphis, Tenn. (pamphlet notice)
— New York, N. Y., Metropolitan District....
— Port Development
— Principles of
— Publications on 83, 85, 399, 401, 511,
— Richmond, Calif
— Spartanburg, S. C ._ ._
— Topographic Survey in Relation to City En-
gineering, Flint, Mich
— Watertown, Mass. (pamphlet notice)
— ^Zoning
Akron, Ohio (pamphlet notices) 511,
Appeals, Board of
Atlanta, Ga., Adopts Zoning
Bibliography
New Rochelle, N. -Y., Ordinance (pamphlet
notice)
New York Zone Plan Growing Stronger. .
Ordinances for Interim Zoning
Paterson, N. J. (pamphlet notice)
Premature, Piecemeal Zoning Receives a
Setback, Pittsburgh, Pa
Premature Proceedings Contesting Zoning
Ordinance Dismissed — CHffside Park,
N. J. — (legal decision)
Property Values Increased by Zoning, Chi-
cago, 111 ;
San Francisco, Calif, (pamphlet notice') . .
Why Zoning Pays
Civic and Commercial Organizations and
Their Work 57, 163, 265, 369,
473,
Albany, Ala 269
Albany, N. Y 597
Ashtabula, Ohio . . . 594
Ballinger, Tex 592
Bristol, Conn 91
Brockton, Mass. . . . 273
Calumet. Mich. ... 271
Canon City, Colo.. 373
Corpus Christi, Tex. 267
Elizabeth, N. J 269
Frostburg, Md. . . . le.T
Guelph, Ont 476
Indianapolis, Ind. . . 163
Johnstown, Pa. . . . 271
Keene, N. H 373
Knoxville, Tenn. . . 474
Lexington, Ky 371
Lock'port, N. Y. .
Logan, Utah
Los Angeles, Calif.
Memphis, Tenn. . . .
Middletown, Conn. .
Muncie, Ind
Newark, N. J
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
379,
Newton, Kans. . . .
Plainview, Tex. . . .
Portsmouth; N. H. .
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Rochester, N. Y. . .
Rome, N. Y......
Sacramento, Calif. .
193
452
472
513
250
106
399
3C
295
552
563
281
179
179
209
565
254
281
191
399
385
31
633
326
560
437
93
191
281
103
607
323
470
173
113
513
533
238
457
513
565
63
118
511
461
513
50
541
635
401
625
230
635
128
542
513
270
591
65
369
38
169
591
478
375
593
473
593
477
61
61
273
474
167
Springfield, 111. . . .
Springfield, Mass. . .
Stevens, Wis
Wheeling, W. Va..
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. .
Wyandotte, Mich. . .
San Francisco, Calif. 377
San Jos6, Calif 265
Santa Rosa, Calif.. 476
Seaside, Ore 477
Sharon, Pa. ...171, 474
Sioux City, Iowa.. 59
Spartanburg, S. C. . 63
— Advertising Signs Removed from Street
Poles, New Orleans, La
— Americanization, Rochester, N. Y
— Auditoriums
Newton, Kans
Plainview, Tex
— Auto Camps
Albany, Ala
Corpus Christi, Tex
— Ballot-Counting Machine Introduced, Bristol,
Conn
■ — Buildings for Commercial Bodies
Lockport, N. Y
Sacramento, Calif
— Citizenship Fostered, Logan, Utah
— City Plan, Spartanburg, S. C
— Collection Letter, Sharon, Pa
— College Endowment Fund Campaign, Pough-
keepsie, N. Y
— Easter Egg Hunt, Muncie, Ind _.
— Etching of Municipal Group, Springfield,
Mass
— Exposition of Industry and Trade, Power-
Plant Display, Los Angeles, Calif, (photo-
graph)
— Fire Prevention
Indianapolis, Ind
School Essay Contest, Newark,' N. J
— Fuel Yard, Sharon, Pa
— Highways
Ballinger, Tex
"Before and After" Views, Springfield,
111
Bond Campaign, Sioux City, Iowa
Colorado Cities Build Highway by Volun-
teer Labor
Educational Campaign for Road Construc-
tion, Johnstown, Pa
New Orleans, La
— Hospital Drive, Keene, N. H
— Hospitality Committee, San Francisco, Calif.
— Housing Corporation, Wilkes-Barre, Pa
— Industrial Exhibit, Brockton, Mass
— Market-House Promoted, Lexington, Ky
— Motion Pictures for Community Advertising,
San Jos§, Calif
—Music, Community, Memphis, Tenn
— National School for Commercial Secretaries
— Park from Waste Space, Calumet, Mich
— Playground Made from Dumping-Ground,
Guelph, Ont
— Public Improvements, Elizabeth, N. J
— Radio Meeting, Albany, N. Y
— Rest Room, Rome, N. Y
— Rotary, How It Works
— School Boys Visit Industries, New Haven,
Conn
— School Project, Santa Rosa, Calif
— Sea-Wall, Seaside, Ore
— Sign-Boards, Portsmouth, N. H
— Street Railway Question Settled, Ashtabula,
Ohio
— Street Signs, Knoxville, Tenn
— Summer Schools for Commercial Secretaries
— Swimming Pool, Frostburg, Md. . .,
— Water-Plants and Supply
Advertising Water-Supply, Wyandotte,
Mich J
Bond Campaigns
— Stevens Point, Wis
—Wheeling, W. Va
Civil Service
— Do Civil Service Rules Promote Efficiency?..
—Make It Do What It Was Intended to Do..
^Publication on • ■ •
— Public Personnel Administration, Principles
of (book review)
— St. Paul, Minn, (pamphlet notice)
Comfort Stations— 5"^^ "Health"
Community Buildings and Centers
— Odessa, Wash
— Parties, Programs for (pamphlet notice)
— Publication on
— Toledo, Ohio, Plans Recreation Program...
Community Councils
— Boise, Ida -j • ••.•••
Conferences, Conventions and Exhibi-
tions 65, 161, 247, 379, 472.
— American Water Works Association, 1922..
— Boulder, Colo., "Know Your Community."..
260
595
369
592
57
63
379
273
693
477
269
267
91
65
167
369
63
171
61
478
38
163
376
474
592
269
69
375
271
473
373
377
57
273
371
265
169
603
271
476
269
597
474
599
693
476
477
61
594
474
265
165
63
369
592
442
623
511
191
513
136
635
293
36
114
578
548
241
Laundries, Public
— Baltimore, Md., Laundry in Bath-House. 43
Law, Municipal
— Access by Citizens to Municipal Data, Estab-
lished, San Francisco, Calif 281
— Legal Decisions ,
79, 185, 281, 289, 393, 505, CoV, 629
— Ordinances
Chimney Construction (pamphlet notice). 193
Fire Alarm Boxes Required in Schools,
Hospitals, Hotels, Theaters, Columbia,
s. c ; 32
Legal Decisions on
— Ashes, Removal of, from Dwellings;
Valid — Baltimore, Md 509
—Daylight Saving; Valid— Cincinnati,
Ohio 631
— Hospital for Contagious Diseases Pro-
hibited Within City; Invalid— San
Diego, Calif 79
— Hospital Construction of Non-inflam-
mable Materials; Valid — Dublin, Ga. 289
— License Taxes Against Sellers of Used
Automobiles; Valid — San Francisco,
CaJif 629
— Newspaper Sale, Suppression of; Ordi-
nance Defined 185
— Pool-Room Regulation; Valid — Ocilla,
Ga- 189
— Private Property, Enjoyment of, Ob-
structed; Invalid — Kansas City, Kans. 629
— Professional Men Taxed; Valid — Mays-
ville, Calif 393
— Soft Drink License; Invalid — West-
ville, 111 189
— Zoning, Premature Proceedings Con-
testing; Valid— Cliffside Park, N. J.. 397
Street Railway Service-at-Cost, Toledo,
„ Ohio 560
Zoning
— Interim 230
— New Rochelle, N. Y. (pamphlet notice) 410
—Property Owned by City May Be Resold—
Bristol, Va. — (legal decision) 397
— Trespass on Abutting Land in Highway Con-
struction 605
Liability, Municipal (legal decisions on)
— Affirmed
Assault by Superintendent of Water- Works
Department upon Patron — Durham, N. C. 395
Overflow of Ocean on Private Property —
Southampton, L. 1 397
Libraries, Public
— American Library Association Conference
(pamphlet notice) 295
— Los Angeles, Calif, (photograph ") 257
— Picture Collections for Libraries 142
— Special Libraries Directory (pamphlet notice) 293
Lighting, City and Street
— Adequate and Attractive Lighting of City
Streets 3
^Dangers Eliminated by Proper Highway
Lighting (photograph) 229
— Diesel Engine in Light and Water Works
Amory, Miss 529
Freeport, N. Y 227
— Kansas City, Mo 573
— Kokomo, Ind 472
— Lincoln Highway 517
— Mandan, N. Dak 143
—Miami, Okla., Light Plant 139
— Mt. Clemens, Mich 197
— Natural Gas, Kane, Pa 28
— Night Travel Safe Between Schenectady and
Albany, N. Y. (photograph) 347
— Posts and Fixtures, Lighting 3, 93, 197, 425
Columbus, Ind. (photograph) 93
Kane, Pa 28
Kansas City, Mo 573
Kokomo. Ind 472
Lexington, Ky 212
Lincoln Highway 517
Miami Beach, Fla 197
Salt Lake City, Utah (photograph) 3
Trolley Poles, Use of 3
Tubular Steel Lamp Standards 529
Vincennes, Ind. (photograph) 5
— Prescott, Ariz 310
—Rates
Gainesville, Fla 421
Greenville, Tex 355
— Series Multiple Street Lighting 87
See^ also "Municipal Ownership," "Utili-
ties"
Manufacturers' and Contractors' Items . .
87, 195, 297, 403, 515
Markets, Public
— House for Market, Lexington, Ky 371
— Publications on 191, 295
— Street Markets in the United States 277
Publications on 511
Methods, Materials and Appliances— ^5"ee
"Manufacturers' and Contractors*
Items"
Milk, Inspection and Regulation of —
See "Health"
Mosquito Extermination — 5"^^ "Health"
Motion Pictures
— Community Advertising, San Jos6, Calif.... 265
— Publication on 399
— Road Building 358
Motor Apparatus
— Ambulances (photographs) 588
— Busses (pamphlet notice) 399
— Fire Department Equipment
Cable for Fire Alarm Hauled by Truck,
Cleveland, Ohio (photograph") 65
Photographs 157, 263, 365, 46!)
Pumpers 201, 531
— Garages, Municipal 159
— Lawn-Mower 405
— Motor-Cycles
Massachusetts State Police Patrol 207
Photographs 156, 468
- — Police Departments
Motor-Cycle Patrol
— Massachusetts 207
— PhotograjAs 156, 468, 588
—Publication on 85
— Road Machinery
Graders and Rollers 515
Photograph 166
Truck for Road Maintenance 525
— Snow Removal
Plow 205
Rainier National Park 201
Road Grader as Snow-Plow, Great Bend
and Salina, Kans 87
— Sprayer 521
— Tires, Pneumatic 801
— Tractors and Trucks
Buenos Ayres, Argentine (photograph) . . 54
Garbage Handling, Akron, Ohio 403
Fire Department, Newport, Ky ID'S
Golf» Courses
— Qeveland, Ohio 418
—Toledo, Ohio 413
Highways (photographs)
—Brooklyn, N. Y 365
— Memphis, Tenn 364
— Minneapolis, Minn 262
Snow Removal
— Plow, Tractor-driven 205
— Rainier National Park 201
Street Railways, Detroit, Mich, (photo-
graphs) 54, 689
Street Sprinkling, Three Rivers, Que.
(photograph ) 364
— Waste Collection
Akron, Ohio 403
Dump Bodies 89
Washington, D. C 8
Municipal Ownership
—Bread Shop, TiflSn, Ohio 447
— Electric Light, Power and Water Plants
Amory, Miss 529
Ballinger, Tex 592
Gainesville, Fla 420
Miami, Okla 139
— Foodstuffs, City's Right to Engage in Sale of 505
— Gas and Water Plant, Duluth, Minn 361
— Power-Plants
Grafton, 111 527
United States and Canada 619
— Water-plant, Stevens Point, Wis 369
See also "Lighting," "Public Works," Utili-
ties." "Water-Supply"
Museums, City 359
Music, Community
— Memphis, Tenn 169
Norwich University of Municipal Affairs 6
Nuisances
— Noise
Newark, N. J., Schools Demand Noiseless
City Streets 351
Publication on 635
— Overflow of Ocean on Private Property; Vil-
lage Liable — Southampton, L. I. — (legal
decision) 397
— Sewage Discharged in Stream; Actionable
Nuisance — Cushing, Okla. — (legal decision) 397
See also "Smoke"
Ordinances — See "Law, Municipal''
Pageantry
— Publication on 88
Parks
—American Falls, Ida 257
— Calumet, Mich 271
— Charlotte, Mich., Develops a City Park by
Reforesting 429
— in City Planning 460
— Detroit, Mich, (pamphlet notice) 85
— Evansville, Ind 133
—Granville, N. Y., to Have Park System 93
— Kokomo, Ind 471
— Lawn-Mower 40'5
— Lawn-Sprinkling System, Detroit, Mich 95
— Omaha, Nebr., Small Park — "No Man's
Home" 34
— Petersburg, Va 411
—Photograph .. 363
• — Property Values Increased by Parks, Spring-
field, 111 127
— Roseway, Portland, Ore 611
— Somerville, Mass., Abandons Narrow Park-
way 51
— Spartanburg, S. C 63
—Springfield, 111 125
— State Parks (pamphlet notice) 399
— Street Railway Track Parkway, Salt Lake
City, Utah 214
— Tractors for Golf Courses 413
— Trees Transplanted by Aid of Motor Truck
(photograph") 234
Pavements — See "Highways"
Pensions in Public Employment
— Publication on 635
Police
' — City Mother, Los Angeles, Calif 239
— Motor Apparatus
Motor-Cycles (photographs)
— Macon, Ga 468
— Little Rock, Ark 156
Patrol Cars (photographs)
— with Ambulance, Oak Park, 111 588
— Milwaukee, Wis 468
— Penology in the United States (book review) . 191
— Salaries of Patrolmen, Harrisburg, Pa 51
— Speed Regulations as Applying to Motor-
Cycle Policemen — Duluth, Minn. — (legal
decision) ._. 393
Power-Plants, Municipal, and Their
Equipment
—Boiler Cleaners 491
— Boiler-Feed Regulators 613
— Coal- and Ash-Handling Machinery 199
— Diesel Oil Engines
Amory, Miss 529
Crowley, La 91
Grafton, 111 527
—Gainesville, Fla 420, 586
— Greenville, Tex 354
— Lignite Replaces High-Grade Coal in Munici-
pal Power-Plant, Moorhead, Minn _. . 217
— Los Angeles, Calif., Display at Industrial
and Trade Exposition (photograph) 38
—Miami, Okla 139
— Municipally Owned Power-Plants 619
—Rates
Gainesville, Fla 421
Greenville, Tex 355
— Softening of Water for Boiler Feed 299
— Stokers, A Discussion of 218
— Superheaters, Selection of 67
— Swimming Pool, Palo Alto, Calif., Operated
by Power-Plant 136
Problems of Cities 307
— Attainable Standards (pamphlet notice) .... 611
Publications
—Book and Pamphlet Notices.. 83. 191, 293, 399, 511
— Manufacturers' Literature on Methods, Ma-
terials and Appliances. .. .Adv. pp. 4 and
6 in each issue
—Municipal Reports 85, 193, 401
Clarksburg, W. Va 313
Rochester, N. Y 31 4
Publicity, City
— Post-Cards of Chicago Prepared by Municipal
Art League 19
— Water-Supply Advertising Gives Publicity to
Wyandotte, Mich 63
Public Works
— Cost Keeping (book review) 203
— Greece 23
— Prescott, Ariz 310
— St. Paul, Minn., Saves Money on Public
Works 837
— Unemployment Problem, Public Works Con-
struction to Help Solve, Toledo, Ohio.... 36
Real Estate Agent, City, Milwaukee, Wis 389
Recreation, Public
• — in City Planning 460
— Easter Egg Hunt, Muncie, Ind 478
— -Golf, "Pick-and-Shovel," Sacramento, Calif.. 448
— Grand Stand, Sectional 99
— Playgrounds
Guelph, Ont 470
Harmon Foundation for Establishing Play-
grounds 128
Lewiston, Pa., Layout for Playgrounds. . . 577
Mechanical Greased Pig 409
Newport, R. I., Children Work for Play-
ground Supplies 240
— Pool-Rooms, Municipal Regulation of (legal
decisions")
Atwood, 111 631
Ocilla, Ga 189
— Publications on 293, 635
— Reservoir Roof Used for Tennis Courts,
Arkansas City, Kans 108
— Skating, Municipal 145
—Springfield, 111 126
— Tennis Courts in London, Eng 318
— Theater, Open Air, Santa Monica, Calif.... 340
— Toledo, Ohio, Plans Free Entertainments. ... 36
— Tourist Camps
Ballinger, Tex 592
Corpus (ihristi, Tex 267
Pueblo, Colo 242
Springfield, 111 127
— Utica, N. Y., "Sells" Recreation to the City. 342
— Vacation Camps, Los Angeles, Calif 567
Rest Rooms, Public
—Rome, N. Y 474
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (photograph) 460
Roads — See "Highways"
Rural Development
— Publications on 293, 513, 633
Salaries of Public Employees
—City Clerks 330
— County Engineers, Idaho 445
— in County Institutions 152
— Engineers 391
—Fire Chiefs ..;.•; 248
— Wage Standardization 154
Schools, Public
— Attendance in Delaware Schools (pamphlet
notice) 191
—Bird Study 389
— Bonham, Tex., Schools Lead Fight Against
Mosquitoes 539
— Chicago, 111. (pamphlet notice) 401
— Concrete Schoolhouses (pamphlet notice) .... 193
— Detroit, Mich., Education Budget (pamphlet
notice) 295
— Fire Losses in School Buildings 314
— Fire Prevention Essay Contests
Newark, N. T 375
New York, N. Y 566
— Industries Visited by School Boys, New
Haven, Conn 698
— Opportunity School, Columbvis, Ohio 564
— Picture Collections for Schools 142
— Rural School Consolidation (book notice) . . 191
—Santa Rosa, Calif., School Rebuilding Project 476
Sewers and Sewage Disposal
— Backfilling by Drag-T-ine on Wetherby Sewer,
Detroit, Mich, (photograph) 262
— Catch-Basin Cleaning, Akron, Ohio 222
- — Cleaning Sewers
Antigo, Wis 305
Schenectady, N. Y. 353, 590
■ — Concrete Pipe Sewers, Laying 16
Jackson, Mich, (photograph") 157
—Contract for Sewage Disposal Plant Rescinded
on Account of Municipal Official's Interest
in Construction Company — Milwaukee,
Wis. — (legal decision) ....^ 81
— Direct Oxidation Process of Sewage Treat-
ment, Allcntown and Phillipsburg, N. J... Ill
— Expansion Joint for Reinforccl Concrete Pipe 443
— New Jersey Sewage Works Association
(pamphlet notice) 295
• — Publications on ; • • 293
—St. Louis, Mo., Sewer Under Construction
(photograph) 589
— Screens in Sewage Treatment Plants 95
Bridgeport, Conn 245
Sidewalks
—Kokomo, Ind 472
—Moving Sidewalks, Prize Contest for Design,
Paris, France .•• •■•• 281
— Obstructions, Johnstown, Pa. (photograph) . . alt)
Smoke Nuisance
— Central Heating Reduces Smoke Nuisance,
Chicago, 111 ^^
Social Service ^ „
—Bathing-Suit Inspector Requested, St. Peters-
burg, Pla 281
—in Cincinnati, Ohio (pamphlet notice) 193
— City Mother, Los Angeles, Calif 239
—Community CheSt, Cleveland, Ohio ........ 452
— Lodging-House, Municipal, New York, N. Y. 250
— National Conference of Social Work (pam-
phlet notice) 399
State Bureaus of Municipalities
— Pennsylvania • • • • ^'"
Street Cleaning, Oiling and Sprinkling
— California • ?**
—New York City Street Cleaning in 1770 148
—Road-Oiler, Marion County, Ohio (photo-
graph) 156
— Snow Removal
Plow, Tractor-driven ■ • • • • ■'"o
Road Machine as Snow-Plow, Great Bend
and Salina, Kans. .......... • •••• 87
—Sprinkling, Three Rivers, Que. (photograph) 384
—Street Sanitation Conference Cparaphlet no-
tice) 290
— Sweeper, Bayonne, N. J ^4 <
Street Lighting— 5^e "Lighting"
Streets — See "Highways"
Surveys
—Health, Lafayette, Ind. (pamphlet notice) ... 295
— "Know Your Own City," Dubois, Pa. (pam-
phlet notice) ,- .• • • • °}%
New Jersey Bench Marks (pamphlet notice). 5ld
—Social and Religious, St. Louis, Mo. ... 401
— Topographical, in Relation to City Engineer-
ing, Flint, Mich Ii8
Swimming Pools — See "Baths"
Taxation — See "Finance"
Traffic and Transportation
— Bus Line Operation (pamphlet notice) 399
— Chicago, 111.
Devices for Traffic Control 588
Publication on 513
— in City Planning •. *o8
— Detours During Road Construction 454
— Detroit, Mich., Bureau of Public Safety 37
— Lines Marked on Street for Safety Zones.. 687
— Motor-Cycle Policemen Not Subject to Regu-
lations in Overtaking Speeders— Duluth,
Minn. — (legal decision) \y ?o^
—Mud and Ruts Strangle Knott County, Ky.. 08/
— Road Improvement Affects Transportation
(photographs) *9
—St. Louis, Mo., Traffic Vigilantes 339
— Sidewalks, Moving, Prize Contest for De-
sign, Paris, France 281
— Signaling for Traffic Control on City Streets
387, 643
— Street Railways
Ashtabula, Ohio, Street Railway Question
Settled • ••• 594
Chicago's Traction Problem (pamphlet
notice) • 193
Motor Truck Equipment for Street Railway
Maintenance Work, Detroit, Mich.
(photograph) 589
Relocation of Tracks; Order Void in Ab-
sence of Public Need — Stamford, Conn.
— (legal decision^ 79
Service-at-Cost, Toledo, Ohio 566
Tracks Must Be Removed on Expiration of
Franchise — Detroit, Mich. — (legal deci-
sion) 509
— Tally Machines for Counting Traffic, Connec-
ticut 205
— Traffic Standards and Towers
Knoxville, Tenn 568
La Grande, Ore 33
New York City's Traffic Towers 71
Tree Planting — See "Forests"
Utilities, Public
— Assault upon Patron by Superintendent of
Water-Works Department — City Liable —
Durham, N. C. — (le?al decision) 395
— Employee of Utility Company Cannot Hold
Municipal Office — Kansas — (legal decision) 187
— Laying Pipes Before Paving
Kokomo, Ind 470
Prescott, Ariz 310
— Newark, N. J., Chamber of Commerce Com-
mittee Report on (pamphlet notice) 85
— Regulation
Furnishing Lighting Service Beyond City
Boundaries — Murray City, Utah — (legal
decision) 291
Rates for Light and Power May Be Re-
duced by Agreement Between City and
Company — Pulaski, Va. — (legal decision) 289
Street Railway Track Location Order Re-
scinded—Stamford, Conn. — (legal deci-
sion) 79
— Service-at-Cost, Street Railways, Toledo,
Ohio 566
— Tracks Must Be Removed on Expiration of
Franchise — Detroit, Mich. — (legal decision) 509
See also "Lighting," "Municipal Ownership"
Waste Collection and Disposal
— Ash Removal Ordinance Not Unjustly Dis-
criminatory— Baltimore, Md. — (legal de-
cision) •'"9
— Fly Breeding in Waste 109
— Garbage Collection
Dump- Wagon » <
in Motor Trucks
—Akron, Ohio ■*03
— Dump Bodies 89
— Washington, D. C 8
— Madill, Okla '♦^S
Water-Front Improvement
—Seaside, Ore **"
Water-Supply and Water- Works
— Advertising Water Service, Oakland, Calif.. 11
—American Water Works Association Conven-
tion, 1922 548
— Bacillus Welchii, Montclair, N. J. (pamphlet
notice) 513
— Cast Iron Feeder Mains, New Orleans, La.. 467
— Chlorine, Handling of Liquid 147
— Cleaning Water-Mains 641
— Cleveland, Ohio, Baldwin-Fatrmount F'iltra-
tion Plant 381
— Deep-Well Water-Supply, Montgomery, Ala. . 466
— Diesel Engine in Light and Water Works
Amory, Miss 529
Freeport, N. Y 227
— Diilled Wells, Increasing Flow from 501
— Electrolysis Investigation, Akron, Ohio 546
—Elevated Steel Tank, Portland, Ore 431
— Expansion Joint for Reinforced Concrete
Pipes 443
— Filters, Pressure, Standard S[>ecifications. . . 422
— Financial Management of Water-Works. .417, 569
— Greece 23
— Iron-Removal Plant, Hightstown, N. J 427
— Lawton, Okla 537
— MassacMisetts (pamphlet notice) 633
— Meter Box 407
— Metering a Water-Supply at the Pumping
Station, Camden, N. t 121
— Meters with Breakable Frost Bottom 303
—Meter Yoke 523
— Miami, Okla., Light, Power and Water
Plant 139
— New Jersey Water Resources (pamphlet
notice) 295, 635
— Prescott, Ariz 311
— Pumping Station, Hightstown, N.J 427
— Purification, Iowa (pamphlet notice) 293
—Rates and Rate-Making 223, 343, 417, 479, 569
Duluth. Minn 362
Gainesville, Fla 421
— Reservoirs
Arkansas City, Kans 107
Decatur, 111 SI
Dubuque, Iowa, Covered Reservoir _. . 317
Waterproofing Membrane for Reservoir,
Nashville, Tenn 413
■ — Shipping Water Samples (pamphlet notice) . 295
—Softening of Water _ 299
— Stevens Point, Wis., Campaign for Plant... 369
—Supply Men TTelp Superintendents 424
— Tapping Machine for Water-Mains 531
—Tests for Pure Water (pamphlet notice) .... 401
— Texas (pamphlet notice) 399
— Warren. Ohio (pamphlet notice) 513
— Waste Cut by Metering, Lawton, Okla 538
— Well Screens to Protect Pumps 517
— Wheeling, W. Va., Water-Works Bond
Campaign 892
— Wyandotte, Mich., Water-Supply Advertised 83
Weights and Measures
— Bread Weight Law, Los Angeles, Calif 318
— Publication on 513
Women's Civic Work
— Mayors 543
— Why Women Are in Politics B86
Zoning— 5"^^ "City Planning"
r:
Reinforcing Gravel Roads for
Motor Traffic
The Bituminous Gravel Roads of Hanover, Mass., Have Proved Economical Under
Severe Service
By Harrison L. House
Civil Engineer, Hanover, Mass.
VERY soon after the coming of motor
vehicles, it became apparent that
Hanover must make a change in the
construction and maintenance of its public
highways. Up to that time we had a very
good system of gravel roads and kept them
for the most part in good condition. With
the increased use and changed conditions
brought about by automobiles, the roads
went from bad to worse, until they were in
a very serious condition.
In 191 5, about 650 feet of road, an ex-
ceptionally bad piece over clay bottom with
water standing in the gutters at all seasons
of the year, was rebuilt. This section of
road was broken up with a steam roller,
and the old road was excavated to a depth of
about 6 inches and carted away. A drain
T^^ feet wide and about 3 feet deep was
dug on either side. This drained into a
brook which crossed the road. These ditches
were filled with stones 4 to 6 inches in
diameter, and the whole width of the road-
way was subgraded to a true and even grade
and covered 8 inches in depth with field
stone of not over 6 inches in diameter. It
THE WELL-PRESERVED GRAVEL ROAD AT THE SQUARE, WEST HANOVER, MASS.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
TEEATED QHAVEL KOADS NEAR THE LIBRARY, WEST HANOVER, MASS.
was then covered with a good gravel about
5 inches in thickness, the stone foundation
and gravel being thoroughly rolled with the
steam roller. A road oil was applied to
the surface at the rate of ^-gallon per
square yard, and sanded thoroughly, and the
next season Tarvia B was applied, and now
the road stands up under heavy travel with-
out showing any weakness.
In 1916 a contract was let for the con-
struction of 8}^ miles of gravel road, using
the same binder at the rate of ^-gallon to
the square yard. The town, with its own
men, built about 4% miles of the same kind
of road in 1916, and each year since has
built more or less, until there are now 16.1
miles of this kind of road. In building these
roads we first pick up the road with the
steam roller and then form the subgrade
with a road machine and roll it with the
steam roller, removing the large stones
and any poor material. Where the soil is
spongy or clayey, we have put in a stone
foundation from 6 to 8 inches in thickness.
Of the 16.1 miles, about one-fifth has been
built with the stone foundation. The gravel
used is put through the stone crusher. On
the whole, this has been found satisfactory,
but to keep the material well mixed, care
must be taken. In the later work the larger
stones were taken from the gravel, crushed
and applied separately.
The roads are made 24 feet in width be-
tween gutters, and Tarvia B applied 18 feet
in width in the center, except around the
curves, where it is increased to about 21
feet. The binder is applied in three coats
of J4 -gallon to the square yard, and the last
coat is well sanded with coarse, sharp sand.
The stone foundation is made only 15 feet
in width in the center of the roadway, with
blind drains 20 to 30 feet apart opening al-
ternately on either side of the road to drain
the foundation. It has been found that
where the grade is nearly level, these blind
drains are a great help in keeping the road-
bed dry. They have been placed from 30 to
40 feet apart, extending from the middle of
the road-bed to the gutters and opening
alternately on opposite sides of the road.
It is essential to have good drainage and
also to use gravel enough to make a solid
road-bed that will carry the load. We have
used from 3 to 6 inches, depending on the
character of the foundation soil and the
amount of gravel in the old road-bed. The
road has been thoroughly rolled with the
steam roller to compact it before applying
the binder.
After completion, any weak spots that
show up from use are carefully mended
with pea-stone and cold patch material. Each
year a surface coat of the binder has been
applied where needed, at the rate of ^-
gallon to the square yard, and covered with
coarse, sharp sand.
From 1915 to March i, 1921, the town
has expended $667875 — or about $4,154 per
mile — for construction and maintenance of
its 16.1 miles of road. Practically all of
this road is now in first-class condition and
sustaining a heavy and increasing traffic.
It is felt that we have gone a long way to-
ward solving the problem of furnishing
good roads for the town at a price that any
small town can afford to pay for an all-
year-round road.
Last year snow was removed from the
streets so that automobiles and trucks could
be used at all times.
The Adequate and Attractive Lighting
of City Streets
Part II
By L. A. S. Wood
Classification of Streets for Ornamenfal
Lighting
IN many of the larger cities will be found
some exceptionally wide and important
streets which will require special treat-
ment; in general, however, for the purpose
of determining the correct size of lamp with
the best spacing and mounting height, the
streets may be divided into three classes:
(i) important business streets, (2) side
streets, and (3) residence streets. The
following table gives approximate data on
this subject, which, however, may be varied
to meet local requirements :
Size of Lamp
in Lumens*
Spacing
in Feet
Type of
Street
Important busi-
ness 6,0D0 to 15,000 50 to 75
Side 2,500 to 4,000 75 to 100
Residence 1,000 to 2,500 150 to 250
Mounting
Height
in Feet
12.5 to 15
11.5 to 13.5
10.6
* A lumen is equal to ten times the candle-power
rating.
In the important business streets and side
streets, the ornamental posts should be set
symmetrically opposite each other on either
side of the street, while in residence dis-
tricts the posts should be staggered.
For exceptionally wide and important
streets, a greater intensity of illumination
is required, with higher mounting, and, for
this purpose, two-light ornamental posts,
for use with 15,000 and 25,000 lumen lamps,
have been developed.
The Use of Trolley Poles as Lighting Units
On streets where trolley poles are in
service, the best method of lighting is by
the use of ornamental trolley brackets with
suitable lighting units, either with single or
double arm, which may be attached to the
trolley poles, presenting a very attractive
appearance and eliminating the necessity of
cluttering up the streets with additional
posts.
Anoth ^r method of adapting trolley poles
as ornaf cental lighting units is to encase
the pole in an ornamental cast iron shell
with ornamental brackets attached. An at-
tractive unit has been designed with double
brackets immediately below the trolley span
wire and a single light at the top. The span
wire is attached to the trolley pole through
a hole provided in the capital of the top
lighting unit.
A COMBINATION LIGHT STANDARD AND TROL-
LEY-WIRE SUPPORT USED IN SALT LAKE
CITY, UTAH
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
Types of Commercialized Ornamental
Posts
Ornamental posts may be divided into
three classes: cast iron, concrete, and
pressed steel.
The earliest ornamental cast iron post
the history of which is preserved was in-
stalled in the Taj Mahal, Delhi, India, up-
wards of 1,600 years ago, and stands to-day
a monument to the durability and lasting
qualities of cast iron. Cast iron posts will
not corrode, neither will they chip or crack
under extremes of temperature. They are
' designed to withstand severe shocks, such
as might be received in ordinary street traf-
fic, and present the slender and graceful ap-
pearance so desirable in ornamental street
lighting units.
Concrete is one of the most durable ma-
terials used in construction work, but it has
been found that ornamental posts of this
type must be of very heavy and substantial
construction to withstand extremes of tem-
perature. Unless manufactured with the
greatest care, concrete posts may chip and
crack in northern climates.
Pressed steel posts generally consist of a
shaft of corrugated pressed steel, mounted
on a cast iron foundation, with an iron
capital, the whole bolted together with three
tie rods passing through the center of the
shaft.
The Mazda "C" Lamp
Until about the year 1913, the filaments
of all commercial electric incandescent
• lamps were operated in bulbs from which
practically all the air and gases had been
removed. The evacuation of the bulb ac-
complished two purposes, viz., it prevented
the filament from being consumed by the
oxygen of the air and also prevented the
loss of heat by convection. As the tempera-
ture of the filament is raised, the light
emitted increases much more rapidly than
the energy consumed, but, on the other
hand, the rate of evaporation of the fila-
ment is increased.
In the Mazda "C" lamp, the rate of
evaporation is reduced by the introduction
: of inert gases into the bulb, thus permitting
< the use of a higher operating temperature.
' Convection losses are reduced by the use of
. a concentrated type of filament, and this
renders the use of the Mazda "C" lamp spe-
, cially suitable for street lighting purposes.
Constant-Current Series Circuits
Alternating-current series arc lamps were
operated on circuits of either 6.6 or 7.5 am-
peres and, in consequence, series lighting
regulating equipment designed for these
ratings became standardized throughout the
country. Series incandescent lamps were
made for use on these circuits in ranges of
from 60 to 1,000 candle-power, but the
larger size lamps did not come into com-
mercial use until the high-efficiency Mazda
"C" lamps, operating at 15 and 20 amperes,
were introduced. These lamps, owing to the
increased size and rugged construction of
the filament, have a longer lamp life than
the straight series type and are generally
adopted for ornamental street lighting sys-
tems, except in residence districts.
Since the standard rating of series alter-
nating-current circuits is either 6.6 or 7.5
amperes, individual auto transformers to
step up from the line current to that re-
quired by the lamp have been designed, and
these are generally mounted in the post top,
immediately below the socket. In cases
where a safety coil is installed in the base
of the post, the auto transformer is omitted
and the safety coil serves as the step-up
transformer.
The Light Unit
The problem of street lighting is not like
that of lighting a room where the ceiling
and walls reflect the undirected light, and
provision should be made in the lighting
units to direct the light emitted above the
horizontal to the plane of illumination.
With ornamental post lighting, however, it
is desirable that a small amount of light
from the upper hemisphere should be di-
rected against the fronts of adjacent build-
ings, and that glare should be, as far as pos-
sible, eliminated.
Glare, within the range of vision of the
pedestrian or vehicle driver, should always
be avoided. It causes the pupil of the eye
to contract in an effort to protect the deli-
cate mechanism of the retina, preventing
the observer from seeing as well as he
would be able to do with a light source of
lower intensity, but more perfect diffusion.
We are conscious of this phenomenon when
entering a moving-picture theater from a
street flooded with sunlight; at first no de-
tails can be seen, but gradually, when the
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
MODERN RESIDENTIAL AND PARK LIGHTING STANDARDS IN USE IN VINCENNES, IND.
eye becomes accustomed to the light, or, in
other words, when the pupil becomes
dilated, permitting more light to enter the
eye, the interior details become visible.
The problem of designing lighting units
of high intensity, with a minimum of glare,
has been solved by specially designed posts
which distribute a flood of light on the
streets, with a small amount upwards to il-
luminate the fronts of adjacent buildings.
These units have been developed for "Super
White Way" lighting, with 10,000- and 25,-
ooo-lumen lamps, and they may be used
with smaller lamps, if desired.
With the variety of ornamental street
lighting fixtures now available, the possi-
bilities of efficient and artistic city lighting
are unlimited.
Norwich University Organizes Bureau of Municipal Affairs
Norwich University, Northfield, Vt., has
established within the Department of Polit-
ical Science a Bureau of Municipal Affairs,
which will hold itself ready to give assist-
ance to the counties, cities, towns and vil-
lages of Vermont in the solution of prob-
lems peculiar to municipal corporations.
The Bureau will render this service in the
following ways : by giving information upon
request regarding community organization,
town planning, and the administration of
local government; by publishing and dis-
tributing bulletins dealing with problems of
government ; by encouraging the establish-
ment of local town reference bureaus; by
providing communities with speakers on
governmental topics; and by holding local
government conferences.
K. R. B. Flint, Professor of Political
Science, will be director of the Bureau, and
to him should be addressed all communica-
tions.
Translation of a Notice Printed in French and Flemish and Posted in Many of the
Public Parks and Squares of Brussels
"The trees give us shade as the plants and flowers give us the joy and the
beauty of the country. To break or destroy trees and plants is to do damage to
oneself."
With such an appeal, is it any wonder that the people of Brussels, old- and young, respect
the natural beauties of their parks and squares?
— Stephen Child, Fellow American Society
of Landscape Architects.
Long-lived Brick Pavements
Pavements Over 100 Years Old in Use in Holland
THE United States is accustomed to
brick pavements which have endured
over a generation in service and
which still continue to bear traffic economi-
cally. Carbondale, Pa., has one 32 years
old; Alliance, Ohio, 31 years old; Sedalia,
Mo., 29 years of age; Olean, N. Y., 25
years. These are typical instances of
longevity.
The first brick pavement of record in this
country was laid about 1870 at Charleston,
W. Va., and it lasted for many years. In
those days paving brick as such were not
manufactured, and the Charleston pave-
ment was made of vitrified brick originally
made for other construction. But they
demonstrated the feasibility of brick pave-
ments, and the brick pavements of to-day in
our country have their origin in this be-
ginning.
The United States was not the first coun-
try in modern times to lay brick pavements,
despite its brick-paving history of more
than a half-century. For instance, Hol-
land's experience with brick pavements
goes back to the time of Napoleon. In Hol-
land, as in the United States, the brick used
were vitrified, as are paving brick to-day.
Although no scientific work deals with
pavements as they were developed there,
several popular authors on travel discuss
these pavements in their works.
B. E. Stevenson, in his "Spell of Hol-
land," says:
"For brick, brick, brick are everywhere —
overhead and underfoot, on edge in the roadway
and piled into great walls and massive towers.
It would almost seem that the Dutch had dug
away most of the ground beneath their fieet in
order to convert it into paving and building
materials."
William Elliot Griffis, in "Brave Little
Holland and What She Has Taught Us,"
writes :
"After the Romans left and the barbarians
triumphed, brick-making became one of the lost
arts. In the Rhine delta, the Dutch revived
the art of moulding clay into oblong forms and
baking them into stone. Their material lay at
hand in the rich beds deposited during centuries
in the sluggish river bottoms. They made brick
houses, walls, pavements and road-beds.
"So hard are the Dutch bricks burned that the
common name is 'Klinker.' Many of them have
defied the teeth of time for ages."
First-hand information on how the Dutch
made their paving brick, with technical data
which might tell the secret of the wearing
qualities of their brick pavements, has only
recently been secured. William C. Koch,
Vice-President and General Manager of the
Twin City Brick Company, of St. Paul,
passes the story along from his father, who
manufactured brick in Holland many years
ago.
The paving brick with which the old
A BBICK BOAD IN HOLLAND IN T7SE OVES 100 TEABS
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
roads were built was made of surface river-
clay, sanded and close set in up-draft kilns
with permanent side-walls and large arches
underneath for the burning of peat. The
brick were brought to the vitrification point
in the center and heated to a degree which
made them so soft that the openings between
them as set were completely filled in. The
brick retained their shape by mutual sup-
port, and their separation was possible only
because of the sand which was used in set-
ting them.
The type of brick proved to be very good
paving material, and paving was done at a
very low cost, not to be compared with that
of American brick paved roads involving
foundations, fillers, etc.
In the burning there is produced about 20
to 40 per cent of pavers, 20 to 30 per cent
of semi-vitrified clinkers, 20 per cent face
brick carefully selected as to color, and the
remainder discolored hard and soft com-
mons.
Some of the brick roads are 200 years
old. This type of road in Holland was be-
gun in sandy-soil districts where traffic on
the natural soil was otherwise impossible.
A large number of these roads built during
Napoleon's time are still in existence and
in good condition.
This Lantern Will Not Blow Over
By Albert Marple
MUNICIPAL officials or employees of
public service corporations who have
had any experience with street or
highway work, or with any other work that
requires the placing of lanterns at night,
realize that it is quite a job at times to keep
the lanterns from tipping. Very often the
workman whose duty it is to place the lan-
terns in positions in which they will warn
pedestrians and motorists of danger points
may do his work faithfully, but that is no
assurance that the lanterns will stay upright
throughout the night. A strong wind may
arise that will tip one or more of them
over, extinguishing the light and leaving
conditions right for a damage suit against
the municipality or company that is doing
the improvement work.
The danger of trouble from this source
is greatly minimized by the adoption of the
idea shown in the accompanying illustration.
This consists of the use of a small concrete
block, in which has been embedded the bot-
tom or oil reservoir of the lantern. The
concrete block makes the lantern practically
untippable.
To make the block, a form of lumber 8
inches square and about 4 inches deep is
made. A portion of the concrete is placed
in the bottom of the form, and upon this, in
the center, the lantern is placed, care being
taken to see that the oil filler cap is above
the top of the form. The remainder of the
form is filled with concrete^ completely
covering the oil reservoir as high as desired.
It should be made sure, however, that the oil
cap and the thumb screw by which the
wick is raised are readily accessible.
THIS LANTERN STAYS UPRIGHT— AND
INCONVENIENT TO STEAL
IS
The Economy of Garbage Equipment
in Washington, D. C.
A Heavy-Duty Motor Truck with Special Body and Sectional Lids Meets All
Requirements
THE City Refuse ' " ""^ -— "^
Division of the
District of Colum-
bia put into operation in
July, 192 1, a heavy-duty
dump truck which in its
first y/2 months traveled
3,250 miles and hauled
about 1,575 tons of gar-
bage. An accurate rec-
ord has been kept of the
gasoline and oil used,
and, considering that the
truck engine is running
practically all the time
because of the large
number of stops required,
the miles per gallon has
been very satisfactory,
according to J. D. Murray,
Mechanic of the Division,
The sanitary body of the truck is made
entirely of steel and is water-tight. It is
equipped with sectional hinged lids which
are close-fitting and which make it unneces-
sary to expose more than a small space when
DUMP TRUCK SHOWING SECTIONS WITH COVERS RAISED
Master
GARBAOE COLLECTION TRUCK IN DUMPING POSITION
loading the truck along the street. The
body is fitted with a running-board, so that
the operators can readily load from the
top. The running-boards are arranged to
fold up against the side of the body when
not in use. The truck has a capacity of 200
cubic feet, or 5 tons. The inside dimensions
of the body are: length,
138 inches; width, 78
inches; height, 24 inches
at the sides and i6j4
inches from the top of
the side to ^he peak of
the triangle.
This Autocar garbage
truck in ordinary use
carries three men in ad-
dition to the driver, and
it is filled to capacity
several times each day.
It operates principally
around the market and in
the rear of big hotels,
boarding - houses and
other places from which
large amounts of garbage
must be removed daily.
What Is a Road Survey?
Various Types and Definitions Used by the Layman and the Engineer
THE term "road survey" as commonly
used by the public includes almost any-
thing from a trip on horseback over
a road, to the most exact measurements for
the location of a costly bridge. The State
Highway Commission of South Carolina
has outlined this subject in an interesting
manner in its report for the year ending
December 31, 1920, from which the follow-
ing material has been prepared.
Surveys may be divided into three classes
on the basis of amount of detail necessary,
namely: surveys for roads constructed with-
out Federal Aid; surveys for Federal Aid
roads; and ^surveys for large bridge proj-
ects. The ultimate aim is the same, how-
ever, in all — the securing of the most serv-
iceable, and at the same time the most eco-
nomical, location or site.
Even the simplest road survey involves
consideration for : the probable future kind
and volume of traffic ; the probable future
development of the adjacent land, such as
its being drained by dredging or filling-in
to provide building sites ; the type of sur-
facing to be used at present and that likely
to be required later ; the proper provision
for handling both the surface water and the
subdrainage; the connections with other
roads; proper grades to join with existing
bridges that are to remain in place; the
car tracks, water-mains, sewers, etc., that
may be encountered ; the elimination of rail-
road grade crossings; the avoidance of
dangerous curves and excessive grades ; and
last, but not least important, the cost of
construction. Not only are the factors
enumerated of value within themselves, but
several of them also affect the cost of future
maintenance of the road. Besides all these
things, the engineer must consider the con-
veniences and, oftentimes, the whims of the
property owners along the road. There is
frequently great temptation to follow the
line of least resistance, usually an old,
crooked, badly washed road, rather than
antagonize a landowner.
After going over the route to be surveyed,
trying to balance properly the aforemen-
tioned factors, the actual staking out, or
"survey," is begun. Stakes must be set at
each 100 feet, and additional stakes at
humps or noticeable depressions, on the
banks of ditches and streams, etc. The
curves must be figured and the stakes set on
what will be the center line of the finished
road, so that the amount of earth to be re-
moved can be figured. The position of
property lines, near-by houses, railroad
tracks, fences, canals, streams, telephone
and telegraph poles, woods, etc., must be
noted and sufficient measurements taken to
enable such objects to be shown properly
on the plans. Certain of these stakes are
"referenced"; that is, their distances are
measured from various permanent objects,
so that when the road is being built the
original lines as surveyed can be found if
the stakes have been misplaced.
After these stakes have been set, it is
necessary to run levels and cross-sections
so as to show elevations, not only of the
ground along the center line of the proposed
road, but also of the ground on either side
for a distance of at least 25 feet. If the
survey follows an old road with deep ditches
and high banks, it becomes necessary to
take a great many elevations in order to be
able to compute the amount of earth moved
in grading.
Since an error in these levels at one place
might affect all the road beyond that point
and cause an error of many hundreds of
yards in computing the amount of grading,
or cause the construction of a bridge too
low or higher than required, it is necessary
to check the levels. This is usually done by
running another independent line of levels
called "bench levels," which check against
the profile levels at numerous points, in
much the same way as one checks an adding
machine slip against the original column
of figures. This is the reason that a survey
party must go over the line a second or
third time.
A single survey party is usually composed
of three men sent out by the Department
and two furnished by the county. The
chief-of-party studies the route, selects the
location, sees that the party sets the stakes
at proper points, checks the calculations and
notes made by the instrument men, makes
recommendations as to proper sizes and lo-
cations of culverts and bridges, makes a
10
1
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
daily report to the office of the Department,
and arranges for board, lodging and trans-
portation for the party. His object is to
secure the best route feasible, giving due
regard to the factors indicated above. In
difficult situations and in cases of protest by
property owners he calls upon the chief-of-
surveys, who in turn takes up with the
State Highway Engineer such matters as
cannot be adjusted in the field.
Municipal Tax Exemption Stimulates
Home Building
FIGURES for the first seven months of
tax exemption in New York demon-
strate the efficacy of this plan for
stimulating home building.
The Special Housing Session of the State
Legislature in September, 1920, passed an
act permitting municipalities to grant such
exemption for dwellings, except hotels,
from April, 1922, to April, 1932. Such
dwellings must have been completed after
April I, 1920, or begun not later than April
I, 1922, Although strong arguments for
the law had been advanced before the Leg-
islature, only a few municipalities showed
their appreciation of its advantages by pass-
ing the necessary local ordinances. They
were Malone, Beacon, Saratoga Springs,
Plattsburgh, Little Falls, and New York.
In an address before the joint meeting of
the National Municipal League and the
American Civic Association, Raymond V.
Ingersoll, Secretary of the City Club of
New York, gave the following important
information :
Effect on Building
Most of the up-state municipalities where
this experiment has been tried report that
home building has been noticeably stimu-
lated. In New York City the results have
been specially marked, and this in spite of
unfavorable labor and mortgage conditions.
Lawson Purdy, formerly President of the
National Municipal League and a leading
New York authority both on housing and
on taxation, says:
"In seven months houses have been planned to
accommodate over 38,000 families. If this rate
of progress continues, 260,000 persons will be
provided for in a year. This is about three
times the rate of growth of the city."
The present rate of building is more than
four times that of last year.
Of the provisions for 38,000 families al-
ready referred to, 22,704 are in one- and
two-family houses, which represents a com-
plete reversal of the old ratios of such
houses to tenement apartments.
Figures taken from the Real Estate
Record and Guide of November 5, giving
the valuations of contracts actually
awarded, show that, whereas in 1920 the
aggregate for new business buildings ex-
ceeded by more than 25 per cent the total
for residential buildings, in 1921 the total
for residences has been more than three
times as great as the total for business pur-
poses. As against housing contracts
awarded for the entire twelve months of
last year, amounting to $81,650,200, we
have contracts during ten months of this
year — including only seven months under
tax exemption — amounting to $195,933,400.
That the pace has been accelerating is made
evident by the fact that in October alone
housing contracts were made aggregating
$41,265,400. The figures for floor space are
still more impressive. For the year 1920
the total contracted for was 15,142,000
square feet. For the first ten months of
1921 it was 41,638,800 square feet.
Effect on Vacant Lots
One of the incidental results of the ex-
emption has been a very great activity in
the sale of vacant lots. Most of these lots
are reasonably near the rapid transit lines.
A year ago there was no market for them,
but now they are being auctioned ofif by the
thousands at moderate prices. Where
formerly the chief selling point featured by
the agents was the possibility of profits
through a rise in land values, now the ad-
vantage advertised is the opportunity to
build a home and to secure the exemption.
An unusually large proportion of the new
houses now being built are for occupancy
by the owners. Thousands are seeking es-
cape from the tenements. From a social
point of view it is the healthiest movement
in housing that has taken place in New
York City in some years.
11
Water, Water Everywhere— Yet It Can
Be Advertised
Newspaper Campaign Keeps Public Sold on Service Received, Even
When Rates Are Raised
By Hugh E. Agnew
lStt^t*f Tim •/ « Sfi
DID you ever see water advertised?
Not seltzer water, or any of the
medicinal waters, or mineral water
for bathing, or even fresh spring drinking
water, but just plain H^O for use in the
bathtub, to wet down the lawn and wash the
flivver? These cam-
paigns are unusual and
infrequent, but they
have occurred. A few
have not been mere
"Notices," but well-ar-
ranged, extensive cam-
paigns. Besides show-
ing another instance of
the almost unlimited
application of advertis-
ing, one of the latest of
these campaigns is par-
ticularly suggestive of
advertising possibilities
for those whose prod-
uct is in the nature of
a monopoly.
The East Bay Water
Company of Oakland,
Calif., which furnishes
the water-supply for
that city and for Berke-
ley, Alameda, Pied-
mont and Richmond,
comprising a popula-
tion of more than 300,-
000 people, was the ad-
vertiser. It was a news-
paper campaign in
which the daily papers
of San Francisco and
the cities named were
used from May, 1919, to January, 1921.
The first messages pertained to the sav-
ing of water in the house — in which there
was a double purpose. It was a subject
which would get the immediate attention
and sympathy of the women. Then, it fol
jM)t to -wvhfic -wwteif
-U.it beome w« are afraid of • Aoctafe of wmici>
No. Tku yew's rain has fillcJ dw rasenrcin with
enough water to insure an adequate supply for at kaM
la it because we lose when you waste water>
No. Ypu pay us for every drop of water regiatefM
by your meter. %rbeitKr used or wasted. As a matter
of fact, the more you waste, the mot* w« gjun.
Then why. you ask, do we urge you to sava vratei?
Because in addition to watei^-w« seD ssTTfaa. Pmit
ol this service is to give you full value— Co help you
pay only lor what you use and to use all that you pay
hold dutiea widkout
suggestiofu are followed.
^^ East B«^
^_^^ Co.
THIS KIND OP ADVERTISEMENT
CREATES GOOD-WILL BY HELPING
CUSTOMERS 'USE ALL THE WATER
THET PAT FOR"
the supply of water had been inadequate
because of shortage at the source. During
the summer of 19 18 the use of water for
lawns was prohibited in the "East Bay
cities," as the municipalities on the east side
of San Francisco Bay are called, and the
water company could
easily interest residents
in that subject, as all
were anxious to pre-
vent another shortage.
The campaign
opened with a full page
showing a stream of
"domestic" and "indus-
trial" water pouring
from a main. The title
in large, black, hand-
lettered type was just
"Water." "When a
group of people having
a common interest live
in the same place under
the same laws and
regulations," it read,
"these people constitute
a community. When-
ever a community ex-
ists, community prob-
lems arise. These com-
munity problems ex-
plain and account for
the public service cor-
porations — companies
organized to render
service essential to the
general public health,
or convenience,
or both; in other
words, companies organized to solve com-
munity problems. The most important of
these is the question of an adequate water-
supply." Then followed a brief statement
of some of the topics that would be dis-
cussed in the series of advertisements which
lowed an exceptionally dry period, in which were to follow.
12
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
Selling Water Economy
The first of these was wastage of water in
the home. The water company assured its
readers that this was urged, iK)t because
of fear of another shortage, but "because
in addition to water we sell service. Part
of this service is to give you full value — to
help you pay only for what you use and to.
use all that you pay for."
Various means of preventing waste were
discussed, such as leaks in taps, using run-
ning water for rinsing potatoes while peel-
ing them, allowing children to play with the
hose, etc. Each formed the subject for one
message. By the time this series was com-
pleted the summer was nearly over and peo-
ple had ceased to think nmch about water
shortage. Also many who had taken occa-
sion to complain about the size of their
water bills had discovered various means of
reducing them. If they did not care to take
the trouble to prevent waste, they had that
guilty feeling which prevented complaint,
either at the office or to neighbors.
The next phase of the campaign was de-
voted to the general subject of making the
water-supply clean, safe, pleasing to the
taste and to the eye, and free from all im-
purities. This series included a discussion
of collecting or "warehousing'' the water.
Pictures of the various reservoirs were
given and means of protecting the source
described.
That iron water-mains cost $8 a foot, that
running water usually does not "purify it-
self," but tends to collect impurities as it
flows, how watersheds are guarded and
wooded, the duties of the patrol, and a map
of the thirty-five square miles owned or
controlled by the company for collecting
water, were some of the subjects discussed
in the second period of the campaign.
Being a public utility, it was the purpose
of the company to keep the public sold as
thoroughly as possible upor* the service
which the company gave. An important
part of that was to explain as fully as pos-
sible the nature and extent of the service of
supplying water.
There are always a lot of agitators whose
chief sport — both indoors and out — is to
attack public service corporations. The
fullest possible understanding of the busi-
ness of furnishing a public service to a
city will probably do more than any other
one thing to forestall dissatisfaction that
might be created by these agitators.
The amount invested in the watersheds
and why that investment influenced water
rates were explained as part of the general
understanding of the water business. The
difficulty and expense of elevating 2,000,000
gallons of water 800 feet daily, which is
done at Alvarado and Lake Chabot, was
graphically illustrated. The difficulty of re-
pairing and replacing broken water-mains
quickly was pictured.
The elaborate and expensive measures
taken to keep the water pure and healthful
were explained in another series, one of
which discussed water analysis and how in
addition to the company's own laboratories
both the city and the state health depart-
ments made analyses. The little algae which
were sometimes found in the water as it
came from water taps were shown to be
harmless, being a vegetable which grows so
rapidly that it "can be seen with the naked
eye within forty-eight hours." Filtration
was explained. Also the Government re-
port, which gave Oakland the lowest per-
centage of sickness from typhoid of any
city in the country, was featured in the ad-
vertising copy. The care with which the
water-supply was handled was given its full
share of credit in the advertising, as in-
fected drinking water is the most common
source of typhoid contagion. The chlorine
process of sterilizing the city water was so
described that any child could understand it.
Another step in this campaign to keep
customers sold on the service they were re-
ceiving was a detailed discussion of the
company's method of supervision. Why the
water company is under the jurisdiction of
the State Railroad Commission was the sub-
ject for an advertisement, two columns
thirteen inches. The similarities of the rail-
way and the water-supplying business were
pictured, and the public service idea was
illustrated in a number of other advertise-
ments of generous space.
The various units of the water company's
plant were discussed in the series on super-
vision, and reasons given for the particular
construction. The saving effected by a
water tunnel from the San Pablo reservoir
to the filter plant in the Berkeley Hills was
the subject of another message. How the
company was looking ahead to the develop-
ment of the beautiful residence district
north and east of Lake Merritt indicated its
far-seeing alertness in providing for the
city's growth. The water company did not
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
13
want its customers to think it short-sighted,
so it frankly discussed in detail this and
other improvements and additions. It
called attention to the difficulty of furnish-
ing water to the homes in the hill districts
hundreds of feet above the bay.
Economies in meter reading, the cost of
collecting bills, the saving effected by mod-
ern office equipment, were all adequately
presented. The water company — it was
evident from its advertising — was an enter-
prising, well-managed institution, of which
its customers might well be proud.
Creating a Friendly Feeling
Of course the copy was too adroitly writ-
ten to mention such a thing, even indirectly,
but when a customer knew the business so
intimately, as all must have known it after
following its advertising for eighteen
months, he would almost inevitably have a
feeling of friendly sympathy for an institu-
tion which was trying so hard to please —
rather than a hostile, critical attitude which
is so commonly felt toward the privately
owned public service corporations.
Finally, to round out the campaign and
add the human touch, the work of various
employes was described, the employe named,
and the length of time he had been engaged
in keeping the city's water-supply adequate
was given. "An hour-and-a-half shut-down
in two years," the reader was told, "was
the record made during the water crisis of
191 8, by Charles H. Harry, in charge of the
seventy-eight wells of the Fitchburg pump-
ing station."
With the prices of everything else going
up, it was only natural that people would
have to pay more — slightly more — for the
important service of having their water
needs supplied. The increase in the cost of
water was but 12 per cent. Other commod-
ity prices had increased 98 per cent. It was
evident that the water company had again
shown its skill in management to keep down
the increase to so little as 12 per cent. That
was an added reason for pride in the con-
cern— rather than criticism of it and a
grudging consent to the added cost.
The space used was liberal, from two-
column-ten to full page. The form of the
display changed from time to time, as well
as the subject matter. That was to avoid
monotony. The signature, however, formed
a sort of connecting link between the differ-
ent numbers of the series. It was hand-
Algae ia pronounced "Al-Bee." It b not • boy**
nunc; &nd it u not Iwcteh*.
Algae u a vegetable powth. It forma in icmt-
voira. lakes, and stt«anu, and grow* large cstough
within forty^eighl boura to be aeen with the naked
If partictea of Algae ahould paaa through the iMJwt
from the diatributing reaervoira into your driidting
water and taate rather auapicioualy: i( it looka a
bit doubtful, remember it ia not harmful. It ia a
vefetable growth, purely.
Aa haimleaa aa Algae may be. it ia alii) nopleaa.
ant to aome, and thia company ia now coveting ita
diatributing reaervoira to keep the aiui'a raya horn
the water. Thua protected, atored water wiD be
free from Algae.
Covering our large reaervoira U rather a coMly
undertalung. but you are entitled to drink water
without little mental photo^apha of doubthil char-
acter-—ao we're putting the "lid" on the reaervoira.
keeping the aua out and atopping the formation of
Algae.
^^ East B«^
<^_--^ Co.
'^fgr'l
MOST CONSUMERS WHO BEAD THIS
ADVERTISEMENT NEVER SAW THE
ALGAE, BUT THEY WERE PREPARED
FOR SUCH AN INCIDENT. IT KEPT
THE CUSTOMER SOLD ON SERVICE
lettered and of the same type style as that
of the word "Water" in the first an-
nouncement. As the incorporation is
known locally as the "Water Company," the
display of the signature was so arranged as
to emphasize that part of the name.
The general effect of the advertising, as
expressed by a prominent real estate man of
the district, has been to create so much good-
will for the water company that no agitator
or intriguing politician could stampede the
public into forcing an issue with the East
Bay Water Company.
AcKNOwi EDGMENT. — Reprinted by courtesy of
Printers' Ink.
"Sharp Turns"
By James W. Brooks
The people themselves can do much to-
wards keeping highways clear of graft
by tearing up political weeds along roads
in their own neighborhood.
Using the road to pay political debts
makes a rotten subgrade in the public
mind for further highway development.
— American Highway Educational Rureau.
X4
Our Dangerous Schoolhouses
The Fire Losses in Schools and the Existing Fire Peril
WITH the great publicity that has
been given to the fire peril existing
in the New York City schools, con-
siderable attention is being directed towards
the dangers to which school children are
subjected through laxity in observing fire
department regulations in many cities. The
New York report covers conditions as pre-
sented by the Meyer Legislative Committee
and states that of the 695 schools in the five
boroughs, 496 have violations of fire depart-
ment regulations filed against them, although
some of the violations doubtless were of a
minor nature. In the course of this period,
over 50 fires occurred in the school build-
ings, and thousands of lives were jeop-
ardized. Fire drills are credited with hav-
ing prevented any fatalities.
Unfortunately, the situation in New York
City is not exceptional. Many educational
structures throughout the country are in a
deplorable condition. One authority has
stated that "over 90 per cent of our school
buildings are potential death traps," the
opinion referring to national conditions.
Fortunately, there is evidence from time to
time of local awakening.
The Chamber of Commerce of Holyoke,
Mass., for example, recently took steps to
bring about the installation of sprinkler
systems in the city schools as a measure of
safety.
Statistics compiled by the National
Board of Fire Underwriters through its
Actuarial Bureau show that there are, on
the average, day in and day out through
the year, about 5 school fires, which, of
course, are of varying degrees of serious-
ness. Recorded schoolhouse losses in the
United States during the four years of
1916 to 1919, inclusive, amounted to $19,-
846,038. This figure, however, covers only
property on which losses were paid by mem-
bers of the Actuarial Bureau of the Na-
tional Board of Fire Underwriters, and if
25 per cent be added to it to allow for un-
reported fires and those in uninsured struc-
tures, the total would very - nearly reach
Fire Losses in Schools
Including Those in Universities, Boarding Schools,
Convent ScKools and Academies
Strictly Preventable Causes
1919 1918
Causes Losses Losses
Defective chimneys and flues $556,427 $353,851
Fireworks, firecrackers, etc 18,986 36
Gas, natural and artificial 88,659 36,166
Hot ashes and coals, open fires 77,391 63,579
Ignition of hot grease, oil, tar, wax, etc. 980' 1,259
Matches — smoking 197,061 260,408
Open lights 396,661 10,423
Petroleum and its products 85,032 26,552
Rubhish and litter 2,871 19,328
Sparks on roofs 316,588 265,909
Steam and hot water pipes 14,629 60
Stoves, furnaces, boilers and their pipes 523,469 646,695
Total $2,223,464 $1,673,156
Partly Preventable Causes
Electricity $472,853 $559,068
Explosions 35,094 5,890
Exjwstire (including conflagrations) 117,260 488,659
Sparks from machinery (friction) 51,751 6,952
Incendiarism 162,735 180,663
Lightning 78,643 193,226
Miscellaneous known causes 57,652 135,090
Sparks from combustion 14,258 8,829
Spontaneous combustion 165,147 302,769
Total $1,155,393 $1,876,145
Unknown (probably largely preventable) 2,494,788 2,026,840
Grand total $6,878,646 $6,576,141
1917
1916
Losses
Losses
$301,365
$430,370
81,455
28,987
65,292
37,501
82,277
70
261
259,287
204,726
8,454
49,414
14,683
118,285
33,937
22,350
239,046
138,091
1,008
25
645,725
464,814
$1,601,468
$1,520,855
$506,632
$585,054
76
2,469
156,877
268,578
110
6
82,737
428,364
199,789
61,811
73,758
85,050
37,865
4,708
836,180
449,697
$1,342,974
$1,885,732
1,114,120
931,103
$4,058,562
$4,337,690
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
IS
$25,000,000, all of which represents wasted
labor and material. Furthermore, these
fires endanger thousands of young lives.
It will be observed from these statistics
that the loss of $5,873,645 in 1919 was the
largest in the four years, and that only in
one period, 1917, was a decrease from the
preceding twelve months shown.
There was a considerable increase in
1919 in the destruction due to defective
chimneys and flues, fireworks, firecrackers,
and open lights as compared with 1918.
Electricity losses, however, displayed some
improvement, and the same was true of
those resulting from exposure, lightning
and spontaneous combustion. The heaviest
damage in 1919, $556,427, was charged
against defective chimneys and flues,
whereas in 1918 stoves, furnaces, boilers
and their pipes held first place. It is evident
from the tabulation just below that the
heating plant as a whole is the chief hazard
in schools.
How Some Schools Are Well Protected
Investigation of school fires where there
was a considerable loss of life, almost
universally uncovered the fact that the
tragedy was occasioned by panic and not by
the fire itself. In the well-known fire in
the Hochagela School in Montreal, the Pea-
body, Mass., fire and the Collingwood, Ohio,
fire it was panic rather than fire that caused
the appalling loss of life. Lately there has
been a more universal appreciation of this
fact, and school authorities who have in-
vestigated it have come to the conclusion
that the organized fire department is about
the only effective means of
handling panic and pre-
venting extensive loss of
life. Many cities through-
out the country have for
this reason installed fire
alarm boxes in every
school, so that firemen
may be called at once.
It is, of course, imprac-
tical to tear down 80 per
cent of the schools of the
country and immediately
erect in their places mod-
ern fire-proof buildings.
There are, however, cer-
tain steps which can be
taken to make school-
houses safer, one of which
is the all-important installation of a fire
alarm box on or within every schoolhouse
in the country. Following is an honor roll
of cities in which every schoolhouse is pro-
tected by a fire alarm box.
Alameda, Calif.
Tulare, Calif.
Naugatuck, Conn.
Winsted,_ Conn.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Augusta, Ga.
Nampa, Ida.
Oak Park, 111.
Hammond, Ind.
Clinton, Iowa.
Rumford, Me.
Belmont, Mass.
Beverly, Mass.
Boston, Mass.
Cohasset, Mass.
Everett, Mass.
Fall River, Mass.
Hoi yoke, Mass.
Marblehead, Mass.
Newton, Mass.
Quincy, Mass.
Reading, Mass.
Salem, Mass.
Sharon, Mass.
Swampscott, Mass.
Walpole, Mass.
Harbor Beach, Mich.
Cloquet, Minn.
Anaconda, Mont.
Goldfield, Nev.
East Orange, N. J.
Nutley, N. J.
Passaic, N. J.
Union, N. J.
Union Hill, N. J.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Cortland, N. Y.
Flushing, N. Y.
Harrison, N. Y.
Ithaca, N. Y.
Malone, N. Y.
Niagara Falls, N. Y.
New York, N. Y.
Rochester, N. Y.
Syracuse, N .Y.
Utica, N .Y.
Walden, N. Y.
Watertown, N. Y.
Conneaut, Ohio.
Warren, Ohio.
La Grande, Ore.
Pendleton, Ore.
Forty-Fort, Pa.
Beaver Falls, Pa.
McKeesport, Pa.
West Newton, Pa.
Woonsocket, R. I.
Columbia, S. C.
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Norfolk, Va.
Spokane, Wa.sh.
Ashland, Wis.
Manitowoc, Wis.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Superior, Wis.
Rollin Kirby in the Neiv York World.
IN VIEW or THE MANY SCHOOLHOUSE FIRES, WIIJ. IT OOME
TO THIS?
i6
The Laying of Concrete Pipe Sewers
CONCRETE pipe, both plain and rein-
forced, are now being extensively
used in all parts of the country for
building storm and sanitary sewers. It is
not definitely known how early concrete
pipe were used for this purpose, but such
records as are available indicate that they
have been giving excellent service since
1873 in many parts of the United States.
The rapid increase in the amount of con-
crete sewer pipe laid is evidence that in the
wastes, and the other to serve as a drain for
carrying away such surface water as rain,
melting ice and snow, and street flushing
water. Combined systems handle both sani-
tary sewage and surface waters in one sin-
gle sewer. Separate systems are used when
conditions make it necessary to treat sani-
tary sewage in disposal plants. Combined
systems are installed if the city is located
near large bodies of water into which the
sewage can be discharged without danger
84-INCH CONCRETE PIPE READY FOR INSTALLATION AT KOKOMO, IND.
Kokomo's first 24-inch concrete sewer pipe was laid in 1873 and is still in service
opinion of leading municipal engineers its
strength, enduring qualities and economy
compare favorably with the qualities of
other types. The early use of concrete pipe
was in sewers of larger diameters; in later
years improvements in concrete-pipe-mak-
ing machinery have made possible the suc-
cessful manufacture of small sizes which
are now equally well received by sewer en-
gineers. Concrete pipe are now made in all
standard sizes from 4 inches up to 108
inches internal diameter. They are capable
of sustaining the weight of heavy fill in
deep trenches or the loads caused by the
passage of heavy vehicles when the sewer is
near the surface. Because of their im-
permeability concrete sewer pipe greatly
reduce leakage and infiltration.
Designing the System
Sewerage systems are designed on two
general plans — separate and combined. The
separate system provides two separate and
distinct sewers, one to take care of sanitary
sewage, including domestic and industrial
of contaminating the water-supply of its
own or other communities. Which system
to use in a particular case depends not only
upon the sanitary factors above referred to,
but also upon questions of the most econom-
ical construction, and is properly left to the
determination of experienced sanitary en-
gineers.
In designing sewer pipe lines, provision
should be made for the future growth of
the city so that the important trunk line
sewers will never have to be replaced by
pipe of larger size. Many cities are fre-
quently compelled to replace at great ex-
pense old sewer lines with larger pipe be-
cause the city's growth exceeded expecta-
tions.
Special attention should be given to regu-
larity of alignment and gradient of sewers.
Irregularities not only cause decreased ca-
pacity, but also make maintenance difficult
and expensive. In hilly country requiring
broken grade lines, the cities served by the
sewer system should be divided into dis-
tricts separated by intercepting or trunk
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
17
sewers, thus permitting uniformity
of grade and alignment within each
division.
Typical methods of placing house
connections are presented in the
accompanying illustrations. House
connections should never be under
6 inches internal diameter and
should be laid as straight as possi-
ble and on a minimum grade of 2
per cent (^-inch per foot). The
danger of clogging in smaller sizes
is so great that the slightly increased
cost of the 6-inch connection is
justified. Final inspection should
be made of each lateral and con-
nection and an accurate location
record kept of the Y at the lateral
and the end of house connection at the
property line. Sketches of any change from
original plans should be made and recorded.
The type of manhole design shown is used
to avoid unnecessary excavation where a
considerable difference in elevation exists
between two lines, and to maintain uniform
velocity of flow. A type of concrete block
manhole adopted in Terre Haute, Ind., is
also shown.
All storm water should pass through a
catch-basin like that shown, before enter-
ing the sewer, in order to remove silt and
other material that would otherwise clog
the sewer.
A lamp hole is, as its name implies, an
opening through which a lantern may be let
down into the sewer line for the purpose of
^sConcreie bend
-^^
3osemertf
■floor -y
I
Concrete sidewalk
I. ■■■• •--»•■■ ■■*?
Concrete House Foundafion
METHOD OF PLACING A SINGLE HOUSE CONNECTION
UNDER SIDEWALK. UNNECESSARY BENDS SHOULD BE
AVOIDED
PLAN SHOWING THE BALTIMORE METHOD OF PLACING
DOUBLE HOUSE CONNECTIONS UNDER A SIDEWALK
locating obstructions. Such holes are in-
stalled by some engineers where manholes
are more than 400 feet apart.
Construction Methods
The recommended practice for laying
sewer pipe, adopted by the American So-
ciety for Testing Materials in 19 19, should
be closely followed in order to insure best
results. Extracts are given below.
"The foundations in the trench should be
formed to prevent any subsequent settlement
and thereby possibly an excessive pressure and
consequent rupture of the pipe.
"If the foundation is rock, an equalizing bed
of concrete or sand well compacted should be
placed upon the rock. The thickness of these
beds should be not less than 4 inches. Pipe
should be laid in these beds so that at least the
lower third of each pipe is supported its entire
length.
"If the foundation is good, firm
earth, the earth should be pared or
molded to give a full support to the
lower third of each pipe, and, if
necessary to secure a proper bearing
for the pipe, a layer of concrete, fine
gravel or other suitable material
should be placed. The same means
of securing a firm foundation should
be adopted in case the excavation
has been made deeper than necessary.
"If there is no good natural
foundation, the pipe should be laid
in a concrete cradle supported on a
masonry foundation carried to a soil
of satisfactory bearing power, or
supported on a structure designed to
carry the weight of pipe and its load
to a firm bearing.
"Trenches should be kept free
from water until the material in the
joints and masonry has sufficiently
hardened.
"To protect pipe lines from un-
AConcre/e bend
i8
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. l
E=3
£")(l2"Concrei-e
n
I?" Concrei-e Sanitary j^ Later a/
^SConcrete hd'nd '
Property Une-^
'^S'Concrefe
/iouse Connect/on.
TYPICAL ABBANGEMENT OF 12-INCH SANITABY LATEBAL IN AN at.t.p.v
Concrete Y's are used instead of T's, thereby increasing the hydraulic efficiency of the line
usual stresses, all work should preferably be
done in open trenches.
"Pipe lines should be placed at a sufficient
depth below the surface of the street to avoid
dangerous pressure or impact. When this is
not possible, special reinforcement should be
provided.
"Trenches should be only of sufficient width
to provide a free working space on each side
of the pipe, preferably not over one-third of
the nominal diameter, and never less than 4
inches, according to the size of the pipe and the
character of the ground; but in every case
there should be sufficient space between the pipe
and the sides of the trench to make it possible
to thoroughly ram the back-filling around the
pipe and to secure tight joints.
A TYPICAL CIBCULAE CONCBETE SANITABY MANHOLE
WITH DBOP CONNECTIONS USED TO AVOID TJNNEOES-
SAEY EXCAVATION
A common method where there is considerable elevation be-
tween two connecting lines and to maintain uniform velocity
and flow throughout the system
"The laying of pipe in finished trenches
should commence at the lowest point, so that the
spigot ends point in the direction of flow.
"All pipe should be laid with ends abutting
and true to line and grade. They should be
fitted and matched so that when laid in the
work they will form a sewer with a smooth a^d
uniform invert.
"It is necessary to use all possible care when
shoving the pipe together, so that the joints will
not be unnecessarily large.
"Sockets should be carefully cleaned before
pipe is lowered into trenches. The pipe should
be so lowered as to avoid uimecessary handling
in the trench.
"The pipe should be set firmly to line and
grade and the joints carefully adjusted and filled
with the jointing material.
"Joints should be made in the fol-
lowing manner: A closely twisted
hemp or oakum gasket of suitable
diameter, in no case less than J^-i^ch,
and in one piece of sufficient length
to pass around the pipe and lap at the
top, should be solidly rammed into the
annular spaces between pipe with
a suitable calking tool. When cement
joints are used, the gasket should first
be saturated with neat cement grout.
The remainder of the space should
then be completely filled with the
jointing materials.
"All trenches and excavations should
be backfilled immediately after the
pipe is laid therein, unless other pro-
tection of the pipe line is directed.
The backfilling material should be se-
lected and deposited with special refer-
ence to the future safety of the pipe.
Clean earth, sand or rock dust should
be solidly tamped about the pipe up to
a level at least 2 feet above the top of
the pipe. This material should be
carefully deposited in uniform layers.
Unless otherwise permitted, each layer
should be carefully and solidly tamped
or rammed with proper tools, so as
not to injure or disturb the pipe line.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
19
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p. ■
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/>.\-^- .'■ 0; ,^:c>. ' x^-- . . 0.
TYPE OF CATCH-BASm COMMONIiY USED TO COLUICT
SEDIMENT FBOM STORM WATEE
"Puddling or water flooding for consolidating
the back-filling is recommended only for sandy
and gravelly materials. If this method is used,
the first flooding should be applied after the
back-filling has been compacted by tamping up
to fe feet above the top of the pipe, and the
second flooding during or after the subsequent
filling of the trench. An excess of water should
be avoided, in order to prevent disturbance of
the earth under and around the pipe and also to
prevent an undue excess of pressure upon them.
"Walking or working on the completed sewer,
except as may be necessary in tamping or back-
filling, should not be permitted until the trench
has been back-filled to a height of at least 2
VERTICAL SECTION OP CONCRETE
BLOCK MANHOLE ADOPTED BY TERRE
HAUTE, IND.
feet over the top of the pipe.
"The filling of the trench should be carried on
simultaneously on both sides of the pipe in such
a manner that injurious side pressures do not
occur."
Municipal Art League of Chicago Prepares Artistic Post-Cards
The tourist and even the traveling busi-
ness man will admit that they have often
sought vainly for some true expression of
the beautiful sights they have viewed in the
cities and towns through which they have
passed. It is indeed a regrettable fact that
few cities in the United States have offered
to travelers artistic pictures of the beauties
of their respective localities. The average
picture post-card sold throughout the coun-
try has not satisfied the demand of dis-
criminating people — people who have an
appreciative and true sense of artistic
values.
The Municipal Art League of Chicago is
directing the publication of a worthy series
of post-cards of Chicago and vicinity, It
is an interesting fact in this connection
that this organization was a pioneer in the
"City Beautiful" movement. Its prime pur-
pose is to encourage civic art and to oppose
influences that threaten to check endeavors
in this direction.
The cards selected for reproduction and
distribution are mostly prize-winners in a
contest conducted by the Chicago Camera
Club. There are twenty-four cards in the
issue, representing the most interesting and
attractive scenes in the city, all done in ex-
cellent protogravure.
20
Bituminous Pavements Laid on Old
Macadam Streets in Denver
By J. W. Johnson
Senior Highway Engineer, U. S. Bureau of Public Roads
THE city and county of Denver during
the past ten years have paved a num-
ber of streets with various types of
bituminous surfaces on old macadam bases.
The different types laid to date are asphaltic
concrete, tar concrete, "Amiesite," sheet
asphalt, and "Willite." The first attempt at
this construction was made by the city in
1910, when four blocks on Speer Boulevard
were paved. Three types of pavement were
laid in the following order, each type being
used -throughout one block: asphalt con-
crete, tar concrete, "Amiesite," and tar con-
crete. In 1912 the paving on this street was
continued for a distance of eight blocks,
using asphalt concrete. In the same year a
block on Eighteenth Avenue, from Sherman
to Grant, was paved with "Amiesite." In
1913 the block between Sherman and Lin-
coln on Eighteenth Avenue was paved with
asphalt concrete.
In 1916, 1917 and 1918, 35 to 40 blocks
were paved with sheet asphalt and asphalt
concrete. One block of "Willite" was laid
in 1919. In 1920 a total of 112,920 square
yards of asphalt concrete and "Willite"
pavement was laid.
All the streets paved in this manner had
previously been improved by grading, curb-
ing and gutter, and surfacing. The surfac-
ing originally placed varied in different
parts of the city. Disintegrated granite,
slag, and oil macadam were used.
The width of the streets varied from 30
to 40 feet between curbs. The width of the
gutter was usually 2 feet. The crown varied
from 8 to 12 inches. All the streets had
previously been supplied with storm sewers.
Intakes to sewers were provided at intervals,
so that the maximum length of run-off of
surface water was about 600 feet.
Owing to the light annual precipitation
(an average of about 14 inches), the high
crown on pavements, and the short distances
that surface water has to travel before en-
tering sewers, there is very little opportunity
for the subgrade to become wet so long as
the pavement is in good condition. Only a
very few places where settlement of the
subgrade has occurred are in evidence.
Practically all these defects occur under the
earlier pavements.
With the exception of a small amount of
"Willite," all of the 1920 construction was
asphaltic concrete, i^ inches thick on a i J^-
inch binder course. Both Mexican and Cali-
fornia asphalt, with a penetration of from
50 to 60, were used. The binder course was
mixed in the proportion of 50 pounds of
asphaltic cement to 250 pounds of sand and
750 pounds of smelter slag (maximum size
I inch). The surface course was mixed in
the proportion of 80 pounds of asphaltic
cement to 85 pounds of limestone dust, 300
pounds of slag (maximum size ^-inch),
^"d 535 pounds of sand.
The mixing was done at stationary plants,
and the material was transported to the job
in auto trucks. The mixing plants and
trucks are owned and operated by the city.
All of the work, including the grading and
preparation of the subgrade, is done by the
city by day labor. No contracts are let for
any portion of the work of this character.
Preparation of Subgrade
The surface of the street selected for pav-
ing is scarified by the use of a scarifier at-
tached to a heavy blade machine and pulled
by a lo-ton caterpillar tractor. The depth
and amount of scarifying depend on the
condition of the old macadam and the
amount necessary to be removed. As all
the streets paved have either brick or con-
crete gutters, it becomes necessary to remove
3 inches of old material at the junction of
pavement and gutter. From this point the
amount of material removed is decreased to
the center of the road, where only the
amount necessary to bring the road to a
uniform crown is taken off.
The material loosened by the scarifier is
bladed into windrows, about 6 feet wide and
3 feet high, and then loaded into wagons by
means of a traveling bucket loader. After
the excess material is removed, the road-
bed is thoroughly rolled until hard and firm.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
21
REMOVING EXCESS MATERIAL AFTER SCARIFYING AND RESHAPING MACADAM STREET IN
DENVER PRIOR TO APPLICATION OF SHEET ASPHALT TOP
All depressions are then filled with good
material and again rolled and brought to a
uniform grade and cross-section.
Upon this subgrade the asphalt binder
course and surface course are laid in accord-
ance with usual practice.
Cost of Pavements
The number of square yards of pavement
of this character laid during the season of
1920 was 112,920. The total cost of this
work was $127,768.77, which is at the rate
of $1.13 per square yard. This price in-
cluded the grading necessary to prepare the
subgrade. The average cost of grading
amounted to $0.15 per square yard of pave-
ment. In other words, the pavement cost
an average of $0.98, and the grading $0.15
per square yard.
The items of cost of the work done in
1920 are as follows:
Cost per
Item Square Yard
Surface mixture $0 . 281
Binder mixture .210
Fuel 071
Expense . 01 0
Tools and sundries .023
Plant repairs 030
Depreciation plant .013
General salaries . 040
General labor . 01 3
Plant labor 115
Street labor 088
Hauling 080
Total for surfacing $ .980
Grading .150
Total $1.13
The various charges entering into the
above items are explained as follows:
Surface and binder mixture include the
cost of asphalt, limestone dust, sand and
slag which are used in them.
Fuel covers all coal used at plant and on
steam rollers on job, and fuel oil in the
dryer, and electric power for derrick.
Expense includes insurance, taxes, print-
ing, automobile and miscellaneous expendi-
tures.
Tools and sundries include the purchase
of tools and miscellaneous plant supplies,
water rental, horse feed and shoeing, lubri-
cating oil and grease.
Plant repairs include repairs and replace-
ments to plant and roller parts; also labor
in getting plant in shape before starting up
in the spring.
Depreciation is 20 per cent of the cost of
new equipment purchased.
General salaries include those of the
superintendent, bookkeeper at plant, clerk
at administrative office, and an inspector.
General labor includes labor in building
addition to plant, assembling derrick and
any other work not properly chargeable to
operation.
Plant labor includes all labor used in
operating the plant.
22
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
SPREADING SHEET ASPHALT FOE NEW SURFACE ON RESHAPED MACADAM BOAD
Street labor includes all labor used on
the street in laying the binder and top.
Hauling includes the cost of trucks and
drivers, and street rollers and operators.
Grading includes all labor in preparing
subgrade.
Present Condition of Pavements
The most noticeable defects in the present
condition of these pavements are sunken
spots, roughness or waves in the surface,
and surface cracks. The sunken places are
all on work done in 1910 and 1912. The
largest of these have a diameter of from 8
to 10 feet, and are possibly 8 to 12 inches
below grade. This condition is caused by
settlement of the subgrade, which was on a
comparatively new fill of from 4 to 10 or 12
feet. The street on which these sunken
places occur was built along the bank of
Cherry Creek, parallel to new retaining
walls built to confine the watercourse of the
creek. The surfacing was placed on this
fill within two years after it was constructed,
and evidently prior to the time of complete
settlement.
Roughness and waves are in evidence on
a number of streets laid during the early
period of this construction. Apparently this
condition is caused by insufficient care in
laying the pavement, or insufficient rolling
of the subgrade. This condition does not
exist to any extent in work done since 191 6.
Transverse cracks in the pavement laid
in 1916, 1917 and 1918 are in evidence
throughout a large portion of the work.
These cracks are usually at right angles to
the center line of roadway. Sometimes they
extend entirely across the pavement from
gutter to gutter, and sometimes they extend
only a distance of 6 or 8 feet each side of
the center. Apparently they are caused by
contraction and do not indicate any serious
permanent defect in the wearing qualities.
The distance between them varies consider-
ably; ordinarily they are not less than 30
feet apart.
One block of surfacing laid in 1919 shows
the worst cracking of any so far laid. This
pavement is so badly cracked that it will
undoubtedly have to be replaced in a very
short time; in fact, it should be replaced
this season. The cracking was apparently
caused by the pavement's being mixed with
too small a percentage of asphalt. The re-
sulting mixture was too brittle, and severe
cracking was evident after the first cold
weather in the fall after the pavement was
laid.
One disadvantage in this method of con-
structing pavements is the high crown which
very often obtains. This result is caused
from the desire to use all of the old mac-
adam possible in the center of the road,
and the necessity of meeting the gutter al-
ready in place. As the macadam has usu-
ally been given a good crown for drainage,
the addition of 3 inches of bituminous pave-
ment will as a rule result in i or 2 inches of
additional crown. This result would be
more undesirable in a wet, cold climate
than under the climatic conditions usual in
Denver.
Acknowledgment is made to C. H. Draney,
Superintendent of the Paving Division of
the City and County of Denver, for his
courtesy and assistance in supplying in-
formation and data relative to this work.
23
The Public Works of Modern Greece
By Walter E. Spear
Board of Water-Supply, New York City
WITH a staff of American and Greek
engineers, the writer made, last
year, an investigation for a com-
plete system of water-supply and sewerage
for the cities of Athens and Piraeus. Com-
pared with the eastern part of the United
States, Greece is a very dry land. The
entire annual rainfall is small; that during
railroad system, but really possesses no
modern public works comparable with those
of the progressive countries of modern
Europe. During the last eight years, mod-
ern Greece has spent large sums of money
on its army when it could have better been
spent on water, sewerage and drainage
works, more and better highways, additional
STORAGE BESEBVOIB AT ATHENS AT END OF THE HASBIAN AQUEDXTCT
the summer is almost negligible, and all
available water not required for the needs
of men and animals is used for irrigation.
The problem of developing an adequate
supply of water for a population of 370,000
people now living in these communities,
without prejudice to other interests, was not,
therefore, a simple one, and all possible
sources of supply within 100 miles of
Athens were considered. These investiga-
tions took the writer over a large part of
southern Greece and gave him an oppor-
tunity to see something of the existing pub-
lic works and to learn from some acquain-
tance with public men the needs of modern
Greece.
Need for Modern Public Works
Modern Greece has a few handsome pub-
lic buildings, some well-paved city streets,
an insufficient mileage of indifferent high-
ways, a few trolley roads and an inadequate
railways and improvements of existing
lines, and extensive port developments.
Water- Works
With an annual rainfall over large areas
of southern Greece of less than 20 inches,
most of wlfich falls in the months of Octo-
ber to May, inclusive, and with a high per-
centage of run-off from rocky mountain
slopes and semi-impervious soils, the amount
of water available during the long, almost,
rainless summers is consequently small.
Surface reservoirs for the storage of the
winter rains have seldom been constructed,
and the conditions are not generally favor-
able for such construction.
Outside of the larger cities, water is sel-
dom piped to private dwellings ; every house-
holder carries his supply from the constantly
flowing fountains, which are so conspicuous
a feature of the Greek villages. The water
from these fountains appears to be of a
24
fttE AMfiRICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
ANOTHEE STORAGE RESERVOIR AT ATHENS ON THE HADRIAN AQUEDUCT
satisfactory quality, except for the universal
hardness. It is generally cool, though an
agreeable temperature cannot be long main-
tained without ice during the heat of the
summer, even by the use of porous jars
The amount of water actually used in these
villages is naturally small, but none is lost,
since the overflows of the fountains irrigate
the village gardens and perhaps the fields
outside. When the larger villages in Greece,
which are now favored with sufficient water
for their public- fountains, install modern
plumbing and begin to use as much water as
other Mediterranean communities in France,
Italy, or even in Egypt, it is going to be
difficult to find water for their needs. Some
villages, to which most of the water used
is hauled several miles in barrels, may never
be able to procure enough water to greatly
raise their present standard of cleanliness.
In some localities surface water might be
developed, but the prejudice against its
use for domestic consumption is very strong
and cannot be readily overcome.
The largest problem in water-supply in
Greece, and one that has beer» considered
for some years by the Greek government, is
that of providing an adequate supply of
water for the cities of Athens and Piraeus.
These cities sometimes have during a dry
summer but little more than ten gallons per
capita, quite insufficient for their needs.
Most of the Athens supply is furnished by
the aqueduct and galleries, some i6 miles
■
1^^^
^^^^^^^^^^tSKw^^-^mttOa^^^^
1
AN OUTFALL SEWER NEAR DANIELS' CHURCH, ATHENS
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
25
A NARROW STREET IN THE OLDER QUARTER OF ATHENS
in length, that were built in the second cen-
tury of this era, during the reign of the
Emperors Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. The
covered reservoirs at the end of the Hadrian
aqueduct are seen in the illustrations. The
Hadrian aqueduct was built as a tunnel
through the limestones and conglomerates
of the hillsides and valleys back of the city
and is in some places 120 feet below the
surface. The supply from this aqueduct is
extremely hard, but otherwise satisfactory.
Some additional water for Athens is pro-
vided by large open wells in the vicinity,
and all of the inadequate supply delivered to
Piraeus comes from similar sources near that
city, which provide a water much inferior
in quality to the supply of Athens.
Most of the new sources of supply pro-
posed for Athens during the past thirty
years or more have been distant springs, the
immediate development of which would rep-
resent a heavy burden upon the financial re-
sources of the cities to be served. English,
French and Austrian engineers have from
time to time reported on the project of
bringing to Athens and Piraeus a supply of
20 million gallons or more of water from
the springs near Lake Stymphalia, in the
Peloponnesus, some 70 miles away in a
straight line. The springs are at an eleva-
tion of about 2,000 feet and may be brought
to Athens by gravity, but at the Isthmus of
Corinth the necessary siphon at approxi-
mately sea level would be subjected to a
A WINDING ROAD OVER, MT. CITHiERON
iOS594
26
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
very heavy pressure to deliver the water ir»
Athens at the level required. Other
sources that have been suggested are large
springs in Bceotia, at the headwaters of the
Melas River in the basin of Lake Copais.
These springs have an elevation of only 300
to 400 feet above sea level and, though some-
what nearer Athens than those at Lake
Stymphalia, would require pumping against
a high head to get them over the Cithseron
or Parnes Mountains, lying between Boeotia
and the plains of Attica, in which Athens
is located. The writer reported on still an-
other source of supply somewhat farther
away than either of the above, on the slopes
of Mt. Parnassus, at an elevation of about
1,000 feet. These sources, which would
supply fully as much water as those at Lake
Stymphalia, may be brought to Athens in a
gravity aqueduct that could be located over
much more favorable ground than that
from Lake Stymphalia, and a first develop-
ment of surface water could be made along
this aqueduct not far from Athens, at a
favorable site for a large storage reservoir,
which would serve to equalize the flow of
the springs of the Parnassus sources. This
development of surface water would repre-
sent a first step in the construction of the
entire project.
Sewerage
Modern sewerage works can hardly be
said to exist in Greece outside of Athens
and in some of the other large cities, and
there is little likelihood of any immediate
construction of sewerage works except in
Athens and Piraeus. The general demand
for modern sanitation does not appear to be
sufficiently great to keep the cities and vil-
lages clean with their present facilities or
to overcome in many localities the difficulty
of finding sufficient water for modern sew-
erage works, or of securing enough money
to build them.
Some traces of the sewers of ancient
Athens have been found, but these sewers,
dating back to the fifth century B. C, were
probably built for storm-water drains and
were not intended for the carriage of house
sewage. Portions of modern Athens have
storm-water drains which carry house sew-
age, though they were not intended for that
use and are ill-designed for the purpose,
having large and irregular sections and flat
inverts. They are all built of rough rubble,
plastered on the inside. A view of the out-
fall sewer of Athens, which carries the sew-
age to the channel of the Cephisus and to
the irrigating ditches below it, is shown on
page 24. Large areas in Athens are served by
cesspools, and more primitive methods of
disposal in open privies or pits are common
in the poorer quarters. The need of Athens
for a modern system of sewers is great, and
proposals have been repeatedly made to
provide such works. A few years ago a
German engineer prepared plans for a com-
bined system of sewers for Athens and
Piraeus. The writer, however, after con-
sideration of the problem, adopted a sepa-
rate system and prepared plans and esti-
mates on that basis. This solution of the
problem promised a more satisfactory
method of disposing of the house sewage in
a city surrounded by steep, rocky hillsides,
from which the heavy winter rains would
wash into a combined system of sewers so
much detritus as to obstruct the summer
flow of house sewage and create a nuisance.
The adoption of the separate system
would permit the use of the existing sewers
as a part of the storm-water drainage sys-
tem, and would allow of safely discharging
all storm water in Athens through compara-
tively short connections into the adjacent
channels of the IHssus and the Cephisus, and
that in Piraeus directly into the harbor. The
difficulties of tearing up the narrow, tortu-
ous streets of Athens and Piraeus and of
laying sewers and storm-water drains as
well as water-mains there, may only be ap-
preciated by those who have faced some
such task elsewhere, and know besides some-
thing of local conditions in these Greek
cities. The work would necessarily involve
careful planning and thorough organiza-
tion, not to speak of a large expenditure of
money.
Roads
Between the small city states of classic
Greece, communications were poor and
there was no system of cart roads over the
entire country. Back in the mountains the
writer has seen some excellent examples of
ancient highway construction, of well-cut,
irregular, polygonal blocks which happen
to have been preserved through accident of
drainage. Most of these old roads have
been eroded and washed away because
sufficient drainage was not originally pro-
vided, a fault in road construction that is
still observable in modern Greece, and, in-
Januarv, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
27
deed, not unknown in our own country.
Most of the existing highways are of com-
paratively modern construction, and it is
not clear just why many of the mountain
roads without gutters and adequate culverts
do not entirely wash away during the win-
ter. Certain it is that it is no pleasure to
travel over them and, in the general absence
of guard-rails on bridges and steep moun-
tain sides, it is not very safe to do so. The
much despised Turk appears to have done
not a little road-building in his time and has
Greece seen more clearly than in the neglect
of the roads. Some important highways of
macadam construction are now quite im-
passable, even with a Ford. In the vicinity
of Athens there has been recently a large
increase in the use of heavy motor busses to
the surrounding towns, and that, with the
automobiles and motor trucks, all driven at
a pace that alarms the visitor, is destroying
the roads more rapidly than they can be re-
paired. A road built of soft limestone rock,
with a filler of sand and dust of the same
AN OLD TUBKISH BRIDGi: NEAR MT. PARNASSUS
left some very creditable bridges, a form of
construction in which the Greek of to-day,
as in the past, does not appear to excel.
The large cities of Greece have some ad-
mirably paved streets, generally asphalt, but
even in the cities and everywhere outside,
with the exception of one short piece of road
near Athens, the highways are surfaced
with water-bound macadam, some of which
is constantly being repaired and as quickly
destroyed. Sometimes the destruction is the
result of the torrential winter rains, but not
infrequently it is done by heavy motor traf-
fic, busses and trucks. I suppose that no-
where is the strain of eight years of war in
material, cannot be expected to stand up
long in the dry summer when it sometimes
does not rain for weeks at a time.
Some new road construction was being
carried on by the government last fall
through a contract with an English firm,
one road near Athens, another back in the
mountains. Both were being surfaced with
water-bound macadam. No doubt, if the
hopes of the Greeks are realized and oil is
discovered in Greece, some improvement in
the character of construction may be looked
for.
Acknowledgment. — From an address by the author
printed in the Journal of the Boston Society of Civil
Engineers, June, 1921.
The Prevention of Disease
There is a vast amount of confusion in the public mind as to ordinary cleanliness in
public health. Many cities are esthetically planting nasturtiums where the ash-pile stood
and are permitting typhoid fever and diphtheria carriers to roam at large.
While health itself cannot be bought, money and efficient organization can buy pre-
vention from disease and infection, which in the end is the same as purchasing health.
Public Health, State Department of Health, Lansing, Mich.
28
From Natural Gas to Electric Street
Lighting
Borough hi Kane, Pa., Makes Contract with Local Company for Electric
Street Lighting Service
By O. S. Scott
Chairman, Lighting Committee, Borough of Kane, Pa.
IT has been the custom
in many Pennsylvan'a
cities located in the
natural gas belt to use for
street lighting this almost
free source of illuminating
material. In the old days
in Pittsburgh open - end
tubes were left flaming
day and night, as it was
cheaper to let them burn
than to hire the necessary
labor to shut off the gas
at daybreak and to light
them at night. In many
cities to-day it is the
custom to leave the Wels-
bach mantles burning all
the time and have a man
go around and turn the
gas on full at night and
turn it down in the morn-
ing. Lighting with natural
gas is now becoming a con-
siderable item of expense
owing to the scarcity of
gas and its gradual in-
crease in price. It is only
a question of time when
street lighting by natural
gas, in Pennsylvania par-
ticularly, will be a thing
of the past.
In order to provide itself with adequate
and modern street lighting, the borough of
Kane has drawn up an ord' nance and made
a contract with the electric service corpora-
tion. The contract and ordinance call for
the service for a period of ten years at a
rate of $28 per year for each loo-candle-
power light, $43 per year for each 250-
candle-power light, and $55 per year for
each 400-candle-power light. The company
under this agreement has furnished and in-
stalled and will maintain all lights, stand-
j
r
**•
>
\3
J
TYPES OF PENDANT ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTING
FIXTURES IN KANE, PA.
ards, poles and wire, as well as furnishing
the electricity.
The illustrations herewith show the two
types of fixtures in use. The 150- and 200-
candle-power lights are of the bracket type
with band refractors, and the 400- and 600-
candle-power incandescent lights are of the
Novalux pendent type with band refractor
and reflectoV.
In this manner another Pennsylvania
borough has stepped forward into the ever-
increasing group of well-lighted cities.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
i^
How Polk County Pulled Out of the
Sand
An Interesting Method for Building Sand-Clay Roads, and a Lesson in Road
Widths
By H. S. Jaudon
PRIOR to 191 5, Polk County, Fla., was
almost isolated because of the poor
condition of its sand roads. In that
year the Board of County Commissioners
decided to make some experiments to see if
a type of road could be built at a reasonable
cost to connect the county with contiguous
territory. The only logical way by which
they could provide the funds was by a bond
extensively used in Florida at that time,
would cost about $3,500,000, so that some
other type of road had to be developed.
In the city of Bartow, Fla., m 1912, an
asphaltic concrete pavement was laid on
what is known locally as a Bartow clay base.
This is a clay found in the vicinity that has
the property of setting up when water is
applied and making a reasonably hard sur-
'BEFORE AND AFTER" SCENES ON POLK COUNTY ROADS, FLORIDA
issue, and the only way they felt that it
would be possible to carry a bond issue
would be to build a system of roads to con-
nect every town in the county with every
other town. They were therefore con-
fronted with the problem of building almost
217 miles of road in order to get a proposi-
tion before the people which would appeal
to them and bring out the favorable vote.
The largest bond issue which it was felt
could be placed before the people was be-
tween one million and one and one-half
million dollars. Brick roads, which were
face. This type of construction had given
good service, and no money had been spent
on it for maintenance.
The Commissioners employed the H. S.
Jaudon Engineering Company of Elberton,
Ga., which had laid the Bartow pavement,
to lay five demonstration stretches of this
pavement in dififerent parts of the county.
These demonstration stretches were laid in
191 5 and are still in use. From the results
obtained in Bartow and by observing the
demonstration sections, the County Commis-
sioners felt that this type of road would be
30
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
satisfactory and submitted a bond issue for
one and one-half million dollars to the
voters in 1916. This was the largest
amount that had ever been asked in a bond
issue in the South for road building, but it
was carried by a large majority. The con-
struction work was divided into five con-
tracts for the road work and one for the
bridges. Work began in the fall of 19 16,
and the entire system was finished in the
fall of 1918.
Type of Construction
The roads were laid as sheet asphalt
pavements with clay base, the clay being the
most available found alongside or near the
roads that were being constructed. In the
middle and southwestern part of the county,
Bartow clay or a low-grade soft phosphate
rock was used and an excellent base ob-
tained. In the northern and eastern parts
of the county a sand-clay mixture was used,
as the extra freight for shipping Bartow
clay to these points would have added some
$200,000 to the bond issue. The widths of
the roads were fixed by the Coimty Commis-
sioners and governed by conditions of traf-
fic and the money available. The system
covered 217 miles, and of this about 1 00
miles was 15 feet wide and the remainder
9 feet wide. Already there is an effort be-
ing made to secure funds to widen the 9-foot
roads. The cost of maintenance on the 15-
foot road has been very small, while the
maintenance on the 9-foot road has been a
little higher. In fact, 90 per cent of the
money that has been spent in maintenance
has been spent on the 9-foot-wide roads.
The system has demonstrated that while a
9-foot road is better than sand to travel on,
from the commercial and investment stand-
point it is a mistake to build a road of this
width. The system has also demonstrated
that it is possible to build this type of road
and obtain good results, but that proper
drainage is very essential in the construc-
tion. Almost every one of the few cases in
which failure has occurred can be traced to
the road-bed's not being high enough out of
the water, or to the drainage system's having
been allowed to get into a condition so that
it was not functioning properly.
The asphalt surface was laid as near a
true sheet asphalt as possible with the prod-
ucts which could be obtained in Florida
The effort was made as far as possible to
buy nothing outside the state except the as-
phalt and the cement. Coarse sand was ob-
tained from a pit developed in the northern
part of the county near Davenport and
from Lake Weir, and the fine sand from
near the plants. The filler was obtained by
grinding Florida limestone, which is prac-
tically an entirely new industry.
The cost of these roads to the county
complete was about $1.30 per square yard.
This means the completed roads, including
the asphalt top, the base, the grading and
the engineering supervision. The completed
15-foot roads cost between $9,500 and
$10,000 per mile. The immediate result of
the improved road system was that property
values throughout the county very nearly
trebled, and because of the increase in the
value of property the tax rate has been in-
creased only about two mills.
One in Ten Physicians Will Write It '^January, 1921*'
At least ten per cent of the physicians in
the various states during January, 1922,
will continue to date birth certificates, Janu-
ary, 1921, unless they make special resolu-
tions not to, according to vital statisticians
of the various state health departments,
basing their estimates on mistakes made in
other years. Such incorrect dating of birth
certificates, they point out, is an infraction
of the law. It adds a year to the age of the
child, it may make the child appear to be
born out of wedlock, or it may permit
parents to force the child to leave school
a year too early, to get working papers il-
legally, and may make boys liable to military
service before their time. An incorrect
birth certificate may prove a source of en-
tangling inconvenience to the child through-
out life.
Whenever a certificate is found that is
obviously dated incorrectly, attempts are
made to correct it. This requires considera-
ble clerical help, as affidavits must be se-
cured, and is an expense to the individual
and to the taxpayers of the state. Explaining
the psychology of the physicians' January
mistake, one of the workers defined memory
as "the mental revival of conscious experi-
ence," adding that "automatic action such
as writing and speaking may at first be con-
scious and ultimately become subconscious
yet form the basis of special memories."
31
fbrtuard ^tops
in
(Jiiy planning
(Jomntissions
The Moral Force of a City Plan
Decatur, III. — Not a few communities
have city plans that are dead. Carefully-
prepared by some recognized planner, paid
for by voluntary contributions, and adopted
by civic gatherings with enthusiasm, they
have been- forgotten, and lie neglected and
dust-covered, while the city continues to de-
velop without order or design.
The real problem with a voluntary city
planning board that is not clothed with
legal powers to enforce the plan, is to make
the plan a living, breathing thing which will
really accomplish results.
The Planning Commission of Decatur,
111., which is a large committee of the Asso-
ciation of Commerce, believes that if a plan
is kept before the people through newspaper
publicity, talks to clubs and schools, and
conferences with the city council, it should
have a marked effect upon community de-
velopment even if there exist no means of
enforcing it.
Public sentiment can accomplish remark-
able results. A community that is "sold"
on its plan is not inclined to be tolerant with
those who disregard it. The fact is that a
plan which is kept alive is a moral force in
the direction of orderly development.
Decatur is now completing an impound-
ing basin 13 miles in length, which will give
it an ample water-supply and provide recrea-
tional facilities at the city's door, A rec-
ommendation in the Plan was that a new
bridge crossing the lake should be placed
at a high elevation near a railroad trestle
instead of being placed where an old low-
level bridge had been serving. Opposition
to the high structure had been expected from
some interested property owners, but at the
hearing on the site of the bridge, attended
by business men, small neighborhood store-
keepers, and workmen in the factories, the
expressed opinion was unanimous that the
Plan recommendations should be carried
out. It was a great victory for foresight
PROPOSED HIGHWAY OVEE IMPOUND-
ING RESERVOIR
A result of the moral force of city planning.
The high-swung cantilever bridge -was recom-
mended by the Decatur City Plan in place
of the low bridge first considered. A body
of Decatur citizens voted unanimously to
advise the township authorities to carry out
the City Plan recommendation
32
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
and vision, and it will give the city a beauti-
ful and dignified gateway instead of a mere
river crossing.
The Plat Committee of the Board of
Supervisors came before the Commission
and voluntarily announced that it would not
recommend for record any plat that did not
correspond with the Plan.
Frequent inquiries are made of the Com-
mission as to what the Plan provides as to
the location of industries. The real estate
dealers have been invited into the Commis-
sion's conferences, and are now particularly
interested in zoning, a scheme never thought
of until the Plan was inaugurated.
The Plan Commission has gone on record
as favoring the appointment by the Mayor
of a legal body to take over its functions
under the law recently enacted providing
for city plan boards, but it has been ad-
vised by Myron H. West, city planner, that
the Commission as a voluntary committee
should continue its work of education and
advice in order that the Plan may be con-
stantly before the community, as a moral
force.
W. F. HARDY,
Chairman, City Planning Commission.
An account of the Decatur Plan appeared in the
October, 1920, issue of The American City, page 383.
Cjty Managers
How a Texas City is Relieviog
Unemployment
PIousTON, Texas. — This city is striving
to meet its unemployment problem in a prac-
tical way. Every unemployed man who
proves himself not to be a professional
floater is hired by the city as a park em-
ployee.
While it is realized that the wage of $1.25
a day is extremely small, it is enough to
keep body and soul together until some-
thing better is available. The city has sug-
gested to large employers of labor that they
give the men at work in the parks the pref-
erence when in need of additional help, and
those doing the best work for the city at the
nominal wage are given the first opportunity
to take advantage of the better-paying jobs
when offered. Several of" the larger oil
companies have thus had the opportunity to
secure the services of men who have been
tested as willing workers.
Since the city inaugurated this employ-
ment scheme, an average of 250 men have
reported each day at Herman Park, where
most of the work is being done. For 10
cents the men are given a large mug of
coffee and two generous sandwiches. The
wage is paid each day so that the men will
have cash to take care of dire necessities.
C. E. BELK,
Manager.
ffeaHh
Dopariments
An Effective Step to Keep
Down Epidemics
Kenilworth, III. — The following notice
has beent sent to all householders. It is
designed to force physicians to report all
diseases instead of neglecting to do so at
the request of the patient or his family :
"In order to centralize records, the Village
Board has recently appointed the Village Man-
ager as Health Officer and Captain Murray as
Deputy Health Officer for Kenilworth. These
men serve in this capacity without additional
compensation.
"In addition to the notification required of the
attending physician, you are required to notify
the Health Officer or, in his absence, the Deputy
Health Officer, of any case of a reportable
disease of which you have knowledge either in-
side or outside of your family, as required by
the Illinois Department of Public Health.
"In order to preserve and improve the public
health, it is required that every case or sus-
pected case of any of these diseases must be re-
ported to the local health authority within
twelve hours, by the attendant, householder, or
any other person having knowledge of such
known or suspected case. A report made by
telephone must be followed within twelve hours
by a written report.
"Local health authorities must transmit copies
of all such reports to the State Department of
Public Health, Springfield, within twelve hours
after receipt of same.
"Health officers who fail, neglect or refuse
to enforce the rules for the control of com-
municable diseases, and all persons who violate
these rules, subject themselves to a fine of up to
$200 for each offense, or imprisonment in the
county jail not to exceed six months, or both.
(Signed) DIRECTOR, ILLINOIS DEPART-
MENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH."
A complete list of reportable diseases ac-
companies this notice.
F. L. STREED,
Village Manager.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
33
pire
Departments
Fire Alarm Boxes in Schools,
Hospitals, etc.. Made Mandatory
Columbia, S. C. — Following the passage
of an ordinance in Columbia requiring all
public schools, hotels, hospitals, moving-
picture houses and theaters to install fire
alarm boxes, such boxes were installed at
once. The ordinance was prepared by the
writer and F. D. Marshall, Council Superin-
tendent of the Electrical Department.
For the installation an oval shell type of
Gamewell fire alarm box was used, and all
wires were run in rigid conduits. The city
feels that a distinct step in public safety
has been taken through the passage of the
ordinance and the immediate installation of
the boxes.
The ordinance reads as follows:
An Ordinance to Amend an Ordinance Entitled "An
Ordinance Requiring All Public Schools, Hotels,
Hospitals, Moving-Picture Houses and Theaters
to Install Fire Alarm Boxes"
Be it ordained by the Mayor and Council of the
city of Columbia in council assembled:
That an ordinance requiring all public schools,
hotels, hospitals, moving-picture houses and theaters
to install fire alarm boxes be amended, and the same is
hereby amended by adding the following proviso:
"That m case any person, firm or corporation shall
hereafter operate or conduct any said public school,
hotel, hospital, moving-picture house or theater with-
out installing said fire alarm boxes, as herein stated,
within thirty days after notice in writing to do so
having been given by the representative of the city,
he, she, or it shall be fined, upon conviction before
the Recorder, a sum not exceeding one hundred dol-
lars, or imprisoned for a period not exceeding thirty
days, and each and every day after the expiration of
the said thirty days that the terms of this ordinance are
not complied with shall be deemed and considered a
separate offence." That the said ordinance when so
amended shall read as follows:
That all public schools, hotels, hospitals, moving-
picture houses and theaters are hereby required to in-
stall at their own expense standard Gamewell fire
alarm boxes at such place, or places, as shall be desig-
nated by City Council, or their representative, the city
to maintain same after installation. That boarding-
houses with more than twenty-five rooms will be classed
as hotels.
That in case any person, firm or corporation shall
hereafter operate or conduct any said public school,
hotel, hospital, moving-picture house or theater without
installing said fire alarm boxes, as herein stated, witliin
thirty days after notice^ in writing to do soi having
been given by the representative of the city, he, she,
oc it shall be fined, upon conviction before the
Recorder, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, or
imprisoned for a period not exceeding thirty days, and
each and every day after the expiration of the said
thirty days that the terms of this ordinance are not
complied with shall be deemed and considered a. sepa-
rate offence.
W. H. HARTH,
Citjr Electrician.
'HOIHE-MADB" TRAFnC STANDARD THAT
WILL GIVE LONG SERVICE
ffighway
Departments
A Simple and Effective Traffic
Standard
La Grande, Ore. — The picture above
shows a traffic standard of simple construc-
tion which is giving complete satisfaction
in this city.
The base is of reinforced concrete, 2 feet
in diameter and i foot in height, of which
5 inches are vertical, and the remainder
rounded. The disks are 9 inches in diam-
eter, cut in two, and placed at right angles
in a piece of pipe ij4 inches in diameter
and 30 inches long. Six inches of the pipe
are embedded in the concrete base. Eleven
of these traffic standards have been made at
a total unit cost of about $9.86.
Their durability has been tested for sev-
eral months, during which a number of
machines have collided with them. These
accidents have resulted in very little damage
to the standards, but it has been remarked
that no machine has yet hit a standard a
second time.
GEORGE GARRETT,
City Manager.
34
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
Recreation
Departments
A Bath-House That Serves the
People
Omaha, Nebr. — Located between Cass
and Chicago Streets and between 15th and
1 6th Streets, in Omaha, lies Jefiferson
Square, containing 1.72 acres. This park,
although one of the smallest in the system,
is patronized daily by thousands of people,
principally those living in the most congested
section of the city, and many who have no
home whatever. It is known as "No Man's
Home."
In the center of this park stands the Jef-
ferson Square public bath-house and com-
fort station for men and boys. As few
women patronize this park, and as this is
the first public bath-house in Omaha, a
women's department was not built.
The outside walls are built from old cob-
blestones that were torn up from the streets.
The inside walls are cement, and there are
cement partitions and floors.
The caretaker's office contains two large
automatic gas heaters, cupboards for sup-
plies, brooms, etc. Across from this is the
comfort station, with toilets, wash-bowls,
etc. In the middle of the building is the
men's locker room, equipped with about
forty lockers, and back of this is the men's
shower-bath room containing ten shower-
baths. This is a large room, well equipped
and lighted, with the showers in the middle.
Steel partitions are used to separate the
showers, but there are no doors. A separ-
ate locker room and shower room with four
"gang" showers is reserved for boys. Be-
fore this building was built, a survey of the
district was made. It was found that a
large number of the men living in the dis-
trict worked in the smelters and railroad
shops and that there were very few bath-
tubs in the district. Besides this, most of
the "floating population" made this square
their headquarters. The bath-house is
usually kept open from June i to October i,
and as a rule is self-supporting. This year,
owing to large repair bills on our heaters,
we lost about $200. The bath itself is free.
A bath towel and soap are sold for ten
cents ; also a key to a locker. The key and
towel must be returned to the caretaker
after the bath. Boys are charged but five
cents. Following is the final report sub-
mitted to the City Council, which speaks for
itself:
JEFFERSON SQUARE BATH-HOUSE
Number of Bathers, Receipts and Disbursements
For Year 1921
Total number of bathers with own towels 3,101
Total number of towels issued at 10c for men.. 9,572
Total number of towels issued at 5c for boys.. 578
Total number of bathers for the season 13,251
RECEIPTS
From towels issued $986.10
From Recreation Fund 235.43
$1,221.53
EXPENDITURES
For disinfectant $35.90
For toilet supplies 32.31
For repairs to heater 72.60
For repairs to roof 39.50
For laundry 303.01
For gas 276.38
For soap 75.00
For caretaker 386.83
$1,221.53
IRA B. JONES,
Director of Recreation.
THE BUSINESS SECTION OF CEDAR RAPIDS,
The large bridge on the left has recently heen opened for traffic. It is 600 feet long and
to tbe city, which plan? to erect on it a city hal^ and county court bou^e, making it a reft}
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
35
Public^elfare
J^epartmenis
How Toledo's Emergency Relief
Program Has Worked
Toledo, Ohio. — With but ten weeks of
experience to look back upon, it is perhaps
too early to reach any very accurate con-
clusions concerning the success of the vari-
ous features of Toledo's program. There
are, however, several aspects of that ex-
perience which are significant.
It will be remembered from the brief
article in the Becember American City,
that the Mayor's Committee on Unemploy-
ment, as organized along lines suggested by
the National Conference, consisted of com-
mitttees on employment bureaus, relief,
public work, private work and recreation.
It was hoped that these committees would
at least provide a means for coordinating
the efiforts of the city's numerous agencies.
Cooperation of the city's fire-fighters was
secured and provision was made for regis-
tration of all unemployed at the various
engine-houses of the city, with a central
clearing-house in the office of the Welfare
Director, from which all placements were
to be made. Information as to the appli-
cant's needs was secured and to some ex-
tent verified by the firemen. When men
were needed, cards were pulled from the
down-town office, the engine-house where
the men had registered was notified, and
firemen got in touch with them. Men were
required to register from the engine-houses
nearest their homes.
Some 3,000 men have registered in this
way. By far the greatest share of those
registered have been unskilled laborers, only
some 300 having a skilled trade. It developed
that the skilled workers would not register
through the engine-houses, preferring to
apply at the regular employment agencies,
or trust to their union officials.
The disappointing fact was that very few
opportunities for private work were de-
veloped. The committee on private work,
given the task of finding such jobs, met
only a few times and decided there was
nothing to be done. A special bond issue
of $490,000 passed by Council for work on
parks and boulevards, providing funds for
the employment of about 800 men in addi-
tion to the regular force. All these men
were taken from the list filed with the
placement bureau ; and since they were hired
for shifts of two weeks, it has been possi-
ble to give some work to all the unskilled
workers registered.
The work that has been done by these
men was specially chosen so as to require
the least possible amount of material and
supplies, so that most of the money has been
used for the employment of labor. A new
roadway was built leading into an East Side
park, and a road already there was raised
up from the lowland so as to be high and
dry throughout the year. A golf course
was constructed in Bayview Park, a per-
fectly flat piece of land with no trees upon
it, and the construction of bunkers, the lay-
ing out of a new roadway, and the planting
of trees have improved materially the ap-
pearance of the park. Underbrush was
cleared away from considerable tracts of
wooded land recently acquired for park
purposes and as yet unimproved. Swampy
^i'SW
^
ijit''
-. !&".'
i
k'
i.
hi^ •'
■
n
IOWA, SHOWING ITS SEVEN BRIDGES
90 feet wide. Its center abutment will fonn tbe nortb end of tlie Island.
municipal center
This island belongs
36
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
portions of the same parks were filled up
or drained. A new section of the boulevard
is being constructed.
Other public work has been pushed by the
County Government and the Board of Edu-
cation. The county is starting work on a
big sewer project which was not to have
been begun until spring. New school build-
ings projected by the Board of Education
are being hastened.
Next to public work, the phase of the
program which has met greatest success has
been that of poor relief. Through the com-
mittee on poor relief it was possible to adopt
certain uniform principles and to get them
followed by the various agencies of the
city which had hysterically begun innumer-
able projects for relieving the needy. The
clearing-house established by the Social
Service Federation is being used to a
greater extent than ever before. Lodges,
churches, neighborhood organizations and
business men's clubs have been won over to
the importance of clearing through this
central office. Forms of relief which can-
not be furnished by the city or the Social
Service Federation are being provided by
these clubs with a minimum of duplication.
All over the city women are meeting to re-
pair old clothing, which is then distributed
to the poor. At this holiday season all
Christmas giving to the poor is being done
through a special central clearing-house.
The only remaining phase of the program
to be discussed is that of the recreation
committee. This committee, headed by
Professor Charles Bushnell of Toledo Uni-
versity, has prepared elaborate plans for
community entertainments this winter in
school buildings and community centers.
The Central Council of Civic Agencies has
taken up the plan and will assist in carry-
ing it out. The idea is to pfcvide free recre-
ation of all kinds for those who will this
winter have more leisure than ever before,
while less able to buy entertainment. The
plan promises much, but has not begun to
work.
WENDELL F. JOHNSON,
Secretary, Commission of Publicity and Efficiency.
The Roads of Houghton, Michigan
GREAT pride is taken by Houghton
County, Mich., in its roads. The
illustration below shows one of the
county roads, known as Frog Pool Hill.
This road was built by the penetration
method in 1918, using Stanolind Paving
Asphalt C. A recent inspection of this
road showed that it was in almost perfect
condition, and inquiry brought out the fact
that no repairs had been made during the
three years the road has been undergoing
almost continuous traffic. This and most of
the work on the roads in and about Hough-
ton have been done under the supervision of
the County Engineer's Department, T. A.
Coon, County Engineer.
FROG HILL ROAD, HOTJOHTON, MICHIGAN
tfmilips University Ubnry
Enid, Oklahoma
Detroit's Bureau of Public Safety
Gets Results
By Arch Mandel
Detroit Bureau of Governmental Research, Inc.
37
THE purpose of all traffic regulations,
particularly in cities, is to expedite the
movement of vehicles through the
streets with as few accidents as possible ; in
other words, it is a safety measure. Traffic
officers and mechanical devices of various
kinds are all desirable and necessary, but
if the toll of injuries and fatalities due to
street accidents remains constant or is in-
creased, traffic regulations have not served
their full purpose.
In order that the aim of traffic regulation
and control might not be lost sight of, De-
troit created, by charter, a Bureau of Pub-
lic Safety within the Police Department and
provided that one deputy commissioner
should have charge of this Bureau.
The charter provision follows:
Bureau of Public Safety:
The deputy commissioner of police in charge
of public safety shall have supervision of the
enforcement of all traffic ordinances and regu-
lations affecting streets, avenues, boulevards and
other public places, shall keep a record in his
office relative to accidents occurring therein,
incident to traffic, shall investigate the causes
thereof, shall make recommendationi to the
commissioner of police, which shall be trans-
mitted to the common council for necessary
legislation to prevent and suppress such acci-
dents, and shall, through educational publicity
among the people of the city, seek to reduce the
number of such accidents.
The Bureau conducts an all-year-round
campaign through
speeches before all kinds
of groups, or by the ex-
hibition of "safety" mov-
ing pictures before
schools, churches and
other organizations, and
by continuous newspaper
publicity of traffic ac-
cident statistics, etc. In
addition to this, an inten-
sive safety campaign,
usually a week in dura-
tion, is held semi-annu-
ally.
In the sixth semi-an-
nual campaign held last June, over 25,000
persons, including school teachers, women's
clubs. Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Detroit
Automobile Club, clergy. Fire Department,
etc., took an active part. Seven hundred
open-air meetings were held; 8,700 talks
were given ; a daily parade including 25
wrecked automobiles was part of the pro-
gram, and one million pieces of publicity
were distributed, in addition to hundreds of
large appropriate signs displayed ir> promi-
nent points throughout the city.
One of the most important branches of
the Bureau of Public Safety, a feature in
accident reduction methods unique to De-
troit, is the Accident Investigation Division.
This consists of twenty officers under the
direction of two detective lieutenants, who
investigate thoroughly every traffic accident,
following the same careful procedure pur-
sued in the investigation of criminal com-
plaints.
The old practice was to take into court
only those persons involved in accidents
that were witnessed by the police, except
in instances where the victim was killed.
The result was that 95 per cent of street
traffic accidents were settled out of court,
chiefly by accident insurance companies.
The cases that were investigated were as-
signed to officers already sufficiently occu-
pied with work on criminal complaints.
m..m.
— i_B
■^m
■k
_^-*»-
•9».."~'
' ^ -^^^npf
11. ^ 1
■-
■^>^e5.''^«
ir M
|W^ ,
^^r&i
Y^^^
.*N
•
i^n^
' 'HITCHING' ' BY CHILDREN IS THE CAUSE OF MANY ACCIDENTS.
SAFETY INSTRUCTION CAN REDUCE CASUALTIES FROM THIS
PRACTICE
38
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
teiiepcriod laalyar — »4i
Lr>/ea BecOed Iqns ueeor — 79
DISPLAYED ON A PROMINENT CORNER AND
KEPT UP TO DATE, THIS SIGN KEEPS THE
PEOPLE or DETROIT INFORMED OF THE
PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN
Up to December 15, 1921, the Accident
Investigation Division was responsible for
the conviction in court of 931 persons, most
of whom, under the former policy, would
merely have referred their difficulties to the
insurance companies. It needs no diagram
to prove that immunity from punishment
for the destruction of life and limb on the
streets not only does not encourage care
on the part of drivers, but tends to become
an invitation for reckless driving.
Are the methods pursued by the Bureau
of Public Safety making Detroit streets
more safe? Up to December 15, 1920, De-
troit had 239 street traffic deaths; for the
same period of this year, street traffic fa-
talities were cut almost in two, reducing
deaths from this cause to 131.
Attractive Publicity for the Public
Utilities of a City
One of the displays attracting a maximum of attention from the 300,000 visitors at the Industrial
and Trade exposition held recently In Los Angeles, CaUf., under the auspices of the Chamher of Com-
merce, was Installed by the City Bureau of Power and Light. It visualized the watershed of the
Southern California metropolis, showing the city power-plants and the great aqueduct utilized in
generating power. Figures were given of the costs, the power supplied and the returns to the city
39
The Economic Side of Anti-Siphon Traps
in Plumbing Systems
By A. E. Hansen
Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineer, New York
CONSIDERABLE attention has been stalled, and therefore the only actual saving
centered of late on the possibilities by the use of anti-siphon traps would be the
of reducing the cost of plumbing in- short vent branches from the fixtures (other
stallations, and the theory has been fre- than water-closets) to the vent stack,
quently advanced that the use of anti-siphon In order to satisfy myself ort the real
traps would obviate the back venting now economy, if any, of anti-siphon traps as
required by plumbing codes whenever Yt. S compared with Yi S vented traps, I pre-
or bent tube traps are installed, and that a pared a plumbing diagram of a typical
material saving in cost of plumbing work three-story apartment house, reproduced
would result. herewith, which shows in full lines the soil.
It is not the purpose of this article to waste, and vent pipes required by the New
dwell in any way on the scientific princi- York City Plumbing Code, if the approved
pies which underlie the merits or defects of anti-siphon trap is installed for all the fix-
unvented anti-siphon traps, nor to compare tures (exclusive of the water-closets). In
their efficiency or usefulness from a techni- dotted lines are shown the additional vent
cal view-point with that of the vented bent pipes required if the J/2 S vented traps are
tube traps, but it is the purpose to limit it used. I submitted this diagram to three re-
entirely to the economic side of the ques- sponsible New York master plumbers, with
tion. the request that they estimate the costs of
Perhaps the tnost recent typical example the ^ S traps and their vent branches as
of a statement made publicly concerning the shown in dotted lines, and also of the anti-
economy resulting from the use of anti- siphon traps without vents, as permissible
siphon traps, occurred during May, 1921, under the New York City Code. I asked
when testimony was given by a builder be- them further to consult with each other,
fore Samuel Untermyer, Chief Counsel for and to present to me, if possible, joint es-
the Lockwood New York State Housing In- timates which they would consider fair,
vestigating Committee, to the effect that the These estimates were as follows :
installation of approved anti-siphon traps UNVENted patented traps
in a certain New York City building pro- Patented
iect would have reduced the cost of the 6— iK-jnch traps at $ 7.00 $42.00
plumbing installation about 50 per cent be-
low that of the vented Yi S trap system. piug^ lo^per cent iw-ofit'. riso $82.50
That the witness was thoroughly misin- vented y, S traps"
formed on the subject of his testimony will 24 feet— ij^-inch gaiv. pipe
be clear to any one who reflects on the fact 9— i^.^inch" gaiv.'niaii.fit- *'^^
that the cost of the plumbing fixtures — that „ tings at $.3& 2.70
- . ^ . , , . , 6 — 15^-inch brass J4 S
is, the water-closets, urmals, slop-smks, traps at $1.30 7.8O
wash-basins, bathtubs, kitchen sinks, and ^~t■'$2.'5o^^^'!..^..^..*'■^!'.' 7.50
wash-tubs, of the hot and cold water-sup- 1 day labor 10.00
ply pipes and fittings, and of the soil and Total cost $32.32
waste pipe systems remains the same p'"^ ^^ p^' ""* P"""^*^* 3.23 $35.55
whether anti-siphon traps or J^ S traps Excess cost of, unvented
• . t . J rrii. . . 1 i r iU patented traps over vented
With vents are used. The total cost of these y^ S traps $46.95
items is from 90 to 98 per cent of the cost of
the entire plumbing job. Furthermore, The estimates, it will be observed, show
under the New York City Plumbing Code that the actual cost of the vented 5^ S traps
requirements, all water-closets must be to the owner, including a 10 per cent plumb-
back vented, there being no approved deep ers' profit, which I asked to have included,
seal fixtures of this kind on the market. is about $50 less than that of the unvented
A separate vent stack would have to be in- traps. I believe that the estimates are in-
40
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
tended to be proper and are deserv-
ing of confidence. Assuming, how-
ever, that the labor item of the
vented Yz S traps had been 200 per
cent underestimated, there would
still remain a balance of $25 in
favor of the vented Yi S traps.
An analysis of the estimates of
cost made by the plumbing con-
tractors indicates that the materials
required are correctly inventoried
and priced, and that the labor to
be performed consists of measur-
ing and cutting 14 pieces of i>4-
inch galvanized iron pipe to lengths
not exceeding 3 feet ; of cutting 28
ii/^-inch pipe threads, and of
installing 14 pieces of ij^-inch
pipe and nine ij4-inch fittings.
The measuring and cutting should
reasonably consume not over J4-
hour each, or 3^^ hours total; the
cutting of 28 threads not over 1/7-
hour each, or 4 hours total ; the in-
stallation of 14 pieces and 9 fittings
not over >^-hour each, or 8 hours
total. My own estimate of the
total labor required would there-
fore be I5>4 hours, or, say, 2 days,
instead of i day, or $20 instead of
$10; but even under this condition
the Yt. S vented traps are about
$36 cheaper than the unvented
anti-siphon traps.
If the number of floors were in-
creased, or the number of apart-
ments per floor multiplied, each requiring a
similar typical plumbing installation, this
difference would, of course, become corre-
spondingly greater. It is evident that the
greater cost of the unvented anti-siphon
traps is largely due to the high cost of the
traps themselves. Seven dollars for a ij^-
inch and $11 dollars for a 2j^-inch trap are
big prices, which seem unwarranted except
on the ground of patent or other fees.
From the representative example given,
it is fair to conclude that the much-voiced
opinion on the invariably lesser cost of un-
vented anti-siphon traps is not based on
actual facts; there are, no doubt, certain in-
dividual cases, especially in alteration work
or in small dwellings, in which this opinion
will be found to be true, but the evidence
shows, particularly where the plumbing is
condensed near the vertical stacks and
where toilet or bathrooms are located re-
peatedly alike and directly over each other,
tJ
PLUMBING PLAN FOR TYPICAL 3-STORT APARTMENT
HOUSE
as is usually the case in apartment build-
ings, hotels, and office buildings, that the
Y2 S vented traps are as cheap and perhaps
cheaper than unvented expensive anti-
siphon traps. It must be borne in mind in
this connection also, that patented articles
are unlimited in price and not subject to
competition, especially where, as at present
in New York City, only one such article is
approved for use.
The chief item of cost in a back venting
system is involved in the venting of water-
closets, which are not made with anti-
siphon traps; these must be back vented in
any case, according to most of the plumb-
ing codes.
The only additional vent pipes required,
therefore, for the other plumbing fixtures
consist of the short ij4-inch and 2-inch
branches which connect the individual traps
to the main vent stack or to the water-closet
vent branch.
4i
The Conference on the Standardization
and the EUmination of Excess Variety
of Vitrified Paving Brick
FIFTY-FIVE sizes and varieties of
vitrified paving brick were eliminated
by mutual consent at a meeting called
in Washington in November by Secretary
Hoover of the Department of Commerce.
This conference of users and makers of
paving brick was held at the suggestion of
the National Paving Brick Manufacturers
Association, which met with representatives
of the Department of Commerce and with
representatives of the U. S. Chamber of
Commerce in a preliminary conference to
determine the areas of standardization pos-
sible in this particular industry. As a re-
sult of this preliminary meeting, the manu-
facturers, under the general direction of the
Department of Commerce, instituted a
variety survey of the vitrified paving brick
industry, which formed the basis for the
meeting. A permanent committee to be
known as the Committee on Simplification
of Variety and Standards for Vitrified Pav-
ing Brick of the Department of Commerce,
was created for the purpose of making other
eliminations as time goes on that will be
mutually acceptable to producer and con-
sumer.
In addressing the Conference, Secretary
Hoover said:
"The proposal that you are considering is no
new idea in American industry, but it comes up
in its best form on this occasion because it is
inspired by the manufacturers themselves.
"One of the problems of the paving brick in-
dustry is the wide diversity of style in the de-
mands made upon the manufacturers by engi-
neers, that have increased their cost of production
unnecessarily. This problem was brought to the
Department of Commerce by the manufacturers
themselves. We were asked if we could act
as a center point to bring about some agree-
ment in matters in general by which these
varieties could be simplified and the cost of
production materially decreased. Obviously, the
consumer is the engineer, as he makes the
specifications and directs the purchase. The
manufacturers are helpless to come to any con-
clusion of this kind unless they can have the
cooperation of the engineers who make the
specifications and finally pass upon these mat-
ters.
"We have had some discussion with the
manufacturers on this problem and they them-
selves have made through their engineers a
very careful study of this whole problem. The
primary object of this meeting is to see how far
an agreement can be reached for the simplifi-
cation of varieties and how far the consumer
will cooperate with the manufacturer in se-
curing these varieties. There is little I can add,
though I realize the importance of it. This is
but one item which I hope will be extended in
a general campaign among manufacturers in all
directions. We have more problems of this
kind and meetings going on with the help of
the Chamber of Commerce in many industries.
I believe it is the only practical way in which
we can develop these essential groups in indus-
try— that is, by the manufacturers' voluntary
action, and if you gentlemen can come to some
definite conclusion we shall be glad to give it
such prestige as the Department can give. Ob-
viously, if the engineers who direct the work
in our cities, and the manufacturers will co-
operate in reaching such a conclusion under the
agency of the Department of Commerce, there
can be no criticism of anybody engaged in this
work, and if we can secure that cooperation
we shall secure at the same time progress in
the industry itself. I look upon this meeting
with more than usual interest because it is the
first of those processes that we have brought
to this state."
After a thorough discussion of the report
of the National Paving Brick Manufactur-
ers Association, which contained an exhibit
of the tabulation of actual shipments of
paving brick of 66 varieties from 1914 to
August I, 1921, motions were made, sec-
onded and unanimously passed by the Con-
ference, reducing the varieties for consid-
eration from 66 to 20, For the basis of dis-
cussion, a maximum size of brick, 4 inches
in depth by 3J/2 inches wide and 8^ inches
long, and a minimum of 3 inches deep, 3
inches wide and 8^ inches long are used.
The following table gives the dimensions
and types of the 20 varieties of brick de-
cided upon :
Depth Width Length
Plain Wire-cut Brick (Vert. Fib. Lugless)
Inches Inches Inches
3 4 S'A
Repressed Lug Brick
Inches Inches Inches
4 3 S'^
3 SVi SVi
314 3H 8^
4 SVi 8J4
Vertical Fibre Lug Brick
Inches Inches Inches
3 4 8'/^
42
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
Wire-cut Lug Brick (Dunn)
Inches Inches Inches
8 SJ4 8^
354 8^ SVi
* 8J4 S'A
SPECIAL BRICK
Hillside Brick (Dunn)
Inches Inches Inches
3J4 S'A SVj
4 S'A 8J4
Hillside Brick (repressed)
Inches Inches Inches
4 S'A . SA
Street Railway Brick
Inches Inches Inches
3 3 syi (Fillers)
8 8Ji 8J4
4 . 3J4 8}4 (Stretchers)
Miscellaneous
Inches Inches Inches
4 3^ S-^ (End Cut)
4 SJ^ 8J4
As considerable debate ensued concern-
ing further elimination, a committee was
appointed for the purpose of considering the
remaining 20 varieties. The committee re-
ported the desirability of reducing the num-
ber of sizes so that all brick could be cut
out of two clay columns, one 3 inches and
the other 4 inches high. It was decided that
present demands are such that there must be
placed at the disposal of engineers brick to
make a wearing surface either 3, 3J/2 or 4
inches in depth. In the smaller cities a 3-
inch pavement is wanted; the larger cities
require a 4-inch brick. The state highway
departments, on the other hand, find 3-inch
brick too shallow for their traffic, and 4-inch
brick deeper than necessary, and are there-
fore specifying a 3>^-inch depth. With
these three depths considered imperative,
the committee found it desirable to eliminate
only nine of the varieties over and above
those listed above, and therefore eliminated
those in the following list :
Length
Depth Width
Repressed Lug Brick
Inches Inches
4 3
3 3J4
Hillside Brick (Dunn)
Inches Inches
3J4 sy2
Street Railway Brick
Inches Inches
3 3
8 8J5
4 8H
4 syi
Miscellaneous
Inches Inches
4 3^
4 sy^
Inches
8^
8J4
Inches
8H
Inches
8^ (Fillers)
8J4
8J4 (Stretchers)
Inches
Sl4 (End Cut)
syi
Some explanation of these eliminations is
called for. A 4x3x8j4-inch brick was
eliminated, even though a fairly large num-
ber of that variety is used, because no hard-
ship is imposed by asking the substitution
of a 4x3;/2x8j^-inch brick for it, as this
brick is of equal depth but 5^-inch wider.
No freight is saved on the 4x3x8^-inch
over 4x3J^x8^-inch.
• A 3x3^x8>4-inch brick was eliminated
simply because it has never been widely
used, and even though it is the only re-
pressed size with which a 3-inch pavement
can be built, it was believed that it would
be a mistake to artificially encourage its
use by naming it as a standard.
Coming to the eliminations in the various
classifications of special brick, the com-
mittee has acted on the principle that as
far as possible these varieties should be
eliminated. Looking to the wide use of
the Hillside type, however, it has deemed
this use sufficiently important to retain one
size in each of the Hillside classifications,
that is, to retain only the 4X35^x8>4-inch in
Dunn Hillside brick, and the 4x3^x8^4-
inch in the repressed Hillside brick.
All other specials were placed in the non-
standard class and therefore the following
are eliminated in addition to those classes
eliminated in the first discussion:
Length
Depth Width
Street -Railway Brick
Inches Inches
3 3
3 syj
4 3A
4 . 3J4
Miscellaneous
Inches Inches
4 sy4
4 3%
Inches
8^ (Fillers)
8J4
8J4
8J^ (Stretchers)
Inches
8J^ (End Cut)
8J4
With all the eliminations mentioned
above, the number of standard varieties
would be II and the number of sizes 4, as
follows :
Width Depth Length
Inches Inches Inches
sy. 4 8A
k «^ '^
3J4 3 8A
Jhe varieties, therefore, that would be re-
tained are as follows:
Width Depth Length
Flain wire cut brick (Vertical Fibre Lugless)
Inches Inches Inches
3'/ 1 ^^^
«/^ 4 8i^
Repressed Lug Brick
Inches Inches Inches
Iv V^' 8/.
Vertical Fibre Lug Brick
Inches Inches Inches
%/ \ 854
^Yi 4 854
Wire-cut Lug Brick (Dunn)
Inches Inches Inches
3 54 3 8V1
ir^ 354 . li
0V2 4 85^
Hillside Lug Brick (Dunn)
i"^"es Inches Inches
0/2 4 854
Hillside Lug Brick (Repressed)
Inches Inches Inches
354 4 854
43
A Public Laundry in a Batli-house
The Interesting and Successful Experience of Baltimore, Md.
By Robert F. G. Kelley
Secretary and Superintendent, Free Public Bath Commissioner, Baltimore, Md.
THE first thought that comes to your
mind will probably be, "Why the need
of a public laundry?"
I am going to tell you of twenty-one
years' experience that Baltimore has had,
and perhaps, as the story unfolds, you may
see that there was such a need in Baltimore,
and is such a need in the average large city
of to-day.
About the year 1899, when the Public
Bath Commission of Baltimore was about
beginning the erection of the city's first in-
door bath-house, several of the Commission
went to Philadelphia to make a study of the
public laundry there. We had understood
that women brought their home washing
and ironing and did it in rooms set aside
for that purpose. After a thorough in-
vestigation, the plan seemed good, and in
Baltimore's first bath-house, built in 1900,
this feature was incorporated. This house,
located at 131 South High Street, is in a
thickly congested neighborhood, consisting
largely of people of foreign birth, and is
not far from the public wharves.
In making the first schedule, we allowed
four days a week for women to do their
family wash, and two for men to do their
personal laundry. After several years of
experiment, it was found that this schedule
had to be altered somewhat, as the demand
from the men was much larger than that
from the women.
By the year 1920 the type of population
had changed, and we found that compara-
tively few women were doing their family
wash, while on the days set aside for men
the laundry was much congested, on some
days as many as one hundred men being
present. It was then decided to make it
WOMEN'S DAT AT THE PUBLIC LATJNDET, WALTERS BATHS NO, 41, BALTIMORE, MD.
44
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. l
dxclusiveiy 4 laundry for men, and the
lai|ge patronage, nearly 7,000 in 1920,
pro^^ that this was a wise move. For the
first four months of 1921, because Of un-
employment, the attendance was much
larger than ever, a total of 3,875 having
been recorded, an increase of 1,585 over the
corresponding months of 1920.
In order to give some idea of the scope
of the work, I am now going to take you
through the laundry with John Smith, who
is desirous of cleaning up.
John walks into the bath-house, goes up
to the window, and hands the attendant 10
cents. For this he receives a towel, a half-
ounce piece of toilet soap, and a ticket.
Another attendant shows him to a cabin,
where John proceeds to take a bath.
After his bath he puts on his trousers
and coat; the rest of his belongings he
carries! on his arm. He then presents his
ticket to an attendant, who gives him about
one-third of a bar of laundry soap, and
John goes down to the laundry.
Here he is assigned to a set of laundry
tubs with plenty of hot and cold water, and
he begins his family wash. He may think
that his coat and trousers also need wash-
ing; if so, he does it. Perchance he may
have brought a blanket along; others have
done so. When he has finished his wash-
ing, he wrings out his clothes and places
them in racks in a drying-room.
He will then sit on a bench for about a
half-hour, pull out his pipe and smoke,
while his clothes are drying. Perhaps he
may discuss the topics of the day with some
of his neighbors. When his clothes are dry,
he proceeds to dress, and then walks out
with a smile on his face, a clean man, and,
we think, a better man.
Who is John Smith?
He may be an oyster dredger, just up
from a long trip of hard work down the bay.
Or perhaps he is living in one of the cheap
lodging-houses near-by, doing odd jobs and
making just enough to keep body and soul
together. Sometimes John is a cripple, who
must lean on his crutches at the laundry
tub to wash his clothes. Just as likely as
not, he may be a tramp passing through,
who has heard from another of the chance
to clean up.
Sometimes he is sent from one of the
Rescue Homes by the manager, who re-
quests that John have a chance to clean up.
In this case, and many others, the 10 cents
is missing, but John is not turned away on
that account, and receives the same atten-
tion. During the late war, he was repre-
sented in many cases by a uniformed man,
who did not always have the opportunity at
camp to clean up. In his case no charge
was ever made. It is a touching scene to
look at forty or fifty John Smiths washing
their soiled underclothing. Like the Indian
coolies, they carry all their earthly be-
longings on their backs.
From a City-wide Congress Report on
Baths, published several years ago, we quote
the following:
"No more far-reaching philanthropy exists
in our midst than this splendid means to health,
comfort and cleanliness. As we watched a
party of sturdy oyster dredgers emerge from
the building (Walters Baths No. i) last Satur-
day, immaculate, and with heads erect, them-
selves and their clothes freshly laundered, we
wondered if Mr. Walters' other princely bene-
faction, the Art Gallery, was more highly ap-
preciated in its effects."
The Women's Laundries
Encouraged by the success of the laundry
at Walters No. i, in our next four bath-
houses we provided laundry facilities. As
these were located in residential neighbor-
hoods, their use was confined to women.
Because of large patronage in two of these
houses, it was necessary afterwards to en-
large the facilities.
In order that you may better understand
the work, I am going to take you through
one of the laundries with Mrs. Jones.
Through a neighbor, or perhaps through
an advertising card which she has found
under her door, she decides to give the laun-
dry a trial. Gathering up her family wash,
she proceeds to the bath-house and finds
that there is a side entrance to the laundry
room. Here she is greeted by a matron,
who gives her a small numbered card and
assigns her to a set of tubs.
By consulting this card, she finds she
can purchase soap, starch and bluing at the
same prices she would have to pay at the
corner grocery. She then proceeds to draw
her steam and boil her clothes, afterwards
using the wringers attached to the tubs.
The clothes are now ready to be dried and
she is assigned several racks in the drying-
room. In a short time the clothes are dry
and she is given an ironing board and sev-
eral irons, so that she can complete her job.
January, 1922
THE
AT THE WALTERS BATHS NO. 16, BALTIMORE, MD., THE MEN CAN DO THEIR PERSONAL
LATJNDRT
Work done, the card is consulted, and she
finds that she has spent four hours in the
laundry — cost 20 cents, bar of soap 6 cents
(if any is left over, she takes it home), blu-
ing I cent, starch i cent, making a total of
28 cents. For this sum she has been able to
do a large family wash. In addition, she
has worked in a pleasant room, avoided
many discomforts which she would have had
at home, and has met some neighbors and
had a nice chat.
I had almost forgotten to say that Mrs.
Jones took her two children, aged three and
five years, with her, and while she was
washing and ironing they were in the play-
room, a small section set aside for that pur-
pose, having a good time with some toys.
Why was it necessary for Mrs. Jones to
go to the public laundry? Could she not
have done her washing at home and saved
herself trouble and expense? To the
dweller in the average large city this ques-
tion would surely seem superfluous.
Perhaps Mrs. Jones lives in two or three
rooms in a tenement, which could hardly be
called a home; or, if she is fortunate
enough, perhaps in a small house, which,
however, contains no yard for drying pur-
poses. Try to imagine her under situations
like the above: building her fire, drawing
her water and pouring it into a galvanized
tub, heating her water, then bending over
and rubbing her clothes, then the hand
wringing, then the placing of the clothes
somewhere to dry, afterwards the ironing
in a hot room. Surely wash day must be a
torture under conditions like these.
In many cases, young women boarding
in the city, who have no other means of
keeping their clothing clean, take advantage
of the facilities at the laundries.
By far the largest class that use the laun-
dry are the colored people who patronize
Walters Laundry No. 3, which is set aside
for their exclusive use. These colored
women live in alleys or in crowded tene-
ments in the larger streets. They are typ-
ical of the colored population in Baltimore —
house servants, wives of laboring men, etc.,
and to no class do the public laundry facil-
ities bring more advantages.
For the year 1920 the attendance at the
laundries was as follows :
Walters No. 1 — For men only 6,7S!)
Walters No. 2 — For women only 3,737
Walters No. 3 — For colored women 13,998
Walters No. 4 — For women only 3,943
Greenm't Ave — For women only 2,478
Total 30,955
Dr. Donald B. Armstrong, of New York,
in an article that appeared several years
ago in The American City,* speaking
of laundries, wrote as follows:
* December, 1913, page 526.
46
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
"There are about fifteen such institutions in
America, five of which, and by far the best of
them, are in Baltimore, Md."
He closes his article with these strong
words as a plea for the establishment of
similar places in New York City :
''The public wash-house, like the public
baths, finds its chief justification in the fact
that it gives to the people an opportunity to
learn how to be clean, and makes it possible
for them to appreciate the value of health and
decency in being physically clean. Physical
cleanliness enhances their moral and spiritual
tone. They will recognize more acutely their
housing defects and will demand even more
energetically than at present that equipment for
the home which they have learned to use and
value outside, and the importance of which, for
the preservation of health and the maintenance
of decency, they have been educated to ap-
preciate."
In conclusion, we should like to make the
following suggestions to city officials con-
templating installing laundry facilities:
First, by all means a small playroom
should adjoin the laundry, where mothers
can leave their children while doing their
washing.
Second, in many cases advertising is nec-
essary at the beginning. At several of our
houses we gave away cards which entitled
the bearer to use of the laundry twice, free
of any charge.
Third, employes should be selected with
care, as a poor employe can kill a laundry.
A Substantial Highway Sign-Post
WITH the large number of
highways extending north
and south, east and west
on this continent, promoters and
highway departments are aiming
to produce individuality in the sign-
posts on certain highways. The
sign-post shown in the accompany-
ing illustration is one of many
which have been placed at mile in-
tervals along a western route. It
is not radically different from many
others, but it does typify good, sub-
stantial design, which gives it in-
dividuality. The post is of rein-
forced concrete, 4 by 6 inches, and
the slabs 2 inches thick, 30 inches
high and about 40 inches long The
whole post is securely anchored in
a concrete base with the top trow-
elled off, and the edges squared so
that in case of erosion about the
base it will not have a jagged and
run-down appearance.
The letters and figures are made
by imbedding the type in the soft
mortar. This leaves each symbol
in the form of a depression, and
after the sign is painted it will keep
its keen contrast much longer
than if the symbols were flush with
the rest of the slab. Special moulds
are easily made and the signs
turned out at a slight cost.
Courtesy Alpha Portland Cement Company
A REINrOECED CONCEETE POST
47
The Central Heating Plant— A Public
Utility
Chicago Demonstrates Value of Recording Flow Meters in Distributing Heating
Load, and Reduces Smoke Nuisance
By J. C. Butler
THE story of central station heating in
Chicago, as carried on by the Illinois
Maintenance Company, contains sev-
eral points of interest to municipalities:
first, it might be considered in smaller com-
munities as a municipal enterprise; second,
the use of recording flow meters in check-
ing up the use of steam by different build-
ings makes it possible to distribute the load
economically; third, the installation of either
privately or municipally operated central
heating plants is a great factor in reducing
the smoke nuisance.
Central station heating in Chicago had
its beginning many years ago when steam
service was supplied to small buildings ad-
joining a larger building in the same block,
the service being given by the larger as an
aid in overcoming the smoke nuisance from
the smaller boiler plants. It was on this
basis that the Illinois Maintenance Company,
as well as many private building owners, be-
gan to distribute steam in Chicago, the pip-
ing being run in the basements of buildings
in the same block as that in which the steam
generating plant was situated, thereby
eliminating the expense of placing piping in
the city streets and alleys.
It has been only within the past few years
that the tie lines have been installed between
steam generating plants, thereby protecting
the service and making it possible to effect
certain operating economies that could not
have been obtained otherwise. The system,
as now operated by the Illinois Maintenance
Company, comprises six steam generating
plants, together with buildings and cus-
tomers in thirteen city blocks in the loop
district of Chicago. This is only a part of
the entire system operated by the company.
The benefit of such a system of steam dis-
tribution is great, as it is possible to supply
a total of 49 steam customers from 6 boiler
plants, 1 8 of whom formerly operated their
own individual boiler plants, and 26 of
whom would have had to install boilers of
their own had not the outside steam service
been available. In this way it has been pos-
sible to concentrate the smoke to a maximum
of 6 stacks, instead of a possible 44. The
fuel is burned in a more efficient boiler
plant located in the larger buildings with
stack extending above the surrounding
buildings, which it would be impossible to
do in each individual building.
In a system of this kind it is possible to
reduce or to increase the number of boiler
plants in service at any one time as the sea-
sons change; all the load is carried from one
plant during the summer months, and the
other plants are cut in or out as the case
may be, depending on the outside tempera-
ture conditions. Before connections were
made between the boiler plants of the sys-
tem, the engineer in each plant knew the
character of his load and could govern his
plant-operating conditions accordingly, but
under the present system it is necessary to
have a load dispatcher who notifies the engi-
neer as to what procedure he shall follow.
Handling the Load
With boiler plants and customers scat-
tered over 13 city blocks, it was a problem
as to the best method of obtaining the in-
formation necessary for the proper handling
of the load conditions and boiler-plant op-
eration. Consequently, a switchboard con-
taining 14 recording and integrating Repub-
lic flow meters and two Bristol long-distance
recording pressure-gages was placed in the
office of the chief operating engineer, and
this, together with the telephone, was con-
sidered sufficient for the operation of the
system.
The accompanying illustration gives a
series of curves showing the average load
on the system for each hour of the day for
different outside temperatures. From this
it can be seen that during the summer
months, when the temperature is 70 degrees
Fahrenheit or warmer, the average day load
48
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. i
is approximately 39,000 pounds of steam,
but the night load is 15,000 pounds of steam
and the load factor for the months of June
and July is approximately 50 per cent. A
mean daily outside temperature of 60 de-
grees Fahrenheit introduces short-hour
heating, by which the customer has heat on
in the morning for three or four hours and
then cuts it off for the remainder of the
day. It is during such periods that the load
dispatcher must watch his load carefully and
get his boilers in and out of service so as to
tensions and additions, lead-covered tele-
phone cables were run along the main steam
lines, openly or in conduit, depending on
their exposure to injury. Potheads and
terminal boxes were placed at all important
points so as to make it easy to connect in
any additional meters or gages.
The steam generating plant in the Edison
Building being the central plant and the
one that is operated at full capacity most
of the time, meters were placed on the indi-
vidual boilers. All other meters were placed
TYPE OF LONG-DISTANCE RECORDING DEVICE USED IN CHICAGO CENTRAL HEATING PLANT
reduce the plant losses to a minimum and
still keep up the required steam pressure,
which is quite essential where hydraulic
elevator equipment is on the system.
As the weather becomes colder, 24^hour
heating is required and the load curve flat-
tens out, giving a high load factor, usually
70 per cent for the months of December,
January and February. The average yearly
load factor. for the system is approximately
33 per cent, the maximum half-hour load
being at a rate of 220,000 pounds of steam
per hour for an annual -steam consumption
of 633,700,000 pounds.
The Metering System
To make the metering system as flexible
as possible and also provide for future ax-
on main steam lines or service connections
with large loads. In this way the necessary
information can be obtained with a mini-
mum of instruments. The instruments are
so grouped on the meter board of the chief
operating engineer's office that the load dis-
patcher can make his necessary calculations
and decisions with the least possible delay.
As all the steam is transmitted at a pressure
of approximately 120 pounds and is used
for operating pumping equipment, as well
as for cooking, refrigeration, heating water,
heating, etc., it is quite essential that a uni-
form pressure be maintained. For the pur-
pose of checking the pressure and keeping
a record of it, long-distance electrically op-
erated pressure-gages are connected at two
of the more critical points in the system.
January, 19:2^
THE AMERICAN CITY
49
and the recording instruments are placed
where they will be in view of the load dis-
patcher. The recording instruments are all
equipped with 7-day clocks, and 7-day
charts are used. The clocks on the flow
meters operate electrically from the master
clock of the building. This eliminates the
winding of clocks by hand, and the 7-day
charts reduce the changing of charts to a
minimum. For accuracy the recording in-
struments are read each hour during the
critical periods of the day. The load dis-
patcher collects and compiles all data, post-
ing the load curves hourly, so that the chief
operating engineer may know what is going
on in the system at any time.
The Meaning of Good Roads
rOOR ROADS MEAN HARD HAULING FOR LIGHT LOADS AND THE IMPOSSIBILITY OP
HANDLING HEAVY LOADS
Short-sighted financial policies
never provide long stretches of modern highway.
Don't expect roads over night.
Your engineer cannot substitute a magic wand for his
blue-print.
Highway Ne7vs Digest.
THE SMOOTH HARD-SURFACED HIGHWAY INCREASES TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND
IMPROVES PROPERTY VALUES
so
The Board of Appeals in Zoning
By Edward M. Bassett
Counsel of the Zoning Committee of New York
THE main difficulty in establishing a
zoning plan is to make it effective and
at the same time avoid arbitrariness.
Human wisdom cannot foresee the excep-
tional cases that can arise in the adminis-
tration of a zoning ordinance. The strict
word of the law may sometimes be the
height of injustice. No zoning ordinance
standing by itself can provide for the proper
adaptation of the spirit of the law to each
exceptional case. On this account, in the
administration of building laws in general
and especially zoning ordinances, it has
been found desirable, even necessary, to
create an expert board, usually called a
board of appeals, to adapt the application
of the law to particular exceptions so as
to carry out the spirit of the law instead of
allowing it to be arbitrary or confiscatory.
A city cannot create such a board with-
out authority from the state legislature to
do so. Therefore, any state enabling act
to authorize cities to adopt zoning ordi-
nances should contain a provision empow-
ering the city to appoint such a board and
outlining its functions. Merely to say that
a city can appoint such a board to do what
is just or lawful is not enough, and probably
such a statement in the law gives the board
no power whatever. The state enabling act
must either prescribe the rules that it must
follow or, better yet, empower the city coun-
cil to assign to it in the ordinance certain
specified classes of exceptional cases for it
to decide. The council should also prescribe
a rule for it to follow in deciding each class
of cases.
Such a board should be given three dis-
tinct fields: first, to rectify errors in grant-
ing or refusing permits ; secondly, to pass on
exceptional cases where specified in the
ordinance itself; and third, to vary the
literal requirement of the law where un-
necessary and excessive hardship is caused
and the intention of the law is equally ac-
complished by an alternative method to be
prescribed.
The state enabling act should provide for
the review of the decisions of a board of
appeals by the court. This court review.
however, should not be a substitution of the
judgment of the court for the judgment of
the board of appeals. The findings of an
expert board should not be interfered with
by the court unless the board has exceeded
its lawful powers or misinterpreted the
law or abused its discretion. In states where
under such circumstances the courts will
not assume this position, the enabling act
should require it.
Personnel of the Board
A board of appeals may well be composed
in part of officials whose duties bring them
in touch with buildings and their use
throughout the city, and in part of non-offi-
cials expert in such fields as design, con-
struction, fire protection or sanitation. As
a rule, the official who issues permits in the
first instance should not be a member of the
board of appeals, because it is better that
he should not be compelled to act on his
own prior decisions. Neither should a
member of the city council be on the board,
because of the difficulty of his acting as a
legislator in one position and as an admin-
istrator in the other.
Inasmuch as exceptional situations only
come before a board of appeals, there is
always a presumption that the applicant
should observe the strict letter of the zoning
ordinance just the same as all other citizens.
Therefore, if an exception is to be made in
his case, the vote of the board should be
greater than a mere majority. In other
words, an applicant desiring an exception
should be able to convince a large propor-
tion of the board. On the other hand, it
should be possible for a mere majority to
refuse to make an exception, so that there
may be a decision of denial on which the
applicant can ask for a court review. This
distinction has been made.
Separate Functions of the City Council
and the Board of Appeals
States and cities will not go far afield
when they came to define the functions of
the council and the board of appeals if they
will remember that the council is the city
legislature and as such has entire control
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
SI
over the zoning ordinance and maps. The
board of appeals should have no control
over the ordinance and maps but should pass
on specific permits arising under the provi-
sions of the ordinance and maps. The coun-
cil then has its own field and the board of
appeals its own separate field, and these do
not overlap. The council does not adjudi-
cate on a particular building or the use of a
particular building. The board of appeals
passes on nothing but particular buildings.
The council impresses a certain quality on
the land itself. The board of appeals in
certain exceptional cases varies the appli-
cation of the ordinance for a building or
use which may temporarily occupy the
land.
" Complaints will always be made against
boards of appeals, and probably such boards
will always abuse their discretion once in a
while. If, however, a city administration
is not competent to establish a good board
of appeals, it probably is not competent to
administer a zoning ordinance fairly. An
occasional wrong decision by a board of
appeals is of less importance to the com-
munity than the unrelieved arbitrariness of
an iron-clad ordinance which, first in one
particular application and then in another,
may be criticized by the courts. A board of
appeals should ameliorate the exceptional
instances where alone lies the danger to
the entire zoning plan, for, as the courts
have repeatedly said, the integrity of a
zoning plan under the police power depends
on its not being arbitrary.
A Narrow Parkway That Was Abandoned
SOMERVILLE, MASS., has abandoned
the attempt to have a parkway of a mile
or more in length along Broadway,
from the Boston line to the top of Winter
Hill. The parkway has been in existence
nearly ten years, and has been declared a
failure. It was figured out that Broadway
was wide enough so that a narrow strip in
the center of the street between the tracks
of the double-track street railway could be
utilized for the growing of grass and small
shrubbery, adding to the beauty of the city.
Finally, the rails were set 9 feet apart, and
a 3-foot strip between them was sown to
grass and planted to shrubs.
From the first, the jay-walkers disre-
garded it, crossing the street where con-
venience dictated, regardless of a parked
strip. Some teamsters, some drivers of
pleasure wagons — though the latter have
disappeared, motorists have succeeded them
— disregarded the attempt to make a beauty
spot. Then the street railway used salt to
keep away the snow and ice in winter, and
more or less oil was deposited there. All
these things spoiled the grass and shrubs.
The question was whether the city should
make another attempt, rebuild the parkway
and employ policemen enough to keep it
protected inch by inch, or abandon it. It was
abandoned by vote of the city government,
and the remnants of grass and shrubbery
have been replaced by broken stone. It is
said that the city fathers would like to see
three or four feet of that space added to
the width of Broadway, where automobile
traffic has become heavy since the parkway
attempt began.
This experience of Somerville suggests
that in planning for parkways it will be well
to make them wide enough so that the street
will have the appearance of being two sepa-
rate streets instead of one street, and that
the city might well go to the expense of
setting curbs to protect the parking from
the incursions of vehicles.
A Correction
In the article "A Survey of the Salaries of
Police and Police Departments," by Lucius H.
Cannon (The American City, December, 1921,
page 459), appeared the statement that patrol-
men in Harrisburg, Pa., receive $750, the
smallest salary paid to patrolmen in any of the
70 larger cities of the United States. This is
incorrect : police constables, first grade, receive
$1,500 ; second grade, $1,440. These figures have
obtained since January i, 1920; before that, the
annual salary paid to patrolmen in Harrisburg
was $1,380.
TTie Municipal Apartments of Paris
Help Solve the Housing Problem
Bt
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R. Davidson
irmaL
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for
}jk3mAXs, 1902
THE AMERICAS CITY
S
Tke
of
wmkthr
Tke friiii iiMMHi Pk» fir
of ^kobIl. Evciy^ aportBr?^**
tocsoytcaoaft — alof'«&
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aire oify^ tvwaod
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TWre are fi«« (Qffrs of
I
54
Motorized Municipal Equipment
A STANDABD TBTTCK USED FOB HAULING BAIJ:<AST BT THE DEFABTSIENT OF SIBEET
EAILWAYS, DETEOIT, UnCH.
A MACK TBUCE ENGAGED IN HEAVT HAT7LING IN BUENOS AIBES, AEGENTINE
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
55
THE CLEVELAND, OHIO, FIEE DEPARTMENT USES THIS 3-TON WHITE TRUCK TO HANDLE
THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH CABLE AND OTHER DEPARTMENT HAULING
TWO ATTERBURT FIRE TRUCKS RECENTLY PUT INTO SERVICE BY MEXICO CITY, MEXICO.
THE DEPARTMENT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY MOTORIZED WITH APPARATUS OF AMERICAN
MANUFACTURE
THE AMERICAN CITY
Effective
Street Lighting
The distinction a^ccruing' to a
street lighted witK King Stand-
ards Kas a particular value.
The street is attractive by day
and night. Let our Engineering
Department assist you in solv-
ing your street, boulevard and
parK ligKting problems. .*. .'.
KING MFG. COMPANY
53 W. JACKSON BLVD. CHICAGO, ILL.
09
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
57
©ternte? €
f=/ f=j fi=/ f=i f=f f=f
Ir^ IRuHte /4#i^iiR§]
"It Couldn't Be Done— But They
Did It"
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — With a critical
housing shortage on one hand and prohibi-
tive building costs on the other, the Greater
Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce has
put across another one of those "can't be
done" achievements by erecting forty-seven
houses at prices that are actually down to
the 1914 level.
The funds needed were approximately a
quarter of a million dollars. Business men
agreed to furnish one-half, and an old line
insurance company to lend the oiher half
on a first mortgage. A Community Hous-
ing Corporation was formed to finance and
manage the proposition. A tract of land
was purchased on the banks of the Susque-
hanna overlooking the Wyoming Valley
and subdivided into lots and streets, so
grouped and arranged as to avoid the usual
line-up of "company houses." Great pains
were taken in selecting the type of houses.
The single six-room, two-story house pre-
dominates, with a few double houses, some
with seven rooms to a side, others with six
rooms on one side and five on the other.
The construction is three-ply stucco on
metal lath, back-plastered, full cement base-
ment, hot air heat, slate roof, all modern
conveniences, sidewalks in and street
graded. The cost of these homes ranges
from $4,600 to $5,300.
The plan of payment at absolute cost to
the buyer is as follows : A 20 per cent pay-
ment down was required. On completion
of the home, monthly payments begin at
the rate of about i per cent of the balance
due. This is applied on both interest and
principal and also takes care of taxes and
insurance, all being handled through the
Housing Corporation, which retains title
until the last payment is made. Some, of
course, paid all cash down, but most of the
buyers took advantage of the eleven-year
term in which to acquire a home on pay-
ments which were but little more than the
same house would rent for.
An intensive publicity campaign through
the newspapers was used, with a sketch of
the houses, single and in groups. An ex-
hibit was also placed in store windows and
in the Chamber of Commerce Auditorium.
Most of the houses were sold before the
first shovel of dirt was turned, and this
later event was made the occasion for a
formal ceremony which marked the actual
beginning for many of the dearest spot on
earth — a home.
The whole building contract was given to
one contractor, who figured on the closest
A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE BUILT BY THB
WILEES-BABBE, PA., COMMUNITY HOUSING
CORPORATION
possible margin and made the statement
that it would cost an individual at least
$1,000 more to reproduce one of these houses
than the price at which they were offered
by the corporation. This was verified later
by the insurance company in valuing the
property for the purpose of placing its loan,
and also by the fire insurance companies in
underwriting the fire risk.
The real purpose of the undertaking, that
is, the stimulation of home building, was
realized before the publicity campaign was
over, as was evidenced by the promotion of
THE AMERICAN CITY
79
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thb Ambkican City.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
59
A FEW DOUBLE HOUSES WERE PUT UP BY THE WILKES-BABRE HOUSING CORPORATION.
THE SUCCESS OF THIS CORPORATION HAS ENCOURAGED PRIVATE BUILDINQ
several home-building projects through real
estate agencies, which up to that time had
taken the stand that "there ain't no such
animal," but were willing to venture after
the way was paved.
This experiment in solving the housing
problem simply shows that with unity of
purpose, concentration of effort and coop-
eration in handling the project on a large
scale, homes can be placed in reach of the
average wage-earner, who is unable to cope
with the situation single-handed.
C. H. HALL, Civic Department,
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Leads Good Roads
Campaign
Sioux City, Iowa. — With the completion
in November of the concrete road from
Sioux City to Moville, the Sioux City
Chamber of Commerce realizes the first
fruits of its labor of three years ago. It
marks the first step in Woodbury County's
three-and-a-half-million-dollar road system,
for which bonds were voted in 1919. The
length of this piece of road is 14 miles
from the city limits of Sioux City to Mo-
ville, Iowa, and connects with Sioux City's
no miles of paved streets and highways.
The surface is of the one-course rein-
forced concrete type. It is 8 inches through,
resting on a rolled subgrade, and has a 2-
inch crown. It is 20 feet wide and has a
I -foot integral curb on each side, raised 3
inches. The reinforcement consists of half-
inch steel bars laid 6 feet apart, crosswise,
with three longitudinal bars. They are 2J/2
inches below the top of the concrete.
A useful feature is being added by the
County Engineer. This is a black line about
3 inches wide running along the center of
the pavement the entire length. The pur-
pose is to direct traffic to the right side go-
ing in both directions. It is hoped that this
will prevent accidents caused by cars stay-
ing too close to the center.
The members of the Chamber of Com-
merce who worked incessantly for months
in pushing the election which made possible
the issuing of bonds for paving Woodbury
County's road will feel well repaid for their
work as they travel over the Moville road.
No more mud, no more hard hills to climb ;
instead, there is a smooth, year-round, hard-
surface road.
It was about three years ago that the
question of how to get good roads was up-
permost in the minds of the people in
Sioux City and Woodbury County. The
Sioux City Chamber of Commerce early
took an active part and determined to carry
through a road-building program. A strong
committee worked incessantly against heavy
opposition to secure the proposed law which
made possible the voting of bonds for the
hard-surface roads. It was at this stage
that the Chamber of Commerce, together
with other civic organizations in Sioux
City, performed one of the biggest stunts
ever attempted in the state. They moved
the State Legislature to Sioux City. This
body of lawmakers came to the city, viewed
with enthusiasm the paved highways within
the city limits, went back to Des Moines
and passed the new law. They had not real-
ized before what concrete roads meant to a
community.
.Next, the Chamber of Commerce took the
THE AMERICAN CITY
Goodyear All -Weather Tread Solid Tire
Goodyear All -Weather Tread Solid Tires
show remarkable tractive and cushioning
qualities in service on heavy duty trucks,
Their All- Weather Tread design furnishes
in the 36 X 10 size, for example, 704 inches
of sharp gripping edges so that in the
heaviest going this tire grips hard and holds
to the road.
The height and tread design of the Good-
year All- Weather Tread Tire make it much
Copyright 1922, by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber (
more resilient than a smooth surface tii
and even springier than many so-calle
cushions. This lasting resilience protec
both the engine and the chassis from roa
shocks and jars.
Much thicker than the ordinary smootl
tread solid tire, they wear much longer.
For lighter and quicker hauling, Goodye;
makes other special tires — Goodyear Cor
Truck Tires and Goodyear Cushion Tire
Single Jacket
Underwriters Fire ffbse
The UndetAvriters label on Goodyear Single
Jacket Fire Hose and Goodyear Monterey
Chemical Hose, means that the latter will re-
sist satisfactorily the biting, corrosive action
of chemicals and that both will stand a definite
pressure per square inch. Goody ear's years
of manufacturing experience has enabled the
production of hose on a par with all other
Goodyear products — hose which will render
dependable and economical service.
Monterey Chemical Hose
n
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American C^Ty,
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
61
lead in putting through a $2,500,000 bond
issue for the actual hard-surfacing of a
county primary road system. This issue,
with assessed benefits, will provide more
than $3,500,000, to be spent as rapidly as
conditions permit. The campaign included
liberal use of printer's ink and wide-spread
information on the proposed bond issue,
which was carried by a large majority.
The entire cost of the road was $51,000
per mile, including grading and finishing.
The contract price for the concrete was
$3.67 per square yard and $I.I2>4 per cubic
yard for subgrade work.
JOHN D. ADAMS,
Industrial Commissioner, Sioux City Chamber of
Commerce.
Business Aspects of a College
PouGHKEEPSiE, N. Y. — The Poughkeepsie
Chamber of Commerce is now lending its
efforts toward securing the Vassar College
$3,000,000 Salary Endowment Fund. The
Chamber has undertaken to raise the sum
of $30,000 from the business and profes-
sional interests of the city as its contribu-
tion to the fund.
A unique folder has been prepared and
mailed to all the prospective subscribers, in
which the advantages of the College to the
community are clearly set forth. The pam-
phlet is entitled "Do We Appreciate It?"
and the College is compared to an industry
already located or seeking to locate within
the city.
It is set forth that the College buildings
have a total valuation of $3,305,000; that
the annual salaries and wages paid faculty
and employes of the College amount to
$650,000; that the spending power of the
student body (conservatively estimated at
$50 per student) exceeds $60,000, and that
the cost of supplies purchased by the Col-
lege in the city of Poughkeepsie equals at
least $150,000 per year. It is therefore es-
timated that approximately $900,000 is an-
nually turned from the College into the
various channels of trade of the city.
The prospective subscribers are then
asked the following questions:
"What would I give to bring an institu-
tion to the city of Poughkeepsie which
would spend $900,000 per annum if the
same were not already located here?"
"What would I give to keep Vassar Col-
lege in the city of Poughkeepsie if there
were any intention of its moving to some
other locality?"
The response to the appeal of the Cham-
ber of Commerce has been very gratifying.
Contributions are coming unsolicited to the
Chamber offices, and the officers and direc-
tors of the organization are confident that
the $30,000 requested by the Chamber will
be forthcoming. The people of the city in
general appreciate the presence of the Col-
lege, and to date 99.2 per cent of the
Poughkeepsie alumni have subscribed to
the fund.
R. W. BUDD,
Secretary, Poughkeepsie Chamber of Commerce.
PORTSMOUTH
SETTLEDI623.
pEWCASi
tVE.
lAMPTONBEACR.
iBOSTONv^OCEA^
BOULEVARD.
F3> ' >'
SUCH A SIGNBOARD IS USEFUL, APPRO-
PRIATE AND BEAUTIFUL
The Doorway to Portsmouth
Portsmouth, N. H. — The photograph
above shows one of the new signboards,
of which a dozen or fifteen will be
erected in this city in the near future. They
are the gift of one of the Directors of the
Chamber of Commerce. No more appro-
priate type of guide-board could have been
designed, for it is copied from one of the
fine old colonial doorways for which the city
is famous. The doorway is also a symbol
of hospitality. Thus Portsmouth, in addi-
tion to erecting sign-boards which are at
once artistic, appropriate and distinctive,
has chosen a symbol which thousands of
tourists, who pass through datly in summer,
will recognize as a welcome sign.
H. F. SHERWOOD,
Managing Secretajy, Portsmouth Chamber of
Commerce.
THE AMERICAN CITY
NEWPORT
Have the suppflin^ strength
of Hercules and Samson
Mythology and Biblical history record the great sup-
porting strength of these ancient heroes. The records
of many cities, counties and states tell of the great
supporting strength of Newport Culverts. The re-
markable lasting qualities of these corrugated metal
culverts is due to the ability of the metal to withstand
corrosion.
Newport Culverts are made of genuine open hearth
iron (99.875 per cent pure iron copper alloy), which
lasts a lifetime.
Newport Culverts are made in full-round and half-
round shapes to make them fit all conditions. Full-
round shapes are most serviceable where there is a
deep fill and plenty of head room. In those places
where there is little fill, the half-round culvert with
flat bottom makes the best proposition because of its
small height.
Full descriptive illustrated lit-
erature sent free on request.
NEWPORT CULVERT CO., INC.
542 West 10th St. Newport, Kentucky
78
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
63
Wyandotte Adver-
tises Its Pure Water
Wyandotte, Mich. — The
Wyandotte Board of Com-
merce, in cooperation with
Donald M. Hatch, Superin-
tendent of the Water De-
partment of that city, has
adopted a novel plan of wel-
coming the visitors to the
municipality and at the
same time incorporating
some excellent advertising
for the city. The large sign-
board which is illustrated
herewith not only shows a
view of the new and up-to-
date filtration plant recently
installed in the city, but
also illustrates in a practi-
cal way the purity of its
water-supply by a bubbling
drinking fountain extending out from the
face of the sign. There are three of these
billboards located at the various entrances
to the city, and, as will be seen by the illus-
tration, other advantages of the city are set
forth in a panel at the left of the view of
the filter plant.
JAMES H. PINSON,
Secretary-Manager, Wyandotte Board of Com-
merce.
A City Plan for Spartanburg
Spartanburg, S. C. — Work on a compre-
hensive plan for the city of Spartanburg
has begun. The contract with Dr. John
Nolen, of Cambridge, Mass., was signed
October 3, the city, the Park Commission
and the Chamber of Commerce each agree-
ing to bear one-third of the expense.
At a meeting of the Members' Forum of
the Chamber of Commerce, held February
2^, 1920, Professor B. O. Hutchinson, of
the Faculty of Converse College, offered a
resolution recommending that the Board
of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce
take steps to secure a city plan. This reso-
lution was adopted by the Board, and a
committee on city planning was appointed.
For the past year and a half the com-*
mittee named by the Directors of the Cham-
ber of Commerce has been busy working
toward the objective proposed in the reso-
lution. Dr. Guy E. Snavely, the chairman,
was sent to Cincinnati to attend the Con-
ference on City Planning. He returned
AN ATTRACTIVE SIGN ERECTED BY THE WYANDOTTE BOARD OF
CO»IMERCE
more enthusiastic than ever over the proj-
ect. Carl F. Pilat and John Nolen came to
Spartanburg by invitation and delivered
addresses before large numbers of citizens
assembled at Forum meetings at the Cham-
ber of Commerce.
When the South Carolina Legislature
gave the Spartanburg Park Commission
city planning authority, the Chamber of
Commerce passed a resolution guaranteeing
one-third of the cost of a city plan, pro-
vided the other two-thirds were carried by
the city and the Park Commission.
Before the contract for the city plan was
signed, the Park Commission was develop-
ing Cleveland Park, in the northern part
of the city. This park, which is half com-
pleted, will have a lake covering three acres,
tennis grounds, a baseball diamond, a club
house and picnic grounds. For this work
the city voted $50,000 in bonds, and John B.
Cleveland, a prominent citizen, donated a
large tract of land for the park.
For several years the Chamber of Com-
merce and many business interests have
felt the need of an industrial survey of the
city. It now transpires that the work un-
dertaken will in a large measure include an
industrial survey in connection with the
city plan. This information will be of
immense benefit to the Chamber of Com-
Publicity Secretary,
Commerce.
D. G. SPENCER,
Spartanburg Chamber of
THE AMERICAN CITY
Northern Fire Apparatus
Northern Equipped, Cadillac "8" ChaMi«. In Service in Redwood Falls, Minn.
Our Liberal Selling Policy
— boosts local business of your city. You pick your
favorite chassis, and go to your own truck dealer to
get a price quoted on it, Northern Equipped. Your
dealer gives the matter personal attention. His shop
becomes your service station when the job is de-
livered.
The Northern Is Guaranteed
Under our sales plan you have not only the personal
attention of a dealer you know, but also the liberal guar-
antee and international reputation of Northern Fire
Apparatus behind the job.
Sales Offices: Every Truck Dealer, Everywhere
''We furnish everything but the chassis"
Northern Fire Apparatus Co.
2420 University Ave., S. E. Minneapolis, Minn
78 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City,
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
65
Lockport Board Pro-
motes Office
Building
Lockport, N. Y. — A
little more than a year
ago at one of the member-
ship get-togethers of the
Board of Commerce, on the
matter of erecting a build-
ing to cover the site occu-
pied at that time by ruins
left because of the broad-
ening and deepening of
the State Barge Canal, it
was suggested that it
might be a splendid piece
of work for the Board of
Commerce to endeavor to
cover this site with a mod-
ern store and office build-
ing to be the home of the
Board of Commerce. This
appealed greatly to the membership, be-
cause of the fact that these ruins occupied
one of the most conspicuous and prominent
places on our Main Street, and a committtee
was immediately appointed to investigate
the possibilities and to report. As a result of
the report of the committee an organization
was incorporated and a campaign launched
for the selling of stock, which has resulted
in the directors of the corporation proceed-
ing to build, and the building is now under
construction.
The building is to be a two-story struc-
ture with six storerooms on the main floor
and offices on the second, and is to be
known as the Board of Commerce Building.
The novel feature of the building is that
the basement is to be utilized also as store-
rooms. Because of the fact that it overlooks
the locks of the State Barge Canal, the
stairway and sidewalk are being run from
WHERE WAS FORMERLY A LOCAIi EYESORE THE LOCKPORT,
N. Y., BOARD HAS BUILT ITSELF AN ATTRACTIVE HOME
the street completely around the back of the
building, forming a terrace overlooking the
canal. The fact that there is a street on the
opposite side of the canal gives wonderful
promise to these basement storerooms, and
virtually afifords us a three-story structure.
Construction is to be of reinforced cement,
stone, and brick, and will be a tremendous
improvement to our Main Street. The
building when completed will cost approxi-
mately $80,000, the greater part of which
has been subscribed by local citizens,
who have responded to the appeal of civic
pride.
This project has met with such great suc-
cess, and the directors of the corporation
are so much encouraged, that they are now
beginning to look around to see what they
can next undertake in the way of civic de-
velopment and improvement.
D. HODSON LEWIS,
Secretary, Board of Commerce.
On the Calendar of Conventions
J.\NUARY 17-20. — Chicago, III.
American Road Builders' Association. Annual con-
vention. Secretary, E. L. Powers, Editor Good Roads,
31 Waverly Place. New York. N. Y.
Januaky 18-20. — New York, N. Y.
American Society of Cizil Engineers. Annual meet-
ing. Secretary, Charles Warren Hunt, 33 West 39th
Street, New York, N. Y.
January 30. — Trenton, N. J.
Netv Jersey State League of Municipalities. Annual
meeting. Secretary, Clinton J. Swartz, 712 American
Mechanic Bide., Trenton, N. J.
February 16-18. — Altoona, Pa.
Pennsylvania Commercial Secretaries Association.
Semi-annual convention. Secretary-Treasurer, B. W.
Grills, Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, McKeesport,
May 1.5-19. — Philadelphia, Pa.
American Water Works Association. Annual con-
vention. Secretary, J. M. Diven, 158 West 71st Street,
New York, N. Y.
May 9-11. — Atlantic City, N. J.
National Fire Protection Association. Annual meet-
ing. Secretary, Franklin H. Wentworth, 87 Milk
Street, Boston, Mass.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Slate Trunk Line
No. 13 in Kil-
bourn,lVisconsin.
Maintained u'ith
annual treatments
of " Tarvia - B "
since IQ16
Good Roads that Grow Better-
MOST people are satisfied when the
roads stay "as good as new." But
not so the Road and Bridge Committee of
Columbia County, Wisconsin.
They build good roads to start with and
then, by far-sighted but inexpensive main-
tenance with "Tarvia-B," make those good
roads better every year.
This extract from their letter will be of
interest to all highway officials:
"Our experience in successfully main-
taining our macadam roads with "Tarvia-
B" is due not only to the excellence of
your product, but also the rule we follow
in Columbia County of surface treating
macadam roads in good condition and
giving them additional treatments of
Tarvia annually.
"During the past couple of years, we
have used clean limestone screenings ^"
J
For Road Construction
^ Repair and Maintenance
size as a covering after applying the Tat
via. We believe we are adding just a littl
more Tarvia surface each year than th
traffic wears off, as we have several maca
dam roads in this county that have beei
annually treated with "Tarvia-B" for thi
past six years and are in better conditioi
at the present time than they were whei
first treated with Tarvia."
The use of Tarvia re-enforces the roai
surface and makes it waterproof, frost
proof, mudless, dustless and automobile
proof. A road maintained with Tarvii
pays for itself over and over again.
Tarvia is a coal tar preparation, madi
in a number of grades to meet construction
maintenance and repair problems.
Illustrated booklet describing the variou
Tarvia treatments jree on request.
GOOD ROADS SHOW
Visit our booth at the Coliseum,
Chicago, 111., during the Good
Roads Show of the A. R. B. A.,
January 16-20, 1922.
Nr» Yck
SallLaVrCm
Johnsiown
Ch.<
...J. Orle«n*
Sr.nle
Lebanon
flftab«lh 8ufI«lo
'THE BARRETT COMPANY. Urn
Prona AiU
Youn»«lown Toll
Ba'umof* V Om,
Company oi
Columbui
JackjooviJIe
S< lokn. N B..
74
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
1
(>7
The Selection of Superheaters for
Municipal Power-Plants*
By W. F. Schaphorst, M. E.
THE natural temperature of steam at
atmospheric pressure is 212° F. Pass
this steam through a superheater and
increase its temperature to 312° F., with-
out increasing its pressure, and you have
steam of 100° superheat. Similarly, the
natural temperature of steam at 200 pounds
absolute pressure is 381.9° F. Pass this
steam through a superheater and increase
its temperature to 481.9°, without increas-
ing its pressure, and you have steam of
100° superheat. The function of the super-
heater, therefore, is simply to increase
steam temperature — not to
increase pressure.
Reference has been made
in previous articles of this
series to the advantages of
superheated steam. In all
large modern steam power-
plants superheated steam is
invariably specified. With
superheated steam, higher
efficiencies and economies
are obtainable because effi-
ciciency is dependent upon
"temperature difference" in
the same way that the effi-
ciency and power of a hy-
draulic turbine are depen-
dent upon the difference in
water level.
Not only does super-
heated steam increase the
efficiency of engines and
turbines, but the efficiency
of boilers equipped with
superheaters is slightly in-
creased. In European coun-
tries it is common practice
to guarantee an increase in
boiler efficiency of from i
to i>4 per cent, although
such a slight increase would
be difficult to prove.
Superheaters are usually
placed somewhere within
the boiler setting, integral
with the boiler, in order t-hat the hot flue
gases may do the superheating. The super-
heater is never placed directly in the fur-
nace of the boiler itself, because in that
location it could not withstand the heat; in
all probability it would melt. Nor is the
superheater placed at the "exit" of the
gases, because at that point the gases are
comparatively cool — so cool that they would
not superheat the steam to a sufficiently high
temperature. Consequently, it is common
practice to-day to divide the boiler into
"decks," placing the superheater between
• Copyright,
Schaphorst.
1921, by W. F.
RECLASSIFIED STIRLING BOILER WITH BABCOCK AND WIL-
COX STEAM SUPERHEATER AND BLAST TYPE CHAIN (JRATB
8T0KER
THE AMERICAN CITY
"PENNSYLVANIA TRIO
» »
The "Pennsylvania Trio'
is the triumph of the
famous Pennsylvania
Quality Line. It embodies
all the exclusive quality
features. No other mower
will cut grass on golf
courses, big estates or
parks as efficiently, eco-
nomically or speedily.
UWN MOWERS
''PENNSYLVANIA GOLF
The "Pennsylvania Golf*
has no rival when close
cutting is required on tennis
courts, putting-greens and
lawns. It trims to i^ of an
inch. All its blades are
crucible tool steel; self-
sharpening.
Write for "Pennsylvania BooJ^'
76
PENNSYLVANIA LAWN MOWER WORKS. Inc.
1615 North 23rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
January^ 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
69
the decks at a point where the temperature
of the gases for heating the superheater
will be suitable.
The selection of the right kind of super-
heater depends largely upon the load con-
ditions in the plant. If the load is com-
paratively steady, a superheater of the
above type would do very well, but if the
load fluctuates violently, being below
normal at one time and 100 to 200 per cent
above normal at another time, it is evident
that the superheater would also fluctuate
considerably and a different type of super-
heater should be selected. Superheated
steam of a constant temperature is always
most desirable.
There is on the market a type of super-
heater equipped with an automatic tempera-
ture control that by-passes the hot flue gases
in such a way that fairly constant super-
heat is maintained. At the same time, if
the boiler is equipped with an economizer,
the heat in the hot gases is not wasted. If
the boiler is not equipped with an econo-
mizer, it is better to waste the flue gases
than to melt or burn the superheater with
the excessively high temperature gases.
The above types of superheaters are made
integral with the boiler. Where load con-
ditions vary suddenly, or widely, or where
the prime movers are located at a considera-
ble distance from the boilers, a "separately
fired superheater" located on the main steam
line may be the correct solution. To be
sure, separately fired superheaters are less
efficient than the integral type and are not
so much used. The integral type is always
preferable wherever it can be installed.
Superheaters that are separately fired should
be automatically regulated or carefully
watched so that in case of a sudden drop in
steam consumption the superheat will not
run too high and the superheater will not
be ruined.
Necessary Cautions
It must be remembered that, although
beneficial as regards steam consumption,
superheated steam also has its upper limita-
tions. If allowed to get too hot, super-
heated steam will ruin brass and other alloy
fittings and may have a retarding effect
upon the lubrication of steam engines. Tur-
bines, engines, and fittings are usually made
of different kinds of metals, joined together.
Each metal usually has a coefficient of ex-
pansion of its own, different from those of
the other metals, and thereon, also, hinges
another trouble.
In selecting a superheater, bear in mind
the fact that placing it within the boiler
setting is liable to increase the frictional
resistance of the gases through the boiler.
Be sure that this resistance is not increased
too much. The superheater should be so
placed that it will have ample space in
which to expand and contract, independ-
ently from the boiler, boiler parts, and set-
ting. See that the superheater is equipped
with an independent safety-valve of the out-
side-spring type. This safety-valve should
be set slightly lower than the safety-valve
on the boiler, so that in case of too high
pressure the superheater valve will let go
first and there will always be a flow of
steam through the superheater. Otherwise,
if the boiler safety-valve lifted first, the
flow of steam through the superheater
might cease and the superheater might be
ruined by burning. Also be sure that the
superheater is equipped with drains for re-
movir>g water from all portions before start-
ing up. Unless the superheater is thor-
oughly drained, slugs of water may be car-
ried along with the steam to the prime
movers, with results that might prove disas-
trous.
Users of superheaters should be careful
about permitting saturated steam connec-
tions to the boiler in addition to the super-
heater connection, especially to the prime
movers. This is bad practice, because the
use of saturated steam reduces the amount
of superheated steam, the velocity of super-
heated steam is reduced correspondingly,
and as a result there might not be sufficient
flow through the superheater for its own
protection against distortion or burning.
Saturated steam connections should never
be permitted to carry more than 10 to 15
per cent of the entire amount of steam
generated by the boiler.
Despite the great amount of study that
has been given superheaters and despite the
broad experience that has been had with
them, it is practically impossible to predict
with accuracy the performance of a super-
heater under varying conditions. With a
given coal, a mechanical stoker may give a
lower degree of superheat than would hand-
firing with the same coal. It is reported
that in one plant, which was converted to
burning oil from previous mechanical stok-
ing, the superheat was reduced 36 per cent
THE AMERICAN CITY
■4^
RESOLVED
That because of the need
of safety and economy in
street traffic control
MUSHROOM TRAFFIC LIGHTS
(Milwaukee Type)
Should be installed at street crossings, on narrow
streets, heavy traffic streets and boulevards.
This steel unit is readily visible by day and night
as it is located where theTdriver is looking and
when illuminated is a bright spot without glare.
It stands only eight inches high but it is large
enough to readily control the most habitual "cor-
ner cutter." It is accident-proof, indestructible
and equipped with a duplex lighting system that
insures constant service. See exhibit at the
Good Roads Show, Chicago, Jan. 16-20, 1922.
Our Descriptive Bulletin sent free on request.
Electrical & Specialty Supply Company
Madison Terminal Building CHICAGO, ILL.
i i r
I m
76
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
71
at normal load; reduced 40 per cent at 50
per cent overload; and reduced 42 per cent
at 100 and 150 per cent overloads respect-
ively. It is evident, therefore, that the fuel
and method of firing have much to do with
the degree of superheat obtainable. Other
factors that affect the degree of superheat
are: amount of excess air used in combus-
tion; heating value of coal burned, as well
as kind of coal; type of stoker used; and
quality of manual attendance.
In view of these facts, therefore, the
municipal power-plant official must not be
surprised if, after purchasing and installing
a superheater, it fails to give the exact
degree of superheat desired — unless it is
of the type equipped with by-passes and
automatic temperature control. The writer
knows that some of the largest manufac-
turers of superheaters are still having their
troubles. In spite of these troubles, how-
ever, superheaters are to be recommended
as important economy factors in all modern
municipal steam power-plants.
New York's Traffic Towers
MUNICIPAL officials throughout the
country, especially those directly in-
terested in traffic control, are familiar
with the story of New York's traffic towers.
The five now in use were installed along
Fifth Avenue by Dr. John A. Harris,
Special Deputy Police Commissioner, at his
own expense, and were originally in the
nature of an experiment. They have worked
out so satisfactorily that their permanent
retention has been decided on.
The Fifth Avenue Association offered a
prize for the design of a bronze traffic
tower, more ornamental than the simple,
temporary structures originally erected.
The prize was won by Joseph H, Freed-
lander, who will be retained as architect to
supervise the construction of the new tow-
ers. The contest aroused much interest
among architects throughout the country.
The Association's announcement says :
"The new signal towers are to be constructed
almost entirely of bronze, with a granite base
4 feet square and 3 feet high. They will be 23
feet in height. The base is to have granite
'striking blocks' at each corner to fend off
traffic and to protect the tower itself. The lower
part of the structure will be open so as to
allow an unobstructed view up and down the
avenue. The space at the top which is to house
the traffic policemen will be enclosed in glass
windows, so operated as to allow the policeman
in the tower to open or close all of them at one
time with a single swing of a lever. The towers
will be heated by means of electric stove."
Besides the $500 first prize, second and
third prizes of $300 and $200 were offered.
Dr. John H. Finley, former Commissioner
of Education of the State of New York,
made the address at the banquet at which
the prizes were awarded.
THE WINNING DESIGN FOR NEW YORK'S
TRAPFIO TOWERS
THE AMERICAN CITY
Lowering the Cost of Greater
Police Efficiency
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. One of the best
police departments in the South. Motorcycles?
Decidedly. Harley-Davidsons? Exclusively!
Memphis is one of the hundreds of American cities
(large and small) that have increased police efficiency
and lov^^ered its expense by using Harley-Davidsons.
A policeman on a motorcycle can do so much more —
and in so much less time — that the moderate first cost
of the machine is soon earned. Thereafter the motor-
cycle pays the city a profit every month for years.
Police Dept. uses of
Harley-Davidsons
Chasing speeders
Running down "motorized
crooks"
Enforcing parking rules
Regulating traffic
Messenger work
Emergency calls
Bringing relief or reinforce-
ments
In any emergency — in any weather — on any road,
the greater dependability, durability and economy of
the Harley-Davidson have won for it the distinction of
being "America's Police Motorcycle" — used exclu-
sively by most all modem police departments.
Ask your local dealer for free demonstration
and the new, reduced Harley-Davidson prices
(25% lower). Or write to us for interesting
book, illustrating motorcycles in use by many
police departments.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.
MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
liOorld^s Champion Motorcycle
73
BONDING
Municipal Finance
ACCOUNTING
TAXATION
Own Your Own City
Two Canadian Cities Try an Interesting Experiment in Finance
THE city of Brantford, Ontario, Can-
ada, recently completed the market-
ing of $550,000 city bonds "over the
counter." The treasurer, Arthur K. Bun-
nell, believed that, after its experience v^^ith
the war loans, the public was prepared for
such an experiment, provided the proper at-
mosphere was created. He therefore called
into consultation all the bond brokers doing
business in the city, and with them arranged
a joint newspaper advertising campaign,
calling attention to the soundness of the
investment, the satisfactory rate of inter-
est, 6 per cent, and to the fact that it was
a matter of good citizenship to provide
funds for the needs of the municipality.
The brokers were allowed a commission of
one-half of i per cent on their sales.
The bonds were issued in denominations
of $100 and up, with interest payable half-
yearly. The population of the city is only
a little over 33,000, but the bonds were
readily absorbed. The distribution was very
broad, embracing all classes of the com-
munity, and as a natural consequence has
considerably stimulated civic interest. The
experiment was a complete success, and it
is believed that the future requirements of
the city for. any reasonable amounts can
be cared for by the local investing public.
A similar experiment, reported by Leslie
Andrew, City Commissioner, was tried in
the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, re-
cently, when debentures of the city to the
amount of $100,000 were sold to the citizens
over the counter.
Saskatoon has an estimated population of
30,000. It is the distributing point for a
vast farming district, being situated on
three lines of railway, each of which has a
number of branches radiating into the sur-
rounding territory. The district this year
had one of the best crops in its history and
is therefore enjoying a liberal measure of
prosperity.
Finding it necessary to raise $100,000 by
the sale of debentures, and realizing that
the time was inopportune to approach the
money market in the usual way, the City
Council, on the recommendation of the
Commissioner, decided to offer the deben-
tures locally through the City Treasurer's
office. Publicity was given to the Council's
decision, and immediately there was a brisk
demand for the bonds, with the result that
they were quickly disposed of.
The bonds were sold at a price to yield
the investors 7 per cent interest. They were
of the sinking fund variety, $76,000 being
issued for a term of 5 years and the bal-
ance of $24,000 running for 10 years. The
denominations issued were $100, $500, and
$1,000. It was found after the issue had
been fully taken up that $67,000 had been
subscribed for in denominations of $1,000,
$20,000 in $500, and the balance in $100
denominations.
The bonds were not printed until the sale
had been completed, thus giving pur-
chasers the greatest possible latitude in the
amount they desired to purchase. As sub-
scriptions came in, the City Treasurer is-
sued interim certificates, these being turned
in again when the definitive bonds were
ready for delivery to the purchasers.
Part of the success which attended the
floating of the local debenture issue in
Saskatoon must be attributed to the educa-
tion of the people as to the value of bonds
from a savings investment standpoint
through the various loans floated in recent
years by the Dominion Government to de-
fray war expenses. It must not be over-
looked that an attractive rate of interest
was offered to the investors, which, apart
from any question of patriotism, was a con-
siderable factor in the success of the issue.
THE AMERICAN CITY
The Universal Motorcycle
Here's a messenger boy
1 6 years old.
His mother bought him
an
SmcUxi/rh x£aotLt
because it was not heavy,
it was not noisy, it was
clean, mechanically sim-
ple, easy to handle and
economical to operate. She
knew her son could use
a Scout profitably and
without danger.
Here's a Motor Cop.
The city bought him
an
because in addition to
recognizing the essential
features which influenced
the mother's purchase they
realized that the Scout was
strong, reliable and sufii-
ciently speedy and power-
ful to answer every require-
ment of their mounted
policemen.
LIGHT ENOUGH FOR THE MESSENGER BOY
STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE MOTOR COP
That's Why
The Indian Scout is the Most Popular Motorcycle in the World
Largest Motorcycle Man-
ufacturer in the World
HENDEE MANUFACTURING CO.
Municipal Dept.
Springfield, Mass.
78
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
75
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THE AMERICAN CITY
At Last! A Successful Snow Plow For The Fordson
The Wehr Company Introduce the Wehr
Highway and Street snow plow for the
Fordson Tractor, after exhaustive tests and
experiments. It is a proven and effective
snow plow, which opens new sales possibili-
ties for every Fordson dealer in the North-
ern States.
It affords the county the cheapest and most
economical equipment for keeping the high-
way open, even during the severest bliz-
zard.
It is the only Snow Plow on the market on
which the side-draft can be controlled by
the tractor, as the tractor pivots over a
heavy push bar, so a straight line of draft
on the tractor can be maintained at all
times. The draft is taken from the tractor
draw bar.
It is the only Snow Plow which will take a
cut with half of the blade, and maintain a
straight course. This is important when
cutting through drifts.
The Fordson Tractor can handle this Snow
Plow on high speed over ordinary grades
encountered on cement highways or City
streets, maintaining a speed of eight to ten
miles per hour.
The Wehr Snow Plow will handle icy con-
ditions, keeping gutters clean and ruts out
of roads, making a smooth road for auto-
mobile travel.
Liberal Discount to Dealers.
SPECIFICATIONS —
The Wehr Snow Plow has a ten foot
blade, set at an angle of forty-five de-
grees, cutting eight feet. The blade
can be raised or lowered at either end.
It is equipped with worm-gear Steering
Control.
Weight two thousand pounds (2000)
— weight of plow is carried on four
runners.
Plow can be equipped with auxiliary
wheels, which can be lowered when
going over^bare spots.
The Snow Plow is attached to
tractor with one bolt.
Welip Compainy^
549 Thirtieth Street
MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
17
Municipal Bond News
THE graph of the municipal bond
market compiled by The Bond Buyer
and shown on page 75 is of great in-
terest to followers of the municipal bond
market. It illustrates clearly the major
movements of the municipal bond market, in
terms of yield, rather than in terms of price,
which form the basis of most graphic
charts. For this reason it will appear at
first glance to be inverted.
The Effects of the War
First of all, it shows how difficult it would
be to determine an exact "normal" rate for
municipal bonds. In the years between
1901 and 1913 we find the cost of money to
municipalities steadily rising, over a total
fluctuation of 1.30 per cent. Then came a
partial recovery, which culminated with the
approach of our entrance into the war.
With the actual declaration, the cost of
money began a rising movement lasting
about a year, when rates became stabilized
in the 4.40 to 4.70 zone. This may be ex-
plained by reference to the direct influence
of the Government on money rates, neces-
sitated by the flotation of the Liberty and
Victory issues. The value of the tax ex-
emption features of municipals is also em-
phasized in this period, as it saved the bonds
of municipalities from the full force of
competition with the more speculative in-
dustrial securities, which during this period
yielded very much higher returns, subject,
of course, in the case of large investors, to
very high taxes.
The Period of Deflation
With the month of November, 1919, be-
gins another pronounced curve. This may
be said to have terminated in July of 1921,
and is the history of "deflation" expressed
in terms of municipal bonds. It was a
period of "tight money," during which large
quantities of high-coupon bonds of indus-
tries, as well as of foreign governments,
were offered to investors. Without going
into a discussion of the economic merits or
demerits of tax exemption of municipal se-
curities, it may be safely stated that the tax
exemption feature held down the rate on
municipal securities rather effectively. The
graph shows that the average net income
of bonds of twenty large cities of the United
States did not quite reach the 5.30 per cent
level, while at the same time a yield of
7 and 8 per cent was common in taxable
corporate and foreign securities of very
high investment rating, and a return of
above 5.30 could be found in certain issues
of the Federal Government itself.
The Recovery of the Bond Market
The municipal bond market began to give
convincing evidence of its strength with the
short-lived recovery commencing in Sep-
tember, 1920, checked after a few weeks
and gradually forced down. Possibly this
was due to the very heavy offerings of
municipal bonds which have marked the
year 192 1. The table which appeared on
page 431 of the November American City
showed the record-breaking volume of these
issues.
In July, 192 1, began another recovery,
gradual at first, but gaining momentum,
until in the single month of November the
averages rose one-half of one per cent, in
a perpendicular movement such as the
market had not seen in this generation. At
present this movement still continues with
great vigor. The first of December saw the
averages established in what may be called
the "war zone," and probably the first of
January found the average at nearly pre-
war levels.
Bond Issues of the Month
Among the municipal bond offerings of De-
cember which have aroused especial interest may
be mentioned the issues of Rochester, Buffalo,
and New York. The Rochester bonds were
brought out early in the month on a 4^ per
cent basis, and the offering is regarded as one
of the most successful of the year. The Buf-
falo and New York bonds appeared the follow-
ing week. The Buffalo issue totaled $7,360,000,
of which $6,000,000 were school bonds. The
bonds mature in from one to twenty years,
carry a 4M2 per cent coupon, and have found a
ready market at prices to yield 4.20 to 4.05, ac-
cording to the date of maturity.
The same day New York brought out $55,-
000,000 of corporate stock. This, too, bears a
414 per cent coupon, runs 50 years, and has
been sold on a 4^ per cent basis. 'For these
bonds the syndicate bid 103.407, and the issue
is currently traded in, on a when-issued basis,
at about 104^. It is stated that one must go
back to 1909 to find an issue placed on better
terms, as far as New York is concerned.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Cletrac Keeps The Roads Open
'T^HE picture shows the crawler type Cletrac
•*- fighting the deep snow on the Schenectady-
Albany turnpike last winter. On a four mile stretch
of this road the drifts were so high in places that the
Cletrac often had to cut back and forth three or four
times, but it stayed right with it and opened the
road for traffic in three hours time.
MunicipaHties in all parts of the country keep
Cletracs on hand to insure themselves against traffic
tie-ups in winter. New York City alone has loo for
this purpose. And in the summer of course, they
are used for street cleaning and maintenance and all
kinds of heavy haulage jobs.
We'll be glad to send you more detailed informa-
tion on request. Or arrange for a demonstration
with the Cletrac dealer near you.
HARD THIS
WAY, BUT-
EASY ON A TRACK
The Cleveland Tractor Co. ™eclet^c wXy
Largest Producers of Tank-Type Tractors in the World
19205 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio
80
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
79
The City's Legal Rights and Duties
Information for City Attorneys and Other Municipal OflBcers, Summarizing
Important Court Decisions and Legislation
Conducted by A. L. H. Street, Attorney at Law
City May Regulate But Not Prohibit
Hospitals for Contagious Diseases
An ordinance prohibiting maintenance
anywhere in the city of any hospital for
treatment of contagious or infectious
diseases, is wholly unreasonable, and so not
justified as an exercise of the police power.
And enforcement of such an ordinance will
be enjoined. These two propositions were
decided by the California Supreme Court
in the case of San Diego Tuberculosis As-
sociation V. City of East San Diego, 200
Pacific Reporter, 393.
Plaintiff successfully sued to enjoin en-
forcement of an ordinance of defendant
city, which declared every hospital for the
treatment of persons afflicted with conta-
gious or infectious diseases to be a nuisance,
making the maintenance of any such hos-
pital within the limits of the city a misde-
meanor, and making its maintenance a sep-
arate offense for each day. A series of
prosecutions was commenced against plain-
tiff's officers and employees and its contin-
uation was threatened. Upholding plaintiff's
right to an injunction, the Supreme Court
says:
"Two questions are presented : first, is the
ordinance invalid? and, second, even if it is,
can its enforcement by the city officials be en-
joined? The answer to both of these questions
seems to us plain.
"The ordinance can be justified only as an
exercise of the city's police power^ This
power, is of course, very broad, but it is not
without limitation. One limitation enforced in
numerous cases is that an ordinance purporting
to be an exercise of the city's police power
'may not be arbitrary or unreasonable. The
exercise of the police power cannot be made a
mere cloak for the arbitrary interference with
or suppression of a lawful business.'
"Such being the law, was the present ordi-
nance a reasonable one in its essential feature,
that of prohibiting within the city any hospital
for the treatment of contagious or infectious
diseases? Such prohibition is very different
from regulation, and can be justified only on
the ground that such a hospital, no matter how
well conducted, is a menace to the public peace,
morals, health, or comfort. That a well-con-
ducted, modern hospital, even one for the treat-
ment of contagious and infectious diseases, is
not such a menace, but, on the contrary, one of
the most beneficent of institutions, needs no
argument. There is not the slightest danger of
the spread of disease from it, and this is the
only possible ground on which objection could
be made to it. We have no hesitation in hold-
ing an ordinance prohibiting the maintenance
anywhere within the city of an institution so
necessary in our modern life and so beneficent
to be wholly unreasonable and invalid.
"As to the second question, the enjoining of
the enforcement of the ordinance, the rule is
thus stated in Abbey Land Co. v. San Mateo,
just referred to, 167 Cal. on page 440, 139
Pac. on page 1070, 52 L. R. A. (N. S.) 408,
Ann. Cas. 1915C, 804:
"The doctrine that an action will lie to enjoin
the enforcement of an (invalid) municipal
ordinance in cases where such enforcement will
cause substantial and irreparable injury to
private property or private property rights, and
in which there is no adequate remedy in the
ordinary course of law, is now too well settled
to require discussion.
"It is evident in the present case that the
enforcement of the ordinance would cause sub-
stantial and irreparable injury to the plaintiff's
property, and that against the threat of its en-
forcement by the repeated prosecutions which
the ordinance permits the plaintiff has no ade-
quate remedy. The case, therefore, comes
within the rule stated in Abbey Land Co. v.
San Mateo, and upon the facts alleged in the
complaint the plaintiff was entitled to have the
enforcement of the ordinance enjoined."
An Order Requiring Relocation of
Street Railway Tracks Is Void in
the Absence of Public Need
A decision of the Connecticut Supreme
Court of Errors is an important addition to
the body of judicial law affecting the right
of cities and public service commissions to
require public utilities to reconstruct their
facilities situated in public places.
In the case passed upon (Connecticut Co.
vs. Town of Stamford, no Atlantic Re-
porter, 554) it appears that for more than
a mile along Hope Street in Stamford the
street railway company's track is at one
side, rather than in the center, of the street.
The selectmen of the town ordered reloca-
THE AMERICAN CITY
Avery One- Man
"Road - Razer"
Cleaning Snow
Off of the Streets
ofSalina, Kans.
Avery One- Man "Road-
Razer" Shaving Rough
Streets Smooth.
Keep Your Streets Open in Winter and Smooth in Summer
Just as the "ROAD- RAZER" is the solution
to the summer rain problem, so is it the
solution to the winter snow problem. It
solves your problem of impassable streets,
whether they are impassable because of mud
or because of snow. The "ROAD-RAZER"
shaves streets smooth when they are not frozen
and keeps them open when the snow falls.
Every city can now have good, smooth dirt,
gravel and crushed stone streets the whole
year round at lowest possible cost. Here is
the machine that will keep them good. Shaves
the roughest, ruttiest streets smooth in a few
minutes time. One man with this machine can
keep many miles of city streets in good condi-
tion all year. It is the fastest, cheapest, most
satisfactory method known of maintaining
streets.
The scarifier attachment loosens up the
"wash board" surfaces of rock and gravel
roads and the "ROAD-RAZER" shaves the
hard surface smooth, making the road better
than when new.
It is the only machine of its kind, especially
adapted to city street maintenance. It is a
self-contained unit, with power and blades
together, making it easy for one man to
operate both machine and blades. Turns in
its own tracks in three seconds and backs up
instantly. Has wide, flexible, three-section,
12-foot blade that fits or shapes any curve or
crown of the street. Equipped with powerful
six-cylinder motor.
Sold on approval subject to demonstration
and strongly guaranteed. A machine that has
met the approv-
al of city and
country officials,
street and road
commissioners
and taxpayers
everywhere.
Write today for
prices and com-
plete informa-
tion. Address —
Avery One-Man "Rnad-Razer" with
Scarifier Attachment
Branch Houses :
Madison, Fargo,
Omaha, Minneapolis,
Grand Forks,
Sioux Falls, Aberdeen,
Billings, Lincoln,
Sidney, Nebr., Waterloo,
Des Moines, Indianap-
olis, Columbus, Kansas
City, Wichita, Stuttgart
and Sacramento
Avery Co. , 223 lowaSt. , Peoria, HI.
Distributors :
Avery Company of
Texas; Dallas,
Amarillo and Beau-
mont, Texas.
Also Other Principal
Machinery Centers
81
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City,
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
81
tion of the track along the center of the
street, and the order was affirmed on suc-
cessive appeals to the Public Utilities Com-
mission and the Superior Court of the
county in which Stamford is situated. On
further appeal, however, to the Supreme
Court of Errors it is decided that the order
is void for failure to show that the public
safety or other public necessity requires the
relocation. At the same time the Supreme
Court recognizes the existence of broad
powers in the public authorities to require
public utilities to conform their affairs to
public needs. But the circumstance that it
would entail an expense of $28,113 to re-
locate appellant's track is regarded as call-
ing for a showing of some specific necessity
for the relocation against its protest.
Salient parts of the Supreme Court's opinion
read:
"The maintenance and regulation of high-
ways is within the police power of the state.
The state may by itself or its agent decide what
public improvement the public safety, ' health,
or welfare demands.
"The power to legislate for the safety, health,
or welfare of its people is inherent in the state
in virtue of its sovereignty. All property is
held subject to this power. . . . And all
property, too, is held upon the implied promise
of its owner or user that it shall not be used
against the pubHc welfare.
"The Connecticut Company accepted its char-
ter and operated this railway line subject to the
power of the state or its agent, the town, to so
regulate its use that it might not do injury to
the public welfare.
"When the conditions and locality change
and the public welfare requires it, the street
railway may be compelled to change its grade,
or location, or the manner of its use of the
highway. . . .
"The protection of the public safety, health,
or morals by the exercise of the police power is
not within the inhibitions of the constitution;
and, since all property is held subject to such
regulation, there is no obligation upon the state
to indemnify the owner of the property from
the damage done him by the legitimate exercise
of the police power. Property so damaged is
not taken; its use is regulated in order to pro-
mote the public welfare. . . .
"The police power, like every other power ;.f
government, is within constitutional limitations.
"Laws enacted presumptively for the public
welfare, but in fact not, cannot be sustained
as an authorized exercise of the police power.
. . . And an act regulatory of this power
which is oppressive, or unreasonable, is not a
legitimate exercise of the power. . . .
"The railroad track laid in a public street,
though by express public grant, is subject to
such regulations as are reasonably necessary to
secure the public safety; for this power *is
inalienable even by express grant' . . .
"Provided the order of relocation was made
in the interest of public safety and was reason-
able in the circumstances, the order was a valid
order, even though no provision was made for
indemnifying the railway company for the cost
of relocation."
The opinion then proceeds to a conclusion
that the order appealed from was invalid
for omission of any showing that the pres-
ent location of the track is dangerous to the
public on the highway or to passengers on
the cars, and failure to present the facts
supporting a conclusion of the trial court
that the relocation "would be distinctly
proper and expedient and highly cornlucive
to the safety of all concerned," etc.
Personal Interest of Official May In=
validate Municipal Contract
That a municipal official participating in
an award of a contract for public work to
a construction company is a salaried officer
of that company gives him such interest in
the transaction as will justify a reletting of
the contract, on discovery of his relation-
ship to the company, holds the Wisconsin
Supreme Court in the case of Edward F.
Gillen Co. v. City of Milwaukee, 183 North-
western Reporter, 679. It is also held that
the disqualification of the company is not
removed by the official's resigning his posi-
tion with the company after award of the
contract.
The Court justifies defendant city's sew-
erage commission in rescirxiing a contract
for construction of a sewage disposal plant
on discovery that one of the commissioners
who voted to award the contract was em-
ployed by the contracting company at an
annual salary of $4,500 as superintendent.
But it is intimated that the mere fact that
a municipal officer may be employed by a
contractor will not vitiate a contract where
there is no real conflict of interests.
Holding that another commissioner was
not disqualified to vote to award the con-
tract to another company by reason of the
fact that he formerly was a stockholder and
officer of that company, nor because his son
was interested in and an officer of the com-
pany, the Court adds that "the decisions are
to the effect that contracts may be legally
made by a municipality although a relative
of the bidder is one of the governing board
or council. In such case there is no direct
or indirect interest in the contract."
THE AMERICAN CITY
I
B^EE
SNOW
PLOWS
For Standard
Motor Trucks
and Tractors
BAKER Auto Truck Snow Plow
Special Snow Plow for Fordson Tractor
In Baker Snow Plows you get the highest type of snow plow
made. Patent, hinged, spring-supported blades prevent
injury to the plow. Used only on Baker Snow Plows. Sim-
ple, sturdy, practical construction — the result of our long
experience in making snow plows. We can help you move
snow. Make your motor trucks and tractors useful all year
'round.
Write or toire for Catalog No. 78
THE BAKER MFG. CO.
503 Stanford Ave. Springfield, 111.
Asphalt Paving Makes Tremendous Gains
1 3TH NATIONAL
^OOD
MORE THAN SIXTY-FIVE MILLION SQUARE YARDS OF AS-
PHALT PAVEMENT WERE LAID IN 1921. IT WAS THE BIGGEST
YEAR IN THE ASPHALT PAVING INDUSTRY.
Time was when asphalt was considered exclusively a city type and thought
to be too luxurious for country highways. NOWADAYS THE YARDAGE
ON COUNTRY HIGHWAYS EXCEEDS THE COMBINED PAVING
PROGRAMS OF ALL CITIES.
The swing to asphalt on state roads is very marked in the states which,
prior to 1920, favored other tjrpes.
The California State Highway Commission increased its asphalt yardage
1800 per cent in 1921 as compared with 1920, the figures being 1,208,360 square
yards and 67,500 square yards respectively.
New York State Highway Department has increased its contracts let for
asphalt yardage by over 300% in 1921 as compared with 1920; the figures being
2,643,000 square yards and 649,000 square yards respectively.
North Carolina within the past three months has contracted for 1,697,000
square yards of asphalt pavement.
ASPHALT IS THE GREATEST WATER-PROOF ADHESIVE FOR
PAVING KNOWN TO MAN.
It forms in combination with stone, sand and gravel a slab highly resistant to impact.
It is absolutely dustless. It is ready for traffic immediately after completion.
It is waterproof. It is easy to cut and repair for service openings.
It is self healing when cut or scarred. It is noiseless.
It is low in maintenance cost and, contrary to the popular impression, it is not expensive to construct.
BEST OF ALL: It is the most durable pavement within ordinary cost limits yet devised. The Engineer
Department of Washington, D. C, in the annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 1921 (page 25) says, referring
to asphalt streets: "It should be considered that some of the streets approximate an age of 40 years and that the
average age of those we have resurfaced in recent years exceeds 25 years."
Write for free brochures on "Asphalt Base Pavements", "Sheet Asphalt", "Asphaltic
Concrete", Asphalt Macadam", as well as Economic Papers and Construction Specifications.
ROADS
SHOW
UNDERTHE AUSPICES
ARBA-
COLISEUM, CHICAGO,ILL
JAN.I6-20.I922
VISIT OUR EXHIBIT
THE ASPHALT ASSOCIATION
Atlanta, Ga.
25 W. 43rd Street, New York City
Chicago, 111. Raleigh, N. C.
Albany, N. Y.
82
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
83
Municipal and Civic Publications
Prices do not include postage unless so stated
DANIEL H. BURNHAM, ARCHITECT, PLANNER OF
CITIES
Charles Moore. Houghton Mifflin Company, Bos-
ton. 2 vols. Illustrated. 1921. X + 250, and
238 pp. $20.
"I venture to say that there was no man in the
professional life of the United States who has given
more of his life to the public without having filled public
office, than Daniel Burnham." So wrote President Taft,
on hearing of the death of the subject of these volumes.
Preeminent among the architects of his generation,
Burnham was also a pioneer in city planning, and his
plans for Washington, Cleveland, San Francisco, Manila
and Chicago are his enduring monument. These two
volumes, excellently printed and illustrated with
numerous pictures, many of them in color, are the
history of a kindly and enlightened personality, as
well as a record of professional accomplishment of the
highest order.
TAXATION OF FEDERAL, STATE AND MUNICIPAL
BONDS
John H. Hoffman and David M. Wood, of the New
York Bar. 1921. The Bond Buyer, New York.
130 pp. $5.
The subject is approached from the legal side, without
economic considerations. The volume consists of two.
parts, the first being devoted to a discussion of the
principles of the law of taxation as applied to the
United States and its governmental subdivisions, state,
colonial and municipal. Part two is an exhaustive
analysis, in tabulated form, of the tax laws of the
United States and each state and territory with refer-
ence to such bonds. The text is exhaustively annotated
to afford complete reference to statutes and court de-
cisions, wih a table of cases.
THE CONFLICT
Gertrude K. Colby, B.S., Department of Physical
Education, Teachers College, Columbia University,
with an introduction by Thomas D. Wood, A.M.,
M.D., Professor of Physical Education, Columbia
University. A. S. Barnes and Company, New York.
1921. 70 pp. Illustrated. $1.50.
A health masque in pantomime.
THE CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS
Proceedings of the Twelfth Conference of Governors
of the States of the Union, held at Harrisburg, Pa.,
Dec. 1-3, 1920. Includes the Articles of Organization
of the Conference, and papers in full. (Apply to M. C.
Riley, Secretary, Governors' Conference, Madison, Wis.)
NEW YORK STATE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
Annual Report of the Industrial Commission, State
of New York, Department of Labor, for the year ended
June 30, 1920. Published as Legislative Document
No. 88. (Apply to E. W. Buckley, Secretary, Indus-
trial Commission, Department of Labor, Albany, N. Y.)
CHEAP MEALS FOR SCHOOL CAFETERIAS AND
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
"Ten-Cent Meals." Bulletin of the American School
of Home Economics, as No. 34, Series I. 10 cents.
This pamphlet is part of the book "Low Cost Cooking,"
by Miss Florence Nesbit, Field Supervisor and Dietitian
of the Department of Relief of the Juvenile Court of
Chicago. The book will be found of value by in-
dividuals and organizations engaged in relief work, as
well as by those in charge of school cafeterias and
institutions. (Apply to The American School of Home
Economics, 506 West 69th Street, Chicago, 111.)
REGULATIONS FOR CENTRAL PURCHASING BY
CITIES
Model System and Rules and Regulations for Central
Purchasing by Cities. Data gathered by the New York
State Bureau of Municipal Information. 7 pp. mimeo-
graphed. December, 1921. (Copies not available for
general distribution ; apply to William P. Capes, Secre-
tary, New York State Conference of Mayors, 25 Wash-
ington Avenue, Albany, N. Y.)
A HALF CENTURY OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Edited by Mazyck P. Ravenel, M.D. American
Public Health Association, New York. 1921.
461 pp.
An outstanding volume of facts, giving the history
of public health in North America during the most
intensive fifty years of public health work. An in-
valuable summary of activities in public health work,
including bacteriology, mortality statistics, quarantine,
the control of disease, water purification, sewage and
refuse removal, industrial waste, food control, food con-
servation, milk, child welfare work, housing, ventilation,
industrial hygiene, medical entomology, and public
health nursing. The foremost experts, engineers and
medical men in the different fields contributed the
chapters of this valuable encyclopedia of public health
activity.
THE MANAGEMENT OF MEN
Edward L. Munson, Colonel General Staff; Chief,
Morale Branch, War Plans Divisions. Henry Holt
and Company, New York. 1921. XIII -f 799
pp. $6.
Although designed primarily to meet the problems in-
volved in the management of soldiers, the principles
enunciated are equally applicable to the successful
handling of men in the daily affairs of civil life.
INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF SOCIOLOGY
Robert E. Park and Ernest W. Burgess, of the
Department of Sociology, University of Chicago.
The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 111.
1921. XXI + 1,040 pp. $4.75, postpaid.
A collection of readings selected to define and illus-
trate the concepts and principles of sociology. It is
designed for the first course in sociology and com-
bines the features of a text-book and a reference
library.
MIND TRAINING FOR CHILDREN
William E. Miller, author of The Natural Method
of Memory Training. Published by the author,
Alhambra, Calif. 3 booklets. 1921. Illustrated.
$5.
The first booklet takes up the training of the child's
senses; the second, the training of the memory; and
the third applies the processes developed in the first
two to the child's school work. This series has been
very highly praised by Thomas A. Edison.
LECTURES ON ENGINEERING PRACTICE
The J. E. Aldred Lectures on Engineering Practice.
Edited by John B. Whitehead, Dean of the Faculty of
Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. Published by
The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Md. 1921. 285
pp. illustrated. A series of nine lectures on practical
phases of engineering. Three lectures each are devoted
to civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. (Apply
to John B. Whitehead, Dean, Faculty of Engineering,
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.)
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
Manual for Public Health Nurses. Published by the
New York State Department of Health, Hermann M.
Biggs, M.D., Commissioner, 1920. 261 pp. Covers in
convenient form all subjects in the field of public health
nursing. (Apply to Hermann M. Biggs, Commissioner,
New York State Department of Health, Albany, N. Y.)
PENOLOGY
Proceedings of the Annual Congress of the American
Prison Association, at Columbus, O., October, 1920.
1921. 469 pp. $3. Proceedings of the Congress, with
all papers in full. (Apply to O. F. Lewis, General
Secretary, Central Office, American Prison Association,
135 East 15th Street, New York, N. Y.)
THE SINGLE TAX IN OPERATION
"Enclaves of Single Tax," by Fiske Warren, with
a historical description by Charles White Huntington.
1921. 150 pp. Maps. 25 cents. A compendium of
legal documents involved in the organization of the
various single-tax colonies in the United States and
Europe, and general descriptions of those comjnunities.
Among those described are Fairhope, Ala., Arden, Del.,
and Sant Jordi, Andorra. (Apply to Fiske Warren,
Harvard, Mass.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
The "Caterpillar's"*
usefulness is not lim-
ited to hauling gar-
bage. For grading
streets and roads,
removing snow,
working on farm or
ranch, in the mining,
oil and lumber indus-
tries— wherever power
and endurance are
at a premium, the
"Caterpillar"* has no
real competitor
HOLT
PEORIA% ILL.
STOCKTON, CAUF.
Dallas Cuts Its Garbage Disposal
Costs $60,000 a Year
Dallas, Texas, has found the "Caterpillar"* method
of hauling garbage disposal trains a guarantee of
better, cheaper work. With ''Caterpillar"* haul-
ing the refuse is handled quickly and safely re=
gardless of muddy alleys, slippery pavements,
heavy grades, and soft trash piles. A 5=ton "Cater=
pillar"* takes a 12=yard load to the Dallas burning
pit in less than thirty minutes from collection
points three miles away. It reduced the hauling
cost from $2.00 a yard to a fraction over $.25, with
a consequent saving to the City of more than
$60,000 a year. Write for further facts and figures
on the economy of "Caterpillar"* methods for
hauling, grading, leveling and other public works.
*There is but one ** Caterpillar" — Holt builds it
THE HOLT MFG. CO., Inc., PEORIA, ILL.
Branches and service stations all over the world
Eastern Division: SO Church St., New York
2429 Farnham St., Omaha, Nebr. 305 Merchants Bank Bldg.,
417 Washington Ave. N., Indianapolis, Ind.
Minneapolis, Minn. 2045-47 Main St., Kansas City, Mo
Sth and Court Sts., Des Moines, la. Holt Company of Texas, Dallas, Tex'
Canadian Holt Co., Ltd., Montreal, P. Q.
83
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
January, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
85
HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
■'A Preliminary Study of Standards of Growth in
t)io Detroit Public Schools," by Paul C. Packer and
Arthur B. Moehlman. 46 pp. Illustrated. 1921. This
is the June number of "The Detroit Educational Bul-
letin," published by the Board of Education, Detroit,
Jlich. (Apply to Stuart A. Courtis, Director of In-
struction, Teacher Training and Research, Detroit
Public Schools, Detroit, Mich.)
NATIONAL CONFEBENCE ON CITY PLANNING
Proceedings of the Thirteenth National Conference on
City Planning, held in Pittsburgh, May 9-11, 1921.
1921, 206 pp. Full text of the papers presented to
the Conference. $2.25. (Apply to Flavel Shurtleff,
Secretary, National Conference on City Planning, 60
State Street, Boston, Mass.)
FIRE PREVENTION DAT IN PENNSYLVANIA
"Make Pennsylvania Fireproof." 11 pp. Illus-
trated. Suggestions for the observance of Fire Pre-
vention Day. Issued by the Bureau of Fire Protection,
Department of State Police, Harrisburg, Pa. (Apply
to publishers.)
FIBE REPORT FOR IOWA
Tenth Annual Report of the State Fire Marshal for
the year 1920. 32 pp. 1921. (Apply to J. A. Tracy,
State Fire Marshal. Des Moines, Iowa.)
ILLINOIS FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION
"Thirty-third Annual Convention of Illinois Fire-
men's Association." 176 pp. Illustrated. 1921.
(Apply to Roy Alsip, Secretary, Illinois Firemen's As-
sociation, Champaign, 111.)
DETROIT PARKS
"Detroit, Its Parks and Recreational System," with
the Annual Convention Program of The American As-
sociation of Park Superintendents. 40 pp. Illus-
trated. 1921. Published by "Parks and Recreation,".
Minot, N. D. (Apply to publishers.)
THE MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
Year Book of The Merchants' Association of New
York. 337 pp. Illustrated. With alphabetical and
classified list of members. (Apply to S. C. Mead,
Secretary, Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway. New
York, N. Y.)
LETCHWORTH VILLAGE
"Twelfth Annual Report of the Board of Managers
of Letchworth Village." The Village is under the
auspices of the New York State Board of Charities,
Division of Mental Defect and Delinquency. Pub-
lished as Legislative Document (1921) No. 68. 64 pp.
Illustrated. (Apply to Frank A. Vanderlip, President
of the Board of Managers, 7 Wall St., New York
City, N. Y.)
PUBLIC UTILITIES
"Report of the Committee on Public Utilities" of
the Chamber of Commerce of Newark, N. J. 8 pp.
1921. (Apply to Edmund W. Wollmuth, Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce, Newark, N. J.)
CITY PLANNING
"The City Plan and Living and Working Condi-
tions," by John Ihlder, Manager, Civic Development
Department, Chamber of Commerce of the TJnited
States. An address delivered before the National
Conference on City Planning. 15 pp. 1921. (Apply
to author, Washington, D. C.)
MUNICIPAL MOTOR EQUIPMENT
"The City of Toronto as a Car Owner," published
as City Budget Story No. 2, by the Bureau of Munic-
ipal Research, Toronto, Can. Brief statement of the
experiences oif other cities, with suggestions for in-
creased efficiency and reduced costs. (Apply to pub-
lishers.)
SAFETY FOR CHILDREN
"Safety Lessons," suggestions prepared for teach-
ers in the Chicago public schools. 11 pp. 1921. (Ap-
ply to Peter A. Mortenson, Superintendent of Schools,
Chicago, 111.)
MILK SUPPLY
"Report of the Commission on Milk Supply." 26
pp. 1921. Printed and distributed by The Newport
Improvement Association. (Apply to The Newport
Improvement Association, Newport, R. I.)
Municipal Reports
Baltimore, Md. — Annual Report of the Comptroller
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1920. (Apply
to Peter E. Tome, Comptroller, Baltimore, Md.)
Bellingham, Wash. — City Comptroller's Annual Re-
port. 1920. (Apply to Charles A. McLennan, City
Comptroller, Bellingham, Wash.)
Boston, Mass. — Seventh Annual Report of the City
Planning Board, for the year ending January 31, 1921.
(Apply to Elisabeth M. Herlihy, Secretary, City Plan-
ning Board, Boston, Mass.)
Chicago, 111. — Annual Reports of the Department of
Public Service, for the years 1916 to 1920. inclusive,
ending December 31, 1920. (Apply to William H.
Reid, Commissioner of Public Service, Chicago, 111.)
Chicago, HI. — Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth
Annual Reports of the Municipal Court, for the three
years, December 2, 1917, to December 5, 1920, in-
clusive. (Apply to James A. Kearns, Clerk of the
Municipal Court, Chicago, 111.)
Chicago, HI. — Annual Report of the Treasurer for the
fiscal and calendar year 1920. (Apply to Henry
Stuckart, City Treasurer, Chicago, 111.)
Chicago, 111. — Financial Summary. Report of the
Comptroller for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1920. (Apply to George F. Harding, Comptroller,
Chicago, 111.)
Chicago, lU. — Forty-fifth Annual Report of the De-
partment of Public Works, for the year ending De-
cember 31, 1920. (Apply to Charles R. Francis, Com-
missioner of Public Works, Chicago, 111.)
Chicago, 111 — Report of the Chicago Railway Ter-
minal Commission. (Apply to John P. Wallace, Chair-
man. Chicago Railway 'Terminal Commission, 140 North
Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111.)
Chicago, 111. — Eleventh Annual Report of the Chi-
cago City Plan Commission, for the year 1920, Pro-
cei'dings of the Twentieth Meeting of the Comimssion.
(Apply to Eugene S. Taylor, Office Manager, Chicago
Plan Commission, Roof F, Hotel Sherman, Chicago,
111.)
Detroit, Mich. — Seventy-eighth Annual Report of
the Superintendent of Schools, for the school year end-
ing June 80, 1921. (Apply to Prank Cody, Superin-
tendent of Schools, Detroit, Mich.)
Evansvllle, Ind. — Annual Report of the Comptroller
and Water-Works Department for the fiscal year end-
ing December 31, 1920. (Apply to William H. Elmen-
dorf. Comptroller, E ansville, Ind.)
Fall River, Mass. — Annual Report of the Board of
Health for the year ending December 31, 1920. (Ap-
ply to Frank L. Larkin, Secretary, Board of Health
Fall River, Mass.)
Fort Wayne, Ind. — Sixteenth Annual Report, Board
of Park Commissioners, for the year 1920. (Apply to
David N. Foster, President, Board of Park Commis-
sioners, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Hartford, Conn. — Sixty-first Annual Report of the
Board of Park Commissioners, and the Thirteenth An-
nual Report of the Public Cemeteries, for the year
ending March 31, 1921. (Apply to E. Spencer Good-
win, President, Board of Park Commissioners, Hart-
ford, Conn.)
Newark, N. J. — Annual Report of the Department of
Health, for the year ending December 31, 1920.
(Apply to Charles V. Craster, M.D., Health Officer,
Newark, N. J.)
New York, N. T — Report of the Chief Engineer of
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for the year
1919. (Apply to the Chief Engineer. Board of Estimate
and Apportionment, Municipal Building, New York,
N. Y.)
Philadelphia, Pa. — Annual Report of the Department
of Wharves, Docks and Ferries for the year ending
December 31, 1920. (Apply to George F. Sproule,
Director. Department of Wharves, Docks and Ferries,
Bourse Building, Philadelphia, Pa.)
Philadelphia, Pa. — Annual Report of the Bureau of
Highways, Department of Public Works for the year
ending December 31. 1920. (Apply to Fred C. Dunlap,
Thief. Bureau of Highways, Department of Public
Works, Philadelphia, Pa.)
Pocatello, Ida. — Annual Financial Report of Bannock
County, Idaho. 1920. (Apply to Robert C. Earley,
County Auditor, Box 1288, Pocatello, Idaho.)
Waltham, Mass. — Annual Reports for 1920, with
the fourth annual address of Hon. George R. Beal,
Mayor. (Apply to Richard Steele, City Clerk, Wal-
tham, Mass.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
Cheaper power with tractors
Tractors are proving profitable equipment for road-
builders in all parts of the country — profitable because
of the time saved on a given piece of work, and because
of the fewer hands required.
With a Best Tracklayer Tractor the contractor
can go ahead with his work in most any weather. He
moves more earth and makes a better, smoother job. His
power is steady, dependable, flexible and compact. He
can negotiate grades without difficulty, and in faster time.
Best Tractors have proven their mettle over a period
of many years in all parts of the world. They have
earned a reputation for dependability, power and low
cost of operation. BEST design and workmanship have
been established by time and the test of actual, practi-
cal usage on a large variety of heavy-duty work.
Write for full data, prices and the riames of our
nearest dealers. Let us give you the details of how
Best Tractors are serving road-builders.
Tracklayer "Sixty"
*BEST
TRADE MARK
fMLAYEg.
C. L. BEST TRACTOR CO.
SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA
REGISTERED
Yractors
"eruiser" (60)
There are three models of
Best Tracklayer Tractors
as shown above. cRllare
factory built— not assembled
U
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amexican City.
87
Methods, Materials and Appliances
News for Boards of Public Works, Engineers, Contractors, Purchasing Agents,
and Others Interested in the Economical Construction and EflBcient Operation
of Public Improvement Undertakings
Snow-Plow in Winter-
Grader in Summer
The one-man "Road-Razer" manufactured by
the Avery Company, Peoria, 111., which has
operated successfully in many cities and towns
in helping solve the maintenance problem of
dirt, gravel and crushed stone roads, has been
put to use as a snow-plow with considerable
success. This machine is made specifically to
grade rough, rutty roads, and with a scarified
attachment has torn up gravel, crushed rock and
oil roads and smoothed them down to proper
shape. It has also in some instances replaced the
grade leveler, preparatory to laying hard roads,
and has been used to spread gravel and crushed
stone.
In Salina, Kans., the Street Commissioner has
successfully used it for cleaning the snow off
the city streets. One man operating the ma-
chine cleaned off several miles of streets in a
single day after a heavy snow at very little
expense.
In Great Bend, Kans., one of these machines
cleaned off a half-mile of wide street on two
sides of a public square, removing ten inches of
snow, some of it packed and frozen into ice.
The machine was run along the curb first, clean-
ing out the gutter, leaving ridges of snow piled
out in the street about 6 feet from the gutter.
Where the street is wide and the snow deep, it is
well to start along the sides and throw the first
rotmd out in the street up against what has
Been thrown from the gutter. In this way no
more snow is accumulated than the blade can
readily handle. By lengthening the rear blade
about a foot the work is speeded up.
These city officials have been enthusiastic over
the work of the machine both as a road grader
in keeping their dirt and gravel roads in trim and
in its work in handling snow.
Series Multiple Street Lighting
Great advances have been made during recent
years in the field of street illumination, due in
large part to the high state of development of
the tungsten lamp. There have been many sys-
tems of street lighting developed, but the one
using series regulator's or regulating trans-
formers seems to have perhaps the largest num-
ber of advocates. The series regulators or
regulating transformers are an improvement
over the older types of street lighting using arc
light generators, but in both cases a large initial
expense is involved and the cost of operation
and maintenance is rather high, while the power
factor and efficiency are low. The introduction
and development of a low-voltage series tung-
sten lamp makes it possible to use other systems
of regulation that give a very high power factor
and efficiency, are somewhat cheaper to install
and maintain, and within reasonable limits give
better regulation and are more flexible.
The average flaming arc lamp gives about 500
candle-power. When placed at street intersec-
tions, they are about 300 feet apart. This same
candle-power divided into 5 units of lOO candle-
power each allows the lamps to be placed every
60 feet, which means a somewhat more uni-
formly distributed illumination and a more
pleasing effect. This result is made practical
CLEARING SNOW FBOM THE STREETS OF SALINA, KAN.
THE AMERICAN CITY
The Mack Light Bituminous
Material Distributor
Your road maintenance
next Spring
Now is the time to get ready
INCLUDED in our unusual line of special motor-
ized equipment for municipalities, counties
and contractors is this Mack Light Bituminous
Material Distributor.
This equipment is a fool-proof machine for hand-
ling cold material and requires only a driver for
its operation. The elimination of the extra
operator which is usually needed on ordinary
machines, means economy for its owner.
The tank body can be demounted when its particular work
is done and a dump body substituted. This continuous
chassis use efifects large savings and many highway boards
and commissioners are finding this a practical way to
economize on their road maintenance equipment.
INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY
25 Broadway, New York
PERFORMANCE COUNTS
Capacities :
IV2 to 7'/2 tons.
Tractors to 15 tons.
86
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Jan., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
89
A COMPACT TYPE OF STBEET LIGHTING TRANSFORMEE
only by the use of low-voltage series tungsten
lighting systems. Two general systems have
been developed by the Kuhlman Electric Com-
pany, Bay City, Mich., one styled the type S.M.
system, and the other the type B.L. system.
Each has its several modifications which cover
a wide field of adaptability and which enable
them to fit almost any lighting conditions that
may arise. A series arc regulator is unnecessary
in the type S.M. system, but it may be used in
the type B.L. system. Both systems are de-
signed for overhead or underground operation.
The type S.M. or series multiple system may
be furnished in two forms, one using a small
current transformer at each lamp, and the other
using a reactance coil at each lamp. In each
system the primary circuit may be any power
circuit or a separate circuit taken from the
power-house or substation for street lighting
purposes only. The best potential for this pri-
mary circuit is 2,300 volts, and the circuit needs
only such protection as woufd be given any
2,300-volt power line. As many-individual light-
ing circuits can be taken from this power circuit
as the kilovolt-ampere capacity of the circuit
will allow.
A constant potential transformer which has
neither moving coils nor extra reactance is
connected across the line, and a series cir-
cuit is taken off the secondary of this trans-
former. The kilovolt - amperage of these
transformers is governed by the ampere capacity
of the secondary and the maximum number of
lamps on the circuit. The transformers are de-
signed for 3.5-, 4-, 5.5- 6.6- or 7.5-ampere
secondary, depending on which is desired ; the
6.6-ampere system is most used. The secondary
also has a series of standard taps for reducing
the secondary voltage to conform to the number
of lamps in operation. These taps are brought
out of the case so as to be readily accessible
when making a change.
The system using a reactance coil at the lamp
is the least expensive, but has a disadvantage in
having the high-voltage line wires at the lamp,
making it dangerous to replace the lamp while
the current is on. With a current transformer
in the base of the lamp-post or on a pole, the
secondary wires can be carried to the lamp, and
it is perfectly safe to make a lamp change with-
out shutting off the current, as there is a heavy
insulating barrier between the primary and the
secondary windings. When a lamp goes out, the
open-circuit voltage of the transformer will rise
only from 2]/^ to 3 times the normal lamp volt-
age, which is a negligible quantity. Each lamp
is wholly independent of the rest and, no matter
what happens to any individual lamp, it cannot
affect the remainder of the circuit.
Dump Bodies for Garbage Trucks
The Heil Company, Milwaukee, Wis., has
placed on the market a special body designed for
the handling of garbage in municipalities. Two
types of garbage bodies are made. The standard
dump body type illustrated is equipped with six
hinged doors, two of which open to the back,
the other four to the side. It has a special
water-tight tail gate fitted with wing nuts. A
^-inch rubber gasket is used for packing. All
seams are electrically welded after being riveted
to make them water-tight, preventing liquid
garbage from dripping on the street.
This same body is furnished without covers,
in which case rings are provided along the side
so that a canvas tarpaulin can be tied on, to
comply with city ordinances. This type of
standard garbage body can be used for hauling
gravel and sand wherever desired.
The other type of body has the bottom or
floor tapered upward in the rear. This floor
can extend to the end of the body or only part
way. In the latter case a tail gate is used.
A STANDARD GARBAGE BODY PITTED
WITH COVERS
THE AMERICAN CITY
TIFFIN
STREET FLUSHERS
Licensed under Ottofy Patent No. 795059
We Welcome Any Test Based
on Work and Cost
We believe we can prove by service records or by any test you
might arrange, that Tiffin Street Flushers will clean more pave-
ment in a day at less cost than any other machine. Also, the work
accomplished will be better done.
If we can prove that, we've done all any city street department
can want.
The two-motor-system design, and the operating technique, are
the causes, but the result obtained is the matter of chief interest
to you.
Let us submit evidence —
Do you want a demonstration?
The TIFFIN WAGON Company
TIFFIN, OHIO
Makers, also, of Tiffin Municipal Trucks, Dump and Farm Wagons, etc., etc.
Representatives in Principal Cities
lllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllH^
86 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City,
Jan., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
91
THE REAR COVERS OPEN AUTOMATICALLY
Company, one of the prominent
manufacturing establishments of
that city, were used to count the
vote in the primary and the final
elections just completed. The use of
these machines greatly expedited
the work of the tellers. Use of the
counters was arranged by J. T.
Chidsey, president of the Root
Company, who was reelected
president of the Chamber of Com-
merce. The Bristol Chamber has
a splendid record of worth-while
accomplishments to its credit. It
recently undertook a successful ex-
pansion campaign under the direc-
tion of the American City Bureau,
154 Nassau Street, New York City.
The sides of garbage bodies should be made
as low as possible to facilitate loading. The
hydro hoist employed in all Heil dump trucks is
therefore specially desirable, as all of the load-
ing space back of the cab can be used for actual
load.
The garbage dump body and the No. 4 hydro
hoist is mounted on a ij^-ton chassis. The
sides of the body are low ; the covers are raised
at the center to allow maximum load. Brake
lining is used along the edges of the covers to
make them fit tightly.
Crowley, La., Buys Diesel Engines
for Municipal Power-Plant
The city of Crowley, La., has just purchased
two Diesel engines developing, respectively, 285
brake horse-power and 380 brake horse-power,
from the Fulton Iron Works, St. Louis, Mo.
With this equipment the municipal power-plant
at Crowley will compare quite favorably in
economy with the larger central stations of the
South.
George A. Johnson Company
Moves Office
Because of the steady increase in amount and
scope of the work of the George A. Johnson
Company, Consulting Engineers, 150 Nassau
Street, New York City, for some months past,
they have recently moved to
larger quarters. They are
located in the same building,
in Suite 1121-1129. The new
layout is designed to meet
efficiently the executive de-
mands of their increasing
business.
Chamber of
Commerce Counts
Ballots by Machine
Ballot-counting by machine
has been introduced by the
Bristol, Conn., Chamber of
Commerce. Automatic
counters made by the Root
New Cletrac Advertising Manager
The announcement has been made by the
Cleveland Tractor Company, Cleveland, Ohio,
that Earl B. Stone has been appointed Adver-
tising Manager, effective December 15. After
'2.Y2 years with this company, serving as Sales
Representative, Assistant Advertising Man-
ager and District Sales Manager, Mr. Stone is
well qualified to assume his new duties. His
former advertising experience included work
with the General Fireproofing Company of
Youngstown, Ohio, and the National Acme
Company of Cleveland, Ohio.
Non-buckling Sewer Rods
In the course of maintenance of sewers, there
are many minor obstructions that can be readily
removed by means of wooden sewer rods. The
Turbine Sewer Machine Company, 195 nth
Street, Milwaukee, Wis., manufactures a non-
buckling wood sewer rod that is water-proof
and will float in 2^ inches of water. It is used
chiefly in pulling cable or rope through a
sewer or in clearing away minor obstructions.
The couplings are such that they can be joined
or uncoupled instantly.
This company also manufactures the well-
known Turbine sewer cleaning machine, which
will remove roots, stones and any other ob-
structions in any size of circular sewer.
SEWER RODS, SHOWING LOCKING DEVICE
THE AMERICAN CITY
W I L L I T E
TEMPERED ASPHALT PAVEMENT— THE MASTER HIGHWAY
photo After Ceurying Over 4,000,000 Tons Traffic on Los Angeles County Boulevard, equal to 15 years
normal use. One of the heaviest trafficked lines in the world.
WILLITE TEMPERED ASPHALT
"TAKES THE FAULT OUT OF ASPHALT"
Before you call for bids, investigate'
then specify WILLITE, the Strong-
est Road in the World. It has
proven to be the best in 15 states
under the severest service tests ever
made. Traffic cannot malform the
beautiful, smooth, resilient, water and
frost-proof roadway of WILLITE.
In the Imperial Valley Desert of
California where the temperature
ranges from freezing to 130 degrees
P., the experimental WILLITE roads,
5 inches thick, proved so successful,
after all other types of asphaltic
roads had failed, that 10 miles of
WILLITE paving have since been
built.
Let us send you our literature and proof of the
superiority of WILLITE.
To learn some interesting facts
regarding WILUTE read
pages 24 and 26 in the April 16,
1921, issue of the Saturday
Evening Post. Read lines 11
to 27, inclusive, on page 26,
very carefully.
See Our Exhibit
at the Good Roads Show
Chicago, Jan. 16-20, 1922
WILLITE ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
OF AMERICA
711 Union Trust Building Detroit, Michigan
87
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thi American City.
Jan., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
93
Street and Parkway Lighting
Standards
The municipal oflicial when seeking a lighting
standard for use on a city street, parkway or
boulevard, has in mind a standard which will be
permanent, durable and attractive both during
the daytime and when illuminated at night.
The lighting standards made by Caldwell &
Drake Iron Works, Inc., Columbus, Ind., are
made of high-quality iron of the same type as is
used in automobile cylinder and ammonia com-
pressor castings.
Since the posts are of heavy cast metal, they
resist rust and corrosion admirably. The spe-
cial patented connection used in fastening the
post to the foundation insures that they may be
struck by vehicles without breakage other than
possibly the glassware and special angle clamps.
After accidents the posts can be set up in a few
minutes ready for service. When the posts are
erected in accordance with the plans of the man-
ufacturer, they cannot be thrown onto the street
or sidewalk, at the risk of killing or injuring
pedestrians or those riding by. Thus possible
damage suits are avoided — a matter worthy of
consideration. If is claimed that these posts are
not defaced nor deformed by impact with
vehicles. When other types of posts are broken
by impact, they must be either scrapped or re-
paired by welding, which leaves marks perma-
nently defacing the posts. It is very difficult
to repair those which are dented or bent by im-
pact.
All standard equipment, such as globes,
sockets, potheads, etc., can be used with these
posts, and they will also fit on most of the pres-
ent foundations wfthout the need of changing
the foundation bolts. In erecting the bolts, the
special angle clamps make them very easy to
assemble, in that "the post is set up on the foun-
dation, the angle clamps slipped over the foun-
dation bolts, and the nuts placed on and screwed
down.
Gutting Pipe in the Trench
A new pipe-cutting device which has the par-
ticular advantage of being able to cut pipe in the
ditch with considerable speed has been placed on
the market by the Ellis & Ford Manufacturing
Company, Detroit, Mich.
In this machine every point in contact with the
pipe is a cutting disc. Therefore, when the cut-
ter is adjusted on the pipe it is only necessary
to move it through a small arc in order to cut
entirely around the pipe. In placing the cutter
in position in the trench, as shown in the illus-
tration, one of the thumb bolts is slipped out
and the links run under the pipe and locked back
together. The handle can be placed in any posi-
tion on the rod, so as to cut in a very narrow
trench. In cutting the pipe in the trench, only
room enough is required to pass the length
carrying the cutter wheels underneath the pipe,
a feature which water-works men will appre-
ciate particularly when they know the troubles
of operating in a hard-rock trench. In making
ordinary repairs or inserting specials in a line
LIGHTINO STANDARD IN COMMEEOIAL PAEK,
C0LT7MBUS, IND.
of pipe, the work can be completed with the aid
of the cutter in the same space of time it would
take to dig a hole so as to make a cut with ham-
mer and chisel. In addition, the cuts are made
clean and smooth, eliminating the danger of
breaking the pipe or disturbing the joints.
On cast iron pipe the wheels do not cut
through the pipe, but when a groove has been
cut around the pipe to a reasonable depth, a little
extra pressure on the screw and handle will
cause the pipe to crack off. On a 12-inch water-
main, this cut will not exceed J^-inch in depth.
Burnap Preparing City Plan
for Granville, N. Y.
Granville, N. Y., has engaged George Burnap,
town and city planner, Washington, D. C, to
prepare a comprehensive city plan, including
the laying out of a park system.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Girious&cis ahouisire^is
as TQCordodin an Qitqineers note book
STREET
FROM
TO
LAID
MATERIAL
ASPHALT
YARDAGE
BRICK
CUTTERS
TOTAL
YARDAGE
AGE
ORIGINAL
COST
PetSQ.YD.
TOTAL COST
COR REPAIRS
Includinl! 1921
REPAIRS
Commenced
Maintenance
Per Sq Yd.
Per Yr.
Tot.l coat per Sq. Yd.
Per Yr. including orig.
Coat and Repaira
W-NW
4th
5th
1917
Oil Asphalt
376.68
85.81
462.49
4
1.44
$324.30
1920
$.175
$.535
W-NW
llth
12th
1915
Oil Asphalt
7% 25
77.29
873.54
6
1.49
19.20
1920
.00366
.252
W-NW
12th
13th
18%
Trinidaa
1181.38
176.92
1358.30
25
1.63
572.42
1910
.01686
.0821
W-NW
1 3th
ISth
1899
Bermudez
3707.21
660.35
4367.56
22
1.80
294.79
1911
.00307
.0849
W-NW
15th
t6th
1913
Bermudez
1931.53
126.92
2058.45
8
1.69
000.00
0000
.00000
.211
NOTE-MAINTENANCE FIGURES ARE FOR TOTAL YARDAGE.
ORIGINAL COST IS FOR ASPHALT ONLY.
GENASCO LINE
Trinidad Lake Asphalt
(For streets and roofs)
Standard Trinidad
Built-Up Roofing
Bermudez Road Asphalt
(For road building)
Genasco Roll Roofing
Genasco Sealbac Shingles
Genasco Latite Shingles
Genasco Vulcanite
Mastic Flooring
Genasco Acid-Proof Paint
Genasco Industrial Paint
Genasco Boiler Paint
Genasco Asphalt Putty
Genasco Asphalt
Pipe Coating
Genasco Asphalt
Fibre Coating
Genasco Tile Cement
Genasco Water-
proofing Asphalts
Genasco Waterproofing
Felts and Fabrics
Genasco Battery
Seal Compound
Genasco Mineral Rubber
Genasco Mineral Spirits
Genasco Base Oils
Genasco Flotation Oils
Genasco Motor Oils
Genasco Soluble Oils
Genasco Saturated
Asphalt Felt
Genasco Deadening Felt
Genasco Insulated Paper
Genasco Red
Sheathing Paper
Genasco Stringed Felt
Genasco Wall Lining
Iroquois Road-building
Machinery
Washington's Deadly Parallel
Astonishing! But the figures are official records on
file in the office of the Public Works Department.
Trinidad and Bermudez are native-lake asphalts. "A"
and "B" are manufactured oil asphalts.
Note the difference in age between the native-asphalt
and the oil-asphalt sections. Then note their striking
difference in cost, including maintenance and repairs.
The 25-year old Trinidad section has cost less than 2
cents per square yard per year to maintain. The four-
year-old oil asphalt "A" already is costing nearly 18 cents.
Personally examined present condition of pavements.
Oil asphalt "A" section is very bad after 4 years'
service. Oil asphalt "B" section is still in fair shape.
Trinidad and Bermudez sections are in splendid con-
dition.
Washington's finest streets are paved with Trinidad
and Bermudez. Their all-round superiority is clearly
demonstrated. Would strongly advise their use on all
streets where asphalt is desired.
New York
Chicago
Pittsburgh
IROQUOIS SALES DEPARTMENT
THE BARBER ASPHALT
PA VI N G
c o ivr ¥*j^is!^tr
PHIUADEUPHIA.
St. Louis
Kansas City
Atlanta
San Francisco
LAKE
ASPHALT
88
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Jan., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
95
A VIEW OF SEWAGE SCREEN IN OPERATION
A New Type of Sewage Screen
To meet the increasing demand for fine-mesh
sewage screens for municipal seWage disposal
plants, the engineers of the Link-Belt Com-
pany, Philadelphia, Chicago, Indianapolis, have
designed a new fine-mesh
sewage screen which they
claim combines great
strength and rigidity with
efficiency and reliability of
operation. The screen sur-
face proper is a cylinder,
made either of perforated
plates or the Link - Belt
straight wire screen. The
straight wire screen consists
of bronze wires stretched
tight on a bronze frame. The
clear opening between the
wires is i/32-inch or less.
The sewage enters from
the outside of the cylinder
and is discharged at one end
from the inside. Between
90 and 95 per cent of the
total screening area is sub-
merged, or, in other words,
is effective. Seal rings
separate the clarified from
the raw sewage. The sew-
age screen is cleaned by re-
volving brushes which always
travel in line with the open-
ings, but never across them. This feature and
the small openings made possible by the straight
wire screen insure the removal of all but the
finest solids in suspension. No parts of the
driving machinery are hidden, and all parts of
the screen can be inspected and cleaned without
interrupting the operation.
Two of these screens are now in operation at
tile sewage treatment plant of the city of
Pleasantville, N. J., and are doing good work.
From 70,000 gallons per day, one screen re-
moves 4 cubic feet of sludge at a rate of 57
cubic feet per 1,000,000 gallons.
Convenient and Effective
Lawn-sprinkling System
A frost-proof underground sprinkling system
for parks, lawns and public grounds has been
placed upon the market by John A. Brooks, 443
Penobscot Building, Detroit, Mich. It consists
of a series of specially made sprinklers set level
with the ground, to be out of the way of lawn
mowers, and having underground pipe connec-
tions so arranged that the entire lawn may be
watered by turning a single valve. After the
sprinklers have operated any set length of time,
the system is automatically shut off by a self-
closing valve.
When not in use, the sprinkler is level with
tile ground and, all openings being completely
covered, it can receive no injury from any use
of the lawn. In operation an inner nozzle rises
up above the grass, so as to give an unob-
structed delivery of water. The sprinkler is
made entirely of brass, has no moving parts to
wear out, and is constructed to be proof from
the surrounding dirt as well as from that in the
water.
Installing this system does not mean that the
lawn has to be marred by deep digging. The
piping is placed only a few inches below the
ROOSEVELT PARK, DETROIT, MICH., WITH ITS LAWN
SPRINKLERS IN ACTION
THE AMERICAN CITY
THE BIG TI^H
MEN
MATERIALS
& MACHINERY
were responsible for this road and
every other good road ever built.
Not the least of these three is Ma-
chinery. No road or street can be
economically built or maintained
without the use of modern machinery.
ROAD^GRADERS.
A road grader is absolutely necessary in the
construction and repair of dirt roads. We
make six sizes of Winner Graders, as follows:
The Baby Winner with a 5 foot blade; the
Winner Patrol with a 6 foot blade: the Little
Winner with a 6 foot blade; the Standard
Winner with a 7 toot 6 inch blade; the Big
Winner with an 8 foot blade, and the Giant
Winner with a 10 foot blade.
ROCK CRUSHERS.
Wherever stone is available a rock crusher
should be used. We furnish complete rock
crushing outfits, portable or stationary, with
capacities ranging from 50 to 1000 tons daily.
Complete outfits consisting of crusher, ele-
vator, screen, bin, power, etc., designed,
built and installed.
ROAD ROLLERS.
The Monarch Steam Road Roller is a high class, standard
roller made in 10 and 12 ton sizes. Rollers have ample
engine and boiler power. They are flexible, dependable
and extremely serviceable. Furnished with or without
steam scarifiers.
Write for free Catalog
"EVERYTHING FOR THE ROADMAKER"
GOOD ROADS
MACHINERY C?
KEN NET SQUARe\^
INC
PENNSYLVANIA
BRANCH OFFICES:
PITTSBURGH, PA,
PORTLAND.
BOSTON, MASS. NEW YORK, N. Y. PHILADELPHIA, PA.
CHICAGO, ILL. ATLANTA, GA. KANSAS CITY, MO.
OREGON. SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES, CAL.
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thk Auesican City,
Jan., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
97
surface. A narrow strip of sod is taken up, and
after the piping is down, the sod is carefully
replaced so that it is scarcely possible to detect
a blemish in the lawn. Although no part of the
sprinkling system is placed below the frost line,
the entire installation is made frost-proof by the
use of an automatic draining sprayer. All pip-
ing slopes to the point where this sprayer is
used, and as the water is shut off, the attached
draining valve automatically opens, emptying
the system. All use of hose and the labor re-
quired in sprinkling with the old method are
eliminated by this system. In addition, the
lawn is watered evenly and in a minimum time.
A New Garbage and Refuse
Dump-Wagon
A new dump-wagon especially adapted for
cities and towns where garbage and refuse are
to be hauled to an incinerator and dumped onto
barges at the water-front or at other plants, has
been designed and is now for sale by George H.
Holzbog & Brothers, Jeffersonville, Ind. For
twenty years this company has been building
round-bottom steel sanitary carts for the haul-
ing of sewage, wet garbage, slops, night-soil, or
anything of a liquid or semi-liquid nature.
These vehicles are built with two or four wheels
for two- or four-horse hauling. Following up
their success in this line and at the request of
numerous city officials, the manufacturers have
devised this wagon, especially for the hauling
of dry, light, bulky refuse, having an extra large
capacity, a low-hanging bed, light weight and
end dump.
The wagon illustrated herewith is built in 2-
horse and i -horse sizes, holding 5 and 3 cubic
yards respectively. The body has hinged wings
which are dropped down when heavy material
is being hauled, or raised when light, bulky
matter is carried. The dumping arrangement is
such that one man can dump a whole load
ONE MAN CAN BEADILY DUMP THIS BODY
without great effort. The height from the
ground to the top of the bed on the smaller
wagon is 48 inches, and on the two-horse wagon
58 inches, not including the extra drop wings.
Each wagon has a sliding step or platform on
which the loader may rest the barrel or box
he is lifting into the wagon.
It has already been demonstrated that the
larger wagon will haul the same amount with
one crew of men and one team of horses as three
of the ordinary dump-wagons with three teams
and three sets of men. The actual saving, there-
fore, is sufficient to pay for a wagon in about
sixty days. The wagons are built of high-grade
material throughout, the wheels are of the
Archibald iron hub pattern, claimed to be the
strongest and most serviceable wheel made. The
frame of the gear is of steel angles, giving long
life to the wagon.
One of the schemes for the use of these
wagons consists in making the house-to-house
collection with the wagon drawn by horses,
leaving it at a specified point where the horse
pole can be readily shifted to a short trailer
pole and then, by a truck or a tractor, hauling
a string of the wagons to the point of disposal
some distance away.
S. M. Williams Now
with Autocar
S. M. Williams, Chairman of the Federal
Highway Council, which has discontinued its
highway activities, has become a special repre-
sentative of the Autocar Company, Ardmore,
Pa. Mr. Williams began his highway work
with the organization of the Highway Industries
Board during the war. Following the disband-
ing of the Board, he formed the Federal High-
way Council, which in the last few years has
been active in developing store-door delivery,
studying sub-soils of highways, and supporting
useful highway legislation.
Fiscal Agents for
Bond Payments
The United States Mort-
gage and Trust Company,
55 Cedar Street, New York
City, has been appointed fis-
cal agent for the payment of
principal and interest of
bond issues aggregating $2,-
273,500, including Durham,
N. C, $525,000; Memphis.
Tenn., $425,000; Iredell
County, N. C., $400,000; and
Winston-Salem, N. C, $325,-
000. These and others ag-
gregating $13,281,600 are
being prepared and certified
as to genuineness by this
company. They include :
Jersey City, N. J., $4,167,-
000; Harrisburg. Pa., $800,-
000; Lenoir County, N. C,
$700,000; Wilmington, Del.,
$697,000 ; and Milburn, N. J.,
$298,000.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Saves 6 to 10 Men
UNLOADING cars, loading
trucks, storing or reclaiming
coal, ashes, sand or similar ma-
terial.
This light-weight portable con-
veyor is a complete answer to
conveying problems at thousands
of plants and its first and operat-
ing cost is but a fraction of the
cost of a more elaborate, but no
more capable, conveying system.
Our catalog No. 46 shows how a
a great number of conveying prob-
lems have been met by this ma-
chine. May we send you a copy.''
Portable Machinery Co.
Passaic, N. J.
^beScoop Conveyor
80
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Jan., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
99
A Sectional Grand Stand
for Municipal Use
Celebrating the return of our sol-
diers in the early part of 1919, parades
were held in every city of the country.
These parades called for an enormous
number of temporary grand stands,
erected at great public expense only to
be torn down later, with an almost
total loss. They were often unsightly
structures, and usually caused annoy-
ance by blocking traffic for many days
before and after their use.
Realizing that this was merely an
aggravation of a permanent condition
in all large cities, the Wayne Iron
Works, Philadelphia, Pa., manufac-
turers of iron fence and other steel
work, designed and patented a grand
stand to overcome these defects, and
the first complete stand was finished
in the fall of 1919.
In principle this grand stand is like a sec-
tional bookcase. The standard interchangeable
sections are 42 inches long, 32 inches deep and
17 inches high. They each consist of four ver-
tical members, connected by a triangular brac-
ing, all of steel angles, hot-riveted at all con-
nections. The gusset plates at the four corners
are heavy steel hinges, which allow the sections
to fold flat for storage. They cannot fold when
in use, for each group of sections is supported
by flanges which are diagonally braced from
corner to corner. The sections dowell into the
flanges and into each other, making lateral
movement impossible.
The seat boards are 30 inches wide, and sup-
ported and stiff'ened by steel battens, which fit
over the sections. Steel guard-rails for both
back and sides, which fold for storage, com-
plete the structure.
The sectional feature enables the stand to be
made as long or as high as desired. It can be
added to merely by purchasing additional sec-
tions.
THE "MAKINGS" OF A GRAND STAND
The stand is adaptable to any situation where
it may be required. For parades it may be set
up in as many tiers as the sidewalk width will
permit, and the length may be varied to suit
conditions. For football it can be used as a
long, low stand, and it can be changed for base-
ball to short high stands. Narrow seats can be
purchased for indoor use, where it is necessary
to crowd many people into a small space. The
sections can also be set up as a level platform
for use as band-stand or stage. They can also
be used for benches and tables.
Skilled labor is not needed to set up this
grand stand; no tools are required in erection
or removal. Not a bolt, screw, nail or pin is
used. There are no small pieces to get lost.
The Wayne sectional grand stand is durable
and economical. The sections being made en-
tirely of steel, there is nothing to wear out. It
can be erected and taken down as often as de-
sired. Its erection makes no dirt, its appear-
ance is neat, and its removal causes no waste or
lost material.
The stand here illustrated, with a
seating capacity of 1,000 persons, was
erected in one working day by a fore-
man and eight unskilled laborers, and
was removed by the same men in three
hours. The two views show exactly
the same material, folded and erected,
illustrating the small storage space re-
quired.
This grand stand is absolutely safe
and the design and construction have
been approved by the Bureau of Build-
ing Inspection of Philadelphia. In use
it has been loaded to double its rated
capacity without the slightest risk.
Its use by the city of Philadelphia,
the Bell Telephone Companyi the Bu-
reau of Recreation of Paterson, N. J.,
as well as many schools, both public
and private, is evidence that it fills a
long- felt need.
THE "MAKINGS" IN SEEVICE
THE AMERICAN CITY
I Lighting
I Standards
Caldwell and Drake
Parkway
and
' Boulevard
Standards
are
First in
QUALITY
DURABILITY
STABILITY
SAFETY
BEAUTY
PERMANENCE
ADAPTABILITY
Send for Catalog
and Prices
CALDWELL
and
DRAKE
IRONWORKS
COLUMBUS
INDIANA
SPECIFY STANDARD VITRIFIED PAVING BRICK.
THE FIRST
INDUSTRY.
THE FIRST
INDUSTRY.
Paving Brick
Leads the Way to
Better Public Service
SECRETARY HOOVER urges all industry to clear its decks
for better service by eliminating waste.
One essential element in this process is the elimination of need-
less styles and varieties of all products.
The Paving Brick industry, with the co-operation of the users of
its product, is the first industry to meet the Government's re-
quest and present a comprehensive schedule which recommends
the elimination of 55 needless varieties of paving brick, by
"mutual consent" of manufacturers and users.
This keynote performance has set the pace for all other industries.
The remarkable conference in Washington last November, and
at which definite action was taken, was participated in by:
American Association of State Arnerican Society for Testing
Highway Officials
American Ceramic Society
American Electric Railway
Engineering Association
American Engineering Council
American Engineering Stand-
ards Committee
American Institute of Archi-
tects
American Institute of Mining
and Metallurgical Engrs.
American Society of Civil
Engineers
American Society for Munic-
ipal Improvements
Materials
Columbus (ft.) Engineers' Club
Federated American Engineer-
ing Societies
Indiana Engineering Society
National Paving Brick Mfrs.
Association
U. S. Chamber of Commerce
U. S. Bureau of Mines
U. S. Bureau of Public Roads
U. S. Bureau of Standards
U. S. Department of Commeroe
U. S. Army
U. S. Navy
Western Society of Engineers
The 1 1 standards of this conference were ratified by the National
Paving lirick Manufacturers and adopted as the Standards of
this Association by formal action at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
December 7, 1921. They are as follows:
LUG BRICK
PLAIN WIRE-CUT BRICK
(VERTICAL FIBRE
LUGLESS)
Width Depth Length
3 ' X 4 ' X SVi'
ZVi' X 4 ' X 81/2'
REPRESSED LUG BRICK
Width Depth Length
31/2' X 31/2' X 81/2 '
31/2' X 4 ' X 8'/2'
VERTICAL FIBRE LUG
BRICK
Width Depth Length
4 ' X 3 ' X 81/2'
4 ' X 31/2' X 81/2*
WIRE-CUT
(DUNN)
Width Depth
3y2' X 3 '
31/2' X 3%'
31/2' X 4 '
HILLSIDE LUG
(DUNN)
Width Depth
31/2' X 4 •
HILLSIDE LUG
(REPRESSED)
Width Depth Length
Z^h' X 4 ' X 81/2'
Length
t. 81/2'
X 8V2'
X 8I/2'
BRICK
Length
X 81/2'
BRICK
A COPY OF THESE PROCEEDINGS will be sent to you upon
request and will bring you knowledge and understanding of
rapid development up to date.
The burned-in service value of vitrified Paving Brick is matched by
the aggressive Public Service spirit of the Paving Brick industry,
Natl. PAVING BRICK Mfrs. Assn.
800 Engineers Building
Eastern Paving Brick Manu-
facturers Association, Lincoln
Building. Philadelphia. Pa.
Illinois Paving Brick Manu-
facturers Association, Chamber
of Commerce. Chicago, III.
Cleveland, Ohio
Indiana Paving Brick Manu-
facturers Association, Fidelity
Trust Bldg. , Indianapolis, Ind.
Ohio Paving Brick Manufac-
turers Association, Hartman
Building, Columbus, Ohio
Southern Clay Manufacturing Company.
Volunteer Building, Chattanooga, Tenn.
•1
Wben writing to Advertisers please mention Thc American City.
Jan., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND
APPLIANCES
lOI
T:^;:^^^^^^^^ ^"""
A Trip to Andorra Nurseries
Situated at the nor^h.mentr-ce
famed Wissahickon Drive tnro ^ -^3 ^re
Park to. Philadelphia A^^^^^^ ^ great
located in ^/^^^^"^.^^^"ures With this great
variety of soils and f^^J^'^ ^ ^ange of tem-
advantage of ^ods^L^Sw zero days in tiie
perature from the f ^e' ^ry summers of this
winter of 1917 f ,f ? ^°ossible to grow hardy
latitude, so that »tJ%P°^ps and to reasonably
trees, evergreens and shrubs a ^^.^
nurseries, even when mo^^orm^t^^^^^^^^
through them. The ^ccomp^^^^ ^^ 3^0.
however, »" A, P,Xv seSion of the nurseries
acre Spring Mill Valley section .^^^^
looking south gives ^« ^^^j^^ct highway be-
A Light-weight Garbage
Collection Truck
The Anthony Co., 1"^^ /t^^S has
developed a garbage dump boay ^er
been found Pt'^ticularly valuable by ^^
^J^^^'S'^r ArL Thoma^^^^^^^ Ga.. and
Mo., Globe, Ariz.,
Alexandria, La. Anthony garbage
Plymouth, Pa., has two ^^^^ ^^^^
dumps which have bee" ^n use ^^^^^
two years and St. Louis Anthony leak-
mounted on Ford trucks ine ^^ p ^
proof solid steel garbage dum? proposition.
?rucks is an automatic d^^ fenter of the
By touching the lever m ^ ^^.p^r
driver's seat, the d^^^P "f-^iv at the end
cent angle, ?P«"^f^/"*rcoie ""^ The capital
gate and raising the top cover. ^^^^^
STr.hi.'ral;ea'v&rypeoi true and
body.
I
^s.'vrnrriT'P VOR
GABBAQB OOU^OTIOM
THE AMERICAN CITY
Idle Cars and Men Mean Lost Profits
The Haiss Portable Belt Con-
veyor Keeps Them Working
Load your cars the instant they move up — The
Haiss Portable Conveyor has a continuous capacity
of 100 to 150 yards an hour at a cost of 3^ cent
per yard for power. It is portable — goes any-
where.
Write now for full particulars of the
Haiss Portable Belt Conveyor.
THE GEO. HAISS MFG. CO., Inc.
143rd St. and RIDER AVE. NEW YORK
Established 1892 Representatives throughout the worid H-42
I
EXPANSION
JOINT
(Pat. PDG.)
1 — ^Type AA — Fibre center non-oozing Joint
(Solid Crown and Sides)
2 — Type B — Bituminous Cellular Fibre Joint
(75% Bitumen) i !
3 — Type D — Cellular Fibre Joint (Solid edges
and Sidesi Self -Expanding)
Type C — Sidewalk Joint W a Specialty
For Concrete Roads^-Granite — Brick and
Wood Block Paving — Buildings — Bridges —
Walls and Reservoirs
Samples and Prices on Request
SERVICISED PRODUCTS CO.
First National Bank Bldg. CHI CAGO
v'-
1 DRYERS
1^ TAR &
THE JOS. HONHORST CO.
1016 WEST SIXTH STREET
CINCINNATI. OHIO
ERIE TANDEM PAVING ROLLERS
Includes everything that makes for the
best in Road Rollers. They are strong,
simple in construction^^urable and econom-
ical and easy to operate. Our first roller
built in 1887 is still doing its "bit.''
Erie Rollers are guaranteed against break-
age or wear for 5 years.
Write for illustrated material.
THE ERIE MACHINE SHOPS
ERIE.
QUALITY MACHINERY BUFFALO PITTS ROLLERS
With Pressure Cylinder Scarifier
Are purchased by Discriminating buyers due
to the many years of satisfactory service which
they will render, the low repair costs and their
general reliability.
ALL SIZES— ALL TYPES
STEAM AND MOTOR ROLLERS
Users of Buffalo Pitts and Kelly Springfield
Rollers should equip rollers with Pressure
Cylinder Scarifiers.
Pull information as to cost furnished on reQUtst.
THE BDFFALO-SPRINGFIELD ROLLER COMPANY
SPKINOFIELD. OHIO
0S
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
103
Housing and Town Planning in Holland
By Stephen Child
Fellow, American Society of Landscape Arcliitects
THE writer has spent some time in an
effort to help forward reconstruction
work in Belgium, and the trip into
Holland herewith briefly outlined was a
most interesting by-product of that effort.
The Dutch towns visited were Maestricht,
Arnhem, Amsterdam, The Hague and Rot-
terdam, and in this order. At all of them,
activity in housing and town-extension proj-
ects is marked, and everywhere there is an
air of prosperity.
As one result of these favorable condi-
tions, there have been built during the past
few years by this nation of less than seven
million people no less than 75,000 houses
for working people alone. These have been
constructed in 180 communities through the
agency of some 1,250 different building
societies, the work having been authorized
under national guarantee and with the aid
of state subsidies. Holland is hardly more
prosperous than the United States, and if
seven million people in Holland built 75,000
houses, America's one hundred million
should have built a million houses during
the same time. Or, to put it another way,
the seven-million agglommeration included
in Greater New York and its New Jersey
neighbors should have built 75,000 houses,
in which case there would probably not be a
very great housing shortage.
Under the Dutch Housing Act of 1901,
local authorities may make grants and loans
to properly organized building societies, the
money required being advanced by the
National Exchequer, and the communities or
societies being guaranteed the entire cost of
construction, land and buildings as well as
streets and utilities. For fifty years the
houses must not be sold or the rents altered
without authority of the state. At the end
of this period the buildings become the prop-
erty of the city.
In Holland's Only Coal-Mining District
Of the various projects visited, none were
more interesting, particularly from the town
planner's point of view, than those in the
vicinity of Maestricht, the capital of the
Dutch province of Limburg. Here, near its
suburb of Heerlen, are the only coal de-
posits in Holland. The mines have been in
operation some fifteen years and were
worked during the war with great intensity.
We were told that many Belgians interned
in Holland were set to work here, and as it
is only five or six miles to the German line
and not over fifty to either Dusseldorf or
Cologne, one can readily see where much of
the output may have gone.
As a result of the introduction of this
coal-mining industry into a district that up
to 1905 ^had been largely an agricultural one,
the problem of housing for the workers be-
came very serious. As an aid to its solution,
there was founded a central or comprehen-
sive society called "0ns Limburg," which
has grown to include some 48 different
building societies, each of which is given
general guidance by the parent association.
"0ns Limburg" has its Works Department
and Technical Institute, which employs
skilled architects, who prepare house plans
for any of the affiliated organizations. Its
staff of engineers is available to all. Ex-
perts install efficient bookkeeping systems,
104
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
and there is provision for inspection of
completed work, often here and elsewhere
by women who keep an eye on the moral as
well as the physical conditions.
In order to prevent the mines from being
surrounded by an unduly concentrated pop-
ulation, and to get the advantage of mixing
to some extent the mine-workers with the
country population — in a word, of securing
most of the helpful influences of the English
garden city idea, the building areas are
dispersed over the country, partly on the
borders of small towns or villages, partly
forming separate groups of houses, and in
some instances merging into one another.
In the dififerent sites the number of cot-
tages per acre varies from ten to sixteen.
It was originally intended that there should
be only separate houses or cottages, each
for a single family, with an open space to
eadh house, but this idea has not always been
followed, for there are many row-houses.
For the success of such a movement cheap
land must be at the disposal of the building
societies, and the solution of this problem
in this rapidly growing industrial district
was obtained by the assistance of a society
called the "Tijdig," which buys on "due
time" on a large scale the land while still at
or near agricultural values, and hands it
over at cost price to the local branches of
"0ns Limburg" as soon as a building site
is wanted. Some such method is quite gen-
erally employed in each community.
ALLEYS ABE OFTEN MEEELY FOOTPATHS, NOT WIDE ENOUGH
FOR TEAMS. REAR GARDENS ARE CAREFULLY PLANTED AND
MAINTAINED
The Houses and Their Surroundings
While architectural details vary, most of
the cottages throughout Holland have on the
street floor a parlor, a living-room and a
scullery, with the necessary conveniences,
and on the second floor three bedrooms.
There is usually not much of a cellar, and
the houses are generally heated by stoves.
The topography about Heerlen is gently
rolling, with some wooded hillsides, but
mostly open farms. There has been con-
siderable skill shown in fitting streets to
topography, and w*here the land was nearly
level, interesting adaptations of formal lay-
outs have been adopted. Pavements and
walks here as well as elsewhere in Holland
are narrow, and the grassed, tree-shaded
planting spaces are of ample width. Alley-
ways are quite commonly employed, fre-
quently merely footpaths not wide enough
for teams. Interesting squares, plazas, for-
mal gardens, and even quite good-sized in-
formal parks, have been established. There
are many single houses, more semi-detached,
and a great many rows of from six to
twelve houses. Brick is here, as throughout
Holland, the favorite material, covered in
some cases, for variety, with plaster.
Many of the houses are one and a half
stories in height, and none over two and a
half, except, as noted later, in Amsterdam.
There is a pleasing variety in architectural
types, although the rather 'heavy Dutch or
German predominates. Gables, dormers and
little towers are quite
common. The grouping
and set-back of the build-
ings, which varies with
the topography, adds to
the general appearance.
Front dooryards are in
general not over 15 to
20 feet deep.
The most noticeable
feature of the houses,
however, is the effective,
not to say startling, re-
sult of the Dutch use of
color. First, of course,
all the roofs are red, or
p"nkish-red, tile, and
most of the walls are
dark red brick, but here
and there this has been
covered with a plaster
tinted a bright yellow.
More noticeable than
this, however, is the
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
loS
IN THE MORE LEVEL DISTRICTS, FORMAL FLANS OF LANDSCAPE aARDENING HAVE BEEN
ADOPTED
painting of the woodwork: doors are fre-
quently brown or green; shutters, yellow
bordered with white, and sometimes deco-
rated with lozenge-shaped panels of white,
or even black or dark blue; window sashes
and cornices are often a bright yellow ochre,
sometimes green or brown.
Shade tree planting is quite general, na-
tive oaks being the favorite, with mountain
ash a close second, one kind of tree to a
street. Dooryards are frequently filled with
flowering shrubs or herbaceous plants.
Hedges and low, vine-covered walls sepa-
rate the yards. The general effect is one of
gaiety and brightness. Ample provision is
made for churches, local shops and schools,
with generous playgrounds.
The building societies frequently have
their own large and well-equipped tem-
porary wood-working shops for the fabrica-
tion of building material, but with charac-
teristic Dutch thrift they all keep a s'harp
eye on prices elsewhere, and when these are
found to be lower than the cost at their own
shops, they do not hesitate an instant to shut
down their shops and buy in the best market.
There is apparently no community pride or
political pressure to keep their own shops
going; the one purpose is to secure houses
rapidly, economically, and without raising
rents.
Elsewhere in Holland
While in the Limburg district there is but
one industry, coal mining, involved, at all
the other cities visited the problem is the
more general one of an acute housing short-
age due to the rapid growth of thriving
communities, and it is being met by similar
methods in all of them, state and municipal-
ity cooperating with local building societies.
The problem all through Holland is simpli-
fied by the fact that all are tenants — no one
seems to want to own his home.
At Arnhem and elsewhere we found the
term "complex" given to what we should
call a garden suburb, a complete quarter or
small district, each having its own individual
character and particular type of architec-
ture; at one, the "Blaudorp Complex," blue
was the predominant color, while at the
near-by "Roode-dorp" it was red. Here and
at Rotterdam we found "complexes" es-
pecially designed for middle-class people.
Except for slightly more spacious arrange-
ments, that is, separate houses of eight
rooms, these were in no way superior to the
others as to construction details. The rents
of these were originally but slightly above
those of workmen's houses, but they have
now been raised 50 to 75 per cent.
At Amsterdam the avowed purpose is to
abolish the slum, here said to be as bad as,
if not worse than, in any other city in the
world. Land being relatively expensive and
the soil generally marshy, requiring piles
for foundations of most buildings, apart-
ment or tenement houses, five stories in
height, are the rule. The first of these,
built a few years ago, are not attractive, but
now more skilful architects are being em-
ployed with better results. On the out-
skirts of the city, too, row-houses are being
built. A particularly interesting group is
arranged for two families, one above the
other, the second story flat having a separate
doorway and stairway, and each having at
the front, besides the entrance hall, a good-
sized living-room with two windows or a
io6
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
bay window giving on the street ; at the rear
in the center is a kitchenette with a small
bedroom on either side of it, each with a
window giving on the rear gardens, which
here, as all through Holland, are well laid
out, carefully and attractively planted and
maintained, sometimes as play-places.
The population of Amsterdam in August,
1920, was 651,133, and a careful survey
showed the need of fully 19,000 new houses;
also that, allowing for the probable growth
of the city, 6,800 new houses would be
needed each year for a period of five years,
or a total of 34,000. These the piunicipal
authorities have set out to build, having
plans ready now for 12,000, over 4,000 of
which are nearly if not quite completed.
From 1905 to January i, 1920, 108,000,000
florins has been appropriated by the state
and city for Amsterdam housing.
At both The Hague and Rotterdam, land
being relatively cheaper, there are no build-
ings over two and a half stories in height,
many but one and a half, and while there
are a few semi-detached houses, most are in
rows of from six to a dozen. Here, too,
brick is the favorite material, and there is a
perfect riot of color for the woodwork. At
Rotterdam 3,000 workmen's houses are un-
der way or completed.
The building-cost of the Dutch cottage
described above — the cost of land and the
making of streets excluded — averaged up to
the year 191 5 about 175 pounds, but has now
increased to from 400 to 480 pounds. The
cottages erected before the war were let at
a rent of about 5 shillings per week, which,
we were told, provided a full commercial
return on the capital outlay. The increment
of the building-cost makes it impossible to
continue in that way, and at present the
rents, fixed at about 8 shillings per week,
produce only 50 to 60 per cent of the sum
required for interest, repayment of loans,
and working expenses; the rest is granted
annually as a subsidy by the state and the
communities interested, being absorbed
without serious opposition by general taxa-
tion, a form of government philanthropy
not relished in America. In no case do the
rates charged meet the standard of "eco-
nomic rent" that should be received, and
there must come here in Holland some time
in the future a day of reckoning ; a writing-
off of inflation and a genuine return to a
true economic basis; one that will make the
worker more independent because not, as
now, a recipient of government philan-
thropy.
Indirectly, perhaps, Holland is to be aided
in this particular by its foresight in pro-
ceeding as it has very generally done, to
purchase large areas of land in the vicinity
of most of the growing cities, and holding
these at cost for the building of workmen's
homes. The city of Arnhem now owns over
4,000 acres of such land, and The Hague
3,000 acres, which is held in reserve for this
purpose; bought, in most instances, at or
near agricultural values and held under
agreements permitting the cultivation and
sale of crops until needed for building. The
community will therefore profit by the "un-
earned increment," and, what is more, when
the need arises there will be none of the un-
fortunate delays that come through the slow
process of expropriation.
Editorial Note. — This article is compiled from data
collected on a journey through Holland and Belgium
in the year 1920. The writer has just returned from
another visit to Holland and finds a continuation of
activity along the lines described in this article. There
seems to be very little diminution in the house-building
program of the Netherlands.
Does Your City Encourage Panhandlers?
Street begging, says The New York
Times, "is an abuse and an evil, and those
who distribute 'charity' in this form should
know that they simply are encouraging pro-
fessional mendicancy."
Two members of the Salvation Army,
Major Edward Underwood and Roy P.
Gates of the Joint Application Bureau, re-
cently tested this matter in New York City
by going out and doing some panhandling
themselves. The only disguise they used
was to turn up their collars and not to wear
overcoats, but within an hour they had
collected dimes and quarters to the extent
of $3-35) and realized that the business was
a profitable one if they chose to follow it.
They usually asked for jobs when they
made their demands, but nobody took that
seriously or made any inquiries. Instead, the
coins were passed over "with as little thought
as one would give in patting a stray dog."
Talks with other men engaged in begging
showed that about twenty-four in twenty-
five were professionals.
107
VIEW OP ARKANSAS CITY, KANS., RESERVOIR, SHOWING TENNIS COURTS
New Circular Reservoir at Arkansas
City, Kansas
Construction Features the Use of Slip Forms — Tennis and Volley-Ball on Roof
By C. A. Smith
Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, Mo.
THE two-million-gallon reinforced con-
crete reservoir recently completed at
Arkansas City, Kans., has some in-
teresting features of design and construc-
tion methods, and also novel uses since its
completion. The reservoir was constructed
to provide a reserve and equalizing storage
between the supply wells and the high-serv-
ice pumps located approximately i}i miles
from the site of the well system.
The site available for the reservoir; was
a low tract of ground adjacent to the pump
station, owned by the city for park and
playground purposes, but had never been
improved. It had been used as a dump
ground and was partially filled with old
refuse, brick, tin cans, street sweepings and
rubbish. The results of the preliminary test
borings indicated approximately an average
of 8 feet of old fill and original loam and 2
feet of water-bearing sand overlying a solid
limestone stratum. The reservoir was de-
signed to use this rock stratum as the floor.
Upon removing the top soil, the rock sur-
face was found to be fairly smooth and
level, having a grade or dip of approxi-
mately 0.8 oif I per cent. Several faults or
cracks from % tct 1 inch wide, averaging
about 20 feet apart and running at right
angles to each other, were cleaned out and
grouted full of i .2 cement mortar, and after
chipping off some of the irregular or un-
even places the entire rock surface was
washed with a cement grouting, making a
satisfactory bottom or floor.
The reservoir is 156 feet inside diameter
and 14 feet deep below the overflow weir.
The design is of the ring tension type with
walls resting on a subfooting keyed into the
rock stratum forming the bottom. The wall
is separated from the footing by a specially
designed expansion joint, in order to elimi-
nate cantilever stresses. The roof is a 5-
inch reinforced concrete slab carried by
10 X 15-inch beams spaced 12 feet on centers
each way and supported by 10 x lo-inch
columns. The roof was given an 8-inch
slope from center to wall, and the top was
given a floor or sidewalk smooth trowel or
float finish.
The wall was originally designed tapering
from bottom to top, but was changed to a
uniform thickness in order to use slip forms.
The ring tension steel was placed in two
rows and held firmly in proper place by ver-
tical standards spaced 6 feet on centers,
made of 3-inch channels with notched strap
steel bars riveted at the proper intervals.
The wall forms were made of i-inch
ship-lap in sections 12 feet long and 4 feet
in height. After receiving a coat of paint
they were assembled and centered in place.
The forms were filled within 6 inches of the
top and then were raised slowly by means
lo8
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
of the ordinary slip form jacks operating on
I -inch jack-rods, which were cut off at the
top of the wall when the pouring of the wall
was complete. Two men were employed to
operate the jacks, making a complete circuit
twice an hour and raising the form approxi-
mately I inch each time.
The concrete was run continuously in the
walls, using two mixers located in opposite
sides and alternating from one mixer to the
other every hour. There were three 8-hour
shifts of men consisting of 10 laborers and
foreman mixing and placing concrete, 3
men placing and wiring steel, 2 men operat-
ing form jacks, and 2 carpenters shifting
runways and miscellaneous work. The total
time required for the wall was 80 hours.
The concrete was conveyed froni mixers to
wall in wheelbarrows on board runs.
The use of the slip forms with the con-
crete deposited continuously in small layers
allowed the concrete to be well puddled, and
when the wall was finished no construction
joints, voids or pockets were visible and
the finish was very smooth. The walls
showed no sign of seepage when the reser-
voir was filled.
The column footings were keyed into the
rock stratum, and the tops carefully graded
from center to outside wall to conform to
the roof slope, so that all column forms were
of the same length, thus simplifying the
construction and placing of forms.
Tennis Courts on the Roof
The location of the reservoir being on
park property, it was decided before com-
pletion to utilize the top for tennis and vol-
ley-ball courts. The manhole openings and
ventilators were so placed that ample space
was provided for two tennis courts. Pipe
couplings or sockets were installed in the
roof slab for the net posts, and also sockets
around the wall for posts for fencing the
entire area. The accompanying illustration
shows two tennis games in progress, and the
courts are very popular.
The main items in the construction were
7,162 cubic yards of earth excavation, 1,038
cubic yards of concrete, 71.7 tons reinforc-
ing steel and 4.2 tons channel iron and mis-
cellaneous. The total cost of the com-
pleted reservoir was $52,887.21. The reser-
voir was designed by Burns & McDonnell
Engineering Company, of Kansas City, Mo.,
and constructed by Ray & Son, contractors,
of Baxter Springs, Kans., and the work
was supervised by Charles W. Lusk, City
Engineer of Arkansas City, Kans.
CONSTRUCTING RESERVOIR WALL, USING THE SLIP FORM METHOD
109
Proper Waste Disposal in Relation to
the Fly and Disease
By W. Dwight Pierce, Ph. D.
Consulting Entomologist, San Mateo, Calif.
IT is doubtful whether even our highly
civilized American public has ever had
brought home to it the fulness of in-
dividual and municipal responsibility in the
matter of vi^aste disposal to prevent trans-
mission of disease by the fly and other in-
sects. ,^J^j,J
It u^ould require a good-sized volume to
give a digest of the evidence proving how
flies and other insects carry disease germs
from waste to our foods, and to discuss the
essential points in their life history and con-
trol, and then to fully discuss the ways and
means of waste disposal. The writer must
no
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
therefore content himself with a concise
statement of facts, in the hope that he may
lead those who read it to a more intelligent
fight against disease, through the means of
proper waste disposal.
That which must be made clear above all
else is that every citizen has here a grave
responsibility, and that practically all epi-
demics of insect-spread diseases can be di-
rectly traced to the carelessness of in-
dividuals, if not of the community at large.
If you could realize that the presence of
diarrhea, dysentery or typhoid in your
family may be directly due to your own or
your neighbors' carelessness, would you re-
main listless and inactive? If you saw your
dear ones sick and dying and knew that
others were in the same danger, would you
try to run down the cause and put a stop to
it? If you would not, you have become so
calloused that you are measurably more
responsible for the calamity. The matters
with which this article deals are unques-
tionably matters of public welfare and re-
sponsibility, but this does not by one iota
diminish the individual responsibility.
Why Waste Disposal Is Essential
Let us try to assimilate some of the essen-
tial facts before touching directly upon
waste disposal.
1. Communicable diseases have a causative
organism.
2. The causative organisms of all intestinal
diseases, at least, will be voided in human or
animal waste.
3. Waste matter of all kinds, but especially
human and animal waste, is especially attractive
to insects and is the source of the majority of
flies found about human habitations.
4. Fly larvae breeding in waste take into their
bodies whatever organisms are present, and in
many cases harbor these organisms uninjured in
their bodies, until they have matured into full-
grown flies, and for some time thereafter.
5. Adult flies alighting on waste take up as
food disease-organisms, and also pick up many
on their feet.
6. The flies which breed in and frequent filth
also frequent dairies, groceries, meat markets,
kitchens and dining-rooms, and invariably de-
posit on whatever they alight upon, a speck of
excrement containing disease organisms, as well
as losing some of the filth from their feet.
7. Disease organisms can live in flies for many
days.
8. Flies can fly many miles.
9. A single case of typhoid fever, dysentery
or diarrhea in the country or city where open
privies prevail, will in due time give rise to a
myriad of flies spreading over the countryside
and each carrying disease germs. And if there
is a dairy barn within their zone of flight, they
will find it and be irresistibly drawn to the
milk. One of these touching the milk may
leave a culture of organisms which will be dis-
tributed to every customer. We often trace the
disease to the dairy, but we sometimes fail to
go on to the place where the flies got the germs,
10. Some of the disease-laden flies may stop
at a manure pile and lay eggs, but with these
eggs will be the germs. The fly larvae will take
these germs up, and, as mature flies, will, a few
days later, carry them on. The same thing may
happen in a garbage pail.
11. Any substance in which flies breed is
dangerous, because the more flies we have, the
greater the danger of their picking up disease
organisms. Therefore, we must watch garbage,
factory waste, sewage, manure, and all other
kinds of decaying matter. It is not always that
the large mass of waste is the most dangerous.
The little things must receive attention as well
as the big.
Problems of Waste Disposal
What, then, are the problems of waste
disposal ? They are not confined to the city
itself. They are not always easy to discover
or handle. They concern the personal habits
of the entire population. They are found
wherever food is found.
I. The city sanitarian must watch the city
milk supply to its ultimate source. He must be
constantly in touch with the health situation in
all the surrounding territory.
II. The sewage disposal of the whole country-
side has a direct bearing on the health of the
city inhabitants.
III. Wherever the open privy exists is to
be found a menace to the health of all the
people for many miles around.
IV. Every manure pile is a source of millions
of disease carriers.
V. The moist manure-laden refuse in the gut-
ters and cesspools gives rise to flies.
VI. Every garbage pail is a focus for flies.
Free municipal garbage removal is a necessity
to insure uniform and regular removal.
VII. Every barn, livery stable, pig-pen,
chicken-yard and dove-cote is a potential source
of flies.
VIII. Packing-houses, canneries, breweries,
and many other industrial plants create great
quantities of waste in which insects breed.
The problem of waste disposal is so to
dispose of all kinds of waste as to prevent
fly-breeding and at the same time conserve
whatever values are inherent in the waste
in such manner as to defray a large part of
the costs of waste collection by converting
the waste into materials of commercial
value.
Sewage sludge treated in a disposal plant
may become good fertilizer material.
Manure dried and pulverized is a valuable
fertilizer and no longer attractive to flies.
Garbage may be converted in a disposal
plant into fats, glycerines and other prod-
ucts of considerable value.
Ill
The Direct Oxidation Process of Sewage
Treatment
A Small Plant at Phillipsburg, N. J.» and a Large Installation at Allentown, Pa.,
Are Now in Operation
THE functions of the direct oxidation
process are based upon electrolysis of
the sewage, which previously has been
made slightly but definitely caustic by the
addition of lime. By means of such elec-
trolytic action the production of nascent
hydrogen and oxygen almost instantly
effects a definite stabilization of the unstable
organic matter contained in the sewage and
thus renders it inoffensive. By the same
means, pathogenic bacteria, if such are
of 16,923. It supports 22 industries, of
which 7 produce iron and steel products,
and 12 engage in the manufacturing and
dyeing of silk fabrics. The city sewage
contains a preponderance of industrial
wastes consisting of soaps, oil-emulsions,
dyestuffs, and extracts from the silk indus-
tries, together with pickling liquors and
mineral oil from the iron industries. With
the exception of a small area, the sewage is
conducted to the treatment plant by gravity,
EXTERIOR OP THE PHILLIP SBUR&, N. J., SEWAGE WORKS
present in the sewage, as may at any time
be the case, are destroyed. This process, as
its name implies, is "direct." Unlike all
other sewage treatment processes, including
the activated sludge process, it does not de-
pend for its success upon bacterial activities.
In this cardinal respect, therefore, it differs
diametrically from all other types of sewage
treatment works. It is a mechanism depend-
ing only upon the uninterrupted addition of
lime in proper quantity to the sewage, and a
continuous flow of electric current to the
electrolyzers.
At Phillipsburg, N. J., is located a typical
plant of this type. Phillipsburg is essentially
an industrial city, having a 1920 population
through sanitary sewers which eliminate
storm and surface waters.
The sewage treatment plant is located on
Saw Mill Road some 230 feet south of
South Main Street. A number of first-class
residences are located on adjoining prop-
erty. The plant site proper is an irregular
tract covering an area of i}i acres, of
which the complete plant occupies but ys-
acre. In the treatment plant, which has a
rated capacity of three million gallons per
day, the sewage flows throughout by gravity,
first passing through either or both of the
flat plate screens, under which grit cham-
bers are located. These screens have J4-
inch perforations and are cleaned by me-
112
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
chanically operating brushes. In conjunction
with the grit chambers, the screens are
designed to protect the electrolyzers by re-
moving the coarser suspended matters and
abrasive substances or grit.
From the grit chambers the sewage passes
through any or all three of the electrolyzers,
each of which has a treating capacity of
700 gallons per minute. Each electrolyzer
consists of a horizontal cypress tank 27 feet
long and 3 feet by 3 feet in cross-section.
The tank is divided into two sections, each
having a removable lid for accessibility to
the interior, which contains two rows of
electrodes of eleven banks each, mounted
one above the other, making twenty-two
banks in all. Each bank of electrodes con-
tains 48 mild steel electrodes 10 inches by 16
inches by 3/16-inch spaced ^-inch apart,
and so connected electrically that alternate
plates have the same polarity. In each bank
between the plates two Bakelite paddles are
revolved by means of a line shaft and re-
ducing gearing mounted upon the outside of
the tank, their function being to act as
mechanical depolarizers and to keep the pas-
sage between the electrodes free from ac-
cretions.
Electrically, the 22 banks of electrodes
are connected in simple series, so that the
current employed is utilized 22 times at the ,
expense of the impressed voltage. To ex-
press in simple form the action produced in
each electrolyzer, it may be said that it is
equivalent to that resulting from passing
the sewage in a sheet ^-inch thick between
electrodes 30 feet square, agitating it dur-
ing its passage with 2,068 paddles and using
a current strength 22 times as great as is
impressed upon the physical apparatus.
From this there is every good reason to be-
lieve that all of the sewage is subject to the
action of the nascent oxygen produced upon
the electrodes.
Upon leaving the electrolyzers, the sew-
age flows through a sedimentation basin,
which is divided into two sections, each of
which is 28 feet by 100 feet and 23^ feet in
depth, and has a flat slope on the bottom of
^-inch per foot to the sludge outlet. The
effluent of the sedimentation basin is dis-
charged into Lopatcong Creek, which af-
fords a dry weather dilution of about 4 to i.
The sludge from the sedimentation basins
is discharged upon a sludge bed 50 feet by
50 feet in area, composed of graded stone
and sand, and underdrained. The liquid
drained from the sludge is discharged direct
into the creek.
The plant is operated by alternating cur-
rent (220-volt, 3-phase, 60-cycle) ; the direct
current used for the electrolysis of the sew-
age, and averaging 66 volts and 34 amperes
for each electrolyzer, is obtained from inde-
pendent motor generator sets. The entire
control is mounted upon panel boards on the
operating platform.
In addition to the electrical equipment,
there is also provided a compact lime stor-
age pulverizing and dosing equipment, by
means of which run-of-kiln lime is reduced
to powder passing a loo-mesh sieve. The
dosing device is adjustable and feeds the
pulverized lime into a slaking chamber,
where it mixes with either screened or
treated sewage or with city water, and is
conveyed to the inlet end of the electrolyzers
in such amounts as will consistently render
the sewage slightly caustic.
Daily operating charts have been prepared
since October 18, 1920, showing that:
(a) The sewage flow peak has mounted
gradually until at the present time, with 75
per cent of the house sewers connected, it
amounts to 2,000,000 gallons daily.
(b) The total power consumption averages
150 kw. hours per million gallons.
(c) Lime, containing 80 per cent CaO, is
applied at the rate of 1,100 pounds per million
gallons. It has been found that lime containing
94 per cent CaO can be had for the same price,
which would reduce the amount consumed to
950 pounds per million gallons.
(d) Each section of the sedimentation basin
is blown down twice a month and the sludge
discharged into the sludge beds, where, after
remaining for three days, it is removed and
spread on the near-by fill. The dry sludge
amounts to approximately 400 cubic feet per
week and requires the services of two laborers
for two days to remove and spread it.
(e) Three operators are employed, working
on eight-hour shifts at salaries aggregating a
total of $4,500 per year.
(f) The entire first cost of the disposal
plant, including land, etc., was $173,845.49, or
|57>950 per million gallons daily capacity.
With the plant operating at full capacity
(3,000,000 gallons daily), a conservative
estimate of the cost of treatment, including
the handling of sludge, is as follows:
Per Day
Capital charges (8^/^% on $173,845.49) for
interest, sinking fund and depreciation $40.50
Power, 450 kw. hr. @ $.03 13.50
Lime, 1.5 tons @ $10.57 15 . 86
Heat, light and water 1.93
Salaries, $4,500 per year 12 . 83
Placing sludge, $0.50 per hour, 2 laborers
2 days per week (average) 2.30
Incidentals 1.05
Total $87.47
FebruarV, 19:2^
THE AMERICAN CITY
m
Courtesy H. F. Bascom, City Engineer, Allentown, Pa.
THE INTERIOR OF THE DIRECT OXIDATION PLANT FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE,
ALLENTOWN, PA.
The cost of treatment per million gallons
will, therefore, be $29.16, which is equivalent
to $1.24 per capita annually, of which $0.57
is for fixed charges and $0.67 for operating
cost.
The plant has been in operation for prac-
tically a year, and from all the evidence at
hand has consistently produced a non-
putrescible effluent and a stable sludge. Dur-
ing this period the sludge has been used in
grading the site about the plant, and from
present indications will be utilized in this
manner for the next six years. Absence of
nuisance is evidenced by the lack of com-
plaints from the near-by residences. A
similar, though much larger, plant of the
same type is now in operation at Allentown,
Pa.
Acknowledgment. — From a report on The Treatment
of Municipal Sewage made to the Board of Public
Works of East Chicago, Ind., by George A. Johnson,
New York City.
City PJanning in Massachusetts
The report of the Massachusetts Division
of Housing and Town Planning for 1920,
recently published, contains a summary of
the reports of the thirty-six planning boards
of the state. No less than 15 cities have
taken up zoning, and at least two more took
it up in 192 1. Seventeen boards organized
under the mandatory law had not resumed
activity since the war, though four of these
have done so since the period covered by the
report. Thirteen places have not yet com-
plied with the law by establishing boards.
The Commissioner of the State Department
of Public Welfare, Richard K. Conant, has
asked for an appropriation to provide for a
field secretary of town planning in 1922.
114
^'Ye Olde Towne Meeting'' Up to Date
By E. F. Ayres
Secretary, Idaho Chapter, American Association of Engineers
THE old-time New England town meet-
ing was one of the most perfect sys-
tems of government ever devised.
Each citizen, rich or poor, had an equal op-
portunity to express his opinions and fight
for his ideals. He of the silver tongue had
to present something besides superheated
generalities if he wanted to put anything
across. The crowd knew him personally, so
his appeal to the stars above and to the old
flag flying in the heavens failed to move his
audience. At least, it failed to move their
purse-strings.
Just as soon as the little settlements grew
too large to admit all citizens into one hall,
the town meeting was abandoned in favor of
representative government. The individual
lost his opportunity to make himself a fac-
tor in the administration of his community.
Boise, Idaho, has developed a plan which
seems to combine the advantages of the old
town meeting with the best features of
representative government. It has organ-
ized a Community Council. Other cities are
trying the same experiment, some of them
having started before Boise thought of it.
It requires no long campaign, no costly
publicity, to start a Community Council. In
Boise, a few public-spirited citizens sent a
notice to every organization in the city,
asking that a delegate be sent to a meeting
to be held at the Chamber of Commerce.
Every church — Roman Catholic, Protestant,
Mormon, Adventist, Christian Scientist and
Hebrew — every fraternal organization,
every labor union, every women's club,
every parent-teacher's circle, every associa-
tion of professional men and women, and
every racial group — was invited to send a
representative. No one imagined that over
50 invitations would be required. There
proved to be an even 190, and of these, 127
were represented at the first meeting.
After a discussion of the problems most
vitally affecting Boise's future, a short, con-
cise constitution and by-laws were unani-
mously adopted.
A Planning and Advisory Body
Unlike the old town meeting, the Council
has no legislative powers. In fact, it has no
powers of any kind in itself. It can only
plan and advise, any action being taken
through its constituent organizations. It
cannot raise funds, nor spend them, nor can
it be used to put across any of the innumer-
able drives with which we have been pes-
tered since the war revealed the large
amount of loose cash in the pockets of the
American people. The Council serves as a
clearing-house for ideas, and each delegate,
whether representing two thousand or only
twenty members of his association, has an
equal voice in the decisions of the central
body.
The Community Council gives to each
citizen a closer touch wrth public affairs.
He is represented through his lodge, his
church, his union, or his club. If he is a
"joiner" he is represented many times. All
matters of importance must be referred to
him for final action, and he will work a
great deal harder, and with a better spirit,
for his pet enterprise when he knows that
his neighbor is working shoulder to shoulder
with him through another organization.
Racial and creedal differences can be ironed
out before they gain dangerous headway,
for when representatives from both sides
meet on a common ground, presenting their
own views and having the opportunity to
see the other fellow's view-point, antagon-
isms melt away in mutual understanding,
Boise needs playgrounds for her children.
She needs a system of municipal garbage
collection. She needs zoning regulations.
She needs a large hall for public gatherings.
This year the High School had to hold its
graduation exercises in a theater, as there
was no public hall large enough to accom-
modate the parents and friends of the
Senior class. Now that the Community
Council is under way, Boise stands a good
chance to get these improvements and many
more in addition. Single organizations, or
lone individuals, lacked the strength to get
things started. The Council will outline
practical programs and then get out and
hustle, through its member associations, to
put the programs into effect.
"5
Philadelphia's Service Test Road
Cost Data from the Final Report of the Byberry and Bensalem Road Pavement
BECAUSE the extension of Bensalem
Avenue, Philadelphia, would involve
the removal of a portion of the well-
known Byberry and Bensalem Service Test
Road, the Philadelphia Bureau of High-
ways has issued a very interesting final re-
port on this road, which was constructed in
1912-1913, To aid in the proper apprecia-
tion of the 'data regarding the general con-
ditions of the road and the cost of repairs,
as well as the proper interpretation of the
data for the numerous types of pavements
laid, the final report gives a general state-
ment of conditions which affected the be-
havior of the road, both as a whole and also
as to the individual sections.
The principal elements which affected the
required amount of maintenance work as
compared to what might have been antici-
pated from the usual wear and tear under
most favorable circumstances, were:
1. The change in traffic conditions which oc-
curred since the construction of the road in
1912-1913
2. The difference in foundation and drainage
conditions existing between the several sections.
At the time this improvement was made
it was recognized that the Service Test Road
was to be a part of the main traffic route
between New York and Philadelphia, but
not until the reconstruction in 191 5 of the
adjacent section of state highway did the
Service Test Road actually begin to serve
this purpose. The general increase in motor
truck traffic on roads subsequent to 19 13,
and more particularly the enormous in-
crease which occurred on certain roads dur-
ing the period of the war, is a matter of
TWO VIEWS OF THE BYBEEEY-BENSALEM EOAD, LOWER VIEW SHOWING BRICK PAVING
ON HILLSIDE
ii6
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
FINAL REPORT, COST AND EXTENT OF REPAIRS, BYBERRY AND BENSALEM SERVICE TEST ROAD—
Sec-
tion
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Station to station
Number
of square
yards
0+00 to
37+00 to
47 +00 to
50 +00 to
52+50 to
69 +50 to
72 +00 to
84 +50 to
87+50 to
94 +00 to
97 +00 to
103 +00 to
109 +00 to
112+50 to
118+00 to
121 +00 to
127+00 to
130 +60 to
133 +00 to
139+00 to
145 +00 to
151 +00 to
157+00 to
163 +00 to
169+00 to
174+50 to
37+00
47+00
50+00
52+50
59+50
72+00
84+50
87+50
94+00
97+00
103+00
109+00
112+50
118+00
121+00
127+00
130+00
133 +00
139+00
145+00
151+00
157+00
163+00
169 +00
174 +50
180+15
6,578,
1,788
533
444
1,244
2,222
2,222
533
2,933
533
1,067
1,067
622
978,
533
1,067
640
427,
1,067,
1,067
1,067
1,067
1,067
1,067
978
1,004
Type
Bituminous concrete, Amiesite ....
Bituminous concrete, Topeka. ....
5" concrete pavement with bitumi-
nous carpet (a)
Vitrified block pavement on 4" con-
crete base .••■•.•
5" concrete pavement with bitumi-
nous carpet (b)
Bituminous concrete, Filbertine . . .
Bituminous concrete, District of Co-
lumbia specifications
Vitrified block pavement on 4 ' con-
crete base
' concrete pavement, with and
without bituminous carpet (a) . . .
Vitrified block pavement on 4" con-
crete base
Bituminous concrete, open mixture
Bituminous concrete, gravel aggre-
gate
Vitrified block pavement on 4" con-
crete base ,
5" Hassam concrete pavement with
bituminous carpet (b)
Vitrified block pavement on 4" con-
crete base
Bituminous macadam, Ugite binder
Bituminous macadam, originally
Byerlite binder, reconstructed in
1914, Tarvia "X" binder
Vitrified block pavement on 4" con-
crete base
Bituminous macadam, Tarvia "X'
binder
Bituminous macadam, Texaco as-
phalt binder
Bituminous macadam, Standard as
phalt binder B
Bituminous macadam. Pioneer road
asphalt
Bituminous macadam Bermudez as
phalt binder
Bituminous macadam. Sun Hydra-
lene binder
Bicomac — Conrete pavement ....
Vitrified block pavement on 4" con
Crete base ,
Total cost,
mainte-
nance
$9,370.32
1,237.59
1,035 24
29.16
2,990.88
1,944.72
1,062.07
3,159.10
69.55
180.00
536.69
101.83
1,951.32
68.70
335.22
421.07
1,154.09
1,420.70
522.54
472.87
94.16
243.77
Total
square
yards
repaired
11 139.5
1,487.0
1,715.6
16.0
3,549.1
.1,871.
1,391.
3,234.
160.
188.
359.
163.
2,303.1
89.
1,516.
640.
1,698.8
2,964.9
3,017.8
1,586
2,566.4
1,355.4
593
Average
annual
mainte-
nance cost
per square
yard entire
pavement
SO. 178
.087
.243
.0082
.301
.109
.060
.135
.0163
.021
.063
.205
.249
.016
.0393
.049
.135
.166
.061
.055
.011
.031
Ratio area
repaired to
original
section
area
1.68
.83
3.22
.036
2.85
.84
.63
1.10
.30
.18
.34
.26
2.36
.17
1.42
1.00
1.59
2.78
2.83
1.49
2.41
1.27
.61
(a) Partially resurfaced with asphalt pavement, 1916 and 1918.
(b) Completely resurfaced with asphalt pavement, 1918.
common knowledge. The Service Test Road
was, as a matter of fact, obliged to carry
practically all of the heavy commercial
traffic between New York and Philadelphia
during this period, in addition to the count-
less trains of Government trucks which
were moving between these two cities — a
sum total which in weight and intensity was
sufficient to constitute a severe test of the
durability of the most substantially con-
structed city street. It is obvious that at the
time of construction it was impossible to
foresee a traffic condition of this sort. The
i6-foot-wide improved surface was not ade-
quate for the number of vehicles using the
road, and the breaking down of the edges,
especially of bituminous mixtures on mac-
adam base, was undoubtedly greatly aggra-
vated by the narrow width of pavement.
Foundations and Drainage Conditions
Nearly all of the new road was placed on
existing macadam, strengthened by the ad-
dition of new stone, unless concrete was to
be laid. The condition of the old road varied
considerably before reconstruction, some
stretches showing the effect of very poor
natural drainage; Section i, and almost the
entire portion on which the eight bitumi-
nous macadam sections were placed, lie in
a flat and heavy clay soil in which it is
almost impossible to obtain natural drain-
age. The heavy repairs which were neces-
sary on these sections could in nearly every
case be traced to the failure of the founda-
tion resulting from the unsatisfactory drain-
age conditions referred to.
In contrast to this situation, the sections
of vitrified brick pavements were placed on
February, 1922 THE AMERICAN CITY
117
grades with the intent of affording a better
foothold, and in consequence were in gen-
eral located in sections where the natural
drainage was better than the average of
conditions on the whole road. These sec-
tions had the additional advantage of a 4-
inch Portland cement concrete foundation
laid on the existing macadam, thus produc-
ing a degree of support for the brick surface
much superior probably to that of any other
sections. In the light of these conditions the
brick pavement work as a whole must be re-
garded as much more substantial construc-
tion than that used in other portions of the
road, and the subsequent condition of the
brick sections is correspondingly superior
to that of the other pavements.
Sections 3, 5 and 14, built of 5-inch con-
crete pavement, were resurfaced in 19 18
v/ith i-inch binder and i^^-inch asphalt
wearing surface. That portion of Section
9 consisting of 5-inoh concrete pavement
which was resurfaced in 1916 with i-inch
asphalt binders and i-inch asphaltic wear-
ing surface, and Section 25 of Bicomac
pavement on 4-inch Portland cement con-
crete foundaton, are now also in good con-
dition.
On sections of road other than those
specifically mentioned, the accompanying
table shows costs and extent of repairs up
to and including 1920 and furnishes a gen-
eral index of their behavior during their
period of service, as well as of their general
condition at the present time. During the
spring thaw of 1920 severe damage was
done to the road by truck traffic, which
necessitated many repairs and a general
bituminous surface treatment of practically
the entire road, with the exception of those
sections previously mentioned.
General Conclusions
Accurate comparisons between the serv«
iceability and cost of the various materials
and types of construction are virtually im-
possible because of the disturbing factors
previously described, but certain general
points are nevertheless brought out by the
experience of this road:
1. The degree of success obtained with
pavements having macadam foundations is
apt to vary directly with the extent to which
a dry subgrade condition can be -preserved,
other conditions being equal. Pavements
having Portland cement concrete founda-
tions are less susceptible to failure from
this cause.
2. Relatively lean concrete mixes are
unsuitable for direct exposure to traffic.
Thin bituminous carpets placed on concrete
foundations, while varying considerably in
lasting qualities according to the character
of the bituminous material, are not to be
considered as durable surfaces for use by
heavy traffic. Mixed bituminous pave-
ments afford a very much greater degree of
protection to concrete foundations.
3. Differences between character of bitu-
minous materials or composition of bitumi-
nous mixtures, although of considerable im-
portance when the other conditions of use
are nearly ideal, become of secondary im-
portance when foundation, drainage and
other related conditions enter into the com-
parison.
More Intelligent Highway Building
Fifty years ago the paving and mainte-
nance of the highways in many cities fre-
quently were in charge of men unskilled and
selected by political preferment. Now, due
largely to the activities of civic and busi-
ness organizations interested in street bet-
terments, and also to the advancement in
municipal administration, work of this kind
is usually entrusted to trained engineers
familiar with municipal affairs.
The development and increase of motor
traffic in cities has led to an improvement in
its pavements to meet this demand. Mate-
rials heretofore found to be satisfactory
have proven to be inadequate, and this has
necessitated the development of road sur-
faces which will give maximum wear with
a minimum cost of construction and mainte-
nance. Laboratories have been established
for research and to provide means for de-
termining the properties of materials. Com-
prehensive specifications are now drawn in
which the materials to be used are definitely
described and the methods of tests to insure
such materials are clearly set forth. This
enables the city to obtain proper construc-
tion of its street surfaces and to effect great
economies, due to the fuller and freer com-
petition of bidders and greater permanency
of the work. — "Municipal Engineering,"
George S. Webster. Trans. Am. Soc. C. E.
1921, page 516.
118
The Topographic Survey and Its Rela-
tion to City Engineering Work
By J. R. Pollock
Sanitary Engineer, City Engineering Department, Flint, Mich.
THE growth of Flint, Mich., has been
abnormal during the past ten years,
increasing from 38,550 in 1910 to over
100,000 in 1920. This rapid increase in
population has caused an urgent need for
public improvements and has made acute
some already pressing engineering problems.
During 1920 a program requiring the ex-
penditure of more than $2,215,000 was car-
ried out by the City Engineering Depart-
ment, less than 10 per cent of the work
being done by contract. This program in-
cluded 32 miles of sewers, 7 miles of street
paving, 15 miles of sidewalk paving, two
bridges, a dam, a city garage, two municipal
swimming pools, extensive park improve-
ments, and a topographic survey.
During these rapid strides of growth,
some of Flint's public-spirited citizens initi-
ated a city plan that is fast becoming a
realization. To the City Engineering De-
partment falls a major portion of the execu-
tion of this plan. The importance of topo-
graphical maps in solving one of Flint's
most^ urgent problems, namely, plans for a
comprehensive sewerage system, as well as
in giving valuable aid to the city plan, was
recognized by E. C. Shoecraft, City Engi-
neer, and as early as 1915 he started action
toward having a topographical survey made.
This was not accomplished, however, until
1919, when arrangements were made with
R. H. Randall & Company, topographic en-
gineers, of Toledo, Ohio, for making a
complete survey of the city and the sur-
rounding territory. It is expected to com-
plete this work in 1922, when an area of 60
square miles will have been mapped.
The survey is controlled by triangulation
supplemented with precise traverse. Iron
posts bearing bronze caps are set in con-
crete at the four corners of each square-
mile, tied to triangulation by precise tra-
verse, over which accurate primary levels
are run. All mapping is being done by
plane table method and tested by check pro-
TOFOGBAFHICAL MAP OF A FAS'f OF FLINT, MICH.. USED IN SEWEB DESIGN
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
119
files, the scale of map being i inch equals
200 feet and a contour interval of i foot.
The average triangle closure in triangula-
tion is 1.99 seconds, and the discrepancy be-
tween bases, i in 24,000. The accompany-
ing facsimile will illustrate how admirably
suited the resulting maps are for studying
any section of the city in its relation to any
other section. With such maps it is possible
to pick out the hills and hollows and accu-
rately scale their location from definite ob-
jects. Profiles can be picked off and esti-
mates of cut and fill made with an accuracy
sufficient for nearly every purpose. It is the
most logical basis for planning and develop-
ing a park system, street and boulevard lay-
out, or sewerage system, and is of inestim-
able value for solving the many details that
are common to the development of any city.
A specific instance of the great value of
the topographic survey to the city of Flint
was in making a' comprehensive study and
design for a system of sewers that will
amply serve the city's needs, not only now,
but for a great many years in the future.
Examples of so-called piecemeal sewer de-
sign and construction are to be found in
practically every city. These mistakes are a
cause of inconvenience to the public, and
some time or other necessitate an addi-
tional expenditure for correcting, which
could have been avoided had a broad, gen-
eral plan been formulated.
In laying out a comprehensive sewerage
plan for a city, the problem resolves itself
into two well-defined steps:
1. To collect and concentrate the sewage for
present and future treatment at the
minimum number of points consistent
with economy
2. To determine the degree of sewage treat-
ment necessary for the present, and as
nearly as can be for the future
Only step one is of interest here. This is
divided into four parts, as follows :
1. To determine the present and estimate the
.future population and area which may
be served
2. To determine the quantity of sewage
which may be expected in the future
3. To formulate a general plan or policy for
collecting this sewage in a satisfactory
and economical manner
4. To design engineering structures to carry
out this policy
The development which is likely to take
place in any one portion of a city is directly
influenced by its topography. For instance,
cmf OF ruNT
MICHIGAN
MAP SHOWING
..^^ ^rUTURE SEWCRAGC SYSTEM
PROPOSED INTERCEPTER AND TRUNK SEWERS
THE DISTRICT MAP
certain areas are well suited for parks and'
playgrounds, and others for residential or
industrial development. As the topography
has a direct relation to the type of develop-
ment which will take place, this develop-
ment determines the quantity of sewage
flow to expect from each area. If consider-
able industrial development is to take place,
there is reason to believe that the volume
of sewage from this area will be large. In
collecting the sewage from a number of
areas, the topography is the controlling fac-
tor, as it enables one to select the most
logical routes for intercepting and trunk
line sewers. In designing sewers to carry
out the general plan, a profile of each sewer
line is a necessity in order to select the most
economical size and determine the proper
grades. Where an accurate topographic
map is not available for the purpose, costly
isolated surveys and inspection of territory
will be made, which are rarely of value for
any other, purpose than the one under con-
sideration. Such surveys are always found
to be inadequate and lacking in information,
120
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
and do not give the opportunity to plan in a
large manner for the future.
The Maps Aid Quick Estimating
In a great many instances, a mere inspec-
tion of these sheets to one familiar with
sewer design is sufficient to determine the
most economical sewer design for the area
in question. As usually happens when there
is a demand for such improvements, time for
the making of such maps is not available.
We have had numerous instances where
complete plans and estimates of costs for
sewering certain districts have been made
on short notice. Were it not for these topo-
graphic sheets, this would have been im-
possible.
In using the topographic maps to lay out
a comprehensive plan of sewerage, it is first
necessary to determine the main drainage
areas, which in turn decides the number of
trunk and -intercepting sewers necessary to
concentrate the sewage at the minimum
number of points. Next, the natural outlet
for the area is determined, after which the
sub-areas all tributary to this outlet are de-
termined. Certain assumptions having al-
ready been made as to the probable develop-
ment m each area, it is now possible to com-
pute the volume of sewage to expect from
each sub-area. From the topographic sheet,
the concentration point for sewage from
each sub-area is selected, which now gives
all necessary information from which to de-
sign the sewer. A plan and profile is next
plotted, and then sizes and grades of the
sewer established. From these topographic
sheets it is possible to select any number of
proposed sewer lines, to determine which
one is best.
While it is reasonable to expect that the
demand for sewers in each sub-area will not
follow exactly the natural drainage limits
as outlined, a certain amount of redistrict-
ing is possible which will not afifect the de-
sign of the trunk sewer for the larger area.
The reproduction accompanying this ar-
ticle .shows in a general way the compre-
hensive plan of sewerage for the city of
Flint, its main drainage areas, the existing
and proposed trunk and intercepting sewers
to collect the sewage from each area, and,
finally, the main or East Side intercepter,
which collects the sewage from all these
areas and will concentrate it at one point
for treatment.
The topographic map has made possible
this comprehensive plan, which provides for
an area of nearly 70 square miles with a
population of 500,000 people. It has given
an opportunity to work out different ways
of doing the same thing, to find out which is
best and most economical without the costly
alternative of experimental building.
Golden Jubilee Convention of the I. A. F. E.
The Golden Jubilee (50th Annual) Con-
vention of the International Association of
Fire Engineers, and the 29th Annual Con-
vention of the Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs
SAN FBANCISCO MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, WHERE THE
CONVENTION IS TO BE HELD
Association, will be held jointly in San
Francisco, Calif., from August 9 to 18, 1922.
Invitations have been forwarded to fire
chiefs and fire prevention and fire protec-
tion engineers in all parts
of the world, and the aid
of the U. S. Diplomatic
and Consular Services has
been enlisted, to the end of
having the whole world
know of this fire, chiefs'
congress coupled with the
most complete exhibition
of fire apparatus and
fire appliances yet held.
Thomas R. Murphy, Chief
1W Engineer of the San Fran-
is :isco Fire Department, will
be glad to send further
information to those in-
terested.
lai
GENERAL VIEW OF THE CAMDEN, N. J., WATEE-WORKS
Metering a Water-Supply at the
Pumping Station
Camden's Water-Supply — Its History — Principal Features of the Present System
By James H. Long
Chief Engineer, Water Department, Camden, N. J.
THE first public water-supply of the city
of Camden, N. J., was furnished in
1845 by the Camden Water Works
Company, The original plant soon became
inadequate to meet the increasing needs of
the city, and was enlarged from time to time,
until in 1870 it was purchased by the city.
This plant was operated by the city for
about 30 years.
The city early undertook' an investigation
to consider the feasibility of artesian wells.
These tests demonstrated conclusively that
there was plenty of pure water in the terri-
tory to justify a system of this kind, and in
1898 the existing water-works system was
superseded by the present artesian well sys-
tem at Morris station.
As the city grew, the maintenance of
pressure and the continuance of the requisite
water-supply became difficulties of ever-in-
creasing importance. In 1907 the Board of
Trade urged the city officials to undertake
another investigation and to submit recom-
mendations for taking care of the future
needs of the city. W. H. Boardman, Jay M.
Whitman and J. W. Ledoux were selected,
and their report recommended the purchase
of new strainers, the introduction of water-
meters, a storage reservoir, the development
of the well field above the Morris station,
and the abandonment of the Pavonia station.
In 1908 the City Council authorized the
purchase of land on the Delaware River
front at Delair for the purpose of driving
wells to augment the water-supply. The
fifteen wells that were driven demonstrated
that water in considerable quantities could
be obtained. Nothing was done until 1915,
when a number of additional wells were
driven, the present Delair pumping station
was erected, and this entire field connected
up separately from the main pumping sta-
tion at Morris. The Delair discharge main
is directly connected with the 30-inch main
from Morris station, so that both stations
can be operated independently or together,
as desired.
The benefits brought about by the Delair
station we're apparent at once. The pres-
sure was immediately increased, the service
improved and the load on the Morris station
relieved to such an extent that at present it
is rarely necessary to operate the large air
compressor in that station. The entire ca-
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
METER TUBE BEFORE INSTALLATION AT PUMPING STATION
RECORDING DEVICE FOR BOSTER
pacity of the Morris station, amounting to
about 5,000,000 gallons per day, is available
as a reserve.
The Delair plant is one of the most mod-
ern pumping plants in the vicinity pf Cam-
den. The yielding capacity of the 22 wells
now connected is about 5,00,000 gallons
per 24 hours. The pumping plant consists
of two 5,000,000-gallon Wood centrifugal
pumps, each pump directly connected to a
200-horse-power Westinghouse synchronous
motor, current for which is supplied by con-
tract with the Public Service Company.
The wells are connected by direct suction to
the pump, and the discharge is direct into
the main.
The pumping plant at Morris station con-
sists of two 10,000,000-gallon Holly pumps
and one 10,000,000-gallon Blake pump. The
wells at this station are pumped by means
of air-lifts. About one-third of the capacity
of the plant is obtained by air-lift.
Altogether, the source of the Camden
water-supply consists of 102 artesian wells
at Morris and 25 at Delair, varying in size
from 8 to 12 inches. There are 130 miles
of mains ranging from 3 to 36 inches.
Two Simplex Venturi tubes are installed
for measuring the water supplied to the
city — one at the Delair pumping station, 20
by 13 inches in size, having a maximum ca-
pacity of 16,000,000 gallons per 24 hours
and connected to a meter register, and a
second Venturi, 36 by 12 inches, at the
Morris station. This tube is operated with
a meter register specially designed for a
large Venturi differential head of 24.93
feet, and built for a maximum capacity of
21,000,000 gallons per 24 hours. Both of
these meter registers were installed in 1916.
Recently the city has approved the installa-
tion of a Venturi tube meter register for
measuring the water supplied to a large in-
dustrial consumer.
In every instance the meter chosen was
selected because it gives a graphic record of
the consumption by means of which the
maximum, and the minimum flow can be
accurately analyzed, the nature of the ser-
vice determined, and the total number o£
gallons supplied obtained. This type of
meter was also favored, inasmuch as it is
permanently accurate, and the attendance
and the repair cost required are negligible.
The reason that many municipalities have poor health service is on account of citizens who
don't know, don't care, and will not take the trouble,
— Public Health, State Department of Health, Lansing, Mich.
123
The Women's Court of New York City
By Frederick H. Whitin
Secretary, Committee of Fourteea
WOMEN charged with prostitution in
New York City are tried in the
Women's Court. This special
court, established in 19 lo, is for the more
effective repression of prostitution by the
restoration of those who have fallen and
the punishment of those who persist in con-
tinuing the life despite the certainty of jail
sentences.
The magistrates who preside in the Wo-
men's Court are especially designated by the
Chief City Magistrate. The Women's Night
Court was the first of the Magistrates
Courts in New York City to use finger
printing for purposes of identification.
These prints, taken only of those convicted,
disclose the record of prior convictions and
sentences, from which the magistrate may
determine the proper sentence.
From these records it appears that 60 per
cent are convicted but once, this proportion
showing a tendency to increase. The large
number of women thus shown to be con-
tinually entering the life indicates a very
serious problem; it also raises the interest-
ing question, what becomes of those who are
not rearrested? It is believed that they dis-
continue the life.
At the time of the establishment of the
Women's Court a considerable proportion
of those convicted of prostitution were sen-
tenced to pay a fine of $10 or less, but by
agreement between the magistrates this sen-
tence was discontinued in 1912, and a year
later the provision therefor was stricken
from the law.
In 191 5 a "Parole Commission" was ap-
pointed with power to determine the sen-
tence to be served by those who had been
convicted, according to the finger print rec-
ords, four or more times. 'The maximum de-
tention under the law creating the Commis-
sion is two years.
In 1918 the General Health Law was
amended to provide for the examination for
venereal disease by the Health Department
of all persons convicted of prostitution.
Fifty per cent are found to be suffering
from such diseases in a contagious stage
and are committed to a special hospital
until the contagious period has passed.
When returned to court for sentence, the
judge takes into consideration the period
of hospital detention and the conduct of the
prisoner while there.
The judges presiding in the Women's
Court refer to the probation officers at-
tached to the court for investigation all
those convicted for the first time. If it ap-
pears there is any chance of reformation,
they are returned to their families and
friends on probation. - In the less favorable
cases, the woman is committed to a reforma-
tory institution or given a short workhouse
sentence. In the apparently hopeless cases
the average workhouse sentence is about
ninety days.
In the first full year of the Women's
Court (1911) the total number of arraign-
ments for prostitution was 5,365, falling to
2,898 in 1913, on account of the discontinu-
ance of fines. There was an increase in
1915, and a further drop in 1916 to 2,132,
due to the Parole Commission Indeterminate
Sentence Law. The year of 1918, with its
war disturbances, showed an increase of
cases, followed by a sharp drop to 1,308 in
1920.
When the Women's Court was first estab-
lished in New York, practically all the de-
fendants were charged with street soliciting.
A general law against prostitution was se-
cured in 1915, and widened in 1919, so as to
include not only the person who offers to
commit prostitution and related acts in any
place, but also those who aid and abet in
such acts. It has been decided but very re-
cently that the customer of the prostitute is
not included in this latter phrase. Such an
inclusion wmII be the next step in repressing
prostitution, following the example of the
Narcotic and Liquor Acts.
The Women's Court is now the center in
New York of the law enforcement efforts to
repress prostitution. Associated with the
Court are many volunteer agencies which
are rendering assistance in the constructive
work of the Court in rescuing the girl whose
acts have resulted in her conviction for im-
morality. To the work of this Court, more
124
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
than any other, can be attributed the repres-
sion of prostitution in New York City.
From being the worst of American cities for
street soliciting, the metropolis has become
a leader, its streets being now extremely
free from patrolling by prostitutes, and
wider laws, good police work, a special
court and judges, by methods of identifi-
cation and effective probation work, and
the assurance of punitive sentences for
those who persist in the life. While the
number of cases in the Court is now small.
oouu
5305
5200
\
\
4800
>
V
\
4400
\
4440
\
4000
\
\
3600
\
y
3455
V)
UJ
^3200
0
\
/
\
\
/
\
0
0:2800
u
DQ
2898^
^
^
2999
\
2782
\
/
\
|2400
\
1
/
V
\,
\
/
\
2313
2132^
''2129
\
2000
\
1600
\
\
1200
1308^
800
Chart A.
400
0
1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920
YEAR
THE WOMEN'S COURT ARRAIGNMENTS, SHOWING AN IRREGULAR,
BUT PRONOUNCED, DECREASE
while the "scarlet woman" can still be found
by those who know how and who have the
means, she is not in evidence to the general
observer, or obtained by the casual seeker.
This result has been secured by new and
as compared with a decade ago, the work of
the Court must be continued until that happy
day when education and an improved moral
sense restrict the prostitute to the psycho-
pathic.
t^;
The Popular Parks of Springfield, 111.
By O. F. Davenport
Assistant Manager, Springfield Chamber of Commerce
"Thirty Thousand People Throng
Bunn Park"
THIS headline flashed across the col-
umns of Springfield's dailies on July
15, supplies an answer to the oft-re-
peated question, "Do people really appre-
ciate their public parks?" Springfield is a
city of 60,000. On July 14 half the popula-
tion of the city spent an afternoon in one
or another of its chain of nine parks, en-
joyed an open-air supper there, and did not
leave for home until late in the evening.
The point is that not only has Springfield
a park system which in facilities and natural
beauty equals that of any other city of its
size in the country, but its people are en-
thusiastic about their parks. They use
them, with slight interruption, all the year
round. There is no especial significance in
the announcements of the newspapers on
July 15, even though the occasion of the
30,000 throng was the annual outing of the
Springfield Chamber of Commerce. The
fact is, not a day passes that the parks are
not lived in by a large section of Spring-
field's population. They are in every sense
a highly successful recreational utility.
The taxpayers of Springfield have in-
vested $1,250,000 in parks, and they expend
annually $80,000 in maintenance. All out-
standing obligations total less than $80,000.
The board exercising control does business
on a strictly cash basis. Several years ago
it emancipated itself from the practise of
spending the next year's income before it
was collected. The borrowing of funds in
anticipation of the coming year's taxes was
the natural result of the prudent policy of
the park system pioneers in acquiring ex-
tensive properties early and before natural
beauties could be defaced. The board now
not only lives within its income but during
the past year has filled the remaining gap in
the chain of open spots adjacent to every
district, by acquiring out of its ordinary
revenue a new park at a cost of $20,000.
WHETHER ONE IS SEEKING
THE QUIET OF A RUBAI.
SCENE OF WOODS AND
STREAMS
OR THE MORE CROWDED
GAIETY OF A BATHING
/*' BEACH, THE PARKS OF
SPRINGFIELD CAN SATISFY
THE NEED
126
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
THE PARKS OF SPRING-
FIELD ARE SO WELL
LOCATED THAT ONE IS
ALWAYS WITHIN EASY
WALKING DISTANCE
Varied Recreational Facilities
There is nothing in the wide field of park
utilization that Springfield's system of nine
parks, including in all approximately 550
acres, does not afiford. They contain facil-
ities for every variety of sport, including
two extremely attractive golf courses, one
of nine and another of eighteen holes, a spe-
cial field for trap-shooters, a bathing beach
where one can secure suit, soap, towel and
use of hot and cold showers for fifteen
cents, playgrounds in generous abundance,
beautiful, smooth drives, and spacious
pavilions which serve drinks and meals at
lower prices than down-town stores. Need-
less to state, all the regular features, such
as baseball diamonds, boating, tennis courts,
football fields, dancing places, croquet
grounds and similar diversions, are plenti-
fully supplied.
The Springfield park board is not con-
tent with furnishing its constituents with a
comprehensive park system. It has done a
wonderful job of popularizing the parks
with the people of the city. Use of the
parks is a daily feature of family life. The
head of the household leaves factory, store
or office in the late afternoon to join a party
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
127
at golf, tennis or other sport of his choice,
following with a shower or a plunge in the
pool, and topping off with a neighbors' re-
union at supper served in the convenient
picnic grounds. The evening hours are
spent in the enjoyment of an open-air pic-
ture show, or on the moonlit waters of a
restful lake, or possibly in dancing in the
comfortably furnished pavilions.
Tourist Camps Provided
The stranger not only enjoys all the
privileges of the home folks, but has in
addition the advantage of saving hotel ex-
penses by being allowed to camp in the parks
at night. Because Springfield was the home
of Abraham Lincoln, it is the Mecca af
many thousands of tourists annually. Ac-
commodations for the night's stay are pro-
vided in tourists' camps located in three of
the parks. Routes to the camps are marked
for the convenience of the visitor. The
camps are furnished with electric light,
water and cooking arrangements. They are
NOT A SCENE IN SPRINGFIELD, ILL., BUT WHEN PARKS AND
PLAYGROUNDS ARE NOT PROVIDED, THE CHILD HAS NOWHERE
TO PLAY EXCEPT IN THE STREET
ideally situated on high ground in shady
groves. This service is greatly appreciated
by the traveling autoist and, in common
with all other park accommodations, is fur-
nished free of cost.
Bringing the Parks to ttie People
The first park board, twenty years ago,
was urged to concentrate its effort on a
single large area, but the members acted on
the theory that to make the parks serve their
purpose they must be brought to the people,
and not the people to the parks. The policy
then determined on was that citizens in
every vicinity were entitled to a park within
a reasonable distance of their homes. This
plan has been gradually developed by suc-
ceeding boards, until to-day, with nine parks
in operation, residents in any section can
enjoy the great outdoors by walking a few
blocks from their front doorsteps.
The natural adaptability of the sites
chosen rendered unnecessary any large ex-
penditures for creation of artificial features.
In the selection of sites
and their improvement,
repetition has been skil-
fully guarded against.
Property Values
Increase
The parks have con-
tributed in signal fash-
ion to the growth and
development of the com-
munity. They have ex-
erted a powerful influ-
ence in the building up,
contiguous to their
boundaries, of hand-
some residential neigh-
borhoods, which demand
pavements, sewers and
other general bette'--
ments, A tremendous
increase in proper*:y
values has followed.
Springfield people will
tell you that the value
of their park system
cannot be estimated in
dollars. They may add
that while others have
cost more and may be
more expensive to main-
tain, none can meet the
ultimate test of value
more satisfactorily.
128
Q^ MTOujtd Am^i/uAt y^cw
Towns May Secure Help in
Establishing Playgrounds
Business men the country over will be
interested in a new foundation, incorporated
not for profit, established in New York by
William E. Harmon. The corporation is
to be known as the Harmon Foundation and
will have several divisions as need for them
arises. The work for the present will con-
sist in the establishment of playgrounds in
towns and small cities, and in advancing
loans to college students through the or-
ganization of mutual aid societies. Later,
divisions of vocational guidance and coun-
sel to social organizations in matters of
finance and publicity will be organized.
One theory back of the Harmon Founda-
tion is that money given to people or or-
ganizations outright does not do as lasting
good as money given in service and organ-
ization that will bring more money and help
people to help themselves. Mr. Harmon has
been connected with many social organiza-
tions for years both as contributor and ac-
tive board member, and feels that obliga-
tions are too easily discharged by a gift of
money — and no inquiry as to the manner of
expenditure. He proposes to spend the re-
maining years of his life and much of his
money in carrying thirty years of wide
business experience into the social work
that interests him and needs him most,
knowing that the application of sound busi-
ness principles to many social movements
will release thousands of dollars in the
country for wider service.
The entire time of the staff is now being
spent in helping towns establish play-
grounds. A plan has been devised whereby
playgrounds are opened up like a big real
estate development. The Foundation se-
cures an option on the property desired, ad-
vancing money for its purchase only when
necessary and advisable. Then the Field
Secretary of the Foundation organizes the
school children of the town as a selling
force, and citizens as sales managers, and
conducts a big land sale, capitalizing the
advertising and selling power of children in
a fascinating educational way, the Founda-
tion furnishing all advertising material, or-
ganization of local committees, and com-
plete direction of the work.
This part of the work is no longer a
theory. It has been demonstrated in one
town of five thousand. The children sold
their own playground, the work united the
town in a civic project as it was never
united before, and proved that Mr. Har-
mon's plan can be a boon to many other
towns.
Miss Ethel L. Bedient, Director of the
Foundation, will welcome inquiries and calls
for help either by letter or a visit to the
offices of the Foundation at 140 Nassau
Street, New York City.
Premature, Piecemeal Zoning
Receives a Setback
Friends of city planning in Pittsburgh
were rudely awakened the other day by a
decision of the Supreme Court in the case of
James Coyne against Charles B. Prichard
and others in the matter of granting a per-
mit for the erection of a public garage in a
place deemed unsuitable by the City Plan-
ning Commission.
It seems that the City Planning Commis-
sion, which, under Pennsylvania law, was
created as an executive department for
cities of the second class, was given power
to regulate and redistrict the areas in which
trades and business of various kinds can be
carried on. The appointees in Pittsburgh
have undertaken redistricting, but as yet no
recommendations have been made to the
Council and no hearings have been held.
Nevertheless, the Commission has sought to
prevent the erection of undesirable struc-
tures by recommending to the Bureau of
Building Inspection that permits be 'with-
held. The latter thereupon declined to issue
permits opposed by the City Planning Com-
mission.
The Court, reviewing the case, noted that
the City Planning Commission had not made
recommendations to the Council for a city-
wide zoning ordinance, that hearings on
its recommendations had not been held, and
that therefore it was without legal authority
until such procedure had "been completed.
129
Beauty in Municipal Architecture
Courtesy Architectural Record
MAIN FACADE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING, PLAINFIELD, N. J.
Lawrence F. Feck and W. L. Bottomley, associated architects
130
An Attractive and Useful City Hall
Decorative and Practical Features of New City Hall at Waterbury, Conn.
THE present City Hall of Waterbury,
Conn., which was completed in 1915
and occupied by all the municipal de-
partments early in 191 6, has many attrac-
tive as well as practical features of interest
to those who may be called upon to suggest
designs for new city halls in other munici-
palities.
Following negotiations for the transfer of
opened during Old Home Week, November,
1915, although many of the departments did
not occupy the building until January, 1916,
The City Hall is situated on Grand Street,
adjoining the Library Park, and commands
an approach to the center of the city
through Leavenworth Street. The entour-
age which fronts the length of the building
on Grand Street is its show feature. The
GENERAL VIEW OF THE WATERBURY, CONN., CITY HAI.L
the title of the property where the City
Hall now stands, the Commission held a
competition, conducted by Professor W. P.
Laird of the University of Pennsylvania, to
select an architect to design and supervise
the construction of the new City Hall. The
plans of Cass Gilbert of New York were
selected, and on July 8, 1914, the George A.
Fuller Construction Company, New York
City, signed the contract to construct the
building. In the early part of August, 1914,
.ground was broken. The appointment of
two supervisors, Charles M. Gasson for the
construction company, and Frederick C.
Peckwell for the city's interest, took place
shortly after. The building was officially
ground within a low, rounded marble cop-
ing which separates it from the broad, en-
circling sidewalk is laid out in formal
Colonial style, which harmonizes with the
delicate red and white ornamentation of the
faqade. At the edge of the sidewalk at
regular intervals are placed five decorative
1 8- foot bronze lamp standards. The ap-
proach to the central feature is by white
marble steps, flanked on both sides by
smaller auxiliary stairways, also of white
marble.
The fountain in the center is surrounded
by a pavement of red brick inset with white
marble bands, enclosing a large circular
slab. At the main entrance are two decora-
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
131
tive vases or urns of white marble several
feet in height, from the base of each of
which, through the mouth of a carved satyr,
jets a stream of water flanking the central
fountain.
The building, which is of Colonial de-
sign, is built around a rectangular court,
laid out as a sunken Italian garden. It is
not only the office building of the city and
town officers, and the home of the probate
and city courts, but also the headquarters of
the fire department and the police depart-
ment. The east wing is devoted to the fire
department and the west wing to the police
department. The main portion is three
stories high with a roof and cupola tower
with a four-dial clock, a gilded dome and a
weather-vane. The other three sections are
but two stories high.
The exterior of the building is of Vermont
marble and North Haven brick. Marble
blocks form most of the walls of the first
story, and marble pillars rise to the roof
between the windows of the main portion of
the building. At the east and west ends, on
marble slabs set into the walls of the third
story, are ten different designs in bas-relief,
significant of the city's character and in-
dustries. A marble fence surrounds the
roof of the main building.
The Offices
The collector, assessors, probate court,
board of charities, town clerk and city clerk
have offices and vaults on the main floor.
The basement provides for janitors' rooms
and storage rooms, heating plant, a store
for the board of charities, a laboratory and
nurses' room for the board of health, testing
rooms and storage rooms for the engineer-
ing department, and rooms for the sealer of
weights and measures. On the second floor
are the offices of the mayor, the personal tax
collector, the board of public works, city
court judge, the jury room, lawyers' room,
juvenile court room, city court clerk's and
prosecuting attorney's offices. At the Field
Street end of the building on the second
floor is the aldermanic chamber, which oc-
cupies both the second and third floors, and
at the west end of the building is the city
court room, extending through to the third
floor.
On the top floor are the drafting rooms
and the offices of the city engineer's depart-
ment, the probation officers' room, and offices
for the corporation counsel, health officer
and inspectors and board of health, regis-
trars of voters, city sheriff, park superinten-
dent, building inspector, and telephone ex-
change. In this portion of the building the
corridors are built with marble floors and
the trimming is of white wood enameled to
an ivory finish. Throughout the rest of the
building the floors are terrazzo and the
woodwork of oak.
On the Field Street side are the fire head-
quarters, with the apparatus room, repair
shop, firemen's waiting-room and toilet
rooms on the main floor. On the second
floor are the offices of the board of public
safety, with offices and rooms also for the
officers of the fire department and bedrooms
for 21 firemen. There is a fine shower-bath
room and toilets for officers and men, linen
closets and a recreation room, some of these
occupying the rear portion of the building.
In the police wing of the building there
is a large drill hall in the basement, locker
rooms, sergeants' room, smoking-room, stor-
age rooms, toilets and shower-bath. There
is also a large room in which the homeless
are provided with sleeping accommodations.
On the first floor are the offices of the
police department officials, a men's cell room
with thirty cells and room for ten more, de-
tention rooms and a police garage, the en-
trance to which is from the rear of the
building. The second floor accommodates
the detective bureau with offices, a Bertillon
room, a dark room, a detention room for
women, a cell room with ten cells for wo-
men, the matron's office, bedroom, living-
room and kitchen.
Directly facing the main street entrance
is the lo-foot main inner staircase of white
marble, which, ascending 26 steps to a first
landing, branches to either side and winds
up and back to the second floor. Leading
to the right and left of the first floor cen-
tral hfall are two corridors all in white mar-
ble and both with lofty ceilings in the same
design as the main hall. On both sides of
these corridors are the first set of city
offices. At the end of the corridors are the
side entrances of the building, reached by
marble steps. The corridors are 14 feet in
width, with all the office doors inset in
arched alcoves, which are duplicated at
regular intervals along the wall of the cor-
ridors. The lighting for the main hall and
corridors is furnished by ten large decora-
tive bronze hanging fixtures strung through
the center of the corridor and grouped in
132
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
the main hall. At the left of the staircase
on entering is located the elevator.
The corridors and ceilings are decorated
in grayish-ivory relieved by soft buff and
violet in the coffers. All of this decorating,
as well as that in the special rooms, was
done by Arthur Willetts of New York.
Featured in the artistic decoration of the
building are the ten circular bas-relief inset
medallions. Six are set in the front and
two each in the Field Street and the Library
sides of the structure. They symbolize Truth,
Prudence, Industry, the City Seal, Com-
merce, Force, Law, Justice, Wisdom and
Order.
The aldermanic chamber is of noble pro-
portions with a lofty, elaborately decorated
ceiling. The walls are of greenish-gray
plaster and rise from a white base. All
carry inset fluted white columns. For illu-
mination there is a massive hanging cluster
of lights set in two concentric circles, the
larger outer circle carrying 27 lights in the
form of imitation candles, and the inner
circle 13.
Over the president's seal are inscribed the
words, "Let not mercy and truth forsake
thee : bind them about thy neck ; write them
upon the tablet of thy heart. So shalt thou
find favor and good understanding in the
sight of God and man." (Proverbs III.)
The city court room at the west end of
the corridor is finished in much the same
style as the aldermanic chamber and is of
the same generous proportions. It has the
same massive pendent light cluster. The
walls are treated in a grayish motif relieved
by decorative motifs in the frieze and
panels. Over the judge's bench is inscribed,
"The foundations of justice are that none
shall be harmed and the commonweal be
served."
A Priceless Gift to a City
The Frederick Remington Collection in Ogdensburg, N. Y.
By James B. Moreland
THE curios collected by Frederic Rem-
ington during his life among the
Western pioneers and Indians have
recently been placed on display in an ap-
propriate museum in Ogdensburg, N. Y.
This authentic record of the Western fron-
tier is now available as a wealth of infor-
mation for the student's research.
The curios have been grouped for the
greatest facility of study. The Indian relics,
magnificently ornate with _ beading and
decoration, have been assembled in tribal
order. Many of these specimens are very
valuable and were fashioned especially as a
mark of the Indians' esteem of the sculptor.
Closely related to this group is the display
of cowboy and Mexican appurtenances.
There are also a number of interesting
curiosities from all quarters of the globe,
several of which have been traced back to
the nth and 15th centuries. This depart-
ment also includes a well-stocked magazine
of fire-arms furnished with every type of
weapon up to the time of Mr. Remington's
death.
The display of the artist's talent comprises
his best canvases, bronzes, and sketches.
The bronzes for this collection are the last
ever to be cast, cessation of their production
having been ordered by Mrs. Remington.
Perhaps the most valuable feature of the
exhibition is a collection of old histories of
the Western frontier, many out of print.
This collection was given to the city of
Ogdensburg by Mr. Remington's widow, and
George Hall and John C. Howard, by a
joint contribution of $100,000, purchased
and remodeled the historic Parish residence
as a suitable museum for its display. In its
ample apartments the exhibition has been
conveniently arranged and students will find
there a great opportunity for interesting
reference.
Mrs. Remington's will pro'wded for the
maintenance of the exhibition after the
death of one of the beneficiaries of the es-
tate. The city of Ogdensburg is appropriat-
ing annually $4,000 to defray the yearly up-
keep of the museum until the legacy shall
become available.
The destruction of the priceless canvases
was recently averted with the utmost effort
when the Public Library, where the relics
had been stored pending the remodeling of
the Parish residence, was wrecked by fire.
The works of art were saved, however, and
are now installed in their permanent quar-
ters in the Parish Mansion.
133
Forward ^tops
in
Municipal J^ffairs
May
ors
A Park Which Has Set Standards
for Evansville
EvANSViLLE, Ind. — It has been demon-
strated beyond doubt that parks properly
designed, built and maintained enhance and
stabilize real estate values within their
zones of influence, as well as elevate public
taste. A striking example of this is in the
effect wrought in Evansville by Garvins
Park, which was built by the American
Park Builders of Chicago eight years ago.
Land for this park was purchased against
considerable popular disapproval, and the
park was built at the cost of some $85,-
000, a considerable portion of which was
donated. The land was beautifully wooded
and was bisected by a deep ravine, which
was dammed to form an artificial lake. The
dam consisted of an earthen embankment
30 feet high with a i :2i^ slope, and was
reinforced by a brick core, which carried
the overflow. The water for the lake, al-
though increased by city supply, is fur-
nished by a very limited watershed. Con-
trary to expectations, the supply from this
source is adequate, even during dry seasons,
and the earthen dam after eight years holds
the water perfectly.
The land was covered with a dense
growth of oak, gum and elm, and it was
found desirable to remove large numbers
of these fine trees in order to thin the plant-
ings properly and to form open glades.
Oftentimes trees measuring 3 feet in diam-
eter were blasted bodily from the ground,
and although great criticism was aroused at
the time, the people now are fully apprecia-
tive of the wisdom of this procedure.
The entrance to the park is formed by an
avenue some 600 feet long, bordered by
elms. This avenue is terminated by a stone
entrance, backed by planting, with a pool
and fountain in front of a cut-stone design
which bears an inscribed tablet.
To the right of the entrance is a concrete
stadium, facing the football and baseball
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TALL ELMS BORDEE THE ENTRANCE TO GARVINS PARK, EVANSVILLE, IND.
134
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
field, and to the left are a bath-house, a
swimming pool, a children's playground, a
comfort station, a wading pool and a per-
gola, designed in a harmonious group. So
popular is the swimming pool that this
structure has since been duplicated on sev-
eral other sites within the city, with similar
success.
Since the building of the park, a marked
development of surrounding land has taken
place and prices have advanced several
hundred per cent. Better homes have been
built than formerly, raising the standards
of living.
Encouraged by the success of this venture,
the city administration later purchased an
extensive mountain tract, which is soon to
be developed. Here it is planned to include
an eighteen-hole golf course, a swimming
pool fed by salt-water wells, a race-track
and other athletic features. The significant
fact is that comparatively little opposition
is now shown towards the expenditure of
public money on this project.
The city government has recently ap-
pointed a plan commission whose work it
will be to prepare a comprehensive plan
for the improvement and future growth of
the city. These and other progressive steps
in Evansville have been to a large degree
made possible by the powerful though
quiet influence Garvins Park has exerted
on the public mind.
BENJAMIN BOSSE,
Mayor.
finance
])epartmonis
A VISTA IN GABVINS PAKE
Cheap Insurance for Municipal
Employees
Calgary, Alberta. — The city of Calgary,
which has no general pension or retiring
system for its employees, has arranged for
their protection through the group plan of
life insurance and also of accident and
health insurance.
The life insurance policy was under-
written by the Canada Life Insurance Com-
pany, on a non-participating plan, begin-
ning May 4, 1 92 1. Every employee tvho
wished to take out a policy for the amount
specified for his group was granted full
benefit without individual medical examina-
tion.
Like all group insurance, it is what is
known as term insurance, the period being
one year, but is automatically renewed so
long as the group is retained at 75 per cent
of the employees. Each year there is an
adjustment, made necessary by deaths,
lapses, or additions to policyholders. The
premiums are determined by taking the rate
for each age, totalling the amounts, and
striking an average. Each employee pays
the same rate per $1,000. Although group
insurance is usually written for the entire
group in case the em-
ployer pays the total pre-
mium, in this case the
company was willing to
write the policy in case
75 per cent of the em-
ployees accepted, since
the premiums are paid
jointly by the city and
the insured. Three groups
are provided for. The
city pays 40 per cent of
the total premiums, and
the employees in all 60
per cent.
Before an employee
can take out a policy, he
must have worked for
the city continuously for
six months; but he may
retain his insurance after
leaving the city's employ,
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
135
PRAOTICALLT EVERT BLOOM AT SACRAMENTO'S FLOWER SHOW WAS GROWN OUT OF DOORS
This ezMbition is part of a campaign to encourage the heautiflcation of the city
provided he pays the entire premium, as due,
to the city.
The popularity of this insurance is demon-
strated by the fact that out of 900 city em-
ployees, 760 have already signed their con-
tracts.
The scale works out as follows :
Group Policy
All regular employees. $1,500
Assistant heads and
executives 3,000
City
Pays
$7.90
7.90
7.90
Em-
ployee
Pays
$11.85
31.60
44.67
Deduct
Monthly
$1.00
2.65
Heads and officials... 4,000
3.75
The city has also arranged for health and
accident insurance with the National Benefit
Assurance Company. This policy includes
a payment of $i,ooo in case of death by acci-
dent, payment at the rate of 80 per cent of
present wages or salary in case of sickness
of not more than 10 weeks or 60 days, with
limits of pay of $100 for hospital fees, oper-
ation fees and medical fees. The total pre-
mium on this group policy amounts to one
per cent of the monthly pay-roll, and the
sum of 50 cents is deducted monthly from
the pay of each municipal employee to cover
part of the cost of this insurance. The pre-
mium cost to the city and employees is as
follows :
City Employees
Group life policy $ 5,846 $10,644
Acciaent and health
11,630
4,206
The plan is proving very popular.
JOHN I. ROBINSON,
Chief Clerk, Public Works Department.
Park
Departments
Sacramento's Municipal Flower
Show
Sacramento, Calif. — On two perfect
November days Sacramento citizens turned
out in large numbers to the first organized
free city flower show, held at the Crocker
Art Gallery. There were two objectives in
putting on this exhibition : one was, to bring
citizens together at a place where they could
see flowers and pictures — that is, for general
recreation; and the other was, to make a
start in a very definite effort for city beauti-
fication.
Plans for the prospective "Days of '49"
celebration to be held in May require
that Sacramento shall be as attractive as
possible for the event, and accordingly a
committee of the Chamber of Commerce,
working through the City Park Department
and on other lines, believed that one way to
begin the campaign was, through the
medium of a flower show, to start people
thinking about flower planting.
The ball room of the old E. B. Crocker
mansion, now Sacramento's Art Gallery,
made an ideal place in which to hold the ex-
hibition. It was hard for Eastern visitors
to believe that practically every bloom seen
136
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
had been grown out of doors. Huge chry-
santhemums of many varieties, larkspur,
hybrid penstemons, dahlias of varied form
and color, and other flowers were to be seen,
some of them from the Capitol and City
Park gardens, and a great many exhibited
by private owners. Home gardeners about
the city were urged to contribute, and re-
sponded well in bringing their best products
for display, and all bouquets and specimens
so contributed were given an honorable
place and plainly tagged. One curious
bouquet was composed of sixty-five varieties
of flowers, herbs and vegetables combined in
a very attractive way. A majority of the
local florists contributed elaborately ar-
ranged exhibits, which lent a professional
air to the whole.
Following out the purpose of the flower
show, it is planned to push the campaign for
home beautification through planting, by
holding a midwinter or early spring show
where there will be shown Sacramento's
exceptional display of out-door-grown ca-
melias. Combined with this as a leading fea-
ture, specific information for planting
home grounds will be given by plans and by
lectures and a full exhibit of labeled plant
material which the home owners may use.
FREDERICK N. EVANS,
Landscape Architect, Park Superintendent.
Ptthlic^elfare
Departments
A Community Hall in a Wheat-
Farming Section
Odessa, Wash. — The community service
idea is rapidly attaining strength in the
Spokane district. One of the most recent
developments is the completion of a hand-
some community hall at Odessa, Lincoln
County, 90 miles west of Spokane. Odessa
is a bustling little city of 2,000, the center
of a prosperous wheat-producing section.
The community hall was constructed by
selling shares to residents and farmers in
the section within the town's trading area,
the Odessa Community Hall Association be-
ing incorporated with a capitalization of
$30,000, all of which was issued and ex-
pended on the structure. Henry W. Rieke
is secretary of the company.
The main floor has an auditorium seating
500 persons. At the recent opening cere-
monies 1,200 persons were crowded in. The
second floor has a women's rest room and
other apartments, including a dining-room
and a kitchen. The structure also houses
the City Council and the Fire Department.
H. W. RIEKE,
Secretary Odessa Community Hall Association.
fJeaHh
Dopariments
TUB COMMUNITY HALL AT ODESSA, WASH
From Power-Plant to Pool
Palo Alto, Calif — The municipal swim-
ming pool at Palo Alto is operated as a by-
product of the city's power-plant. It is so
popular that its discontinuation would be
considered a calamity by the younger gen-
eration. It is strictly an open-air pool and
is maintained during the whole year. There
is no charge for admission, and on hot days
as many as 500 persons have made use of it.
Electrical energy is generated in the Palo
Alto plant by Diesel engines. These ma-
chines are water-cooled, and at first the
water was passed over a cooler on the roof
of the plant and used
over again. This did not
prove successful, and the
hot water was turned
back into the mains from
which it first came. This
raised the temperature of
the domestic supply to
such an extent as to be
objectionable, and had to
be discontinued. The idea
of running the water into
a wading pool for chil-
dren then came to mind,
and from this has grown
February, 1922 THE AMERICAN CITY
137
THE WARM WATER IN THE POOL AT PALO ALTO, CALIF., IS RENEWED EVERY 32 HOUBS
AND STERILIZED, MAKING IT SAFE FOB BATHERS
the present municipal swimming pool.
The pool is circular in shape with a
conical bottom, and is constructed of cement
with a row of red brick around the top. The
diameter is lOO feet, and the depth is 2 feet
at the edge and 5 feet in the center, giving
a capacity of a little over 176,000 gallon.'^.
These dimensions make it comparatively
safe for children, and no guard has been
necessary. The water enters at the center
of the bottom and runs off at five skimming
basins placed at regular intervals on the
circumference.
The amount of water used for cooling the
Diesel engines averages approximately 130,-
000 gallons per 24 hours. The temperature
of the water leaving the engines is sufficient
to maintain a temperature of 80 degrees F.
in the pool. With 130,000 gallons of fresh
water entering every 24 hours, the water in
the pool is completely renewed each 32 or 33
hours.
To render the pool as safe as possible,
from a health standpoint, and to prevent the
growth of algae, the water is treated with
chlorine gas and copper sulphate, about 1.3
parts per million of each. The heavy dosage
has been found necessary to control the
growth of algae, neither treatment alone be-
ing effective. In (addition, the pool is
emptied and scrubbed with unslacked lime
once each week.
LOUIS OLSEN,
Health Officer.
GtsM<
anagers
An Excellent Municipal Building
Constructed at Low Cost
Hickory, N. C. — The municipal building
in this city, dedicated last November, is a
good example of the economies that may
sometimes be effected in municipalities by
handling public works by day labor.
The city had appropriated $125,000 for a
municipal building. The lowest bid sub-
mitted for the building was $118,000, which
did not include an estimated $20,000 for
sundry other costs. After careful consider-
ation, it was finally decided to entrust the
work to the City Manager, who was familiar
with building construction. He undertook
the job with day labor, thus getting the ad-
vantage of the declining prices, the con-
tractor's profit and bond, etc. When the
building was completed, it was computed
that the net saving on its construction
amounted to $27,072.39.
The building is admirably suited for the
purposes for which it was designed. In the
basement are located a workroom and store-
room for the Water Works Department, a
city school supply room, a toilet for colored
people, a boiler room, and a dressing-room
138
THE AMERICAN CITY
THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN HICKORY, N. C, IS THE CENTER
OF CIVIC LIFE
for the auditorium. On the first floor are
the auditorium, the offices of the City Man-
ager and the City Clerk, a ladies' rest room,
comfort stations, police headquarters, a jail
of solid concrete, and a fire truck garage.
On the second floor are the firemen's dormi-
tory, the fire alarm battery and switch
rooms, a pool room for the firemen, the
city council chamber and the city court
room. The auditorium has a standard size
stage and, with the balcony and gallery,
seats 1, 1 60.
R. G. HENRY,
City Manager.
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
vention Day movement.
These two exhibits aroused
public interest and have
made people more willing
to comply with state fire
prevention laws relating
to forest fires.
The effect of the dis-
plays is already apparent.
Throughout the spring
fire season the department
responded to more than
fifty alarms of forest fires;
during the fall, when con-
ditions were more favora-
ble for wood and brush
fires, only four alarms
were turned in.
ERNEST L. METCALF,
Chief, Fire Department.
pire
£)epartments
Striking Displays Arouse Interest
in Reducing Forest Fires
Franklin, Mass. — The Fire Department
of Franklin took advantage of the Labor
Day parade to give an exhibit of forest fire
prevention, which has already had excellent
results.
Five hundred four-year-old transplants,
furnished by the State Forestry Department,
were used in floats mounted on trucks in the
parade, accompanied by appropriate signs.
One of the photographs taken at the time is
reproduced herewith. Later, the transplants
were given out to school children for home
planting.
The Labor Day exhibit was followed with
a striking window display of autumn foliage
and game, in connection with the Fire Pre-
FROM THE FRANKLIN, MASS., FIRE
PREVENTION PARADE
139
Losses Changed to Profits
The Story of the Miami, Oklahoma, Electric Light and Power Plant and
Water-Works
THE success of the municipal light,
water and power system at Miami,
Okla., during the last few years proves
that the application of sound business prin-
ciples and keen judgment in the selection of
equipment can make a municipal power-
plant a paying investment and an asset to a
community. Location is the fundamental
physical factor in the growth of a town.
The town of Miami, Okla., is indebted to its
founders for selecting a location rich in
products of the soil, both mineral and agri-
power-plant, and bonds were issued to
finance the project. As the old plant was
located on valuable property in the business
district where there was no room for ex-
pansion, it was found advisable to look
around for a more suitable location, and a
site on the southern outskirts of the city
was selected for the new plant.
Because of the unfortunate experience
with steam equipment, the decision was
made to install power machinery of the oil-
burning type. A careful comparison of the
fiiVr
_ - _ ITS!
tiKtT — rii i'""'>'tiv?r
.>|PBiBP»wi*
EXTERIOR OF MIAMI, OKLA., WATER-WORKS, SHOWING BASIN AND P0WEB-PI.ANT
cultural. Situated in the fertile Neosho
Valley, Miami lies in the heart of the Tri-
State zinc belt, and while the adverse effect
of the present inactivity in the zinc industry
has been felt, agriculture has sustained the
town's rate of growth to a great extent.
Even with its natural advantage, Miami
in 191 8 found itself confronted with a
shortage of light, power and water, a pre-
dicament typical of many towns of 5,000
people or less. The municipally owned
power-plant had greatly deteriorated. One
Corliss engine, powered by four horizontal
tubular boilers, could not keep up with the
increasing demand for electric current, and
the town had outgrown its water-supply.
The plant was losing money all the time,
and something had to be done at once to
insure a permanent sufficient supply of light
and water.
It was decided to install a complete new
various types of oil engines, with respect to
labor, maintenance, fuel economy, and oper-
ating advantages, resulted in the selection of
the full Diesel type oil engine invented by
Dr. Rudolph Diesel in 1898. Great pains
were taken to investigate the various makes
of Diesel engines, and the Commissioners
visited a number of plants where units of
the full Diesel type were operating. As the
outcome of this inspection tour, the city of
Miami placed a contract for a vertical, four-
cycle, four-cylinder Fulton-Diesel engine de-
veloping 500 b. h. p. at 150 r. p. m. arranged
for direct connection to a 425-kv.-amp.,
2,400-volt, 3-phase, 60-cycle, alternating-
current Westinghouse generator and exciter.
In the meantime, work proceeded on the
power-house itself, and when the Diesel en-
gine was delivered, in the spring of 1919,
a well-lighted and ventilated concrete build-
ing of the one-story type had been erected,
140
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
and provided with a Whiting crane of suffi-
cient capacity to handle the heaviest part of
the machinery.
The steam-driven water-works pump was
replaced by an air-lift system operated by a
motor-driven 20 x 12 x 14-inch Sullivan
angle compound compressor with a capacity
of 1,094 cubic feet per minute. The water,
which requires no treatment, is obtained
from three artesian wells and delivered by
the air-lift system to a duplex reservoir of
solid concrete with a capacity of one million
gallons. As shown in the photograph re-
produced herewith, the reservoir is advan-
tageously located next to the power-plant.
The water is forced into the city mains by
a Manistee motor-driven centrifugal pump
which has a capacity of 500 gallons per
minute against a 150-foot head at 1,750
r, p. m.
To insure a permanent supply of fuel oil,
a concrete well of 20,000 gallons capacity
was built immediately adjacent to the power-
house. Oil is piped direct from tank cars
into this reservoir by gravity, thereby effect-
ing savings in time and labor.
Since the new plant began operating,
there has never been a month in which the
Light and Water Department failed to show
a profit, but the old steam station continued
to burden the town, because, in order to give
uninterrupted service, it was necessary to
operate the steam plant at intervals when
the Diesel unit was shut down for cleaning
and adjustment. For example, in 1920 it
cost the city over $16,000 to operate the
steam plant merely as a standby, whereas
the Diesel engine operated 95 per cent of
the time for about $22,000. To overcome
this condition and obtain a perfectly bal-
anced plant, Miami purchased and installed
in June, 1921, a second Diesel set consisting
of a Fulton four-cylinder engine developing
585 b. h. p. at 180 r. p. m., direct-connected
to a Westinghouse 5oo-kv.-amp., 2,400-volt,
3-phase, 6o-cycle, alternating-current gener-
ator with exciter. With this equipment, the
Water and Light Department is always in
a position to handle the peak load, and each
engine is kept in perfect operating condi-
tion without working any hardships on the
employees at the power-house.
Additional mechanical equipment was in-
stalled, including a Gould triplex 10 x 12-
inch fire pump, driven by a Westinghouse
50-h. p. motor. This pump, in case of
emergency, will force water through the
city mains at. a pressure of no pounds per
square inch, and there is small danger that
Miami will ever haye a fire beyond the con-
trol of the Fire Department. The air-lift
system was also supplemented by a second
Sullivan pump with cylinders 17 x g}i x 12
inches, driven by a 150-h. p. motor.
Rates for Light, Power and Water
The great economy and low maintenance
and attendance cost of the new station have
enabled Miami to supply its citizens with
light, power and water at very reasonable
rates; 50 cents is the minimum charge per
month for light and water, and $1 is the
minimum charge for power. Where con-
sumption exceeds the minimum, the follow-
ing rates apply:
LIGHT
24 kilowatt hours or less, 10 cents per kilowatt
26 to 50 kilowatt hours, 9 cents per kilowatt
50 to 75 kilowatt hours, 8 cents per kilowatt
75 to 100 kilowatt hours, 7 cents per kilowatt
100 to 200 kilowatt hours, 6 cents per kilowatt
200 kilowatt hours or more, 5 cents per kilowatt
WATER
2,000 gallons or less, 50 cents per 1,000 gallons
2,000 to 5,000 gallons, 45 cents per 1,000 gallons
5,000 to 10,000 gallons, 40 cents per 1,000 gallons
10,000 to 60,000 gallons, 30 cents per 1,000 gallons
60,000 to 100,000 gallons, 25 cents per 1,000 gallons
100,000 gallons or more, 22i/$ cents per 1,000 gallons
POWER
Flat rate of 3 cents per kilowatt with no connected
load charge
In explanation of the above, it should be
stated that where step-down rates apply, the
charge to the consumer is based on two or
more rates according to the quantity of cur-
rent or water used. For example, if 10,000
gallons of water are consumed, the con-
sumer actually pays three rates: 50 cents
each for 2,000 gallons; 45 cents each for
3,000 gallons; and 40 cents each for 5,000
gallons. An important point to remember
in this connection is the fact that there is
no reason why Miami should not enjoy these
rates for many years to come. With reason-
able care and attention, the Diesel engines
will sustain their original high efficiency
indefinitely, and the use of removable liners,
shells and bushings permits the replacement
of worn parts at the least possible expense.
Bookkeeping
The system of bookkeeping and account-
ing which the Miami Light and Water De-
partment uses would do credit to many a
large city. Previous to 1919 large ledgers
were used, but these have now been replaced
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
141
entirely by cards, and the mere fact that two
men now do the work, whereas five men
were employed to handle the ledgers, is con-
vincing evidence that the card system is by
all odds the best. White, blue and yellow
cards, measuring 8x5 inches, are used re-
spectively for water, light and power ac-
counts, and each card is ruled for entries
covering a period of one year. Every con-
sumer is given a number, and both the name
and the number are printed on his cards.
The cards are then filed numerically, and
the names are listed alphabetically in one
50,000 gallons. This positively eliminates
all possibility of an error in the calculation,
and the amount shown on the coupon must
always check with the statement. These
monthly statement cards are run through an
addressograph, which prints the name of
the consumer and his file number on each
card. When payment is received, it is only
necessary to pick out from the account card
file the card of the color and number cor-
responding to the coupon. One tremendous
advantage of this system lies in the fact
that the Light and Water Department al-
INTEEIOR VIEW OF POWEE-PLANT, SHOWING INSTALLATION OF DIESEL ENGINES
ledger. Thus, if the consumer loses his
statement, it is possible to find the number
by referring to the alphabetical index.
Monthly statements are also issued on
white, blue and yellow cards, post-card size.
The last reading, present reading and the
amount consumed are entered on the left
side, and the month is stamped at the bot-
tom. The right side of the card is used as
a coupon to be detached and presented at
payment. A rubber stamp, bearing in
duplicate the gross amount, discount, and
net charge, prints these items on both the
statement proper and the coupon. Two
sets of these stamps cover all consumption
of light and water up to 100 kilowatts and
ways knows exactly where it stands on col-
lections.
Each day all the account cards covering
the bills paid that date are filed together,
and after collections are closed for the day
the coupons are checked against the re-
ceipts. The account cards, coupons and
cash are right there together where they
can be referred to instantly, and any dis-
crepancy which appears may be quickly dis-
covered. The advantage over the ledger
system in this feature is obvious. After the
daily account is balanced, the paid-up ac-
count cards are filed separately, and those
showing accounts not paid in full are re-
turned to the main file. Thus, it will be
142
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
seen, all account cards remaining in the
main file on the 15th of the month cover de-
linquent accounts.
As stated before, previous to the installa-
tion of the first Diesel engine, the Water
and Light Department was losing money;
in fact, each year a tax was levied to meet
the current expenses of the system. Now,
on the contrary, net collections over and
above all operating expenses are about three
thousand dollars a month. Below is given
Total kw. hours generated 2,176,400
Total number of hours in operation 8,344
Load factor for entire year 78.2%
Cents per
Gallons Cost Kw. Hr.
Fuel oil 177,150.54 $10,907.58 .50117
One gallon of fuel oil served.... 12.285 kw. hours
Assuming that one kw. = 1.5 b. h. p., 5.42 gallons
of fuel oil served 100 b. h. p. hours.
the total cost of fuel oil covering the
year ending January 31, 192 1, when the first
Diesel engine operated, with the old steam
plant as standby equipment.
Before closing, due credit should be given
to those who were charged with the re-
sponsibility of rejuvenating Miami's light,
power and water system, for their foresight
and broad grasp of the problems which con-
fronted them. Where power is the sole
product, the cost of power becomes the
total cost of production, and the success of
the central station is measured by its oper-
ating expenses. Realizing that fact, the
officials of Miami, with unwavering pur-
pose and astonishing technical insight, have
placed their power-plant on a plane with the
largest central stations in the United States
with respect to economy, efficiency and reli-
ability.
Collections of Pictures for Schools
and Libraries
COLOR prints and photographs of
famous pictures suitable for decora-
tion of schools and libraries have
been brought together by The American
Federation of Arts. There are included fine
reproductions of works by Inness, Thayer,
Millet, St. Gaudens, Blakelock, Abbey, Violet
Oakley, Couse, Brush, Whistler, Homer
and others, as well as examples from older
masters such as Reynolds, Van Dyck, Rem-
brandt, Rubens, Raphael, Giorgione, and
Titian. The prints vary in size and color,
but all are of such dimensions and character
as to lend themselves readily to schoolroom
or library use. There is Reynolds' "Age of
Innocence," then Blakelock's "Moonlight,"
or Winslow Homer's "Northeaster." There
is in these prints admirable material to con-
stitute the background of growing youth
and to aid in formulating those ideals and
ambitions which it is the work of schools
and libraries to foster, while at the same
time bringing into the life of youth a fore-
taste of that shadowy thing which is called
culture.
The circulation of the traveling exhibi-
tions is an important part of the work of
the Federation in extending the knowledge
of art in all parts of the country. Art op-
portunities need no longer be localized. The
exhibitions are circulated from coast to
coast. And it is to be noted that the Federa-
tion reports applications for exhibitions this
year from forty out of forty-eight states.
There are over fifty exhibitions, leaving a
wide latitude of choice for taste and interest.
The groups cover all manner of contem-
porary expression and production on the
subjects offered. Collections of contem-
porary American painters, a special group
of painters of the West, a group from the
National Academy of Design exhibition,
pictures of children, miniatures, and small
bronzes are among the collections of the
fine arts offered. A number of exhibitions
of prints are also listed, comprising etch-
ings, drypoints, aquatints by leading con-
temporary American etchers, as well as a
group from the English Print Society. The
work of illustrators is also available. Among
the industrial art exhibitions assembled one
finds collections of textiles, wall paper, a
printing exhibition, and one of Italian
handicrafts. They serve the double purpose
of encouraging production of a fine type and
developing knowledge among home-furnish-
ers. For, aside from the pleasure and in-
terest afforded, the exhibitions make possible
the cultivation of art appreciation and good
taste at first hand.
Further information may be obtained
from Miss Leila Mechlin, Secretary, Amer-
ican Federation of Arts, 1741 New York
Avenue, Washington, D. C.
143
Fiaaacing and Installing a New Street
Lighting System
By P. B. Reed
Street Lighting Specialist
EVEN in these days, when so many
cities and towns are realizing the
necessity of better street illumination
and are installing new and improved types
of lamps and standards in large numbers,
the discarding of its entire street lighting
system by a municipality and replacing it
with a new one is sufficiently interesting to
make it worthy of remark. The city of
Mandan, N. Dak., which has a population
of about 4,600, has done so; and, as there
are 447 ornamental lighting standards in
In the business district G. E. Form 9
Novalux units, with diffusing globe, glass
canopy, and series film socket, are used; in
the residential sections, Form 8 is employed,
the equipment being similar to that used in
the business district. Ten and one-half-foot
ornamental iron standards and loo-candle-
power lamps are used in the residential sec-
tions, and 12-foot standards and 250-candle-
power lamps in the business district. It was
originally intended to use a 400-candle-
power lamp in the business district, but it
LIGHTING UNITS ON RESIDENTIAL STBEET, MANDAN, N. DAK.
use, the city has attained the distinction of
having approximately one standard to every
ten inhabitants.
For a number of years the streets of
Mandan were lighted by fifty arc lamps.
These have been removed, and replaced by
a system that is coming into very general
favor — Mazda lamps enclosed in ornamental
globes supported by ornamental iron posts.
The cl]ange has been made at a cost of less
than $100,000, and the gain in the appear-
ance of the city and in the efficiency of its
street lighting has been noticeable and
gratifying.
was decided to employ those of 250-candle-
power, which proved to be ample. The
standards, which were made by the King
Manufacturing Company, are uniform in
design in both the business section and the
residential districts, and are of graceful and
pleasing pattern. The system is arranged
and operated in four circuits, that of the
business district being separate from those
of the residential sections, and in each case
the corner lights are on a different circuit
from that of the intermediate lights.
The installation was designed by Black &
Griffin, consulting engineers, of Mandan,
144
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
and the contract was let, under competitive
bids on plans and specifications prepared by
them, to M. S. Hyland of Fargo, N. Dak.
The type of standards used was selected by
the City Commission.
The breakage of lamps, globes and can-
opies has been very small, from December
20 to June 16 as follows:
Month Lamps Globes Canopies
December 12 1 1
January 22 1 1
February 32 6 6
March 16 1 1
April 13 2 2
Mav 31 2 2
June 13 1 1
Total 139 14 14
Mandan has about 95^ miles of street
lighting and approximately 3^ miles of
paved streets. A number of standards were,
of course, installed along unpaved streets.
In these cases the posts were placed on the
curb line at what will be the grade and
street line when the street is paved, and 6-
foot sections of curb were set in for protec-
tion. All the cable was laid 12 inches below
the paving grade on unpaved streets, j'ust
under the edge of the sidewalk where the
sidewalk extended to the curb, and across
streets at right angles to the center of the
street in 2-inch iron conduit pipes. All pipes
crossing paved streets were pushed across,
and no pavement was cut. It is interesting
to note that in making the installation, ap-
proximately two car-loads of cement, 1,200
cubic yards of concrete, and 140,000 feet of
No. 8 single conductor cable were used.
All the lamps are operated until 9:30
P. M. The corner lights are then turned
out, and only the intermediate lamps are
burned until morning, except on Saturday
nights and special occasions, when the en-
tire system is operated. The cost of main-
tenance and operation is paid out of the
general fund for street lighting made by the
usual levy. Power for operating the sys-
tem is supplied by the Mandan Electric
Company, a privately owned corporation,
but the city installed and owns the switch-
board panels, meters, etc. The lights are
controlled by employees of the company un-
der the direction of the City Commission.
The rate paid is 5 cents per kilowatt hour.
The lighting schedule and the consump-
tion of current for the first half of the year
were as follows:
Kw. Hr.
January— 5 :00 P. M. to 7 :00 A. M 11,750
February— 5:30 P. M. to 6:20 A. M 10,080
March— C :00 P. M. to 5 :00 A. M 8,540
April— 6 :30 P. M. to 4 :00 A. M 7,470
May— 7 :00 P. M. to 3 :00 A. M 5,500
June— 8 :00 P. M. to 2 :40 A. M 5,400
The job was divided into three contracts,
other districts petitioning for the improve-
ment after the first contract was under way.
The total of the three was $95,721.84, in-
cluding engineering, assessing, and adver-
tising as required by the laws of the state.
The cost of the installations was met by
special assessment against the property di-
rectly benefited. It was then decided by the
special assessment commission that all lots
were equally benefited whether or not there
was a light directly in front of the lot or
opposite, provided they were equally spaced
on the street around the entire block. The
cost per lot was higher on the last two con-
tracts let, and the average for a 50 x 140-
foot lot in the residential section on the
main contract was $90.16, and on a 25 x 140-
foot business lot, $48.63, these costs being
based on cash payment. The assessment was
spread over a period of five years, and war-
rants were issued bearing interest at 6 per
cent. In the residential section the assess-
ment commission held that a corner lot re-
ceived no more benefit than an inside lot,
even though there might be lights on the
side; but in the business district the corner
lots stood the cost of the light on both sides.
Your Neighbor's Yard
Proper disposal of our waste materials
will reduce fly incidence, and hence reduce
the prevalence of diseases and increase pub-
lic health. On the other hand, improper and
incomplete waste disposal increases the
number of flies, increases the danger from
disease, increases the incidence of diseases,
lowers the public health, favors the spread
of epidemics, and increases the death-rate.
If you value the lives of your own family
and your own friends, you will take proper
care of the health of the poorest and most
illiterate of your neighbors, and will insist
that his premises be as free of dangerous
waste materials as you keep your own.
If you let your neighbor have filthy prem-
ises, you may pay for it by death and disease
in your own family.
145
Plan for Promotion of Municipal Skating
By Bobby McLean
Former Champion Speed Skater of the World
THERE is opportunity in many towns
to render a community service by put-
ting forward a plan to provide safe
and convenient public skating places for the
boys and girls and their older brothers and
sisters. This is not a new idea, but has al-
ready been carried out in many towns and
cities and will be found practical in any
place where ice forms during the cold sea-
son. The time and attention necessary to
insure the success of such a project will be
slight in proportion to the returns and satis-
faction achieved.
Boston, Mass., has eighteen municipal
rinks when the weather is cold enough, and
some of these rinks are large enough to ac-
commodate thousands of skaters. These are
not the only skating places in Boston, but
the ones that the city takes charge of.
Springfield, Mass., has twenty municipal
skating-rinks under the direction of the
School Board and the Park Commission.
Pittsburgh, Pa., utilizes its playgrounds as
skating centers, as do St. Louis, Mo.,
Worcester, Mass., Columbus, Cleveland and
Cincinnati, Ohio, Baltimore, Md., Lake-
wood, N. J., Minneapolis, Minn., Milwau-
kee, Wis., Salt Lake City, Utah, Chicago,
111., and these places in New York State:
Waterford, Albany, Cohoes, Troy, Roches-
ter, Buffalo, Brooklyn, Plattsburgh, Green
Island, Watervliet, Rennselaer and Batavia.
Chicago has the greatest number of free
skating-rinks. The city has flooded 70 play-
grounds and 329 vacant lots — 399 skating
places. It is safe to say that in and around
Chicago there are 600 open-air skating-
rinks. Quite naturally, Chicago develops
more skaters than any other city. The city
gives a trophy for competitions in each of
these rinks, encourages dual club meets, and
winds up with a race for the championship
of Chicago in which the best skater of every
district, selected by elimination contests, par-
ticipates. One race in Chicago last year had
452 entries.
It is estimated that 30,000 persons skate
on the Buffalo municipal skating ponds daily,
and in quite a number of cities, we believe,
the figures are higher than this. Minneap-
olis has a number of rinks for the smaller
children, and Milwaukee has a hockey
league playing on the larger rinks.
The skating-rank at Plattsburgh, • N. Y,,
promoted by the Chamber of Commerce, was
described on page 407 of The American
City for November, 1921.
Skating was held back for years through
the scarcity of indoor rinks, but with mu-
nicipal rinks outdoors the sport can be de-
veloped to its fullest extent and at the same
time provide healthful recreation for many.
It is the greatest of outdoor winter sports.
Some One Person Must Start It
It is necessary for some live individual to
take hold of this municipal plan to put it
over. Although not absolutely essential, it
is well to organize a committee of interested
citizens to work in making the plan a suc-
cess. If the live wire can interest some
well-known civic or athletic organization, he
can choose his committee from its members
and thus lend prestige to the idea. After
choosing the committee, the first step in pro-
moting municipal skating is to make a sur-
vey of the town and determine the park
locations and other places suitable for flood-
ing and turning into skating-rinks for the
children. These locations should be as near
the center of the town as possible. A loca-
tion near a schoolhouse will give the chil-
dren plenty of opportunity to skate after
hours. In addition to parks and play-
grounds, one can usually find vacant lots of
suitable size which the owners will gladly
allow to be used for this purpose. Tennis
courts are especially desirable, as they have
a clay foundation and are easily flooded.
The next step is to take the matter up
with the mayor or chief executive of the
town. It is best to present the proposition
to him verbally and suggest the locations
you have selected as desirable for flooding.
You can later confirm your statements by a
letter outlining the entire plan. This he will
use in presenting the proposition to other
municipal officials who are interested. Point
out to him what has already been done in
some places, the benefits to be derived, and
the necessity for providing safe and con-
venient skating-rinks for the young people
146
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
THE PUBLIC SKA.TING RINK AT PIiATTSBUBGH, N. T.
This rink, on the athletic field of the High School, was promoted by the Chamber of Commerce
of your town. Suggest that he submit a
plan to the city council to provide the neces-
sary means for preparing and flooding
parks, playgrounds, and other vacant areas
and keeping them in condition for skating.
This can ordinarily be taken care of by the
local fire or public works department. The
governing body of the town usually is will-
ing to cooperate with the chief executive on
a proposition of this kind, because it does
not require a large outlay of money and at
the same time gives the members an oppor-
timity to show that they are taking an in-
terest in the welfare of the public.
The matter may be helped along by inter-
viewing various members of the city or
town council whom you know personally,
and gaining their approval before the mat-
ter is brought up to them by the mayor. In
a great many cases it is unnecessary for the
council to act. Sometimes a letter from the
mayor to the commissioners of each park
board and the fire commission will be suffi-
cient to accomplish the desired result.
Publicity Tiirough the Press
The newspapers are always willing to co-
operate on a proposition of this nature, and
there is no better way of creating public
sentiment. Before taking the matter up
with the mayor, it is advisable to have the
newspapers print an article advocating the
plan, in order to create advance interest. It
is also well to forward to the newspapers a
copy of your letter to the mayor and the
mayor's letter to the park commissioners.
As soon as the initial steps have been
taken and several parks or playgrounds
have teen flooded, an effort should be made
to provide the proper supervision over them.
The supervisor should be the athletic direc-
tor of schools or some capable boy leader
who will arrange the sports program and
look after the general interest of the skaters.
He should have a corps of assistants who
will each have supervision over one or more
rinks. Volunteers can usually be obtained
for this work, to serve for a few hours each
day or week.
Skating contests should be provided, also
hockey games, fancy skating events, and
instruction for those who are learning to
skate. Hockey players should not be al-
lowed to interfere with the other skaters;
where possible, special rinks should be pro-
vided for this particular sport. A local
championship contest is a feature that
creates much interest. Merchants about
town are usually willing to donate certain
articles as prizes for skating events. These
need not be expensive. Skating medals can
be purchased at a low figure for adult events,
and ribbons can be used for the children's
events. Contests can be staged between
wards or sections of the town, and at the
end of the season a carnival can be held at
which the city championship wrill be de-
termined.
147
Handling Liquid Chlorine
Suggestions and Cautions for Water- Works Operators
By D. K. Bartlett
CHLORINE in liquid form has now
been used in this country since 1907.
As in the case of other compressed
gases, there are very definite and careful
regulations drawn by the Interstate Com-
merce Commission governing its transpor-
tation. Under these regulations there are
four accepted containers in which the ma-
terial may be moved, namely, those which
carry 100 pounds, 150 pounds, 2,000 pounds,
and 30,000 pounds. As there have been no
accidents in interstate commerce since the
regulations have been in force, it seems
proper to assume that the regulations are
right, as they now stand.
The use of chlorine has become very
wide-spread through the textile industry,
the public water-supply system, the flour
industry, the chemical industry, and the pulp
and paper industry. Liquid chlorine is to-
day stored at from 4,000 to 5, 000 different
points in quantities of from a few cylinders
to many thousand pounds. So far, such
regulations covering storage as have been
in force are simply those recommended by
the producer to the consumer. Safety is of
prime importance to the producer as well
as the consumer, and while the hazard is
much less than is commonly supposed, it is,
nevertheless, sufficient to cause the pro-
ducers to adhere to and recommend regula-
tions which make the use of this material
safe.
It may be well at this point to consider
briefly the hazards of compressed gases in
general.
As long as the gas remains in the con-
tainer, it is obvious that it can do no harm,
irrespective of its effect when released. It
is therefore necessary to consider the prob-
ability of escape of gas from the container,
as well as the qualities of the gas itself. An
escape of gas from a container may be due
to—
A. A true explosion
B. An increase of pressure, due to heat,
sufficient to rupture the container
C. Leaks
If the gas escapes from the container, the
resulting hazard may be due to —
1. Inflammability
2. Poisonous effects
3. Irritating effects, with interference with
sight or respiration
Considering now the specific case of
chlorine, we can eliminate "A," since it is
non-explosive. The chance of a rupture due
to "B" is very slight on account of the high
critical temperature of chlorine. The fol-
lowing table gives this temperature for a
number of common gases :
Chlorine 146
Ammonia 132
Acetylene 36.5
Nitrous oxide 36.5
Carbon dioxide 31
Oxvgen — 118
Hydrogen — 240
By Interstate Commerce Commission
regulations all cylinders and ton drums are
provided with fusible plugs which melt at
158 degrees Fahrenheit, at which tempera-
ture the pressure is about half the test
pressure of ton drums at time of manufac-
ture and a quarter of the test pressure of
the smaller cylinders.
There has never been an instance of
bursting of a container in transit, or in a
user's plant.
There have been four or five cases of the
rupture of containers in the manufacturer's
plant due to the presence of foreign material
in the container which reacted with the
chlorine. To guard against a repetition o'f
such accidents, all manufacturers now have
in force a rigid system of inspection of
empty containers. Even should a container
with such foreign material be filled, any
trouble resulting will necessarily develop
within a few hours, so that any hazard
existing from this cause concerns only the
manufacturer — not the user or the carrier.
There have also been a few cases of fire
where a large quantity of chlorine has been
stored. In each case the upward draft due
to the heat of conflagration has been strong
enough to carry the gas upward and cause
148
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
a sufficient dilution so that the fire-fighters
experienced no inconvenience in their work.
This brings us to leaks. Here the evil
smell of chlorine is its greatest safety fac-
tor. Its presence in the atmosphere can be
detected in very minute quantities through
the sense of smell. After the person in
charge of the use of the chlorine in any
plant has had his first considerable whiff,
he is quite ready — from then on — to exercise
reasonable care, take necessary precautions,
and follow the instructions laid down by the
manufacturer.
The next safety factor is the slow absorp-
tion of the heat necessary to evaporate the
liquid into a gas. The following table gives
the rise of temperature of the liquid chlorine
in a tank car during a period of 96 hours:
Changl
Change During During
Time Temp. Contents Period Pressure Perioa
(Start) (—9 deg. C.) — (64 lbs.) —
End 24 hrs. —2 deg. C. 7 deg. C. 76 lbs. 12 lbs
End48hrs. +3.5 deg. C. 5.5 deg. C. 88 lbs. 12 lbs
End 74 hrs. +6 deg. C. 2.5 deg. C. 93 lbs. 5 lbs
End 96 hrs. +8.5 deg. C. 2.5 deg. C. 98 lbs. 5 lbs.
When the odor of chlorine is noticed, the
source should immediately be located. Never
hunt a leak through the sense of smell.
Always have a gas mask handy and be sure
you have fresh canisters. The mask is not
apt to be used, but it gives confidence to the
one hunting the leak. Have a bottle of aqua
ammonia and a piece of waste fastened to
the end of a short stick. Dip the waste into
the ammonia and start your search. The
moment you come to chlorine in the air, a
white fume of ammonium chloride will ap-
pear. As you reach a denser volume of
chlorine, the white fumes are denser. Thus
the leak is quickly located. If this leak is
in the piping, etc., shut oflf the valves at the
containers and repair. If in a valve on the
container or the container itself, and it can-
not be stopped, connect the gas valve from
the container to your absorption system
and begin to operate. The liquid cannot
evaporate in the containers, without the ap-
plication of heat, as fast as the gas is ab-
sorbed in your system, and thus the leak
quickly stops.
As to the properties of chlorine, it is non-
inflammable, and not poisonous in the sense
that carbon monoxide or phosgene, for in-
stance, is poisonous. We can therefore
eliminate Nos. i and 2, and confine ourselves
to No. 3.
The immediate result of inhaling a large
quantity of chlorine gas is the inflammation
of the tissues lining the throat, with result-
ing coughing and nausea. While it is highly
irritating and extremely uncomfortable, it
is never fatal — unless the subject remains
for a considerable period in an atmosphere
of highly concentrated gas.
Should a person be affected by chlorine
gas we recommend the following treatment :
Remove at once to the open air and away
from all gas fumes. Place the patient flat
on his back with head slightly elevated, and
give a half-teaspoonful of essence of pep-
permint, or a moderate dose of bromo
seltzer or whiskey. This will relieve the
tendency to cough and soothe the inflamed
membranes, allowing the passage of air and
promoting the action of the respiratory
organs. The person affected should him-
self resist as much as possible the impulse
to cough. A mustard plaster on the chest
will give prompt relief. While there are
never any .serious after-effects, a physician
should always be called.
Acknowledgment. — From a paper read before the
National Safety Council Congress, Boston, Mass.
Street Cleaning Troubles in New York City in 1770
That municipalities had their street-
cleaning troubles in the very early days is
indicated by the following item which ap-
peared in the New York Gazette, a little
newspaper of 200 years ago:
"The Assistant Aldermen of the different
wards were instructed to call on the several in-
habitants in their respective wards and ascer-
tain what they are willing to pay toward clean-
ing the streets and carrying away the dirt; but
this method not meeting with a proper response
on the part of the inhabitants, an order was
made that the inhabitants of the city on every
Friday sweep the dirt in heaps before their
premises in order that it may be carted away
on Saturday by the city cartmen. To com-
pensate the latter the inhabitants were ordered to-
I»y them for every load threepence if loaded
by the inhabitants themselves. The only street
cleaned at public expense is Broad street. A
public scavenger is appointed for this purpose,
who receives a salary of $40 per annum.
I«
Child Health and the Public Schools
By Julius Kuhnert
Director of Physical Education, Public Schools, Raton, N. Mex.
IT has been fully demonstrated that school
progress and contentment rest largely
upon health. Many states have compul-
sory medical inspection laws for school
children which require not only a school
physician but also a school nurse.
Before a child begins school he leads a
comparatively free life. He is out of doors
playing and developing physically. When
he enters school, this is all changed, be-
cause the modern school requires that free-
dom be restricted. In most cases children
are required to sit for long periods with
two sessions per day. This, as authorities
tell us, is detrimental to the normal activity
of the heart and lungs and must result in an
impoverished state of the blood. A child
stunted at this time by lack of physical ac-
tivity and hygienic habits will be stunted
for life.
Parents, as well as teachers, must study
that great branch of medicine, hygiene,
which is often termed preventive medicine.
Hygiene seeks to preserve health — in other
words, to prevent disease — through obedi-
ence to laws of health. The child, unaided,
cannot understand these laws, and he must
have the wise counsel of his parents,
teacher, nurse, and physician.
Schools Should Be Sanitary
One of the greatest duties of the teacher
is to seek and maintain sanitary conditions
in her room, school and grounds. This is
not only for the child's benefit, but also for
her own. In a recent survey made in the
schools of an eastern state the following
conditions were revealed: 66.2 per cent of
the 2,169 teachers questioned reported in-
sanitary conditions in the schools. Of this
number, 46.7 per cent reported defective
ventilation; 41.6 per cent reported insuffi-
cient toilet facilities; 35.9 per cent reported
dust in the room from dirty blackboards;
28.3 per cent reported lack of drinking
water dispensed in a sanitary way. Many
other insanitary conditions were reported in
smaller percentages. Such conditions are
far more responsible for the poor health of
children and the transmission of disease
than any other cause. Everyone recognizes
the fact that the common drinking cup and
towel are dangerous; dirty toilets are the
breeding-places of disease; and a poorly
•ventilated room saps the life, energy and
vitality of the child, hindering his school
progress and breaking down his resistance
to disease.
In "Health and the School," by Burke, it
is stated that 60 per cent of the school
children in the United States are suffering
from defects which are remedial and which
retard the school progress of the children
9 per cent. Some authorities estimate that
as many as three out of every four children
are suffering from physical defects which
might be prevented or corrected. Assuming
that the approximate cost of education in
1915 was $600,000,000, and that, as Burke
states, "60 per cent of the school children
are retarded 9 per cent," it costs approxi-
mately $32,000,000 per year for this re-
tardation. Dr. Ayers also points out that
it is cheaper to keep the children repeating
in the lower grades than in the higher
grades. Dr. McCurdy states that 85 per
cent of the defects of school children are
remedial: i. e., carious teeth, diseased ton-
sils, adenoid.s, defective vision, deficient
musculature, and malnutrition.
Postural defects in school children are
caused by weak musculature, poor hygiene
in the home, defective vision, bad air in the
home and the school, general lack of exer-
cise, and long-continued periods of flexion,
that is, reading with the head and shoulders
tipped forward. Underweight may be
caused by the same conditions, including
also carious teeth, diseased tonsils, adenoids,
and any curvature, which is nothing more
than a postural defect. In practically every
case, deficient musculature is caused directly
or indirectly by underweight or malnutrition.
A System of Health Instruction
In order that school may be a decisive
factor in improving the race and lowering
the great percentage of physical defectives,
a comprehensive system of health instruc-
tion, combined with physical activity, should
f5o
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
A SCENE IN THE ITHACA, N. T., PUBLIC SCHOOLS' MEDICAL OFFICE
Sncb clinics can render Invaluable service In detecting defects in their early stages and preventing the
disastrous consequences of neglect
be instituted in all schools. This health in-
struction should include, as Dr. McCurdy
states in "Physical Education and National
Efficiency," the ''knowledge of the elemen-
tary problems which concern health, i. e.,
diet, care of the teeth, bathing, sex, exercise,
and the general conditions related to health :
for example, room temperature, ventilation,
dust, school seating, posture ; also the public
health problems like sewage disposal, milk
and water supplies and the general control
of infectious diseases."*
Malnutrition and postural defects among
school children should be taken care of at
once. A malnourished child is always an
underweight child and one who suffers more
from postural defects and is more sus-
ceptible to diseases than the normal child.
Underweight in a child is a serious matter,
and many parents and teachers do not un-
derstand that this condition is often de-
scribed by such terms as "frail," "no appe-
tite," "run down," "low vitality," "skinny,"
"not himself," "nervous," "easily upset,"
"growing too fast," "always tired." Mal-
nutrition and postural defects are remedial.
The essential thing is to place the child un-
der a strict hygienic regime, both at home
and in the school. In these cases the teacher
holds a very important place, because she is
largely instrumental in molding the school
and after-school life of the child.
• American Physical Education Review, December,
1919.
It is absolutely essential that all children
suffering from any serious physical defect
should have medical attention. The one
great group of children that should be given
first attention is the malnourished group.
Malnutrition is a definite departure from
health and should be recognized as a dis-
ease. It has certain causes and there are
certain after-effects. Some of these after-
effects can never be entirely overcome, be-
cause a malnourished child is never as
strong and capable as though he were nor-
mal. These children are often pale and
anemic, inattentive, Hstless in their studies,
and do not care to run and play. Mental
and physical work easily fatigues them and
they are often retarded in school. The at-
tempt to educate the malnourished child
often results in the waste of time and money
by the teacher and the school board, and
there is failure and discouragement on the
part of the child who cannot keep up with
his mates.
Remove the Causes of Malnutrition
Some of the causes of malnutrition are
poverty, overcrowding, bad home habits,
faulty school hygiene and disease. The
cause of malnutrition in each child should
be sought, and removed by medical attention
and education in hygienic living, especially
with regard to food and correct food habits.
Every remedial defect should be removed.
A child suffering with enlarged adenoids
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
151
cannot breathe through his nose and it is use-
less to teil him to do so ; the adenoids should
be removed. A child with carious teeth
cannot masticate his food; his teeth defects
must be corrected first. Eyestrain often
causes nausea and loss of appetite, resulting
in malnutrition. The physical condition of
the child is also affected by lack of fresh air
while sleeping and exercising, lack of clean-
liness and proper clothing, fast eating, in-
dulgence in candy and sweets between meals,
and the constant drinking of tea and coffee.
The teacher can do a great deal to correct
these conditions, but the home must assist
and cooperate.
Spinal curvature and postural defects are
often the direct results of malnutrition,
which in many cases is due to improper care
and feeding in the first years of life. De-
formities of the bones, such as pigeon-
breast, bow-legs, knock-knees, weak and flat
feet, are often the results of rickets, a dis-
ease of poor nutrition and hygiene. In an
investigation of 717 cripples under sixteen
years of age, 10 per cent of the deformities
were found to be due to rickets. In an in-
vestigation of 22,000 school children in Lon-
don, 2 per cent showed some eye disease,
three-fourths of which was due to unwashed
faces and dirty hands. Fifteen per cent of
all eye troubles of school children are due
to a disease of the eyelids and the cornea
which is often the cause of a great deal of
blindness. This disease is often found
among malnourished children. Eighty-four
per cent of blindness in children is caused
by ophthalmia neonatorum, which can be
practically eliminated by proper child hy-
giene and medical inspection.
Effective child hygiene includes all ac-
tivities that are necessary for the protection
of the life and happiness of the child. All
agencies that deal with the mental and
physical well-being of the child must co-
operate. Conditions which require doctors,
clinics, mediciU'C, crutches and braces should
not be tolerated when right living and
healthful environment can prevent their
need. It is not economy to spend money
for the treatment of the few when the same
amount of money will maintain the health of
the many. Nor is it wise to spend money
for the discovery of the defects of school
children when these defects can be pre-
vented by proper hygienic conditions.
The greatest concern of every parent and
teacher should be to see that the child has
the proper size seat in school, that there is
plenty of fresh air, and that all conditions
surrounding the child are as perfect as they
can be made. Parents should consult with
the teachers in regard to the health condi-
t ons of their children, and both should co-
operate to make the school a healthy place
for the child to be in. The board of educa-
tion must also cooperate in changing the
seating, ventilation system and toilet facil-
ities, if necessary, to make the school a
healthful place for the children.
Every school system should have a paid
school nurse who can look after the health
of the children, not only in the school but
also in the home. Parents respect the knowl-
edge of an experienced nurse and will often
assist her as well as teachers in relieving
unhygienic conditions. A nurse can find
many abnormal conditions in children which
parents do not think exist, because the child
acts normal in every way. The nurse and
the doctor are the important links between
the physical fitness of the child and his men-
tality, and their importance should be recog-
nized by the community and the school
board.
iSir^ a song of tooth-paste
At morning and at nidht.
Twenty healthy httJe fcerfi
Strong and shmind white.
Every dsy I brush wem
To tecp Ihera mce and clean.
Aren't they a set of pearls
fit for any queen?
W^*fiaB
Courtesy National Child Welfare Association,
152
A Fair Wage Versus a Chance Wage
An Analysis of Salaries in the County Institutions of a Mid-Western State
By William E. Mosher
Of the National Institute of Public Administration
Editorial Note. — The following is an analysis of the wage scale paid the employees in the
county homes of one of our most prosperous states. A similar analysis might be made of the
wages received by the mixed group of workers in the employment of any one of a large number
of counties and municipalities. The factors that go to determine a fair wage policy as out-
lined in the latter part of this analysis are equally significant for the city, county or state that
aims to maintain a more or less permanent and efficient working force. In the name of good
business administration it is now necessary for any employer, whether public or private, to give
intelligent consideration to so vital a rnatter as his wage policy.
A PLACARD posted on the bulletin
board in the main building of the
Post Office Department in Washing-
ton makes the striking announcement that
the Postmaster General is going to take the
300,000 postal workers into partnership
w^ith him, and in support of this policy as-
serts that "labor is not a commodity, be-
cause that idea was abandoned 1921 years
„ »
ago.
A careful survey was made in 1919 of the
salary conditions of the 90,000-odd workers
in Washington. It went to prove that 28,000
were receiving less than $3 per day, which
was considered at that time to be a min-
imum wage. In spite of the facts brought
out by this survey, Congress did not then,
and has not yet, seen fit to take action as
to this important matter. As a matter, of
principle, the Government may subscribe to
the doctrine that labor is not a commodity;
as a matter of practice, it is a long way
from adopting it.
The Government Policy of Drift
The Federal Government typifies on a
large scale what has been happening in
smaller governmental units all over the
country. Like the great body of private
employers, our local governments have no
wage policy. To them, labor is still a com-
modity. They pay what they have to. If
the workers are unorganized and if there
are no means of bringing pressure to bear
on the government-employer, the latter is
likely to pay what it always has paid.*
Generally speaking, no one in government
• Compare the salary scale as well as the recent
salary increases paid to the policemen and firemen
with what is received by the clerical force in the
same municipal government.
has official responsibility for maintaining
wage or other standard with reference to
personal service, even though almost any
governmental unit is investing more of the
people's tax money in its pay-roll than in
any other item of expense. The inevitable
consequence of lack of policy has been in-
justice, the breeder of discontent. This In
turn has led to lowered standards of effi-
ciency, either because of indifference to-
ward the work or of the large number of
voluntary "quits."
Wide-awake employers have come to real-
ize since 1914-1915 that the wage scale will
nor take care of itself. In its dealings with
industry, the Federal Government itself did
much to stimulate rational consideration of
what a fair wage is. Its wage boards, coal
commissions, minimum wage commission,
and the like, called attention to the out-
standing factors that go to determine such
a wage. They made current, for instance,
the doctrine that the worker has a right to
a living wage, and they then helped develop
the ways and means of determining what a
living wage is. This led to the growing ap-
preciation of the difference between real
wages and nominal wages. In many quar-
ters, the analysis of the work done served
as the basis for establishing equal pay for
equal work, and the relative value of dif-
ferent types of work was also given due
emphasis.
There are a few cities in the country,
three or four counties, and four or five
states that have approached the question of
a fair wage scale along the lines of the
principles stated. In the main, however, the
policy of drift is the accepted policy of the
government-employer. As a result, incon-
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
*53
sistencies abound and underpayment is the
order of the day.
The salary conditions of a mixed group
of workers employed in forty to fifty county
institutions of one of the Mid-Western
States were recently analyzed with reference
to present practice and also with reference
to the factors that constitute a fair wage. As
these conditions typify what may be found
almost anywhere in the country, a brief
summary is here brought together. It will
be seen that in spite of all statements to the
contrary, the worker is treated as a com-
modity; his price is determined not by the
worth of his contribution as computed by
any known method, and least of all with re-
gard to what it costs him to live on, to keep
well on and to retire on.
The county or children's home is a well-
known establishment in a number of our
states. It is ugually situated outside the
small city or town and is often surrounded
by open grounds that may or may not be
cultivated. Ordinarily, the children are sent
to the schools of the neighboring com-
munity, although a few of the larger organi-
zations have their own school plant. The
staff of the typical institution consists of a
superintendent, a matron or assistant super-
intendent, who is usually the wife of the
superintendent, two governesses, one in
charge of the boys, and one, of the girls, and
a varying group of other helpers, such as
a cook, kitchen and chamber maids, a farm
hand and a janitor.
Salary data were collected for all the
members of the staff in the forty homes.
In order to make sound comparisons, other
information was also brought together. This
included the total annual pay-roll and all
other expenditures, the average number of
children cared for, and the acreage under
cultivation. It may be sufficient for the pur-
pose of our inquiry to compare the salaries
paid superintendents, matrons and gov-
ernesses with reference to their responsi-
bilities and other factors that properly affect
wages.
Many Inconsistencies
The maximum salary paid any superin-
tendent, according to the reports, is $2,400.*
The superintendent receiving this salary is
responsible for 200 children, he expends
over $64,000 a year and has a salary roll of
• Board, lodging and laundry form a part of the
remuneration in all cases.
nearly $14,000. In all these matters this in-
stitution stands near the very top of the list.
Manifestly, this is as it should be. Not that
the salary is sufficient, but it does bear a
certain relation to the salaries and respon-
sibilities of other superintendents. But the
superintendent getting the minimum salary
of $425 a year is responsible for an ex-
penditure of $16,000, a total well up in the
whole list, his pay-roll is $2,169, about the
middle of the list, and his institution has
on the average 20 children. In this it is
third from the lowest. Apart from the last
factor, it is evident that these records do
not warrant payment of the lowest salary in
the scale. That a man responsible for the
proper expenditure of $16,000 should be paid
at the rate of $425 per year is, on the face
of it, indefensible.
Turning to the group of superintendents
receiving the most common salary — in view
of the small number an average is likely to
be misleading. This is made up of those
receiving from $840 to $960 per year. Nine
superintendents of the forty reporting are
found in this group. The annual expendi-
tures for which they are responsible range
from $9,000 to $29,000 per year. In most
of the nine cases, the total expenditures ex-
ceed the most common total spent by forty
homes, which is between $5,000 and $14,000.
The pay-rolls for the nine institutions run
from $1,440 to $5,341, the number of chil-
dren cared for from 21 (there are only three
institutions having less) to 86 (there are
only seven having more) ; finally, the acre-
age cultivated ranges from y^ to 150 acres
(there are two having larger acreage). The
incongruities are evident — these nine super-
intendents receive about the same salary,
but according to any other standard — num-
ber of children or subordinates, amount of
annual budget or acreage — they cover nearly
the whole scale from top to bottom.
For the matrons the same inconsistencies
appear. Limiting our attention again to the
most common group for which the average
wage is between $400 and $499 P^r year,
that is, $33 to $41 per month, we find that
there are nine matrons paid at this rate.
But the number of children cared for in the
nine institutions ranges from 15 to 83. Fif-
teen is absolutely the smallest number in the
forty homes, and 83 the eleventh from the
top. The anual pay-rolls in the institutions
which these matrons help to manage run
154
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 2
from ^^27 to $5,341 per year. Of these
pay-rolls, five are below and the rest arc
either in or above the amount of the pay-
rolls in the most common group. Again
from the point of view of the relation of
the matron's salary to the superintendent's
salary for the nine, institutions, the former
ranges from 16 per cent to 87 per cent of
the latter. Finally, to compare with the
salary paid the cook, in five of the nine
cases the matrons receive more than the
cook; in, two of the four cases where they
leceive less, one matron responsible for a
home providing for 63 children receives $10
per month less than the cook; and in an in-
stitution of 83 children the matron receives
$15 less than the cook.
A similar absence of a fair standard is
found in the case of governesses, the
mothers of the home. The most common
wage paid to governesses is $30 per month.
This is $1 per day, for the typical governess
v/orks thirty days a month. Like the mother
of a family, she is subject to call at any
hour of the night. For this service she
usually receives less than is paid the cook
in the kitchen and much less than is now
necessary for maintaining the most modest
standard of life. This is a striking instance
of labor exploitation, for there is manifestly
no proper relation between the service ren-
dered and the compensation paid.
Underpayment Is Unprofitable'
But entirely apart from the human justice
or injustice involved in the salary conditions
just outlined, there is the very serious ques-
tion of the efficiency sacrificed because of
the current policy. All experience goes to
prove that labor exploitation does not pay
in the long run. Generally speaking, the
well-paid trades are the prosperous trades,
just as the high- wage countries are the pros-
perous countries. Underpayment means un-
derservice. It means a low-spirited organi-
zation, high labor losses through turnover, a
restricted field for recruitment, and, taken
all in all, makes for a contiuous deteriora-
tion of working standards.
It would be an object lesson well worth
while to compile a table showing for the
past five years the number of separations
and conditions for recruitment, for instance,
among governesses in country homes. The
average cost of replacement should be es-
timated by taking into account the amount
of time and money spent by superintendents
in the course of a year in unearthing re-
cruits, and the cost of training newcomers
into the duties of the position. The amount
of time the place was vacant or filled by an
overworked matron or a temporary make-
shift worker should also be computed as a
part of the cost of replacement. All of the
above might be estimated on a conservative
basis, just as employment managers compute
the cost of labor turnover in the factory.
But of course it would not be possible to
estimate the intangible losses sustained by
the children because of repeated changes,
particularly when the new recruit did not
measure up to her predecessor in person-
ality, character and force.
On the whole, it might safely be assumed
in advance that any investigation of the
turnover among governesses or similar
workers would be concluded with a state-
ment as to the deterioration of the service
rendered. With the keen competition for
labor on the one hand and, so far as pur-
chasing power is concerned, the decline of
the wage scale during the past five years on
the other, there has undoubtedly been a
steady deterioration of the force. This has
been a matter of common observation among
those who have come in contact with almost
any group of government workers.
Analysis of the pay-rolls of the county
homes warrants this conclusion, therefore,
that, taken as a whole, they have no intel-
ligent wage policy. The policy of no wage
policy applies to the whole corps of workers.
According to any standard, the amount of
annual budgets, the number of children in
a home, the annual pay-roll, the amount of
acreage under cultivation, the cost of living,
wages paid elsewhere, there seems to be
neither rhyme nor reason in the wages paid
to superintendent, janitor, or assistant cook.
The results of this policy of .drift may be
measured in terms of impaired service and
serious labor losses.
Wage Standardization
A fair analysis of the salary policy that
is operating in most of our governmental
jurisdictions would, beyond the shadow of
a doubt, give support to the conclusion just
reached. It would constitute an indictment
of existing conditions and a challenge for
constructive action. Practically every in-
vestigation of employment conditions that
hap been made public in the past decade
goes to prove this. As is well known, a
February, 1922 THE AMERICAN CITY
iSS
number of states, cities and counties, as well
as the Federal Government, have caused
such investigations to be made. The remedy
that has been worked out in many cases and
adopted in an increasing number is wage
standardization. The initial step in this
procedure is classification, that is, the group-
ing together of similar positions on the
basis of qualifications and duties. The out-
standing features of a standard wage scale
are then the following:
1. Of fundamental importance is a living
v/age for the lowest-paid position. In these
days of fluctuating money values, further
provisions should be made for revising the
minimum wage whenever material changes
in the purchasing power of money occur, as
this is evidenced in official cost-of-living in-
dex figures. In this way the first rung of
the ladder, the minimum wage, would al-
ways be above the surface of the water
whatever the height of the tide. If the
first rung is higher or lower, all the others
would be correspondingly higher or lower.
2. The second principle is that of equal
pay for equal work. Its corollary is that
attention should be given to relative values
so that differences in responsibility, skill,
difficulty and hazard shall be reflected in the
wage scale.
3. Under wage standardization there
should then be considered the "going
wage," that is, what is paid, first, for the
same work elsewhere, and second, for
similar types of work paid by similar public
and private institutions. Certain cities and
states, where there is a standardized wage
scale, would supply valuable information on
this score. For example, for the type of
institution which we have been considering,
it would also be important to learn what is
paid teachers, cooks, housemaids and farm
hands by first-class employers in the vari-
ous communities similar to those in which
the county institutions are situated. Com-
parative data of this sort are indispensable,
because institutional workers are drawn
from the same reservoirs of supply.
4. Finally, provision should be made for
what might be called efficiency increases ;
that is, a range should be set for each
one of the positions in the group, making
possible recognition of seniority and in-
creasing efficiency. The entering wage
should normally be the lowest wage.
On the basis of the above information, a
defensible wage scale could be set up that
would be bound to commend itself to the
appropriating bodies and the public in gen-
eral. In this way, the question of a fair
v/age could be considered on its merits and
taken out of the realm of tradition on the
one hand and personal opinion on the other.
Some one has remarked that retrenchment
may take on two forms; saving and wise
spending, and that' the latter is more im-
portant than the former. The establishment
of a fair wage is recommended in the name
of wise spending.
A committee of the Engineering Council
completed, a few months ago, a study of
the conditions in typical plants of six basic
industries. According to this report, bear-
ing the title "Waste in Industry," these in-
dustries are reaching only about .50 per
cent of practicable production. The com-
mittee considers that more than one-half of
the waste is to be charged to the account
of management, and in this account faulty
labor control is one of the outstanding items.
Among other things, reference is made to
the lack of a well-consfdered wage policy,
lack of attention to labor conditions, and
to the causes of voluntary withdrawals. All
of these charges are directly applicable to
the business of government.
Perhaps inspired by this report, the chair-
man of the legislative committee on taxa-
tion of New York State recently pointed out
that lack of attention to waste may easily
precipitate a "financial crisis in government
of more far-reaching effect than a financial
crisis in industry." This is a timely warn-
ing and one that comes from an authorita-
tive source. It has direct bearing on the
topic under consideration. For if an in-
vestigation were carried on similar to the
one just completed by the committee of the
Engineering Council, it would undoubtedly
prove that even a larger portion of waste
was due to faulty employment control in
government than in industry, because the
costs for personal service in public admin-
istration absorb a larger per cent of the
annual budget than in private enterprises.
Such an investigation would certainly show
that the most obvious fault in the employ-
ment policy of the typical county, city or
state in this country is the absence of a well-
balanced and up-to-date salary scale. It is,
therefore, in the name of real retrenchment
that attention is directed to the principles
cf an intelligent salary policy as a substitute
for the traditional practice of drift.
156
Motors Protect and Effectively Serve
Municipal Interests
A KINNEY ROAD-OILEE MOUNTED ON A KELLY-SPRINGFIELD TRUCK OPERATED BY
MARION COUNTY, OHIO, IN MAINTAINING ITS ROADS
THE MOTOR-CYCLE SQUAD OF LITTLE ROCK, ARK., MOUNTED ON HARLEY-DAVIDSON
MACHINES
Fhotograpli furnished through courtesy of B. C. Roteuberry, Chief, Folice Department, Little Rock, Ark.
February, 1922
THE
AMERICAN CITY
157
What Does It Cost to Run Your Motor T'ucjs^?, ^
?Sc stand So^wU operating costs^
T^^z:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^''^^
THE AMERICAN CITY
An Event "^rth
GRAND OPENING
[the white way]
Program
7:00 Pt M. Serenading Detroit Realtors at Presbyterian Church
7:30 _ Opening of the Big Carnival of Fun by Pagoda
Band and singing of America, Court House Square.
7:35 . Songs, Lelaud Olmstead and Band, Solo, "The Bells
of St Mary's
7:40 , . Address, Oscar C Lungerliausen
7:45 .. . Turning on New Boulevard Lights, Mayor Sams
Only a few months ago, Mt. Clemens,
Mich., celebrated the opening of its
new White Way, in which King stand-
ards were used. The feeling of civic
pride, increased safety and improved
trade from such an installation, may
be possessed by any city. Our Engi-
neering Department is available to
help solve your lighting problems at
any time.
King Manufacturing Co.
53 West JacKson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois
69
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
159
How Some Cities are Controlling Their
Motor Fleets
Interesting Data Compiled by the Bureau of Municipal Research, Toronto
IN an endeavor to bring about the use of
motor vehicles of all types by the various
city departments in Toronto, the Bureau
of Municipal Research of that city made an
examination of the methods employed by
other cities. Toronto's fleet is composed of
38 motor-cycles, dy passenger cars, 43 com-
mercial trucks, 12 ambulances, etc., and 26
pieces of fire department apparatus.
New York City found that the old method
of department control of motor trucks w^as
extravagant of equipment and wasteful of
time and money. A municipal garage was
established in 1916, but the system of as-
signing cars was objectionable owing to the
time wasted in waiting for cars, and on
August 3, 1921, a new system was inaugu-
rated with approximately 25 municipal taxi-
cabs. The service is operated just like that
of a private company. The taxicab stand is
located just outside of the Municipal Build-
ing, and cars start from the head of the line.
It is claimed that the result of this innova-
tion is a more economical and efficient
system.
Oakland, Calif., as an efficiency measure
to provide easy transportation for municipal
employees at a minimum cost to the taxpayer,
established a municipal garage in 1913 un-
der the supervision of the Commissioner of
Streets. The operation of the garage has
exceeded the expectations of the department,
and, while it is not considered 100 per cent
efficient, it is as nearly so as could be ex-
pected when consideration is given to the
variety of makes of cars that are handled.
All motor apparatus owned by this city, in-
cluding fire apparatus and Board of Educa-
tion equipment, is repaired by the municipal
garage.
Detroit, Mich., has organized its motor
service under the Superintendent of Trans-
portation, who reports directly to the
Mayor. The equipment of the Board of
Education and the Fire Commission is not
controlled by the Superintendent of Trans-
portation. The amount of saving to the
city has not been computed, but it is be-
lieved that the economy efifected is sub-
stantial.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, strictly
speaking, does not operate a municipal
garage, but the hydro-electric system there
built and operates a garage in which
vehicles belonging to other city departments
are cared for and repairs executed at cost
plus a percentage to cover the up-keep of
the building.
San Francisco, Calif., has over 100 city-
owned cars, but no municipal garage, and is
seriously considering the establishment of
one to efifect a saving in the maintenance of
its machines.
Suggestions for Toronto of General
Interest
Toronto has experimented with the mu-
nicipal garage idea. The city recently
rented floor space in a privately owned gar-
age and under the Division of the Commis-
sioner of Property cares for 31 passenger
cars, 13 motor-cycles and 2 trucks. Records
of cost, mileage traveled, etc., are not kept
for each car, nor for the entire fleet. The
suggestions made by the Bureau of Mu-
nicipal Research for Toronto are pertinent
and worthy of study by municipal officials
throughout this country and in Canada.
It is recommended that the Toronto City
Hall courtyard be used as a taxi stand for a
number of the municipal passenger cars
now assigned to departments but not in con-
stant use. These, when wanted, might be
dispatched from the central office in the
City Hall, driven either by one of the stafif
of chauffeurs or by the city official requir-
ing transportation, and return to the stand
on completion of the run, ready for the next
call. Such a plan might at least provide
some departments with motor transportation
of which they are now in need without re-
ducing that of other departments. This
taxi service should, of course, be restricted
to important public business.
It is further suggested that the present
departmental garages and machine shops
could always be used as the framework on
which eventually to build up on central
management a more fully coordinated sys-
tem. This does not mean that the operation
THE AMERICAN CITY
HtLLi
L I a h "t i n
THE exclusive resi
dential community
of White Fish Bay, Wis.,
has installed "Hollow-
spun" reinforced concrete
lighting standards in pref-
erence to all other types.
Our new catalog supple-
ment No. 9, containing
full information on this
type of standard will be
sent on request.
M a 8 s e y Concrete
Products Corporation
Peoples Gas Bldg. Chicago
70
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
February, 1922 THE AMERICAN CITY
i6i
of all motor equipment should be centrally
controlled, nor that equipment need be
brought to one central garage for repair or
storage. The police department should
probably attain full control of the operation
of police vehicles. Minor repairs and ad-
justments to fire department equipment
should usually be made at the fire station.
All equipment, wherever held, should be
subjected to inspection from fully qualified
motor mechanics operating from a central
division. The major repairs should be made
by, or under the supervision of, this division.
Requests for replacement of, or additions
to, department motor equipment should be
referred to the central division, where a re-
port could be obtained as to whether equip-
ment already owned by the city would be
available. The head of the division should
set standards of quality before purchase,
and pass on quality after delivery and be-
fore acceptance by the city. It is not prob-
able that with centralized management of
city garages and motor equipment subject
to the modifications above mentioned and
with adequate records of cost, service, etc.,
a less sum than $275,000 would be required
for the city's motor fleet, and in all prob-
ability a more effective use of the city's
motor equipment would result from central-
ized management and unified control of the
entire fleet.
A Competitive Bid Must Conform Exactly
to the Advertisement
AN award by a public body of a con-
tract for the doing of work or the
purchase of supplies, made after ad-
vertisement and competitive bidding, must
be according to the terms advertised to pros-
pective bidders, so that all may be on the
same footing, holds the New Jersey Su-
preme Court in the case of Pew v. Commis-
sioners of Fire District No. i, Chester
Township, 114 Atlantic Reporter, 151. Ac-
cordingly, it was decided' that, where an ad-
vertisement for bids to furnish a fire truck
with complete fire pumping apparatus re-
quired separate specification of prices as to
each part proposed to be furnished, an award
could not be made on a lump sum bid.
The opinion adds, in passing, that it was
to be doubted whether a restriction of bid-
ders to "well-known manufacturers or dis-
tributors of fire apparatus" is a proper
restriction in an invitation for bids. It is
suggested that this "purports to shut out
the concern of high standards whose equip-
ment may be entirely satisfactory to the
underwriters and whose responsibility may
be unquestionable, but which has not yet
been long enough in the business to account
as a 'well-known' concern."
On the Calendar of Conventions
Febkuary 17. — Trfnton, N. J.
New Jersey Sewage Works Association. Annual
meeting. Secretary-Treasurer, Myron E. Fuller, 170
Broadway, New York, N. Y.
Makch 1. — Chicago, III.
National Community Center Association. Annual
meeting. Secretary, Le Roy E. Bowman, 503 Kent Hall,
Columbia University, New York, N. Y.
March 1-2. — Washington, D. C.
National Rivers and Harbors Congress. Annual con-
z/cnti'in. Secretary, S. A. Thompson, 824 Colorado
Building, Washington, D. C.
March 14-16. — London, England.
International Garden Cities and Town Planning As-
sociation. International conference. Honorary Sec-
retary, C. B. Purdom, 3 Grays Inn Place, London,
W. C, England.
April 10. — New York, N. Y.
National Committee on Prison.t and Prison Labor.
Annual meeting. Secretary, J. K. Jaffray, Broadway
and 116th Street, New York, N. Y.
April 19-21. — Spartanburg, S. C.
Tri-Statc Water and Light Association of the Caro-
Unas and Georgia. Annual meeting. Secretary, W. F'.
Stieglitz, Columbia, S. C.
May 9-11. — Atlantic City, N. J.
National Fire Protection As.<!ociation. Annual meet-
ing. Secretary, Franklin H. Went worth, 87 Milk
Street, Boston, Mass.
May 15-19. — Philadelphia, Pa.
American Water Works Association. Annual con-
vention. Secretary, J. M. Diven, 153 West 71st Street,
New York. N. Y.
May 15-21. — Washington, D. C.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of
America. Annual meeting. Secretary, D. A. Skinner,
Mills Building, Washington, D. C.
August 9-18. — San Francisco, Cal.
International Association of Fire Engineers. Annual
meeting. Secretary, James J. Mulcahey, City Hall,
Yonkers, N. Y.
October 9-13. — Cleveland, Ohio.
American Society for Municipal Improvements.
Annual convention. Secretary, Charles Carroll Brown,
P. O. Box 234, St. Petersburg, Fla.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Making School
House Steps Safe
Architectural attractiveness was a factor
— it was essential that every step be made
slip-proof and safe — the steps had to be
made durable — maintenance costs had to
be eliminated —
The architects (Frost & Chamberlain) of
the Worcester Girls' Trade School,
Worcester, Mass., a beautiful $350,000
building, solved this stairway problem
with ALUNDUM SAFETY TILE. The
stairtreads are cast iron with steel risers.
The cast iron tread is depressed to receive
the tile which is set in cement mortar.
Thus every step in the building, two sets
of stairways from shower baths to the top
floor, are made slip-proof, trip-proof and
wear-proof and the architects were able to
get the desired harmonious effects.
ALUNDUM SAFETY TILE is manu-
factured by
NORTON COMPANY
Worcester, Mau.
New York Chicago
151 Cbamberg St 1 1 No. Jeaemon St.
Detroit, 233 W. confieas St.
71
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amekican City,
i63
'f=ff=f
Where Fires Are EmbarrassiDg
Indianapolis, Ind. — The fire prevention
program of Indianapolis resulted in reduc-
ing fire losses for the first ten months of
1921 from $1,500,000 to $900,000. This pro-
gram was carried out under the auspices of
the Fire Prevention Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce, with the hearty co-
operation of the Indianapolis Fire Depart-
ment.
The first official move was the organiza-
tion of the Chamber of Commerce Fire Pre-
vention Committee. A city-wide survey
with photographs was made, and the records
were analyzed to show the causes of fires.
The Committee sponsored a "fire prevention
organization,'' which has grown until it now
numbers more than a thousand persons in
all parts of the city. Realizing that it is
impossible to keep everybody continuously
at white heat on a subject, the Committee
made the campaign a series of efforts, com-
ing back to the old idea time after time, and
driving it home with new force.
The first move was made in June, when
every home in the city was inspected by a
fire department official. With the coopera-
tion of the Sanitary Commission, the entire
city was combed and cleaned up. Notices
were given to a large number of property
owners, and it was necessary to conduct
about 20 prosecutions, but it resulted in the
elimination of practically every fire hazard
in Indianapolis.
The next campaign was in the fall, cul-
minating in the observance of the national
Fire Prevention Day. Large posters were
placed conspicuously all over the city.
Thousands of pledge cards were distributed,
with the result that there are now in the
Committee's office 40,000 signed cards from
children and adults pledging the signers to
cooperate in every way to make Indianapolis
a cleaner, safer, healthier city. In the work
of arousing interest, essays were written in
all the public schools, and daily stories were
carried in the newspapers for more than
six weeks.
On Fire Prevention Day the Fire Depart-
ment conducted a parade of its apparatus.
During the ten days previous, more than
700 speeches were delivered before civic
meetings of one kind or another.
The campaign that is now on, centers
around the 12-foot dial shown in the picture.
"Watch the Dial" is the advice on the board,
which records the fire loss in comparison
with the previous year. Each day at 12 130
the hands are moved. Beneath the clock is
kept a daily record of fires, with the cause
of each. It is estimated that of the fires
recorded, 2^ were from unavoidable causes,
such as lightning, and the remainder, nearly
3,000, were due to negligence or carelessness.
Fire prevention in Indianapolis has just
started. The committee does not expect to
A PIECE OF EFFECTIVE. CONTINUOUS PUB-
LICITY FOR FIRE PREVENTION IN INDIAN-
APOLIS, IND.
H MUELLER MFG^COMPftNY^ SKSHir^'J «,..,.. ... ^'""^'■•"-''
t Die Castings in w niic . ■ . ■ i I I ■ I ■! il 1 1 ll 1 1
When .vriting to Advertisers
please mention The American
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
i6S
get its maximum results for two or three
years ; and it hopes to bring public sentiment
to such a plane that the person who has a
fire will be ashamed of it, rather than feel-
ing himself the victim of an accident. The
people of Indianapolis have come to believe
that fires are preventable. The committee
has their complete cooperation. That is the
biggest tangible result of the movement.
FRANK A. JORDAN,
Chairman, Fire Prevention Committee, Indian-
apolis Chamber of Commerce.
A Woodland Swimming Pool
Frostburg, Md. — The accompanying pic-
ture shows a section of the new community
pool just completed by the Commercial Club
of Frostburg, Md. More than 4,000 people
attended the opening of the pool on August
24, at which speeches were made by Presi-
dent Gillette of the Commercial Club and
Mayor O. R. Rice. The pool is used for
swimming in summer and skating in winter.
Contractors estimated it would cost $10,-
000 to build this pool ; it was, however, con-
structed by the Commercial Club at an ac-
tual expenditure of $2,300. Most of the
labor was voluntary on the part of the citi-
zens of the town; as many as 200 men and
boys on several occasions worked all day
without pay, and the ladies of the town
served ample dinners on these occasions.
The pool is about 140 feet square, has
concrete side-walls and bottom, and slopes
down to a depth of 8 feet. The shallow
corner of the pool is fenced off for the
children, who are also provided with a
large sand-pile. A small creek fed by
springs furnishes water for the pool. The
bed of this creek was excavated and a dam
built; in this way running water constantly
renews the pool, keeping it sanitary and
fresh.
The setting for the pool is particularly
beautiful, in a large grove at the foot of a
tall mountain. Large, beautiful trees border
three sides, and next spring a regular play-
ground will be established near the pool.
The land on which the park and pool are
located is leased by the Commercial Club.
While the pool is entirely free, the Club
issues admission cards to all who wish to
enjoy its privileges. These cards may be
taken up if the holders insist on breakiri'g
the rules and regulations governing the use
of the property.
T. C. CARRINGTON,
Secretary, Frostburg Commercial Club.
CONSTRXTCTED AT SMALL COST BY THE FROSTBtTRG, MD., COMMERCIAL CLUB, THE POOL
PROVIDES A SKATINa-RINK IN WINTER AND A SWIMMING POOL IN SUMMER
THE AMERICAN CITY
tlOREWM EVE HUNDRED CITIES
NUMBER 500 is on the job in
literally hundreds of cities :
Big cities, little cities, cities
where in winter the streets are full
of snow, and others where snow is
unknown, doing a good, honest job
of it in helping keep the streets clean.
It is a splendid municipal push
broom — just one of the line — but
judging by the sales records and the
testimony of its friends, it is by far
the best broom on the market for
street cleaning.
¥
Now Using
OSB ORN
Push Brooms
BROOMS
LARGEST MANUFACTURERS of INDUSTRIAL BRUSHES AND BROOMS
73
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amkkican City.
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
167
A Novel Way of Financing a
Chamber of Commerce Building
Sacramento, Calif. — Would one person
out of every 100 in your city pay half of his
dues in your Chamber of Commerce for ten
years in advance? If so, your city can have
its own Chamber of Commerce building.
Sacramento, capital of California, has
such a building financed by such a plan. It
is the realization of a hope harbored in the
minds of Sacramento citizens for twenty
years. Each year of the twenty witnessed
a spasmodic attempt to make the dream of a
Chamber of Commerce building an actuality.
Then came 1921, and in twelve months the
building was completed and occupied — a
year, to the day, from the time the movement
was launched!
The Sacramento Chamber had, for many
years, occupied a rented room on a side
street, scarcely the size of an ordinary
store. To-day, in its three-story home, in
the heart of the business district, the Cham-
ber has : a spacious office room amply hous-
ing the organization's nine departments; an
auditorium with a seating capacity of 500;
a board of directors' room with accommo-
dations for fifty persons; three office rooms
on the mezzanine floor; a committee room
with a capacity of 100 persons; a mailing
room; two stock-rooms; a fully equipped
kitchen with dumb-waiter making service
easy to committee rooms in various parts of
the building; a photographic department; a
printing department ; a storage room, check-
ing rooms, lockers, closets, etc.
The auditorium is used also for dinners
and dances, and the main office, by the
simple process of removing the bronze posts
and plush-covered ropes which separate the
departments, can be quickly converted into
a reception room.
There is not a more attractive office build-
ing in Sacramento, exterior and interior,
than the new Chamber of Commerce build-
ing. But it is more than a fine building;
it is the embodiment of the highest type of
community spirit.
The site upon which the building was
erected was acquired by the Sacramento
Chamber a number of years ago. The
building and equipment cost $80,000, this
being met by the prepayment of dues. So
the site and structure stand to-day entirely
free of debt and rated at $130,000 in the
Chamber's assets. The fine spirit which
EXTERIOR VIEW OF THE SAUKAMENTO CHAM-
BER OF COMMERCE BUILDING
financed the building did not stop with the
prepayment of dues. Some of the contrac-
tors made a reduction in their charges,
much of the equipment was provided at a
figure below the usual cost, and there were
a number of items contributed.
In its new home the Sacramento Chamber
is able to extend its scope of activity. Its
service is not limited to Sacramento, but
reaches out through the agricultural sec-
tions of the Sacramento Valley. Twenty
chambers of commerce in Northern Cali-
fornia use the building as their central
meeting place. Parent-teacher associations
of Northern California counties held their
convention in it. Fruit growers and farm-
ers gather here. Its facilities make possible
the successful organization and operation of
state societies, bringing the people of Sacra-
mento and vicinity into closer touch.
Through a unique checking service, country
.shoppers are relieved of the disagreeable
features which attend the delivery of ar-
ticles. The Rotary Club of Sacramento
holds its regular luncheon-meetings in the
commodious auditorium. The membership
of the Chamber is brought into closer re-
lationship by entertainments, dances and
.social events "in their own big home."
These are but a few of the score of features
wherein the Chamber's service is more ex-
tensive and its activities more effective
through the erection of the new building.
The wider service thus made possible an-
swers the question: "What will the Cham-
ber of Commerce do to overcome the loss in
annual revenue brought about by the pre-
THE AMERICAN CITY
Spreading the Gospel
of Mudless, Dustless,
All-year Roads—
WHEREVER you have seen one of these trucks
at work you may 6e sure that GOOD ROADS
have come to that community. For the Tarvia
Truck Sprayer is the heirald of smooth, dustless,
mudless "all-year" roads that are less expensive to
build and maintain than any other type of modern
highway,.
How about the roads in your community?
if you haye^an^road problems — either construe-
tionf maintenance or repairs^ — put them up today to
""^tiie^ enginecf^ of our. Special Service Department.
^,'Their advice /based on wide experience with every
'■type of highway construction, is free for the asking —
,' and it involves no obligation whatever on your part.
Please address your letter to our nearest branch.
Hew York Chicago Philadelphia Buston
Detroit New Orleans Birmingham Kansas City
SaltLakeCily Seattle Peoria Atlanta
Johnstown Lebanon ^•oungsto^vn Toledo
Elizabeth Buffalo Baltimore Omaha
THE BARRETT COMPANY, Limited Montreal
Jhe
St Louis Cleveland
/-« Minneapolis Dallas
(-'Ompdny IJuluth Milwaukee
Columbus Richmond
Houston Denver
Winnipeg
Vancouv
Si. J oh
C "mcinnali Pittsburgh
Nashville Syracuse
Bangor Washington
l.atrobe Bethlehem
Jacksonville
1, N. B. Halifax, N. S.
74
Wbcn writing to Advertisen please mention Tbk Amkucan City.
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
169
INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING OF THE SACRAMENTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
MODEL FOR CHAMBERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES
THIS IS A
payment of dues .for the financing of the
building?" At first glance, that might ap-
pear to be a serious detriment. The fact
that a large number of members have paid
half their dues in advance — in the case of
Sacramento the annual dues are $25 — should
of course be taken into consideration. It
means that the Chamber gets only $12.50 in
cash from each member who subscribed to
the building, for annual operating expenses.
But in the case of Sacramento, there still
remained approximately 1,000 members who
paid the full $25, while the Chamber has an
additional $45,000 income from its "Service
Fund," subscribed by the banks and business
institutions. Moreover, the wider service
meant wider interest in the Chamber's work
and consequently a sufficient number of new
members to meet the apparent reduction in
income. This, coupled with the increased
interest in the Chamber's work, and the
feeling of pride which the erection of the
building has created, makes the Chamber a
substantial and active institution, with its
successful future operation definitely as-
sured.
Sacramento citizens point with pride to
the fact that their city is the first on record
to secure a chamber of commerce building
by the unique method of financing worked
out by A. S. Dudley, Secretary-Manager of
the Chamber. Erection of the structure
has impressed upon them a higher and
broader meaning of the words "Chamber of
Commerce." Each member of the Chamber
feels he is a stockholder in one of the big-
gest projects in his city. And he has a
world of satisfaction, too, in knowing that
he has been a factor in providing for all
groups of citizens working for the direct
welfare of Sacramento, every facility for
efficient community service.
Assistant Secretary,
Commerce.
IRVIN ENGLER.
Sacramento Chamber of
Chamber of Commerce Encour-
ages Municipal Music
Memphis, Tenn. — In January, 1921, the
Park Commission of Memphis inaugurated a
Division of Municipal Music and Dramatic
Art, under the joint support and supervision
of the Park Commission and the Chamber
of Commerce. In this department this city
can boast of a civic venture of an artistic
type probably never before attempted in this
section.
Arthur Nevin, appointed Director, began
to form a chorus and iorchestraK The
chorus began with approximately thirty-
seven members and has increased its enroll-
ment to two hundred or more. The orches-
tra numbered about seven at the first re-
hearsal and finished the season (three and
one-half months) with an enrollment of over
forty of both professional and non-profes-
sional musicians. The orchestra, combining
with the Municipal Choral Society, gave
five public concerts at the leading theater in
Memphis. These performances have grad-
ually gained the interest of the people to
such an extent that next season the orches-
THE AMERICAN CITY
/ME
OR.T
CULVEI^TS
These culverts, known from one end of the country to the
other, are made of genuine open-hearth iron (99.875 percent
PURE IRON COPPER ALLOY). We have sold thousands
of feet of them with no other exterior protection than a coat
of asphalt rubber paint. Were it not for the copper content
of this extremely pure iron, we would not dare sell these
culverts without a heavy coating of spelter or galvanizing,
as in the case of those companies who sell pipe made of just
pure iron. Newport Culverts are the most rust-resisting
and strongest culverts on the market today.
Newport genuine open-hearth iron culverts are guaranteed to
last longer under identical conditions than any other corru-
gated metal culvert pipe. It is made in full-round and half-
round types in order that city, county, or state oflOicial may
have a culvert adaptable to every condition.
Illustrated literature free on request,
NEWPORT CULVERT CO.
542 WEST 10th ST., NEWPORT, KENTUCKY
yMEWP.On2,T
CUCV^R.TS
75 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
171
tra will have fifty members, and the Choral
Society has doubled its number to nearly
four hundred voices. Steps have now been
taken for the building of an open-air theater
in one of the largest parks, modeled after
the municipal theater in Forest Park, St.
Louis, in which grand opera and other
musical attractions on a large scale can be
given.
By carefully preparing his program, giv-
ing at the start only such music as the gen-
eral public can understand, Mr. Nevin is
bringing the people to an appreciation of the
best music. To know the character of
music that is given to the people, one has
but to glance at the list of composers on
the programs — Beethoven, Verdi, Grieg,
Bizet, Wagner, and many others. The idea
of this work is very unusual. It recalls the
spirit of the Old World, in having national
opera houses supported by public funds.
The Music Committee of the Chamber of
Commerce has for years endeavored to pro-
mote a higher appreciation of music and also
better opportunities for all the people to
gain the cultural advantages that good
music gives to a people. The cooperative
arrangements with the city through the
Memphis Park Commission is the latest step
in this direction. The Director's salary and
the expenses incident to this past season's
work, in addition to income from the con-
certs, have been jointly borne by the Cham-
ber of Commerce and the city. It is prob-
able that the entire expense of the Division
of Municipal Music and Dramatic Art will
be assumed by the city next season and that
the Chamber will be left free to devote its
efforts to further experimental extension
work in cooperation with the city.
Assistant Manager,
merce.
WM. C. HEADRICK,
Memphis Chamber of Com-
An Effective Collection Letter
Sharon, Pa. — The accompanying illus-
tration shows the front and back pages of a
four-page collection letter successfully em-
ployed by the Sharon Chamber of Com-
merce. The first page is the usual Chamber
letterhead, with its request for the prompt
payment of dues. The othei three pages
are devoted to an attractive series of pic-
tures, accompanied by brief, telling sen-
tences describing some of the objects for
which the Chamber needs money. In this
letter special emphasis was laid on the de-
sires of the Chamber to provide better play-
ground facilities for the city's children.
The letter is distinctly out of the ordinary
in its graphic method of appeal, and its
circulation has met with a very favorable
response.
P. A. JONES,
Executive Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
V
i^l "4
Chambeir of commerce
T-irtfiiatiLac !%■ pwrjM* l
THE "DUNNING LETTER'
OF THE SHARON, PA., CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WOULD BE HARD
TO RESIST
THE AMERICAN CITY
Northern Fire Apparatus
Reo Speed-wagon, Triple Combination, In Service Clarion, Pa.
Read "The Evidence"
^^ THEN buying fire apparatus you want to know what it will
^ ^ do largely by what it has done during its years in the
field. You want to know what other cities have found out about
Northern Fire Apparatus.
We have prepared a collection of letters from users of the
Northern — actual copies of the complete letter in every case.
You will find them not only interesting, but full of valuable,
helpful buying information. — Write for your copy.
Sales Offices: Every Truck Dealer, Everywhere
Northern Fire Apparatus Co.
2420 University Ave., S. E.
Minneapolis, Minn.
76
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
^7Z
The Preparation of a Layout Plan
MUCH has been written on the subject
of the general principles which
should govern the planning of a
housing scheme, but the application of these
principles to a specific site is not always the
simple process that it might superficially
appear to be. A short description of the
progressive stages of the design for the lay-
THE LARGE AREA REPRESENTS A CITT, AND THE SMALLER, A
500-ACRE TRACT SELECTED POR SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT
out of an actual site may be, therefore, not
without interest.
The site in question is situated on the out-
skirts of a large city. It comprises an area
of about 500 acres of very undulating land,
bounded on the north and south by main
roads which are also tramway routes, on
the east by a railway, and on the west by a
road of some importance as a connecting
link between the two main roads.
Upon examination of
the area in its relation ^;b=:— j(
to the city, it became evi-
dent that the function of
a housing scheme in this
position was likely to be
that of a suburb rather
than that of a self-con-
tained town, and the prob-
lem was approached, ac-
cordingly, from this point
of view. Now, assuming
the suitability of the site
in other respects, the most
important requir e m e n t
of a suburb is the ade-
quacy of its transport fa-
cilities. In this case there
was ample provision, for.
in addition to the two tramway routes already
referred to, there were four railway stations
situated at convenient points outside the
estate; and the traffic problem therefore re-
solved itself into the provision of suitable
connections between the two main roads
and convenient means of access within the
scheme itself.
Two main ridges tra-
verse the area from east
to west, with a stream in
the valley between; a
chain of four knolls
crosses the site in a north-
westerly direction, while
there is an irregular-
shaped depression in the
southwest corner. In ad-
dition to these natural fea-
tures, consideration has
to be given to the exis-
tence of a colliery (the
productive life of which is
likely to terminate com-
paratively soon), two old
the sporadic development
which has already taken place. The slope
of the land is such that advantage has to
be taken, in locating the roads, of every
assistance that nature affords, and the final
scheme provides roads giving access across
and from corner to corner of the site.
In describing the preparation of a layout
it is impossible to avoid the treatment of
each factor separately, and though the loca-
quarries.
and
Sfe
MS(
taK?i
THE SMALL TRACT PLANNED FOR A SPECIFIED PURPOSE-
CONVENIENT SUBURB TO A GREAT CITY
THE AMERICAN CITY
i^i!llllillllllllllllllllllll!lHIIIII!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII|||||||||||||y
llllllllllllllllllllllllllll'
WORTHINGTO\ MOWER COMPANY
Worthington Tractor and ''Convertible Quint"
SPECIAL FEATURES
Third Section may be attached to any Worthington Triple at present in
service and instantly detached by removing a single kingbolt.
Triple mower cuts a swath of seven feet.
With Convertible Quint attachment cuts a swath of eleven feet, four
inches.
A gain of 65%.
A FEW PROMINENT CLUBS USING WORTHINGTON TRACTORS IN COMBINAT ON
WITH WORTHINGTON GANG MOWERS. SHAWNEE MODEL:
I Oakland G. C.
g St. Andrews G. C.
m National Golf Link
M Links G. C.
M Nassau C. C.
= Siwanoy G. C.
1 Tuxedo G. C.
g Pelham Manor C. C
M Piping Rock Club
Sleepy Hollow C. C.
Hollywood G. C.
Deal G. C.
Somerset Hills G. C.
Englewood C. C.
Upper Montclair C. C.
Shackamaxon C. C.
Essex Co. C. C.
Knickerbocker C. C.
Rumson C. C.
Morris Co. G. C.
Baltusrol G. C.
White Marsh Valley
C. C.
Old York Road C. C.
Shawnee C. C.
Philadelphia C. C.
New Haven C. C.
Myopia Hunt C.
Brae Burn C .C.
Essex C. C.
St. Louis C. C.
Midwick C. C.
Wilshire C. C.
Royal Montreal C. C
C. C. of Montreal
SRECIAL IMOTICE
The public is advised that the combination of gang lawn mowers with motor
tractor, either of the draft or push type, is fully and broadly covered by U. S.
Patents issued and pending, owned or controlled by this Company; that the sale
of any tractor used in combination with a gang mower may render the vendor
or user liable for infringement. This Company will protect its rights.
WORTHINGTON MOWER COMPANY
Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa.
77
^hen writing tQ A4y?rtiseri please mention f gf ^iiekican City.
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
175
tion of the main roads has been dealt with
without reference to the placing of the pub-
lic buildings, open spaces and other im-
portant components of the scheme, it will
be realized that all these matters are inti-
mately related and must be considered con-
currently. Thus the principal feature, which
takes the form of a wide boulevard stopped
at one end by a market and shopping center
and at the other by a group of public
buildings, was determined by a considera-
tion of its central position and relation to
the intersection of the main roads, the domi-
nating nature of the site chosen for the pub-
lic buildings, and the value of the stream as
a decorative adjunct. In a similar way sub-
sidiary social centers were placed at points
where convenience of access and a natural
prominence or special suitability of charac-
ter at once suggested the appropriateness of
the position. See the second illustration.
Parks and playing fields also received
careful consideration on the same lines, and
the site for each was chosen with particular
regard to its natural suitability and proper
place in the general scheme. The two dis-
used quarries, for instance, were admirably
fitted for development as public gardens;
the stream in the valley called for a narrow
belt of park land running right through the
estate; and the few comparatively level
sites were used for playing fields.
The framework of the scheme being set-
tled, the planning of the subsidiary roads
now claimed attention. Here the problem
was one of providing the most convenient,
economical and attractive sites for houses,
and a close study of the contours was es-
sential. On steeply sloping ground of this
kind the roads naturally followed the con-
tours to a large extent, and an irregular de-
velopment resulted, which is in harmony
with the character of the site and contrasts
agreeably with the more formal treatment
of the centers. Provision was made for
houses of all types, for in a scheme of this
size it was obvious that many larger houses
would be required, and sites for these were
reserved in suitable parts of the estate.
In this way the layout was gradually built
up, and though it is impossible in such a
brief description to do more than touch
upon the progressive stages through which
it passed, some indication has, perhaps, been
given of the particular application of the
general principles which govern the prepa-
ration of all housing schemes.
F. L. T.
Acknowledgment. — Prepared from the Site Planning
Number of Housing, published in London, Eng.
If Some One Thinks of It in Time, Your
City May Have a Street Like This
AVENUE DA LTBEBSADE, LISBON, PORTUGAL
THE AMERICAN CITY
Pennsylvania TRIO ; a
time and labor saver for
golf course, parks, large
estates 86 in. swath.
Pennsylvania GOLF ;
closest cutting for pat-
ting greens, tennis
courts and £ixe lawns.
"YY 7 HETHER used in gangs or singly, each mower repre-
^^ sents the utmost in mechanical perfection. Exclusive
features such as self-sharpening, interchangeable parts,
automobile type ball bearings, assure ease and accuracy in
operation.
Their long record of service is due to the use of finest
materials in making. For instance, all blades, not just one,
as in ordinary mowers, are made of crucible, tool steel;
doubly tempered.
Write for "Pennsylvania TRIO Book"
Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works, Inc.
1615 North 23rd Street, Philadelphia
iiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii mil iiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiininiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiininiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiira
78 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
177
Arson and Some of Its Causes
With a Discussion of What Constitutes Evidence in Prosecutions for Arson
By J. A. Tracy
State Fire Marshal, Des Moines, la.
THE crime of arson is about as common
nowadays as convictions for arson are
uncommon. It is a difficult crime to
prove. The more complete the burning, the
less evidence can be secured.
There are three kinds of crimes called
arson: i, setting fire to another's property
for revenge; 2, setting fire to cover up
crime; 3, burning or causing to be burned a
person's own property to collect insurance
in excess of the value of the property.
While the insurance companies are liable
only for the replacement value, or the value
of the property destroyed, they are at the
mercy of the assured when a total loss oc-
curs, by reason of padded claims, especially
if the case goes to court. The percentage of
arson cases for revenge only or to cover up
crime is very small compared to that of fires
set for gain by the assured.
It is so easy to get insurance in almost
any amount on almost any kind of property,
that many persons plan for the destruction
of property, await the proper time to set
the fire, and cover up their w^hereabouts
with a perfect alibi. It is a well-known fact
that fires can be set to burn at a certain
time — usually in the night, often destroying
the plant and leaving no evidence to prove
that the fire was set by design. Then we
must prove beyond a reasonable doubt who
set the fire or had it set.
If the case is one of conspiracy between
two persons, the confession of one con-
spirator is not sufficient to convict the other
conspirator unless it can be proved by cor-
roborative evidence that a conspiracy did
exist and that the fire was set with the in-
tent to burn. A motive might also be proved
on account of over-insurance and bad finan-
cial condition, but that is not sufficient, be-
cause the practice of writing over-insurance
is common and has brought about one of the
most aJarmirig situations confronting us
during 'thfs time of depression.
Under-' the Fire Marshal Law of Iowa
every fire chief Is, in fact, an Assistant State
Fire Marshal, as he is required by law to
make investigations and report all facts to
the State Fire Marshal.
Securing Evidence
Every effort should be made to find out
where the fire started and its cause, if pos-
sible, to preserve all evidence and call the
attention of helpers to suspicious circum-
stances and visible evidence, that they may
make competent witnesses in case of trial.
The evidence may be of value to the state in
case of prosecution, or of value to the prop-
erty owner to relieve him of suspicion, the
purpose of the law being to get all the facts
possible in order to protect the rights of all.
In case evidence is found to warrant the
assumption that the fire was set by design,
a guard should be put over the property so
that nothing can be disturbed until a thor-
ough investigation can be made by the
sheriff, the police department, the county
attorney or the state department.
In case oil cans or jugs or explosives are
found, they should be removed and locked
up. The owner or occupant should be inter-
viewed as soon as possible as to the time he
left the place and as to who advised him of
the fire, and how he was advised. All evi-
dence should be noted in a memorandum
book and not left to memory. If this is
done, it will be helpful to the department
and have a tendency to decrease arson.
The best way to fight fire is to fight it be-
fore it occurs. This can be done in many
cases by careful inspection, and should a
fire hazard be found, orders to remedy it at
once should be issued. If the order is not
obeyed, the facts must be reported to the
State Fire Marshal, giving the name and
address of the owner, name of occupant,
kind of occupancy, and general description
of defects found. This information is nec-
essary in order to get legal service on the
owner and occupant.
In case over-insurance on any property is
found, the insurance agents or the insurance
companies should be informed.
Acknowledgment. — From a paper read before the
Iowa State Firemen's Association, November, 1921.
tH£ AMERICAN CItY
How Large Parks
Can Save Money
Many city parks throughout the country have
greatly reduced the expense of keeping their
lawns in condition by the use of Ideal Power
Lawn Mowers.
These power mowing machines are truly great
labor savers. This statement is borne out by
the fact that many park superintendents are
now using several Ideal Mowers as a result of
the big saving that their first Ideal enabled
them to make.
In fact, it is the repeat orders that say more
for
Power
Lawn Mowers
than anything we might write.
Moreover, the more grass you have to cut the
more you can save. For extra large parks
where there are big areas of grass to be cut
the Ideal Triplex Power Mower has no equal.
It will mow from 30 to 35 acres a day, is easily
operated and absolutely dependable.
Then we make our standard 30-inch Ideal
Power Mower and the Ideal "Junior" Power
Mower, both of these machines are great labor
savers in park work and there are thousands
of them in use.
Write and get all the facts about the complete
line of Ideal Power Mowing equipment. We
will gladly advise you in selecting the most
suitable equipment for your needs.
Just A Simple Problem In Arithmetic
The saving that can be made with Ideal Power
Lawn Mowers is just about as simple as 2 times 2.
One man with a hand mower can average about ^
of an acre per day.
One man with a 30" Ideal Mower will mow at least
5 acres per day.
To figure out the actual saving we will place a
moderate estimate upon the wages saved. We will
allow liberal pay for the machine operator and
more than enough for mechanical up-keep, oil and
gas, interest on investment, etc.
Wages of 6 men at $3.00 per day
working with hand mowers ... $18 . 00
Wages of one man at $5.00 per
day working with Ideal Mower _6 . 00
$13760
For mechamcal up-keep, oil and
gas, interest on investment,
ment, etc 1.00
Net daily saving $12.00
Estimated cost of Ideal Power
Lawn Mowers $350.00
12(350)29
24
110
108
2/12
The answer is simple indeed— less than 30 days
saving pays the entire cost of the mower.
We-will leave it to you whether a machine that will
actually pay its own cost in a month's time is well
worth investigating.
IDEAL POWER LAWN MOWER CO.
R. E. Olds, Chairman
400 Kalamazoo St, Lansing, Mich.
World's Largest Builders of Pomer Laxon Mothers
CHICAGO, ILL. 11 E. Harrison St.
NEW YORK, N. Y. 270 West St.
BOSTON, MASS. 52 N. Market St.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 709 Arch St.
LOS ANGELES, CAL.
222 N. Los Angeles St.
NEW ORLEANS, LA. 130 Camp St.
PITTSBURGH. PA. 108 West Parkway
CLEVELAND, OHIO
1500 Lakeade Ave.
DENVER, COLO. 28th and Waiiee Sts.
ST. LOUIS, MO. 412-414 No. 4th St.
TORONTO, CANADA
17 Temperance St.
Ideal Junior
Power Mower
179
System in Naming and Marking Streets
By A. M
Tulsa,
AN interesting system of naming the
streets was started by the town offi-
cials of Tulsa, Okla., some ten or
fifteen years ago, and the method of mark-
ing them was established by the present
street commissioner. A stranger finds no
difficulty in locating any address in the city
by means of this system of naming and
marking.
The plan of naming the streets is com-
mendable in its simplicity. The streets run-
ning north and south are named after Amer-
ican cities, except Main Street, which forms
the base line for the eastern and western
sections of the city. The streets east of
Main and parallel to it are named after
eastern cities and in alphabetical order, as
Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, etc., while those
west of Main are named after western
cities and also in alphabetical order,
as Boulder, Cheyenne, Denver, etc.
Traversing Main Street at right
angles are the Sante Fe and Frisco
railroad tracks. These mark the
division between the northern and
southern sections of the town and
form the base line for the number-
ing of the old streets, as First
Street, Second, Third, etc. East
of Main Street, First Street is
called East First Street, while west
of Main it is West First Street.
In like manner, the streets named
after cities are termed North
. Husted
Okla.
Boston or North Cincinnati when north of
the tracks, and South Boston or South Cin-
cinnati when south of the tracks.
Such a comprehensive system of naming
streets would be of little value to a stranger
unless the streets were properly marked.
Through necessity, a cheap and efficient sys-
tem of marking the streets was discovered
by the street department. All street names
are stenciled in black on a white back-
ground painted on the curbs, as shown in
the accompanying illustration. They are
painted only on the right-hand opposite
corner, so that one driving down a street
will be able to read the name of a cross-
street while approaching it. It is estimated
that these signs cost considerably less than
the standard type of street markers in
Tulsa.
STBEET NAME PAINTED ON CTTBB
Two Changes in City Managers
On January i, J. Walter Ackerman be- municipal field as Chief
came City Manager of Watertown, N. Y.,
succeeding C. A. Bingham, who has taken
the managership of Lima, Ohio. Mr.
Ackerman is a civil engineer, and was for
six years city engineer of Auburn, N. Y.,
during which period he built one of the first
municipal conduit systems. After an inter-
val during which he was resident engineer
of the Ithaca Short Line, he returned to the
as Utiiet Engineer and
Superintendent of the Auburn, N. Y., water-
works. Under his management the system
has been extended and a filtration plant in-
stalled. Mr. Bingham was welcomed to his
new position in Lima, Ohio, by a large ban-
quet given by the Chamber of Commerce.
The Lions and Kiwanis Clubs offered
specialties, and an excellent spirit of co-
operation was evident.
Finances of Sioux City, Iowa
Revised figures received from the Census camber, 1921, should read as follows:
Bureau show that the sums given for the re- Per capita costs for year ending March 31,
ceipts and expenditures of Sioux City, Iowa, 1921, were $44.70; per capita receipts, $37.68,
on page 511 of The American City for De- leaving an apparent deficit of $7.03.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Paid Their Way Since 1914
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa's Police Department tried out several makes of
motorcycles before it was decided to use Harley-Davidsons
exclusively- Novs', seven Harley-Davidsons (including
three 1 922 models) are on duty in this progressive southern
city. I 111
For emergency calls and messenger service, patrolling work,
regulating traffic, enforcing parking rules, chasing auto-
mobile speeders, running down "motorized crooks" — on
any kiiid of roads and in any weather — you can't beat a
Harley-Davidson. Many cities have actually paid for one
or more machines in a few weeks from the increased revenue
a motorcycle has brought in.
A Harley-Davidson's ruggedness and durability assure
years of dependable service, with surprisingly small upkeep
cost. Far cheaper to run than the most economical auto-
mobile— in fact, the maintenance and operation expense of
a Harley-Davidson is even less than the cost of keeping a
horse.
See the 1922 models at your local dealer's. Get the
new Harley-Davidson prices (25% reduction) and
ask for free demonstration.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR GO.
MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
City officials and those in-
terested in police depart-
ment efficiency should have
our new book, "Motorcycles
for Police and Sundry
Purposes." Write on your
letterhead for your compli-
mentary copy, and see how
other cities are using motor-
cycles to increase police
efficiency.
"UJorld^s Champion Motorcycle
80
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thb Amekican City.
i8i
BONDING
Municipal Finance
ACCOUNTING
TAXATION
Some Things Which the Business Man
Should Know About His City
By Thomas R. Lili
Of Searle, Nicholson, Oakley & Lill, Certified Public Accountants, New York
THE business man of the past, whatever
he thought of his city as a political
unit, did so in a contemplative manner,
as though he were looking at a map show-
ing the new territorial boundaries of the
countries in Europe, as something aside
and apart from his active interest. He re-
garded his contributions to the support of
the city administration in much the same
light as his contributions to the starving
Belgians or to the Near East Relief.
The business man of to-day is showing
increasing interest in the affairs of his
home city, although it is to be regretted that
this interest is frequently the result of his
greatly increased contributions in the shape
of taxes rather than of a realization of his
duties as a citizen.
The cost of operating a city has, almost
without exception, increased even more,
proportionately, than has that of its busi-
ness enterprises. Because of competitive
features and the absolute necessity for
profits in order to continue in business, the
business man has been going through a
period of deflation about as strenuous as the
period of inflation, but not so exhilarating.
Governmental deflation has not yet gener-
ally come about, and, to a very large extent,
cities are spending more money now for
current operations than ever before in their
history. If business men desire to reduce
their taxes, they must give the same quality
of attention to the administration of their
city affairs that they give to the administra-
tion of their own affairs.
A city is not an extraneous enterprise
forced upon the public by an agent of his
Satanic Majesty. It is merely a cooperative
society of which each business man is a
member, formed for the purpose of provid-
ing certain services which can better be
done through collective rather than indi-
vidual effort. The administration of this
cooperative society has become very highly
specialized, and few business men have the
requisite knowledge, even if they had the
time, to make a comprehensive study of it
and prepare a diagnosis of its afflictions.
Under these circumstances, the thing for
the business man to do is to employ those
who have specialized in the organization and
administration of municipal government,
just as he would employ a lawyer, a public
accountant or an engineer in his own busi-
ness. Such an undertaking requires the
study of a large variety of subjects, such as
the following.
Some Pertinent Questions
Is the form of corporate organization the
best, and does it permit of effective and
economical operation?
Is the personnel employed of good qual-
ity? And is it doing a day's work for a
day's pay?
Are the rates of pay, from the mayor
down to the scrubwoman, fair and in ac-
cordance with conditions prevailing in
other lines of industry?
Are the streets being built with the type
of pavement best suited to the kind of traf-
fic using them? Are streets being repaired
as they should be? Are they being cleaned
as they should be?
How many policemen has the city, and
how many should it have ? How many fire-
men should it have?
Is adequate provision being made for
schools and proper ecjuc^tion of its citizens?
THE AMERICAN CITY
HARD THIS
WAY, BUT-
EASY ON A TRACK
THECUTRACWAY
Comes Through in the Pinch j
JUST a year ago this month New York City
experienced one of the biggest snow storms
in its history — and fought it to a standstill with
the aid of lOO Cletracs. These never-tiring
tractors worked 48 hours without a let-up to
keep traffic moving. And they were success-
ful— they came through in the pinch.
Cletrac is serving hundreds of cities and towns keeping
streets and sidewalks clear of snow in winter and improving
roads in summer. Its record will bear the closest scrutiny.
Investigate this tractor's year-'round usefulness.
Your local Cletrac dealer will be glad to demonstrate, or
write direct to us for further information.
THE CLEVELAND TRACTOR CO.
Largest Producers ofTank-Tyfe Tractors in the IVorld
19205 EUCLID AVENfUE CLEVELAND, OHIO
81
Wh«n WfHInj! to Advertisers please meqtion Tp? Ampkjcan City.
February, 1922 THE AMERICAN CITY
183
Are taxes being levied equitably? Or
are some taxpayers paying more than they
should while others pay less? Are taxes
being collected promptly? Are interest and
penalty being exacted from all delinquents
alike without favoritism to any?
Has the city a storehouse? Does it buy
materials and supplies in piecemeal or in
bulk?
Does it buy in open competition or from
a favored few? Are the specifications for
contracts properly drawn up and are the
contracts properly let by competitive bid-
ding.
Has the city a purchasing agent to pur-
chase for all departments of the city or does
each department, bureau or office purchase
its own supplies?
Is the movable property of the city prop-
erly protected and accounted for, or is it be-
ing lost through carelessness or other
causes ?
Does the city prepare and publish monthly
the same kind of financial statements that
the business man is accustomed to receive
in connection with his own business?
What is the total debt of the city? Has
the safe limit of borrowing been reached?
Has proper provision been made for the re-
payment of the debt ? Have the bonds issued
been issued for proper periods?
It is safe to say that studies made of the
various matters referred to, by trained
specialists, will go far towards bringing
about a more effective cooperation between
the city administration and the city business
man, with resultant reduction in taxes, and
better service.
EniTORiAL Note. — The author of this article is a
public accountnnt whose experience has not been con-
fined to financial, manufacturing and commercial or-
ganizations, but has extended into the highest depart-
ments of governmental activities, national and munici-
pal. His professional services have been availed of by
many cities in questions involving finance, accounting
and organization.
Municipal Bond News
AFTER the rapid advance which
marked the closing weeks of the last
year, the municipal bond market has
stopped to catch its breath. The number of
new issues shows a marked decrease, though
the rates hold about at the levels reached
in December. Such a sequence is entirely
natural.
The city of Qiicago has been the heaviest
municipal borrower, with two issues — one
of $7,725,000 general corporation bonds, ma-
turing serially, 1923-47, offered at a price
to yield 4.40-4.50, the other of $5,000,000
Sanitary District bonds, maturing serially
from 1923 to 1941, with a yield of 4.30-4.60.
Both of these issues carried a 5 per cent
coupon.
The next largest issue during the month
was that of Minneapolis, Minn., of $2,295,-
000 improvement bonds. These carried a
4^ coupon, mature from 1923 to 1952, and
are issued to yield 4.35 to 4.65. Very few
other issues exceeded the million-dollar
mark. Among these are the following:
$1,000,000 Wheeling, W. Va., improvement
5's, 1930-53, to yield 4.60 to 4.75; $1,000,000
Providence, R. I., 41^ water bonds, due in
1962, to yield 4.10; $1,850,000 El Paso, Tex.,
5's, 1927-52, to yield 4.70 to 4.90; $1,600,000
Indianapolis, Ind., 6 per cent World War
Memorial bonds, due in 1927, to yield 4.65;
$1,000,000 Oakland School and High School
District 5's, 1922-59, to yield 4.';'^ to 4.70.
Salt Lake City, Utah, also issued $1,750,000
5^ anticipation notes due in December,
1922, to yield 4.75.
Of the smaller issues, that of Brookline,
Mass., of $241,000 for general improve-
ments, is of particular interest on account
of its low interest rate. Carrying a 4^4 per
cent coupon, these were offered to yield from
3.90 to 3.95, as they mature serially from
1923 to 1941. This is the first time in many
months that the 4 per cent line has been
crossed.
It is of interest to note that comparatively
few of the issues now appearing provide
for retirement by means of a sinking fund.
The serial bond is far more commonly met,
seeming to meet with greater favor both
among investors and with the issuing mu-
nicipalities.
The Bond Market Twenty Years Ago
A pamphlet issued by Harris, Forbes and
Company of New York gives an interesting
list of municipal bonds being offered 20
years ago. The list shows the changes in
the municipal bond market as compared
with 1901. Of the 36 issues in the list, only
12 are serial bonds. The coupon rate was
3^2 or 4 in a majority of cases, a few being ,,-^
issued at 3 per cent and one at 6. These
were offered to investors at rates ranging
from 2.55 per cent for the lowest to 3.875
for the highest.
THE AMERICAN CITY
The " Caterpillar's " *
Held of usefulness is by
no means limited to
dirt moving and road
making. For snow re-
moval, hauling garbage
disposal trains and
other civic work — wher-
ever power and endur-
ance is at a premium,
the "Caterpillar"* has
no real competitor.
HOLT
PEORIA^ ILL.
STOCKTON. CALIF.
Fixing Up Chicago's Front Yard
After exhaustive investigation, the South Park
Commissioners selected "Caterpillar"* Tractors
for grading Grant Park, Chicago's famous front
yard. With "Caterpillars"*, every phase of the
work is being speeded up, greater daily yardages
arej^ being handled and real savings over other
methods are being shown. It is significant that
after a similar study of machines, methods and
costs, "Caterpillars"* have been adopted by New
York, Duluth, Memphis, Dallas, Minneapolis,
Spokane and many other cities and towns for
public works of all kinds where economy is the
great essential. Let us arrange to show you our
new motion picture, "Bureau County Knows
How" or send you our booklet, " Caterpillar*
Performance."
*There is but one "Caterpillar" — Holt builds it
THE HOLT MFG. CO., Inc., PEORIA, ILL.
Branches and service stations all over the world
Eastern Division: 50 Church St., New York
2499 Farnam St., Omaha, Nebr. 305 Merchants Bank Bldg.,
417 Washington Ave. N., Indianapolis, Ind.
Minneapolis, Minn. 2045-47 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
5th and Court Sts., Des Moines, la. Holt Company of Texas, Dallas, Tex.
Canadian Holt Co., Ltd., Montreal, P. Q.
When writitiff to Advertisers olease mention The American City.
i85
The City's Legal Rights and Duties
Information for City Attorneys and Other Municipal Officers, Summarizing
Important Court Decisions and Legislation
Conducted by A. L. H. Street, Attorney at Law
Municipal Censorship Powers Over
Newspapers Defined
The right of a city to suppress the sale
of specific newspapers on the streets while
others are permitted to be sold is limited to
prosecuting for consummated violations of
an ordinance forbidding the sale of obscene,
scandalous, etc., publications. The sale of
a certain newspaper cannot be validly pro-
hibited generally in such way as to operate
as a censorship in advance of publication.
These conclusions were reached by the
United States District Court for the North-
ern District Court of Ohio in the late case
of Dearborn Publishing Co. vs. Fitzgerald,
271 Federal Reporter, 479.
Holding that Henry Ford's Dearborn In-
dependent was not an indecent, obscene or
scandalous publication, within the meaning
a Cleveland ordinance which forbids the
sale of such publications, by reason of the
Independent's attacks on the Jewish race,
the Court said :
"The publication complained of cannot by any
stretch of the imagination be classified as in-
decent, obscene, or scandalous; but, if it were,
the limit of the city's power would be to conduct
a prosecution for the specific offense thus com-
mitted, and not the establishment of a censor-
ship in advance of future publications, and pro-
hibition generally of the sale thereof upon the
streets, in the same manner as other publications
may be sold. That the real basis of defendants'
action is not the indecent, obscene, or scandal-
ous character of the publication is further
evidenced by their action in permitting its sale
at news-stands or in shops, without any effort
to prosecute therefor; whereas, under section
1770, it would be as much an offense to sell at
a news-stand or in a shop an indecent, obscene,
or scandalous publication as it is to sell it upon
the city streets.
"That the publication has a tendency to create
breaches of the peace is equally without founda-
tion in fact or in law. Assuming that section
1770 is sufficiently definite in this respect to be
valid — an assumption which may well be doubted,
in view of the adjudged cases ... its
language was never intended to apply to a news-
paper article of the kind in question. The
affidavits conclusively show that no disorder or
excitement was created on the streets by the
sales in question. Nothing appears to indicate
who were or might be excited by its sale to
break the peace. It would be a libel, it seems
to me, on people of the Jewish race to assume
that they are imbued with such a spirit of law-
lessness. If it be assumed that the article might
tend to excite others to breaches of the peace
against people of the Jewish race, the reply is
plain, it is the duty of all officials charged
with preserving the peace to suppress firmly and
promptly all persons guilty of disturbing it, and
not to forbid innocent persons to exercise their
lawful and equal rights."
Award of Contract After Competitive
Bidding Must Be According to Ad=
vertised Terms
An award by a public body of a contract
for the doing of work or the purchase of
supplies, made after advertisement and com-
petitive bidding, must be according to the
terms advertised to prospective bidders, so
that all may be on the same footing. An
advertisement for competitive bids to fur-
nish a fire engine called for a truck with a
pumping system and body to carry 1,250
feet of hose, "each part proposed to be
furnished to be separately specified by the
bidder and separately priced." Held, that
the contract could not be awarded on a lump
bid for the entire apparatus. (New Jersey
Supreme Court, Pew vs. Commissioners of
Fire Dist. No. i in Chester Tp. et al., 114
Atlantic Reporter, 150.)
Municipal Bonds May Not Be Issued
Unless Power to Do So Is Conferred
by Legislative Authority
Holding that defendant city's charter was
insufficient to authorize issuance of street
improvement bonds covering the cost of
paving street intersections, etc., where the
city elected to pay the cost out of its gen-
eral revenues, the Oklahoma Supreme Court
said, in the case of Byrum vs. City of
Shawnee, 200 Pacific Reporter, 183:
"It is well settled that municipal corporations
cannot issue bonds or other like securities un-
less the power to do so is conferred by legisla-
tive authority, either express or clearly implied."
THE AMERICAN CITY
Cheaper power with tractors
Tractors are proving profitable equipment for road-
builders in all parts of the country — profitable because
of the time saved on a given piece of work, and because
of the fewer hands required.
With a Best Tracklayer Tractor the contractor
can go ahead with his work in most any weather. He
moves more earth and makes a better, smoother job. His
power is steady, dependable, flexible and compact. He
can negotiate grades without difficulty, and in faster time.
Best Tractors have proven their mettle over a period
of many years in all parts of the world. They have
earned a reputation for dependability, power and low
cost of operation. BEST design and workmanship have
been established by time and the test of actual, practi-
cal usage on a large -variety of heavy-duty work.
Write for full data, prices and the names of our
nearest dealers. Let us give you the details of how
Best Tractors are serving road -builders.
*BEST
TRADE MARK
REGISTERED
C. L. BEST TRACTOR CO.
SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA
tRACTORS
"Cruiser'' (60)
There are three modets of
Best Tracklayer Tractors
as shown above. oHllare
factory built-not assembled
83
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
February, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
187
Municipal Contractor is Not Responsi-
ble for Defects in Plans Not Pre-
pared by Him
A contractor constructing a reservoir for
a city under plans and specifications fur-
nished him by the city was not responsi-
ble for insufficiency of the work resulting
from a defect in the plan arising from the
character of the soil of the site. Reaching
this conclusion in the case of Walsh Con-
struction Co. vs. City of Cleveland, 271
Federal Reporter, 701, the United States
District Court for the Northern District of
Ohio said:
"The site was selected by the city. The
plans and specifications were designed and pre-
pared by the city. The entire design of the
reservoir was prepared by the city. The con-
tractor was bound to furnish material and per-
form labor only in constructing a reservoir of
that design and upon that site, without any
power to modify the designs or plans to meet
unexpected conditions. If the contractor should
undertake so to do in order to produce a better
structure, such, for instance, as providing pile
foundations or making the concrete bottom or
walls of additional thickness, the work would
have been wholly outside of his contract and
contrary to the plans and specifications. The
contractor, neither expressly nor impliedly,
guaranteed or warranted that a reservoir con-
structed on that site and according to the de-
sign and plans would answer the purpose for
which it was intended. The city or its officials
could make changes, if any were deemed neces-
sary to correct the faults of the design; but
the contractor was not at liberty so to do. The
contractor was bound to build as had been
agreed and as he was from time to time di-
rected. The contractor here is not in the posi-
tion of one who undertakes to construct a build-
ing or to produce a given result and has free
choice of the means whereby that result may
be accomplished. In cases of this character it
is settled law that if a contractor performs his
contract according to the plans and specifica-
tions, he is not responsible for the failure of
the structure because of faulty design, or be-
cause the structure as designed and built will
not answer the purpose for which it was in-
tended."
Not Negligence to Permit Pole Neces-
sary for Public Convenience to Be
Erected Within Street Limits
Holding that neither the city of Biloxi
nor a traction company was liable for the
death of a motor-cyclist who collided with a
guy wire post maintained in a street in con-
nection with the traction company's trolley
system, the Mississippi Supreme Court said
in the case of Gulfport & Mississippi Coast
Traction Co. vs. Manuel, 85 Southern Re-
porter, 308;
"It is insisted by the plaintiff that it was neg-
ligence for the city and the traction company
to erect within the limits of the street the poles
in question; that the street must be kept in a
reasonably safe condition for travel. While
the streets must be used for public purposes, it
is not necessary for the entire space to be kept
in condition for travel. The city may lawfully
use the street for the construction of sewers,
for drainage, to lay gas or water pipes, or to
erect poles or string wires for electric lights,
or to construct a wharf at tlie terminus of the
street, or convert a promenade into wharves, or
set apart for a boulevard a portion of a street
not devoted to business purposes. 28 Cyc. 853.
"It is permissible for the city to set apart a
portion of the street for the erection of poles to
support light, telephone, and trolley wires. The
electric street car system is a convenience and
necessity which serves the public interest, and
it is not negligence to erect poles between the
sidewalk and the traveled parts of the street.
The traveled part of the street was practically
18 feet wide and is sufficient for the travel ac-
cording to the record before, us. The pole in
question was located some 2^ feet beyond the
edges of the traveled way as ordinarily used by
the traveling public. The extent of the obliga-
tion of the city in working its streets is to keep
them reasonably safe for general use. It is not
required to have them in such condition as to
insure the safety of reckless drivers. . . .
A user of vehicles is not entitled to the entire
street from property line to property line. The
street not only serves the needs of the traveling
public, but serves also the purpose of furnishing
the public the conveniences above set out."
Railroad Employee Held Disqualified
Under Statute to Hold Municipal
Office
Where a railroad company uses certain
streets and alleys in a city under ordinances
granting it the right to occupy them with its
tracks upon condition that it shall conform
to certain requirements including the keep-
ing the track in good condition with respect
to general travel, the paving of the track be-
tween the rails, and the maintaining of a
driveway and sidewalk for the public, one
who is employed by such company as a
boiler maker is disqualified to hold the
office of city commissioner, under a statute
which provides that no employee of a rail-
way corporation operating under a franchise
granted by a city, or having any contract
with it, shall hold any city office. The term
"franchise" is used in such statute in a
broad and general rather than a narrow and
technical sense, and covers rights acquired
under such ordinances, and the relations of
the city and railway company under such
ordinances are contractual. (Kansas Su-
preme Court, State vs. Grove, 201 Pacific,
Reporter, 82.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
The Mack Light Bituminous
Material Distributor
Your road maintenance
next Spring
Now is the time to get ready
INCLUDED in our unusual line of special motor-
ized equipment for municipalities, counties
and contractors is this Mack Light Bituminous
Material Distributor.
This equipment is a fool-proof machine for hand-
ling cold material and requires only a driver for
its operation. The elimination of the extra
operator which is usually needed on ordinary
machines, means economy for its owner.
The tank body can be demounted when its particular work
is done and a dump body substituted. This continuous
chassis use effects large savings and many highway boards
and commissioners are finding this a practical way to
economize on their road maintenance equipment.
INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY
25 Broadway, New York
PERFORMANCE COUNTS
Capacities:
Vh to 7'/2 tons.
Tractors to 15 tons.
84
When writing to Advertisers please mention Tb» Amwicah City.
February, 1922 THE AMERICAN CITY
189
Ordinance Requiring License for
Business of Selling or Delivering
Soft Drinks— Held Void
In the case of Village of Westville v.
Rainwater, 128 Northeastern Reporter, 492,
the Illinois Supreme Court declared the fol-
lowing ordinance to be void, as applied to
one engaged in delivering soft drinks to
retail dealers:
"It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or
corporation in said village, either by himself or
agents, or for any agents, dispensers, clerks,
servants or other persons, to sell any malt,
cereal, grain or fruit beverages, extracts or
substitutes thereof, or to sell or offer for sale
any ice cream, ice cream sodas, pop or ginger
ale, or any other drinks known as soft drinks,
without first having obtained license to do so,
which said license shall be known as a retail
soft drink license. It shall be unlawful for any
person or persons to deliver any of the above-
mentioned articles, or act as agents or dispensers
of the same, without first having obtained a
license which is hereby denominated as a whole-
sale license ; provided, that nothing herein con-
tained shall be construed as operating to grant
the right to sell beverages containing more than
one-half (^) of one (i) per cent alcohol."
The gist of the opinion of the Court is
as follows:
"The health, safety, welfare, and comfort of
the population of cities and villages are proper
subjects for the exercise of the police power,
and under a delegation of the power they may
regulate any occupation or business the unre-
strained pursuit of which might injuriously
affect the public in the respects mentioned, but
ordinances requiring a business or occupation
to be licensed must in some degree tend toward
the prevention of some evil, and have for their
aim the protection of the public health, safety,
morals, or welfare. Wilkie v. City of Chicago,
188 111., 444, 58 N. E. 1004, 80 Am. St. Rep. 182.
What kind of business or occupation injuriously
affects the public interests is primarily for the
consideration of the municipal authorities, but
the power to control or regulate must be ex-
pressly or impliedly delegated and be exercised
in good faith and within reasonable bounds.
The business of delivering to the purchaser bev-
erages containing less than one-half of i per
cent alcohol by volume was a lawful business,
and the authority to require appellee to take
out a license is not expressly or impliedly con-
ferred on municipalities by the Cities and Vil-
lages Act.
"In this decision we have not considered the
power of the municipality to require the person
who keeps a place for the retail of soft drinks
to customers to take out a license. That ques-
tion is in no way involved, for the only business
appellee was engaged in was driving a truck for
the delivery of non-intoxicating beverages to
the retail dealer."
Municipality May by Ordinance
Regulate PooURooms and May Re-
quire Written Applications and
Bonds for License
The decision of the Georgia Supreme
Court in the case of Purvis v. City of Ocilla,
102 Southeastern Reporter, 241, deals with
the validity of various municipal measures
designed to keep public pool- or billiard-
rooms in proper subjection. The Court lays
down the following propositions:
The operation of such places is subject
to strict regulation under the police power.
But where there is charter power merely
to regulate — not prohibit — their operation,
that power must be exercised reasonably.
And a clause in an ordinance limiting the
operation of pool- or billiard-rooms to a
certain district will be held to be void where
it appears that it is intended as a virtual
prohibition against the operation of such
places.
But a licensing ordinance may require
written application for a license to be filed,
the giving of bond conditioned to keep an
orderly room, observe all local regulations,
and- pay any fines assessed for their viola-
tion.
And, under the usual general welfare
clause, a municipality may provide that
such establishments shall not be kept open
between the hours of 7 p. m. and 6 a. m.,
nor on Sundays or holidays.
A provision making it unlawful to sell
merchandise in a pool-room, or to conduct
any other business, trade, or calling there,
is reasonable.
An annual license tax (as distinguished
from a tax for revenue) of $125 on the first
table, $100 on the second, and $75 on each
additional table operated is not invalid as
being excessive.
City in Improving Street Bound to
Guard Against Heavy Rainfall
In improving a street and thereby divert-
ing the flow of surface water, a city is
bound to foresee the consequence of a heavy
rainfall in flooding private property, and
guard against it, where the overflow reas-
onably may be expected and anticipated,
although rainfalls of such severity may be
infrequent. (North Carolina Supreme
Court, Shaw v. City of Greensboro, loi
Southeastern Reporter, 27.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
^enml Motor^ltadcs
BUFFALO POLICE PATROLS TELL THEIR OWN STORY
"Because of the low repair cost of the first
GMC truck purchased for the Police Depart-
ment, we have added five others," says Mr.
Henry W. Alt, Superintendent of motive power
of the Buffalo Police Department.
"Our first GMC was purchased in November,
1917. During its first year of operation the total
cost of repairs was $19.00 which is about 25 per
cent of the lowest cost of any of our other trucks
during the same period. Encouraged by this
splendid record, we purchased five more GMC's
and put them in our sub- stations for patrol
wagons.
"The original GMC is equipped as an electri-
cal repair wagon and takes care of all the re-
pairs on the electrical equipment used by the
police department. It has been given extremely
hard usage, standing up remarkably well.
40 Miles Daily
"The five newer GMC trucks are equipped
with standard patrol wagon bodies. They op-
erate from the police stations in different parts
of the city and answer calls when arrests are
made. In the morning they take prisoners to
and from court to the penitentiary or out to the
farm. These trucks operate seven days a week
and average about 40 miles a day. They are
certainly well suited for their work and we
have found them very dependable."
GMC trucks are designed and built to meet
hauling problems. Not only are they trucks of
established ability, but they are far in advance
of the general trend of motor truck design in
their features of construction which make for
more econoinical operating costs and rapid and
inexpensive replacements.
Many Improvements
With such improvements as the new two-
range transmission, removable cylinder walls,
pressure lubrication, removable valve lifter as-
semblies, instantaneous centrifugal governor,
and dual cooling system, GMC trucks offer the
motor truck user every possible advantage.
Moreover the complete line of GMC trucks
from one to five tons capacity has recently been
reduced in price in keeping with the spirit of the
times and substantial reductions also have been
made upon all service parts.
Write direct to the factory or ask your GMC
dealer for detailed information about GMC
trucks.
General Motors Truck Company
Division of General Motors Corporation
Pontiac, Michigan
DEAIiEBS AND SEBVICE IK PRINCIPAL CITIES
191
Municipal and Civic Publications
Prices do not include postage unless so stated
DRAINAGE AND SANITATION
E. H. Blake, Vice-President, Institution of Sanitary-
Engineers, London, England. D. Van Nostrand
Company, New York City. 1921. Second Edition.
XII + 519 pp. 379 illustrations. $4.50.
An interesting book on domestic sanitation, including
the planning, construction, and prevention of dampness
in buildings; their ventilation, heating and lighting, and
water-supply; sanitary fittings and waste pipe; exterior
and interior drainage; sewage disposal; the materials
used in sanitary work ; sanitary surveys and reports ;
refuse disposal ; disinfection and smoke abatement.
There is also a chapter of legal notes regarding statu-
tory enactments governing sanitary matters in England.
PLUMBING FIXTURE TRAPS— VENTED AND UN-
VENTED TRAPS
A. E. Hansen, Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineer, 2
Rector Street, New York, author and publisher.
1921. 83 pp. Illustrated. $2.00.
This book has been prepared as the result of an his-
torical, statistical and experimental engineering research
on vented and unvented traps. It gives a very detailed
discussion of the history, uses and value of the various
types of traps in use in the United States to-day. Tables
are included showing the types of traps permitted in
different cities. The book is particularly valuable for
the municipal official or the department which has in
mind the revision of its plumbing code.
BUDGET MAKING
Arthur Eugene Buck, of the National Institute of
Public Administration and the New York Bureau of
Municipal Research. D. Appleton and Company,
New York. 1921. VII + 234 pp. $3.00.
This volume presents a comprehensive discussion of
the methods of budget making with illustrations drawn
from state and city budget practices. It contains a set
of model estimate forms and exhibits of the essential
statements of the budget document. Although designed
with special reference to states, it is equally applicable
in principles to the preparation of municipal budgets.
PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINIS-
TRATION
Arthur W. Proctor. Published for the Institute
for G-overnment Research. D. Appleton and Com-
pany, New York. 1921. 242 pp. $3.00.
The author has long been connected with the study
of problems of personnel administration, as a member
of the late President's Commission on Economy and
Efficiency, the New York Bureau of Governmental Re-
search, and the Institute for Government Research.
The volume has been prepared as a guide to the study
of the subject, and includes the state and municipal
as well as th^ Federal and civil service. The chapter
on "The Conduct of a Standardization Inquiry" covers
a most important phase of municipal administration.
PENOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES
Louis N. Robinson, Ph.D., Chief Probation Officer,
Municipal Court of Philadelphia, Pa. The John C.
Winston Company, Philadelphia. 1921. 344 pp.
$3.00.
A comprehensive work by a well-known authority on
penologry. It discusses in detail such topics as Jails,
penitentiaries, reformatories, prison labor and compen-
sation, and probation and parole. The chapters on jails
and the probation and parole systems will be of especial
interest and value to municipal officials.
COMMUNITY LIFE AND CIVIC PROBLEMS
Howard Copeland Hill. Head of the Department of
Social Science, University of Chicago High School.
Ginn and Company, Boston. Mass. 1921. XX -f
528 pp., index and appendix. Illustrated. $1.40.
This book is in the nature of a civics textbook, large
parts having been used for some time, in mimeographed
form, in the laboratory schools of the University of
Chicago. It is also well suited for evening school work,
especially before classes of aliens preparing for citizen-
ship.
RURAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
Augustus W. Hayes, Assistant Professor of Sociol-
ogy, Tulane University, of Louisiana. Published
by The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 111.
1921 XI -f 127 pp. Maps. $1.50.
The author discusses the organization of such units
as the Trade Area, the Rural School District, and the
Consolidated School District.
COMMERCIAL REGISTER OF THE UNITED STATES
30th Edition, S. E. Hendricks Company, Inc., New
York. 2,324 pp. $12.50.
Published in the standard size of SJ/a x liyi inches,
Hendricks' Commercial Register is even more valuable
than before. Its lists completely cover the electrical,
engineering, machinery, building, manufacturing, chem-
ical and similar industries. This book is comprehensive,
well arranged, and thoroughly indexed for instant refer-
ence, and is an invaluable guide in purchasing and
selling.
MARKETING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Benjamin H. Hibbard, Ph.D., Professor of Agricul-
tural Economics, University of Wisconsin. D. Ap-
pleton and Company, New York. 1921. XV -4-
389 pp. $2.50.
A timely volume on a subject of great importance.
It includes an expert analysis of the growing coopera-
tive movement, giving accomplishments and prospects.
CITY PLANNING IN HAMILTON, OHIO
"The City Plan of Hamilton, Ohio." Published by
the Chamber of Commerce. 66 pp. Maps and Illustra-
tions. 1920. Description of the plan prepared by-Har-
land Bartholomew, of St. Louis. (Apply to Louis H
Prechthng, Secretary, City Planning Commission,
Hamilton, Ohio.)
THE PROPER LOCATION OF A CITY HALL
"Report on Proposed Location for Town Hall To-
gether with Other Changes Suggested in Watertown
Square. Prepared by John Nolen, Town Planner,
Cambridge, Mass. A survey made for Watertown, Mass'
It pp. and map. 1921. (Apply to John Nolen, Harvard
Square, Cambridge, Mass.)
COMMUNITY TRUST FOR NEWARK
"Community Trust for Newark and Its Vicinity"
published by the Fidelity Union Trust Company, Trustee
Newark, N. J 21 pp. Describes the organization and
purpose of the trust. (Apply to publishers.)
NEW JERSEY INDUSTRIES
"Industrial Opportunities in New Jersey," published
by tlio Land Registry, Department of Conservation and
Development, State House, Trenton, N. J. 32 pp Maps
and illustrations. Describes the facilities of the state
and its resources. (Apply to L. Q. Gillam, Chief, Land
Registry, address above.)
ROAD BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION
"Proceedings of the Eighteenth Annual Convention of
the American Road Builders' Association," held at
Chicago. 111., February 9-12, 1921. Published by the
American Road Builders' Association. 154 pp Com-
plete proceedings with lists of officers and directors
(Apply to the American Road Builders' Association, 11
Waverly Place, New York, N. Y.)
FEDERAL ROAD BUILDING
'"The Organization and Work of the U. S. Bureau of
Public Roads." Published by the American Road
Builders Association, 11 Waverly Place, New York
llshe^s *" ^^' •^""^*'"**®^- 1922. (Apply to pub-
STIMULATING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
"Better Attendance in Delaware Schools " being a
series of newspaper articles and statistical tables used
during School Attendance Week to emphasize the need
of better attendance in Delaware Schools. Prepared by
Richard Watson Cooper, Director, Bureau of Education
Ihe Service Citizens of Delaware, and published by
them. 02 pp. 1921. (Apply to H. V. Holloway, State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dover Del )
KINDERGARTENS . ^' /
T, 'i.',T*l® ^^°"^'"^ *°d Equipment of Kindergartens"
Published as Bulletin No. 13, Department of the In-
terior, Bureau of Education. 27 pp. 1921. 10 cents
This bulletin was prepared with the cooperation of a
committee of the International Kindergarten Union
Miss Grace L. Brown, Chairman, and with the help of
Miss Grace M. Janney. (Apply to P. P. Claxton, Com-
missioner, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Educa-
tion. Washineton, D. C.)
CITY PLANNING IN BRISTOL, CONN.
"Local Survey and City Planning Proposals for Bris-
tol, Conn." 35 pp. Maps. 1920. Account of plans
prepared by John Nolen, of Cambridge, Mass (Apply
to Joseph F. Dntton, Mayor, Bristol, Conn )
THE AMERICAN CITY
Plan Now
for that
Street Flusher
All the cities that are likely
to require Street Flushing
Apparatus this year will
find it hard to get equip-
ment, if they defer the
matter until after winter
abates.
Much new
pavement is
being built,
— pavement
which should
be protected by proper
cleaning.
TIFFIN
Combination Flusher
and Sprinkler
Licensed under Ottofy Pat. No. 795059
The machine that has
shown itself most effective,
most economical and most
durable, is the TIFFIN
TWO-MOTOR-SYSTEM
FLUSHER.
Start to
make your
arrange-
ments now
for that
flusher.
The sanitary way and the
way of greatest economy
is by flushing with water.
Let us submit data and
specifications, records
and references. It will
certainly pay you to act
now.
The TIFFIN WAGON Company
TIFFIN, OHIO
Makers, also, of Tiffin Municipal Trucks, Dump and Farm Wagons, etc., etc.
Representatives in Principal Cities.
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thk Amxxican City.
February, 1922 THE AMERICAN CITY
193
MODERN SCHOOL BUILDINGS
"Concrete School Houses," published by the Lehigh
Portland Cement Company, Allentown, Pa. 12 pp. Il-
lustrated. Describes the advantages of concrete for
construction of this sort. (Apply to publishers.)
MUNICIPAL BUDGETS
"City Budget Facts," based upon the official esti-
mates of the city of Toronto. Issaea by the Toronto
Bureau of Municipal Research. 28 pp. 1921. De-
tailed presentation of the Toronto Budget, with graphic
analysis. (Apply to Bureau of Municipal Research, 189
Church Street, Toronto, Ont.)
CHARITY IN CHICAGO
"Charity Service Reports," of Cook County, 111. 336
pp. Illustrated. For the fiscal year 1920. Includes
reports of the Department of Poor Relief, the County
Hospital, the Institutions at Oak Forest, the Juvenile
Detention Home, the Bureau of Social Service, and tlie
Adult Probation Department, together with the annual
message of the President of the Board of Commissioners-
of Cook County. (Apply to Robert M. Sweitzer, Clerk
of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, Chicago,
111.)
MUNICIPAL FORESTRY
"The Forest Preserves of Cook County, 111.," pre-
pared by the Board of Forest Preserve Comissioners of
Cook County. 223 pp. Illustrated. 1921. Descrip-
tions of the Preserve and the activities centered there.
(Apply to William Gorihley, Secretary, Board of Forest
Preserve Commissioners of Cook County, Chicago, 111.)
TRACTION PROBLEM IN CHICAGO
"A Discussion of the Traction Problem in Chicago,
with a Proposal of a Financial Plan for Municipal Ac-
quisition of the Properties and the Operation Thereof."
Submitted by Ulysses S. Schwartz, Chairman, Committee
on Local Transportation, City Council of Chicago. 35
pp. 1921. (Apply to author. City Hall, Chicago, 111.)
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF FOR CHICAGO
"An Appeal to Business Men," being suggestions for
providing work for the unemployed, with special refer-
ence to the relation of national prosperity to city plan-
ning, and the relations between business and the Chicago
Plan, by Charles H. Wacker, Chairman, Chicago Plan
Commission. 18 pp. 1921. (Apply to author, Chicago
Plan Commission, Hotel Shtiman, Chicago, 111.)
FORESTRY IN NORTH CAROLINA
,"The Forest Problem in North Carolina," by W. Dar-
ro'w Clark, Chief Forest Fire Warden. Published by
the North Carolina Geologic and Economic Survey as
Circular No. 1. 14 pp. 1922. A discussion of forest
fires and their prevention. (Apply to author. Chapel
Hill, N. C.)
TEE PROPER CONSTRUCTION OF CHIMNEYS
"An Ordinance for the Construction of Chimneys,"
suitable for use in cities and towns of any size, or as a
state law. Recommended by the National Board of Fire
Underwriters, Committee of Construction of Buildings.
Second Edition, revised. 20 pp. Illustrated. 1921.
(Apply to Ira H. Woolson, Consulting Engineer, Na-
tional Board of Fire Underwriters, 76 William Street,
New York, N. Y.)
A SURVEY OF EDUCATION IN THE UNITED
STATES
"Higher Education," by George F. Zook, Specialist
in Higher Education, Bureau of Education, Department
of the Interior. Published as Department Bulletin No.
21. 45 pp. 1921. 5 cents. These are advance sheets
from the Biennial Survey of Education in the United
States, 1918-20. (Apply to author, address above.)
INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS IN NEW YORK STATE
"The Industrial Bulletin," issued monthly by the
Industrial Commissioner of New York State, Vol. 1, No.
1, October, 1921. This is a combination of the Bulletin
of the State Labor Department and the Labor Market
Bulletin. (Apply to Victor T. Holland, Editor, The
Industrial Bulletin, Albany, N. Y.)
PROGRESS IN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
"A Hundred Milestones of Commercial Organization
Progress." 1921. 64 pp. The stories of one dis-
tinctive achievement in each of a hundred American
communities within a year, told by the Secretaries, at
the Seventh Annual Meeting of the National Associa-
tion of Commercial Organization Secretaries, New Or-
leans, October, 1921. (Apply to R. H. Faxon, Sec-
retary, the Mississippi Valley Association, New Or-
leans, La.)
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCIAL OR-
GANIZATION SECRETARIES
' 'Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Meeting of the
National Association of Commercial Organization Sec-
retaries," at New Orleans, La., October 24-26, 1921.
294 pp. Complete proceedings, with list of those in
attendance. (Apply to John E. Northway, Secretary-
Treasurer of the National Association, Secretary, Cham-
ber of Commerce, Hamilton, Ohio.)
SOCIAL SERVICE IN CINCINNATI
"Community Resi)onsibility, " a review of the Cincin-
nati Social Unit Experiment, by Courtenay Dinwiddie,
with statistics of Health Services in the Unit District, by
Bennet L. Mead. Published by the New York School
of Social Work, 105 East 22nd Street, New York, N. Y.
1921. 171 pp. 35 cents, postage included. A mono-
graph on the experience of the Social Unit in Cincin-
nati during the three years ending July 1, 1920. Al-
though this experiment terminated some time ago, no
such complete account has hitherto appeared. (Apply
to publishers.)
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
"Lifting the Country Community by Its Own Boot-
straps," by Nat T. Frame, Director Agricultural Ex-
tension, College of Agriculture, West Virginia Uni-
versity, Morgantown, W. Va., in cooperation with the
United States Department of Agriculture. Published
as Circular No. 255 of the Extension Division. October,
1921. 15 pp. Illustrated. Gives method of scoring
country communities, especially for use in connection
with country life conferences. (Apply to author, ad-
dress above.)
Municipal Reports
Baltimore, Md. — Annual Report of the Comptroller of
Baltimore City for the fiscal year ending December 31,
1920. (Apply to Peter E. Tome, Comptroller, Baltimore,
Md.)
Cleveland, Ohio. — Third Annual Report of the Board
of Park Commissioners of the Cleveland Metropolitan
Park District, for the year 1920. (Apply to Stephen H.
Hazelwood, Secretary, Board of Park Commissioners,
Old Court House, Cleveland, Ohio.)
Erie, Pa. — Fifty-fourth Annual Report of the Commis-
sioners of Water Works, for the year ending December
31, 1920. (Apply to George C. (Jensheimer, Secretary,
Commissioners of Water Works, Erie, Pa.)
Fltchburg, Mass.— Third Annual Report of the Com-
missioner of Public Works, for year ending November
30, 1920. (Apply to David A. Hartwell, Commissioner
of Public Works, Fitchburg, Mass.)
Greenwood, S. C. — Twenty-second Annual Report of
the Water and Electric Light Plant, for the year ending
December 31, 1921. (Apply to A. J. Sproles, Superin-
tendent, Greenwood, S. C.)
Louisvlllo, Ky. — Annual Report of the President,
Board of Park Commissioners for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 1921. (Apply to Harry G. Evans, Secre-
tary, Board of Park Commissioners, 601 Columbia
Building, Louisville, Ky.)
New Orleans, La. — Forty-second Semi-annual Report
of the Sewerage and Water Board for the period ending
December 31, 1920. (Api)ly to George G. Earl. General
Superintendent, Sewerage and Water Board, City Hall
Annex, New Orleans, La.)
Kewport, R. I. — Annual Report of the Highway De-
partment, for the year 1920. (Apply to John F. Sulli-
van, Street Commissioner, Newport, R. I.)
Newton, Mass. — Annual Report of the Chief of Police,
for the year ending December 31, 1920. (Apply to
Frederic M. Mitchell, Chief of Police. Newton, Mass.)
New York, N. T. — Preliminary Report of a Special
Committee of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment
concerning the Brooklyn-Richmond Freight and Pas-
senger Tunnel. (Apply to Arthur S. Tuttle, Chief
Engineer, Board of Estimate and Apportionment, New
York, N. Y.)
Pasadena, Calif. — Fourteenth Annual Report of Pasa-
dena's Municipal Lighting Works Department for the
year ending June 30, 1921. (Apply to C. W. Koiner,
City Manager, Pasadena, Calif.)
Philadelphia, Pa. — Annual Report of the Bureau of
Surveys, Department of Public Works, for the year
1920. (Apply to Charles Frommer, Acting Chief Engi-
neer, Bureau of Surveys, Philadelphia, Pa.)
Philadelphia, Pa. — Fifteenth Annual Report of the
Civil Service Commission, for the year ending December
31, 1920. (Apply to Charles J. Shaughnessy, Chief
Examiner, Civil Service Commission, 875 City Hall,
Philadelphia, Pa.)
Philadelphia, Pa. — Seventh Annual Report of the
Municipal Court, for the year 1920. (Apply to Frank
S. Drown. Statistician, The Statistical Department,
Philadelphia, Pa.)
St. Paul, Minn. — Annual Report of the Commissioner
of Public Works for the year ending December 31. 1920.
(Apply to H. C. Wenzel, Commissioner of Public Works,
St. Paul. Minn.)
Wilmington, Del. — Fifty-first Report of the Board of
Water Commissioners, for the fiscal year 1919-1920.
(Apply to James I. Ford, President, Board of Water
Commissioners, Wilmington, Del.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
BRANCH OFFICES ■■ BOSTON, MASS.-NEW YORK,Ny-PHlLADELPHIA,PA - P)nSBUReH,PA,-CHICAeOJLL
AT, A»TA /--A-..^A^y^«|^^|^Y**^-'*^»^* ^"^"^ /Aoc^^w-^cAM FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES. CAL,
87
When writing to Advertisers please mention Tuk Amexican Citt.
195
Methods, Materials and Appliances
News for City and County Engineers, City Managers, Water-Works Super-
intendents, City Controllers, Park Superintendents, Purchasing Agents, and
Others Interested in the Economical Construction and Efficient Operation of
Public Improvement Undertakings
Preparing and Certifying Municipal Bonds
By Frank J. Parsons
Vice-President, United States Mortgage & Trust Company
ONE of the notable developments of the
past twelve months has been the revival
of activity in all classes of bonds, and the
growing desire of investors to avail themselves
of opportunities for placing their fluids in sound
securities yielding an attractive return, before
the cost of money shall recede approximately to
the level of former decades. Of no class of
investments has this been more true than of
municipal bonds. Twenty years ago the highest
net yield obtainable from conservatively selected
securities of this class ranged from 2.55 per
cent to 3.875 per cent. To-day it is entirely pos-
sible to secure 4J4 per cent to sH per cent
with equal safety. The present trend toward
lower money rates points clearly, however, to
the fact that the period of high-interest-bearing
bonds is rapidly passing.
There has never been a time when the prefer-
ence of executors, trustees, savings banks and
insurance companies for sound "municipals" has
been more marked than at present. The reason
is not far to seek. In point of security and
marketability these issues rank next to national
and state bonds. In addition, their exemption
from Federal and other income taxation consti-
tutes a strong appeal to the investor. The vital
importance of surrounding with every possible
safeguard the holdings of estates, individuals
and life insurance companies, made up as they
are so largely of municipal Ijonds, requires no
demonstration, and is being more and more in-
sisted upon, not only by investors and by bond
houses, but by the municipalities themselves.
A consideration of the numerous cases of
forgery and fraud in this respect induced the
United States Mortgage & Trust Company some
twenty-five years ago to inaugurate a plan for
preparing and certifying municipal bonds which
would safeguard not only the municipality but
the reputable dealer and the investing public as
well, while relieving the municipal official in
charge of all detail in connection with their
preparation.
In 1893 and 1894 the Quigley forgeries were
perpetrated, involving securities of several
cities, and were so cleverly executed that they
were accepted as collateral for loans by New
York banks. Again in 1906 the Prior forgeries,
comprising bonds of cities in three states and
aggregating $1,200,000, were discovered, and
again during the years 1919 and 1921 the im-
portance of the certification by responsible dis-
interested parties such as a trust company, has
been further emphasized by the disclosure of a
fraud perpetrated by a Chicago bond dealer
who forged securities amounting to $600,000,
and a Spokane bond dealer whose forgeries
amounted to $350,000. The victims numbered
prominent banking houses as well as individual
mvestors, and the early success of the forgeries
was due primarily to the fact that insufficient
care was given to the matter of preparing and
certifying the bonds which they had bought from
the issuing mimicipalities.
It will be noted that a further motive for the
company's activities in this field has been a de-
sire to raise the material standard of preparation
of such issues, many municipalities having in
the past been contented with a carelessly printed
or lithographed bond easily forged and present-
ing an unattractive appearance to discriminating
purchasers. In this it is believed that a
measurable amount of success has been at-
tained, and while the work done has been but a
small part of the total, the general standard of
preparation has been raised.
With a view to further standardization of the
details surrounding the issuance of municipal
bonds and as a matter of convenience for mu-
nicipalities, dealers and attorneys, this company
in 1917, following a close association with lead-
ing members of the Investment Bankers Asso-
ciation, consented to act as the official depository
for legal papers and opinions rendered in con-
nection with municipal bond issues. The num-
ber of attorneys' opinions and legal papers now
on file with this company aggregate some thou-
sands, and the files are constantly being added
to. Under this plan it is possible for any mem-
ber of the Investment Bankers Association to
procure promptly and at small cost certified
copies of opinions and legal papers which would
otherwise be difficult and sometimes impossible
to obtain.
The United States Mortgage & Trust Com-
pany places at the disposal of such officials in
all parts of the country the benefits of its ex-
perience, facilities and service in the satisfactory
handling of their problems of this nature.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Easy to operate — easy to repair
and chock fall of power
That's why the New Iroquois Macadam Roller ends macadam roller
troubles. It was designed by engineers who use street and road-building
equipment.
The working parts of the New Iroquois are not just hung together.
Each is a separate unit resting on a steel frame. Rack and strain,
especially on the boiler, are thus eliminated.
The New Iroquois Macadam Roller was built to stand hard service.
Its great power comes from higher steam pressure and larger engine
cylinders.
Write now for details regarding this wonderful roller. If you need a
roller at once, a telegram will start a New Iroquois to you without delay.
The Iroquois line includes every tool needed in asphalt paving work.
Ask for Bulletins Nos. 8, 6 and 5.
Iroquois Sales Department
New York ^^^ BARBER ASPHALT
Chicago P
Pittsburgh
C O NI F»A.TSr"^
PHIL-ADEUPHIA
St. Louis
Kama* City
Atlanta
San Francisco
When writine to Advertisers please mention The Amekican City.
Feb., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
197
A New Street Lighting Unit
The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., has recently de-
veloped a highly efficient post top of novel de-
sign for use virith Mazda "C" Lamps, in which
upper and lower parabolic reflectors are used
to direct the light on to the plane of illumina-
tion. The quality of the light emitted by the
Reflecto-Lux units is brilliant and sparkling,
and they have been designed to distribute a flood
of light on the streets, with a small amount up-
wards to light the fronts of the adjacent build-
ings.
The maximum light is emitted at approx-
imately 20 degrees below the horizontal, and the
distribution is ideal for mounting heights and
spacings customary with ornamental street light-
ing. The distribution is obtained by upper and
A LIGHT TOP OF NOVEL DESIGN
lower parabolic reflectors, which direct the light
outwards, and, in addition, a portion of the
light in the upper hemisphere is redirected by an
opal glass band around the upper hemisphere
of the lamp, or by a band of enamel on the
lamp itself.
The construction of the Reflecto-Lux units is
rugged, the frame is of galvanized cast iron,
and the glass panels are set in felt gaskets,
making the whole thoroughly dust-proof. In
the post top, the lamp burns in a "tip up" posi-
tion and is readily accessible for cleaning and
replacement through the hinged top cover. In
the pendant unit, the lamp burns "tip down,"
and access is obtained to the interior of the
lantern through the bottom casting, which is
hinged.
Street Lighting at Miami
Beach, Fla.
On page 465 of the December, 1921, issue of
The American City, appeared an attractive il-
lustration bearing the caption "A Light Stand-
ard Located on the Sidewalk and Harmonizing
with the Surroundings at Miami, Fla." We are
advised by Charles W. Chase, Sr., Associate
Secretary, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce,
Fla., that this photograph was taken at Miami
Beach and not in Miami, Fla.
Landscape Architect's Work
on Private Estates
B. Ashburton Tripp, landscape architect and
town planner, Cleveland, Ohio, has been en-
gaged to design the estate of Don A. Goodwin,
hotel owner, of Akron, Ohio, at Silver Lake
Village, and also to lay out the estate of E.
Arthur Ball of the Ball Glass Manufacturing
Company, Muncie, Ind.
Mt. Clemens' New Street
Lighting System
Mt. Clemens, Mich., has recently completed
the installation of an attractive White Way sys-
tem, with an appropriate celebration on the
opening night. An extensive program of fes-
tivities was arranged to initiate the turning on of
the boulevard lights over ^A miles of the city
streets. The standards for these lights were
furnished by the King Manufacturing Company,
53 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 111.
The first electric lighting in Mt. Clemens was
in the fountain bath-house and was furnished by
a small electric light plant installed by R. O.
Meldrum & Sons in 1888. On December 16,
1889, an ordinance was passed authorizing the
establishment of electric works in the city, with
permission to use the streets for poles and wires.
The capacity of the first plant consisted of one
500-candle-power generator of the single-phase,
alternating-current type, and one direct-current
series generator machine of a capacity of 30
lights. From that time the use of electric cur-
rent in the city has increased and the apprecia-
tion of well-illuminated streets has grown, until
this past fall boulevard lights were installed,
much to the delight and satisfaction of the tax-
payers.
Merger of Pipe Companies
An agreement has recently been reached be-
tween the East Jersey Pipe Company, 7 Dey
Street, New York City, and the Riter-Conley
Company, Leetsdale, Pa., whereby Lock-Bar
steel pipe, which has been exclusively controlled
by the East Jersey Pipe Company since its in-
troduction in this country in 1905, and has been
hitherto manufactured by the East Jersey Pipe
Company at its plant at Paterson, N. J., will
hereafter be fabricated in the Pittsburgh dis-
trict by the Riter-Conley Company at its Leets-
dale plant. This is regarded as a step forward
by both parties and will permit considerable
saving in freight rates and economy in manu-
facturing. The sale of Lock-Bar steel pipe
will continue to be exclusively in the hands of
the East Jersey Pipe Company.
THE AMERICAN CITY
l"5f5)S?o« Fire TrucH l .r*
Here is a pressed-on tire that Provides
Here is <i f^V r^-rn everv quality
aUndTorJ:rbV^--Sed fi.
departments.
It is the Goodyear SC Cushion T,re.
T • u -u nf an improved rubber con
It IS built ot an impr . • g
pound that puts up a surprising
Lee to wear, weather and age.
. . ,his exceptionally efficient fire tru<
^Str^hTLarestGoodye^^^^
Or, if more co^^^"^%'? r& Rubb
-'^'^''Akrt'oC or Los Angel
Company, Akron, wiuu,
California.
The underwriters ^-^-'-:^^^^ttrZ^fly
Jacket Fire Hose and Goody ea^^^^^^.^^
SintU Jacket
Underwriters Fire Hoie
Chemical nu*^, " urwtinc corrosive acuu»
sist satisfactorily the bmng,^^^^^^
of chemicals and that botn w^ ^^^^^
pressure per squa^^m^^^'^e has enabled the
Sf manufacturing experience na^.^^ ^^^
production of hose ^^J^P^hich will render
Feb., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
199
BUCK-Ex jOUivLfiJNU A IjUAu Vf MINE-BUN COAL AFTER CAR-
RYING IT OVER 120 FEET FROM CAR
Goal- and Ash-Handling
Machinery
The handling of coal from bottom-dump cars
to coal storage overhead bins and the rehandling
of the same coal in the form of ash are im-
portant matters in any power-plant. The God-
frey conveyor, manufactured by the Godfrey
Conveyor Company, Elkhart, Ind., is well
known to many power-plant engineers. The
principle of the Godfrey system is to get coal
from bottom-dump cars to a chute underneath
the railroad track, the chute conveying it by
gravity into a bucket, in which it is elevated
and carried to a storage pile or
an elevated bin or conveyance.
The mechanical units consist of
a bucket of approximately i-ton
capacity, a 2-drum reversible
hoist, operated by electric or
other suitable power, a trolley
operating on a monorail or
cableway, a steel chute with
gates to control the flow of the
coal, and the necessary sheaves,
cables, etc., for making the con-
nection of the various units.
The two types of overhead
tracks, namely, the I-beam and
the cableway, make the equip-
ment easily adaptable to any one
of a large variety of conditions.
The principle and operation of
both types are the same, while
the choice depends entirely upon
the local conditions which have
to be met.
The entire operation is con-
trolled by one man stationed at
the hoist, which is located near
the mouth of the track qhute.
This enables the operator to
open and close the gate of the
chute which controls the flow
of coal into the bucket. The
hoist is mounted on a cast iron
base and is of ample proportion
to carry the load. The opera-
tion of the two drums on the
hoist is controlled by clutches,
insuring speed and safety with
ease of operation. The main or
hoisting drum is used to elevate
the bucket to the desired height,
and the traction drum moves the
trolley in either direction on the
conveyor track. The trolley
supports the hoisting cable on
which the bucket sheaves roll.
This enables the man at the
hoist to lower the bucket at any
desired point under the conveyor
track without making any
changes or adjustments on the
equipment.
In the operation of the con-
veyor, the coal when emptied
out of the cars falls by gravity
through a specially constructed
steel chute into the i-ton con-
veying bucket suspended on guide-rails in a 'pit
on the side of the track. When the bucket is
filled, the hoist operator closes the gate in the
chute, thereby shutting off^ the flow of coal into
the bucket. The hoisting drum is then engaged
and raises the bucket to the required height.
The operation of the traction drum of the hoist
then moves the bucket along the conveyor track
to the point where the operator wishes to dump
the coal.
The bucket is then lowered until it comes in
contact with the coal pile. The contact releases
a latch on the bottom of the bucket, which opens
it, hereby permitting the coal to flow gently out
INTERIOR OF BOILER ROOM WITH BUCKET UNLOADING AT
MOUTH OF SELF-FEEDING HOPPER
THE AMERICAN CITY
MUSHROOM TRAFFIC LIGHT
The Milwaukee Type Mushroom Traffic Light is the most efficient and depend-
able traffic control unit on the market today. It is made of cast steel and is
suitable for installation at street crossings, on heavy traffic streets and
boulevards. When illuminated, it is a bright spot on the road without glare.
The unit stands only eight inches high, but it is large enough to be noticed
and respected. The Milwaukee Type Mushroom Light is accident-proof. Its
lighting system is in duplicate, thus insuring constant service.
ELECTRICAL & SPECIALTY SUPPLY COMPANY
Chicago, Illinois
NOW'S THE TIME
To Consider Your Sprayer Needs for This Year
The selection of the proper sprayer for your parks
and shade trees is not a matter of a moment.
It requires careful investigation and consideration
from all angles.
Many cities went into the matter at great length
last year and decided on the BEAN Park Sprayer
because of the superfine features insuring econ-
omy, efficiency and dependability — 3 vital points.
These three features mean long life and really
make the BEAN the cheapest sprayer to buy in
the long run.
Start the ball rolling now. Get in touch with
us and let us figure with you. A card today.
BEAN SPRAY PUMP CO.
Shade Tree Spraying in Miincie Lansing, Mich.
San Jose, Calif.
90
When writinp; to Advertisers please meotiop Th^ AjtWlCAjj CiTY.
Feb., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
201
v;ithout any breakage, and consequeaily wWi no
degradation. This means of tripping the bucket
when in contact with the pile is a patented fea-
ture of Godfrey equipment. The bucket can be
lowered or hoisted at any point, no stops or
trippers being required. The largest lump as
well as the finest screenings can be handled.
The coal is emptied as the bucket is raised, and
the bottom closes automatically. The bucket
then travels on the monorail back to the pit for
another load. Ashes, sand, crushed rock, gravel
and similar materials can be handled in the
same way and as cheaply. In many cases the
same equipment is used to unload, store and
convey coal to the boiler-room and remove ashes
to cars or hoppers. Coal can be reclaimed from
open storage, or flat-bottom cars unloaded by
changing the conveying bucket for a hook-on
clam-shell bucket.
A Completely Equipped
Motor Pumper
The illustration below, furnished through the
courtesy of Dr. I. Lukens, Fire Chief, Tekamah,
Nebr., shows a GMC truck equipped by the
Northern Fire Apparatus Company, Minne-
apolis, Minn., for delivery several months ago.
would have been opened but for his efforts.
More than 160 feet of snow fell on Mount
Rainier last winter, according to government
records taken from day to day. This precipita-
tion settled into an icy mass averaging 15 feet
deep on the level. The only steam shovel avail-
able was too wide lor the mountain roads, and
so TNT was resorted to. Twenty-five tons was
used in shots, averaging from 35 to 50 pounds
each, spaced about 10 feet apart.
After the snow was blown up, shovelers re-
moved the bulk of it, enough to make a clear
space, and then a Reo truck with a Cletrac
tractor was sent through to break the way.
Ropes and chains were wound around the truck
wheels, and with both engines working, the way
was negotiated on July 9. The next day the big
White truck stages which are used to transport
passengers came through on the road with their
wheels wound with rope.
One of the principal difficulties, once the
road was cleared, was to find parking space for
the hundreds of cars that flocked to the park
when the road opening was announced. Long
alleys were dug in the snow, and the road
was gradually widened to make places for them.
In the usual parking space around Paradise Inn
A 2-TON GMC TRUCK EQUIPPED FOR FIRE FIGHTING
The Northern equipment is the standard for a
type C 2-ton GMC truck. Among the detailed
fixtures furnished with this truck, all nickel-
plated, are a drain for the suction base, dis-
charge valves, a 21^-inch hose nipple and cap,
a iJ4-inch hand churn by-pass, and a ly^-'mch
sure release by-pass. There is also included a
screen for the suction base and a hard suc-
tion set with hose fittings, as follows : s'E^-inch
lo-foot suction hose, 3V2-inch strainer set, sVz
inch adapter holder, with hose hanger set. The
cost of this outfit was $3,260, and the total price,
equipped, $6,000.
The Tractor in Rainier
National Park
Moving mountains of snow in order to open
Rainier National Park, Washington, for tour-
ists this season, has been the task of W. H.
Peters, Superintendent of the Park, who has
faced the heaviest snowfall in years and opened
the roads at least six weeks earlier than they
there was 10 feet of snow in the middle of July,
and the guests were unloaded and taken into the
lobby through a tunnel in the huge drift on
the mountain side of the building.
The front cover of this issue of The Ameri-
can City shows the work of opening the roads
in progress.
Kennedy Valve
Shifts Representatives
Several changes in the organization of the
Kennedy Valve Manufacturing Company, El-
mira, N. Y., have been effected recently. H. D.
Kane has been appointed assistant to C. A.
Burgess as Traveling Representative with head-
quarters at Elmira; James P. Murphy has been
appointed assistant to S. C. Mead, Chicago
Branch Manager, and John J. Milliken, who
was formerly in the Chicago office, has been
appointed assistant to E. H. Koons, Eastern
Sales Manager. A new office has been opened
in the L. C. Smith Building, Seattle, Wash.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Nation-Wide Move for Memorial Trees
In Honoring Heroes Magnificent Shaded Highways Are Being
Constructed
To the Editor of the Public Ledger, Phila. :
Sir — We want to thank the PUBLIC LEDGER very much for the editorial you had
the other day, "The Boon of Shade Roads." The day after the signing of the armistice the
American Forestry Association began a campaign for memorial tree-planting, and this has
spread since to Roads of Remembrance and memorial parks in hundreds of places.
The idea has been taken up on a wide scale in the State of Pennsylvania, and we find
that such States as yours that lead in forest developments are all the more keen to take
up such plans.
As an example of this, may I cite the Rotary Club of Tampa, Fla., which has plarjted
fifteen miles of the West Coast Highway with memorial trees in honor of the men and
women of Hillsborough County who answered their country's call in the World War?
At Minneapolis a six-mile memorial drive has just been planted to connect two parks.
This is an extremely wide avenue, and has been planted with New England elms that
have been in training for three years to take the shape they want them to take fifty
years from now. At that time Minneapolis will have one of the sights of the North
American Continent.
The various motor highways have been planted with trees in many places. An interest-
ing example of this is at Canton, Ohio, where the Lincoln Memorial Highway Association,
an organization of women, has planted several miles of that highway, and this fall is com-
pleting a memorial avenue of the Presidents which connects the Lincoln Highway and the
tomb of William McKinley, a short distance away. These women now plan to continue
the planting of the home of "Mother McKinley," which is on the Lincoln Highway. * * *
Your fine co-operation with us in this educational campaign is valued highly.
Charles Lathrop Pack, President
American Forestry Association
August 17, 1921. Washington, D. C.
Wherever you go, and in almost every paper or magazine you pick up you hear
or read of "Memorial Trees" being planted for the "boys" who gave their lives in
the World War.
And what is more fitting to perpetuate this memory than a noble tree which
will not only be a monument to those who have passed away, but will likevTise
give shade and comfort to the increasing numbers who are now daily using the
highways.
Care, however, must be made in the selection of the proper kind of trees for
this purpose. A variety that will flourish in one section of the country will not
always prove satisfactory in another. Again, soft wooded trees are not long
lived. Selections should be made of such varieties that will stand as monuments
when our children's children need their shade.
The Pin Oak, the Red Oak and the Sugar Maple are trees which will floiu-ish
almost everywhere, and are singularly more free from insect attacks than almost
any other tree.
We would be very glad of the opportunity to offer our many years of experience
in assisting in the proper selection of trees required for this or any other purpose.
Catalogue on application.
THOMAS B. MEEHAN CO.
Wholesale Nurserymen
DRESHER, PENNSYLVANIA
21 When writing to Advertiiers please mention The American City.
Feb., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
203
A Device for
Transplanting
Small Trees
The losses which many
park superintendents have
had in transplanting small
pines and other trees are
overcome by a device made
by Lionel Weil, Goldsboro,
N. C. The device consists
of two curved pieces of
sheet-iron hinged together on
one side and strapped to-
gether at the other side.
These semi - circular side-
walls are preferably of less
width at the lower than at
the upper edges, thus pro-
viding a receptacle of taper-
ing construction. In order
to transplant trees, it is first
necessary to dig a circle
around the tree, a small frac-
tion less than the size of the
top of the receptacle, and,
bearing in mind its general
outline, dig down until the large roots disap-
pear, the depth not to exceed the depth of
the receptacle. The transplanting receptacle is
then opened and placed around the column of soil,
and the roots are secured by drawing together
the straps through the buckles. The bottom is
then inserted by projecting two iron pins
through holes in front at the bottom of the re-
ceptacle. These pins penetrate the column of
soil and rest in slots on the same level at the
back of the receptacle. The pins form the main
support for four slides, which are then inserted
through slots in the walls and driven through
the column of soil. The slots are placed at
intervals of about 90 degrees, and when the
slides are inserted a receptacle is formed cover-
ing sufficient surface and sufficiently rigid to
prevent displacement of the soil or roots. The
plant is then ready to be taken up and trans-
planted.
This operation is quite simple. A hole is dug
of sufficient size not only to admit the recepta-
cle, but to provide for the withdrawal of the
pins and slides forming the bottom. The re-
ceptacle, containing the tree, is placed in the
hole, so that the original soil line will be about
il4 inches lower than the new soil line. The
pins and slides are then withdrawn. The space
immediately surrounding the receptacle should
be filled with fine fertile soil up to the first
buckle and tamped. Then the buckle is opened.
The next fill is up to the second buckle, which
is then released, and so on to the last buckle,
which is then opened and the walls of the opened
receptacle withdrawn. The new soil should be
well watered after filling in.
Error in January Issue
On. page 65 of tlie January, 1922, issue of
The American City, there appeared a typo-
graphical error in the omission of the trade-
A RECEPTACLE FOR TRANSPLANTING SMALL TREES
mark notice of "Dustoline for Roads" made
by the Dustoline for Roads Company, Summit,
N.J.
Annual Meeting of Manufacturers
of Water Purifying Equipment
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of
the Associated Manufacturers of Water Purify-
ing Equipment, held in Pittsburgh, Pa., in Janu-
ary, it was decided to hold the annual meeting
at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia,
Pa., on February 7, 1922. A full attendance is
expected, as several matters of importance will
be taken up for final determination.
One of the most important of these matters
is the adoption of standard specifications for
pressure filters for various services, to the end
that architects and engineers may have a stand-
ard to which all bidders must comply. In the
past there have often been as many different
size filters for the same required service as there
were bidders, confusing the purchaser as to which
was the most suitable for his requirement, and
often resulting in the purchase of an apparatus
entirely inadequate and unsatisfactory to the
purchaser and detrimental to the business.
The present officers of the society are M. F.
Newman, W. B. Scaife & Sons Company, Presi-
dent; G. F. Hodkinson, American Water Soft-
ener Company, Vice-President; H. G. Tate, of
the Borromite Company of America, Secretary.
Hauck Moves
Philadelphia Office
The Hauck Manufacturing Company, 126-134
Tenth street, Brooklyn, N. Y., has announced
the removal of its Philadelphia office to 1726
Sansome Street. Herbert Vogelsang, who has
been connected with the Hauck Manufacturing
Company for six years in the sale of portable oil
burners, torches, furnaces, etc., will be in charge.
THE AMERICAN CITY
VERIICOSIANT
Drinking Fountains
Are Sanitary
and —
thoroughly satisfactory and conven-
ient from every standpoint. The
slight angle of the Vertico-Slant foun-
tain obviates the necessity of the spe-
cial valve for drawing water to fill
the glass or cup, as an individual
drinking cup may be readily filled as
from a faucet. Finger contamination
is practically eliminated, as the nozzle
as located at the bottom of a recess
protected by a wall on either side dis-
courages the attempt.
Lips Cannot
ToucH the Nozzle
Full descriptive literature and a copy
df our new bubbling fountain catalog
ipill be gent to any city officials or
industrial plants free upon request.
Rundle Spence Mfg. Co.
MILWACKEE, WIS.
No matter WHAT drinking
fountain you may put
INDOORS
^ This
The MURDOCK
PATENTED
i^ANTl- FREEZING-^
BUBBLE-FONT
IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS SAFE
TO INSTAL OUTDOORS BECAUSE
it is the only drinking fountain
made that was designed and is
built solely for outdoor use. It
does not have to be turned off
at the approach of cold weather.
THE ONLY FOUNTAIN MADE
THAT IS STRONG ENOUGH
TO WITHSTAND PUBLIC
ABUSE.
Write for fully illustrated literature to
The HDRDOCK MFG. & SUPPLY CO.
FIRE HYDRANTS
YARD HYDRANTS
HOSE BOXES
CINCINNATI. OHIO
Builders of Water Serrice devices since 1863
THE CALIFORNIA BENCHES
Patented 1913-1914-1916-1917-1921-anci pending
These benches are a high class finished product, the
above being one of seven refined designs originated
by us. The seat and back are of two by four clear
wood properly finished and fastened through the con-
crete ends with wooden wedge pins.
In order that Park Boards and individuals may now
obtain this fine product at commercial prices every-
where, we have arranged that local concrete products
manufacturers in various districts of the country may
obtain the Patent Rights and the perfected iron mold-
ing machines for same at reasonable cost.
Hundreds of these benches are in use by the Cities,
Parks, Resorts and Universities, famous upon the
Pacific Coast, and their utmost utility, permanence,
and attractiveness appeals to all.
Your valued inquiry might include name of a local
firm, or we will endeavor to establish its manufacture
through your Chamber of Commerce or advise you
nearest factory.
ART CONCRETE WORKS
Originators and manufacturers for 35 years.
340-364 So. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, Cal.
02
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Feb., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
205
TRAFFIC CENSUS
Taken from /S o/AM Saturday /tprif 30-'' to laoOfUdnight Monday May Z«/9e/
3to/Vo
rem
Location of Station
3atfipril30^
Sunday tloy 1 ^
Monday May Z 2?
Total 1
Pleasure
Commtrciol
Pleasure
Cmmercial
Pleasure
Comixrcial
fYeosure
Cotnmercial
1^
J
OnSouthtxjry side about 1000
feet from Fbmeraug Bridge
99a
Its
Z
td
^f junction of Newtovyn and
AMnr t^ilfOrd Road in Danbury
/eat
eat
J
z
fit junction of New Mil ford
ana t/ewtown ffoodm Chnbury
1739
e7a
■a-
et>
fit east end of tonghi Contract,
til'/ Ptoin Cut-off in Dant>ury
1963
344
5
I3-/4
SOOfeet txyond Boordman'3
Bridge Schoot-tiouse
169
e&
e
I-4-
Ttiree-guarter^ ofan?i/e out-
side of t/eyv /^i 1 ford Village
1377
/ae>
7
13
One ttolfmik outside of A'eiv
till ford Village
434
89
e
es-4^
Oerty-eiizatietf, Street
6173
I0B4-
46T>}-
19a
3S3/
//e9
i-*,37a
24'^S
9
ae
Derby fi venue near City Line
aoo^*
709
esaa
30/
eoao
S9a
aoe,7
/6oa
10
-i<7
Woodbridge - Seymour 3taoe
ffoadot New Ma^en City One
511
lOZ
70Z
S4-
453
fl3
167/
3/S
1/
e
Martford Road- grand orKf
Quinnipioc fJyenue-J
26^e
1074-
■4Z6S
416
2694-
/ez4
10,00s
27/4
TABULATION OF TBAFTIO CENSUS IN CONNECTICUT
Traffic Studies on Our
Roadways
The versatility of counting-machines has long
been recognized by business men generally. In
fact, their application is so universal and the
results secured by their use so reliable that their
value is never questioned. There are many offi-
cials, however, who have never thought of the
hand tally as the means to the solution of the
problem facing street and highway departments
in counting traffic when trying to reduce the
great expense of maintaining roads. The State
Highway Department of Connecticut has made
a most extensive study of the roads in different
parts of the state in order to determine the
maintenance costs under different types of traf-
fic at different points throughout the state. The
Highway Commissioner determined upon the
plan of taking the highway traffic census at
different points for a three-day period. Accord-
ingly, one hundred hand tallies were secured
from the Root Company, Bristol, Conn., manu-
facturers of various types of counting-machines,
and operators were stationed at the different
points.
The results of this investigation were then
carefully tabulated according to whether the
traffic was of a pleasure or a commercial na-
ture. By referring to the table partially re-
produced herewith, it is seen that an accurate
record is now available which will furnish the
sought-for means of keeping the appropriate
balance between the cost of maintenance and
the character of the traffic. It will serve as a
check on the character of work done by those
who have constructed the various roads in the
past, and will furnish a means of determining
those road builders who have succeeded in build-
ing roads that stand up under the service test.
A Blade Type Snow-Plow
The snow-plow illustrated herewith is a new
development of the blade type snow-plow which
has been brought out by the Wehr Company,
549 30th Street, Milwaukee, Wis. This snow-
plow has a lo-foot blade set at an angle of 45
degrees, cutting an 8-foot swathe. The blade
can be raised or lowered at either end. The
runners, which carry the entire weight of the
plow, are 4 feet in length and can be raised
clear of the road so that the wheels carry the
plow over bare places. When the blade is raised
from the ground, it clears the surface by 18
inches. The entire weight of the plow is 2,000
pounds, including an additional drift wing. The
draft of the plow is carried to the end of the
push-bar connected to the center of the tractor
for pushing the plow, so that side draft is evenly
distributed to all four wheels of the tractor, and
thereby practically eliminated. With this equip-
ment it is possible to handle 12 inches of snow
at a speed of 8 to 10 miles per hour.
A TRACTOR-DRIVEN BLADE SNOW-PLOW FOR ROAD WORK
THE AMERICAN CITY
Speed City Haulage Jobs
With Wood -Detroit Equipment
Wood-Detroit hoists and bodies are used by cities
from coast to coast, handling garbage, cinders,
asphalt, coal, sand, and similar loads; for we have
developed special equipment for each need.
Write for special municipal equipment folder; it
gives the new prices and tells you how to cut costs.
Wood Hydraulic
Hoist & Body Co.
4196 Bellevue Ave. Detroit
Special body for handling
garbage — ivalerproof, clean-
dumping.
The ELGIN Line
of
Motor Driven Machinery for Cleaning Streets
The ELGIN with gutter attachment
THE ELGI N — Sprays the street, cleans the gutter, sweeps ten
feet of pavement, picks up the refuse and carts it away. Oper-
ated by one man. Known for its willingness to clean streets
at the lowest cost. A sk for Circular A -48.
THE AUTOSWEEPER — Sprays the pavement and sweeps a
seven foot path, leaving it in a clean condition. Operated by
one man. Excellent for direct displacement of horse-drawn
sweepers and for use as a "feeder" to pick-up machines. Ask
for Circular A-44
THE AUTO-EDUCTOR — Cleans catch basins at half the cost
of antiquated and unhealthful methods. Also is a flusher for
street cleaning. May be equipped with sprinkling heads for
sprinklingwork,etc. Ask for Circular A -SO.
ELGIN SALES CORPORATION
501 Fifth Avenue
NEW YORK
U. S. A.
Old Colony Building
CHICAGO
Feb., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
207
Motor-Cycles for
Police Use
The organization of the
Massachusetts State Police
Patrol has been of great
assistance in protecting
farmers, inhabitants of re-
mote villages, country
storekeepers and others
from prowling criminals.
This body of state troopers
was formed as a part of
the great machine to help
make the beautiful roads
and highways of the state
safe from reckless and
careless motorists and to
exercise a degree of su-
pervision over such drivers,
as the city and town police
do within the limits of their
mimicipalities.
The force is patterned in
many respects after the
Pennsylvania and. New York constabularies
with here and there a suggestion of the Royal
Northwest practices. Its members are known as
patrolmen, and its officers are sergeants, lieuten-
ants and captains.
The man who has been mainly responsible for
the creation of this force is Colonel Alfred F.
Foote. The force consists of 50 men, and the
appropriation for the organization amounted to
$47,000. The general headquarters are located
at what was formerly the state poor farm at
Framingham, Mass.
The question of transportation for the mem-
bers of the force was of great importance. After
a period of experimentation, 20 middleweight
Indian scouts were ordered from the Hendee
Manufacturing Company, Springfield, Mass., and
this original order has been doubled, so that
there are now 40 of these cycles in use. It
has been found that a patrolman on a motor-
cycle can cover a beat of approximately 100
miles in each working day without any hard-
ships. Horses are used when the winter snows
block the road for the motor-cycles. Probably
not more than a few days a year will see the
activities of the force curtailed in this manner.
It is expected of the men of the force, that
they learn to handle their motor-cycles as well
as any of the crack drivers of the motor-cycle
sport.
Manufacturer Inaugurates
Five-Day Week
Announcement has been made by M. E. Gray,
President, Rochester Can Company, Rochester,
N. Y., that, beginning January 5, 1922, the
plant has been working 8^ hours each day,
closing down on Friday night for the week, al-
lowing the men all day Saturday for recreation
and enjoyment. In this way the men work the
same number of hours and draw the same
amount of pay, with the additional advantage
of having the full day Saturday to themselves.
A SERGEANT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE ASTBISE
HIS "STEED"
The Rochester Can Company believes that it
has been the originator of the "All Day Sat-
urday Off" idea, at least in Rochester. The
factory has just completed the busiest year in
its history and started in 1922 with even a
greater volume.
Wallace & Tiernan Personnel
Wallace & Tiernan Company, Inc., Newark,
N. J., has recently opened two new offices and
made several changes in its personnel and ad-
ditions to the staff. An office has been opened at
1046 McKnight Building, Minneapolis, Minn., in
charge of B. M. Conaty, formerly of the Chi-
cago office.' The new office will cover the states
of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and
Montana, and the Canadian provinces of Al-
berta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. E. M.
Lawson, formerly of the San Francisco office,
has been transferred to the Kansas City office,
707 Commerce Building, Kansas City, Mo. This
district covers the states of Missouri, Kansas,
Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. R. B.
Mowry has recently been appointed representa-
tive for New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland
(Eastern Section), District of Columbia, and
Virginia, with his headquarters at the home
office.
Wallace & Tiernan, Ltd., was recently or-
ganized, with headquarters at T^ Adelaide Street,
East Toronto, Ontario, Canada, J. Van Ben-
schoten. Manager.
Several additions have recently been made to
the technical staff, including S. H. Gregg and
G. I. Nelson, who will be attached to the
personnel of the Chicago office; W. Van Ben-
schoten is n jw temporarily attached to the Chi-
cago office ; A LoPrest to the San Francisco
office, and R. M. Finch to the home office. At
the home office sanitary and industrial sales
will be handled separately. L. H. Goebel be-
comes Manager of Industrial Sales, and R. V.
Donnelly, Manager of Sanitary Sales.
THE AMERICAN CITY
-^
'»
^^B
i.
M
The Collection of Garbage
in municipalities is a problem that we can
help you solve. Heil's Steel Bodies and
Hoists are properly designed for this kind
of work. Notice the tapered end of this
garbage body, the steel covers, the "under
the body" Hoist which makes for easy
loading.
Tell us your requirements and we will
send you complete literature on Garbage
Bodies or other types of Dumping Equip-
ment.
1242-60-26th Ave. Milwaukee, Wis.
Distributors in principal cities
Repair Your Streets writb
The Lutz Surface Heater
It Boftena asphalt and other bituminous pavements.
It vulcanizes the old and new material into a perfect
bond. It cements Asphalt on Granite, Brick, Cob-
ble, or other hard pavements. It makes resurfacing
and maintenance easy and inexpensive
Illustrated Particulars on Request
Equitable Asphalt Maintenance Co.
1901 Campbell St. Kansas City, Mo.
Repalriot an Asphalt
Pavement. New York
Bound Volumes of THE AMERICAN CITY
A set of bound volumes of THE AMERICAN CITY makes a most valuable reference
work for municipal offices, public libraries, etc., and we are in a position to supply all volumes
from Volume I to Volume XXIV, inclusive. The prices of the volumes vary somewhat on
account of the scarcity of some of the issues contained. We will be glad to quote terms on
application. ^j^j. AMERICAN CITY, 154 Nassau St., New York City
Road buildini
without the
wasteful process
BURCH STONE SPREADER
Hitched to the back of a truck, it auto-
matically spreads stone to the required
width and depth, doing a quicker and better
job than men can do.
The saving in men and labor is great.
This spreader often pays for itself in a mile
of construction. Let us send you proofs
and description.
THE BURCH PLOW WORKS CO.
101 Bucyrus St., Crestline, Ohio
STEEL PAVING GUARDS
PROTECT THE EDGES
OF STREETS, ROADS,
CURBS, STREET-
RAILWAYS,
ETC.
Sizes
nd Shapes
adaptabe to
all types of paving.
W. S. GODWIN CO.
BALTIMORE. ■ • MD.
COIVIVERYS'
Non-Leakable Welded -"Held by the Weld"
20 STYLES 10 TO 1000 GALLON CAPACITY
Constructed for Service and economy. Our most
complete stock enables you to obtain any size and
style of Heater you require.
Kettles for class of fuels.
Construction and repair work require them.
We stock them.
Our stock — Your Service.
Write for Catalogr and prices.
CONNERY & CO., Inc.
4000 North Second St., Philadelphia, Pa.
94
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
209
A New Aid in City Planning
By Nelson P. Lewis
Consulting City Planning Engineer
IN all city planning work a knowledge of
the topography is one of the first essen-
tials. Where the surface is at all irregu-
lar, a quite accurate topographic survey is
necessary before the plan can be worked out
in detail, and it is obvious that such a sur-
vey of the entire area would be of much
value in the preliminary study. A topo-
graphic survey, as generally understood,
would, however, involve large expense,
while great accuracy is unnecessary during
the earlier stages of city planning.
It might be well also to emphasize the
fact that in planning new territory it is a
PORTRAYING THE COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENT ON TWO SIDES OF A RIVER
In the above view, note the many industrial plants on one side of a navigable waterway and their entire
absence on the other. The explanation is found in the fact that one side has trunk line railway con-
nections, while the other has none. It is quite obvious what is needed to make available for industries
the water-front property now unused
210
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
mistake to make the first plans in great de-
tail. The essential thing is the general
character of the plan, which should be
worked out in a logical manner, and if that
be done with the existing topographical
conditions as a basis, the plan cannot well
be spoiled in the subsequent elaboration of
detail. But instrumental field surveys, even
to obtain such data as may be necessary to
lay down tentatively the general structure
of the plan, not only require much time and
expense, but involve some work which must
be done over again when the complete
topographic survey is made.
A Quick, Comprehensive Survey
The development of aerial photography
has made it possible to secure information
of very great value at relatively small ex-
pense; such information as will make it pos-
sible to decide both quickly and intelligently
upon some general features of the plan
which can be developed most economically
and with best adaptation to topography.
One can ride, or even walk, over the terri-
tory for which a plan is desired; he may
follow the valleys, climb over the ridges,
observe the location of buildings and of
wooded tracts available for public play-
grounds and other essential features, but will
retain only a confused idea of their position
with respect to each other. Suppose, how-
ever, he were able to look down upon this
same territory from a height of one or two
miles and to carry with him a permanent
and accurate record of what he saw, how
greatly it would help him to decide upon the
general scheme, the details of which may be
developed later.
He could not, of course, get an accurate
impression as to relative elevations. A very
good idea of surface irregularities, however,
can be secured from the contour maps of the
Geological Survey and from occasional
oblique views taken from the same or a
lower elevation than that from which were
secured the vertical views which when put
together as a mosaic make the sort of map
which the writer has in mind. A small clus-
ter of houses, or other buildings, is noted on
one part of the map, a larger group in an-
other, while an almost continuous line of
buildings traverses it in a certain direction.
A careful examination of the picture will
show the reason. You can trace a railroad
running up a valley, along which are scat-
tered these different groups of buildings;
you will see an improved road along which
there is a series of homes and outbuildings;
the sparkle of running water shows an inter-
secting valley; lakes or ponds can be dis-
covered either in the open or surrounded
by what appears to be a luxuriant forest
growth.
Obviously, the opportunities for taking
advantage of existing conditions in develop-
ing a plan for the territory are greatly in-
creased. In following a navigable water-
way, one side is found to be quite intensively
used as sites for industrial plants; the other
is almost entirely undeveloped. What is the
reason for this? A close examination of the
picture will probably show that there arc
railroads running down to one side of the
waterway and there, where rail and water
meet, are the industrial plants. The other
side of the stream has just as good facil-
ities for water transportation, but no rail-
roads. This fact will give a valuable hint
to one studying the situation, as to what is
needed to insure better use of natural facil-
ities for transportation and to promote in-
dustrial development.
It is not only in the mapping of undevel-
oped territory or of new additions to exist-
ing towns that this new art is of very great
assistance. Much of the work of city plan-
ning is devoted to the correction of mis-
takes or supplying omissions in the plans of
territory already intensively developed. We
may be well aware of the defects of the
present plan, may realize the need of addi-
tional thoroughfares to relieve existing con-
gestion, may appreciate the need of better
connections between the different units of
our park system, may feel that our water-
front should be utilized to better advantage ;
but riding or walking about the town or the
careful study of maps will not give us such
a vivid impression of the existing condi-
tions or help us to arrive at a possible solu-
tion, as will the opportunity to look down
upon the city from an elevation sufficient to
give a distinct view of the area as a whole,
but low enough to enable us to see every -m-
portant detail.
Traffic Conditions Clearly Seen
There are the long lines of vehicles col-
lecting alternately on two important streets
at their intersection, while at another point
a gyratory movement of traffic permits all
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
211
The photograph and line map above illustrate the advantage of an aerial photographic survey in the
development of a city plan. The features of the photograph to be retained were inked in on the
original; the photograph was then bleached, the inked lines only remaining. A study of both photograph
and line map will be of great assistance to the city planner in determining the portions of the existing
layout which should be retained, the connections and additions necessary to make a rational plan, and
the topographical features which should be emphasized
212
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
to keep going. There are great numbers of
trucks which should be moving, but which
are standing at certain piers and railroad
terminals, indicating that some improvement
of both rail and vvrater terminal facilities is
greatly needed. There are parks, within
which we can plainly see what must be at-
tractive drives, but even at this vantage
point we can see no connections between
them except by narrow streets, already
crowded by miscellaneous traffic, so that
those trying to go from one park to another
must choose between streets none of which
have the character of parkways or give the
slightest evidence that they are connections
between dififerent integral parts of a park
system.
There are fragments of wide streets along
the water-front, which if connected with
each other would provide a wonderfully in-
\^ teresting thoroughfare and afford relief to
the congested streets further inland, and the
picture plan made from above indicates
where and how such connections can be
made most easily and least expensively.
Public buildings can readily be located and
the adequacy or inadequacy of their sites
as to extent and the suitability of their
locations will be appreciated, and if mis-
takes have been made they can be avoided in
the future planning of streets or new mu-
nic'pal buildings.
For Constructive Work in Peace-Time
We know that aerial surveys and mapping
were of the greatest possible use during the
World War in locating points within the
enemies' lines which were vulnerable to
attack, but we have found that this same
method of aerial photographic surveying
will disclose the logical points of attack for
those who are bent, not upon destructive
but upon important constructive work, upon
the better utilization of natural conditions
for commerce, for homes or for wholesome
recreation. A relief map in the study of any
territory looking to its best development
would be of the greatest value, but that
could be made only after the collection of
accurate information and as the result of
field surveys.
If then, without equipping survey parties
and spending weeks and months laboriously
collecting information which is later to be
used in preparing maps artd making relief
models, we can, in as many days as the other
survey would require months, obtain accu-
rate information as to existing conditions,
it is quite evident that a great advance has
been made in a direction which will be of
inestimable value to those planning for the
future development, not only of cities, but of
suburban and rural districts.
Acknowledgment: Photographs by courtesy of Fair-
child Aerial Camera Corporation, New York City.
Association of Merchants Installs Street
Lighting System
By A. E. Suker
Lighting Specialist
ANEW lighting system has been in-
stalled in Short Street, Lexington,
Ky., as the result of the energetic
work of the business men who have estab-
lishments along that thoroughfare, and in-
stead of the six lamps which formerly il-
luminated it, it now has twenty-six. Short
Street, which is in the business section of
Lexington, is appropriately named. It is
only six blocks long, extending parallel to
the main street of the city and distant one
block from it. It is a street of numerous
small stores, the proprietors of which felt
that in order to compete successfully with
those on Main Street the thoroughfare
would have to be inproved.
The Short Street Improvement Associa-
tion was therefore organized and the work
of improvement was begun. It was agreed,
however, that an adequate lighting system
was essential to any such program. The
suggestion had been made some time before
that this was needed, but it was felt that it
could not be carried out for some time to
come. Nevertheless, the Association began
to work for the project.
The matter was taken up with the Utilities
Company, which first estimated the cost at
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
213
$25,000. Later, when material became
cheaper, this was reduced to $21,000. Bonds
for meeting- the cost were issued, and the
Association, aided by the Lions Club, began
the task of selling them, the Lions Club dis-
posing of $12,600 worth. According to
Maurice Loevenhart, President of the Asso-
ciation, the entire block of bonds was bought
by fewer than 45 persons who own property
or are in business on Short Street.
The Association chose a Form 6 General
Electric lighting unit equipped with diffus-
ing globe and a 1,000-candle-power lamp
operated from a transformer placed on a
cross-arm near the top of the pole. Where
tubular steel poles are used, the secondary
wires of the fixture are run inside the pole
through a cap over the top, and where the
unit is installed on a wooden pole, the
secondary wires are run in wooden moulding
down the side of the pole, and the wires en-
ter the acorn-shaped ornament at the bot-
tom of the gooseneck near the pole plate.
Twenty-six of these units were purchased
and mounted on bishop's crook brackets at-
tached to tubular steel poles manufactured
by the Electric Railway Equipment Com-
pany. These poles are placed, staggered, at
intervals of 100 feet, and the lamps are
mounted at a height of 17 feet from the
street to the light source.
When the new system was completed and
ready for operation, Short Street reintro-
duced itself to the people of Lexington with
a program in honor of the occasion.
The Lexington Herald of December 4
says of it:
"The culmination of several months of pro-
gressive effort on the part of the business men
along Short .Street came at 7 130 o'clock Satur-
day night, when tiie new 'White Way' blazed
forth along that thoroughfare amid all the
noise and bustle of a crowd of several hundred,
which had 'gathered for the celebration that
attended the event.
"Twenty-six powerful electric lights suddenly
took the place of the six that have served to
illuminate this section for many years, and
Short Street immediately jumped into greater
popularity with the people of Lexington.
"The old lights were discontinued at 7:20
o'clock in order to make the appearance of the
new 'White Way' even more effective, and the
street was in darkness for ten minutes, except
for the glare of the headlights of the scores of
automobiles that crowded the ways for the oc-
casion. A great crowd gathered along the
length of the street from Limestone to Broad-
way to await the inauguration of the most for-
ward step taken by Short Street business houses
TYPE OF NEW STEEET LIGHTS IN BUSINESS
SECTION, LEXINGTON, KY.
in years. After the lights had been turned on,
the crowd gathered on the plaza at the court
house and listened to a number of selections by
Storm's band, which had been engaged especially
for the event."
^14
City and Street Railway Company
Cooperate in Paving
Economy Made Necessary by War Conditions Produces Attractive Parkway
Space for Street Railway Tracks
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, has recently
adopted an innovation in street rail-
way track improvement in conjunction
with the local street railway company. When
the paving improvement was undertaken on
7th East Street, between 5th and 13th
South Streets, the question of the improve-
ment to be made over the traction company's
double-track right of way was considered.
Under a municipal statute the street rail-
finally worked out, providing a center park-
ing space 26 feet wide, in which the street
railway double tracks should be laid, with a
paved roadway on either side 24 feet in
width. For the lower portion of 7th East
Street, the double tracks were moved over
to the west side of the street along the
park, partly on the street and partly on park
property, this leaving a 36-foot clear road-
way free of tracks.
VIEW ALONG 7TH EAST STREET, SHOWING NEW PABK AREA FORMED BT MOVING STREET
RAILWAY TRACKS
way company is required to pave its right
of way, including two feet outside of the
outer rails. Because of the company's finan-
cial status, due to war conditions, it
was very anxious to save the expense of
paving its entire right of way. In addition,
property owners were desirous of h?iving
center parking on the street in so far as cir-
cumstances would permit.
The upper portion of this street, between
5th and 9th South Streets, is 132 feet wide,
whereas the lower portion between 9th and
13th South Streets along Liberty Park is
only 66 feet wide. After a careful study of
the matter, a plan of the upper portion was
As a consideration, the traction company
paJd a material portion of the cost of pav-
ing, which was much less, however, than
would have been the cost of paving the en-
tire right of way. Since the work was
completed, the traction company has planted
lawn grass on these parkings, which is
growing very nicely.
The consideration shown the traction
company by the municipal officials is com-
mendatory, for in these times when many
traction companies are operating under un-
usual burdens, strict adherence to municipal
statutes and franchises may cause the loss
of the service of the utility to the city.
215
Open-Channel Drainage for Malaria
Control
By Fernald E. Hulse
Sanitary Engineer, International Health Board
ONE of the most practical means for
the physical control of malaria is the
prevention of the breeding of the
Anopheles mosquito. This has been done
with considerable success for some time by
different methods, such as the use of oil,
larvicides, subsoil tile drainage, and open
ditches. It is the last-named form of physi-
cal control which will be discussed in this
paper.
Theoretically, drainage for the control of
mosquito breeding resolves itself into math-
engineer is ready to map out the drainage
system, deciding on the number, size, type,
and grade of the ditches and channels to
insure a rapid run-off. The size of the
ditches and rechanneling of existing water-
courses can be determined mathematically,
but it is reserved for the engineer's per-
sonal observations to determine the type of
ditch which will be most effective- and
have the longest life with the minimum cost
of construction and maintenance.
Mosquitoes breed in great -abundance in
GOOD EXAMPLE OF "V" TYPE DITCH WITH SLOPE SLIGHTLY STEEPER THAN 45 DEGREES
ematical calculations and is carried out on
strictly engineering principles. When an
area for control has been specified, an ac-
curate topographical map should be made,
noting all possible and probable breeding-
places, the nature of the soil, the kind of
vegetation and the rapidity of its growth,
and any other features relative to drainage.
Sufficient rainfall data should be collected
in order that the average run-off may be
calculated, and thus the amount of water
that must be drained in a given time de-
termined. When this has been done, the
low, flat-lying are?? where water is likely
to stand for days and weeks at a time. The
most serious drainage problems relative to
malaria control will therefore be found in
countries where differences in the elevation
of the terrain are very slight. For exam-
ple, in the Southern States along the Missis-
sippi River the land as a rule is low and
flat and in most cases below the level of
the river, being protected by levees. These
delta lands have a relatively high water-
table, and the seepage is slow. They are
therefore likely to be difficult to drain.
2l6
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
Another example of similar conditions is
thf marsh-lands along the New Jersey coast,
where also differences in elevation are very
slight and the water-table high, because of
changes of the tide. Under difficult drain-
age conditions of this kind, control usually
resolves itself into ditching and the use of
tide-gates for the purpose of concentrating
the water, with no actual attempt to secure
a complete run-off.
In the delta region at Mound, La., the
writer observed that the average grade of
the natural watercourses or bayous was one
foot to a mile; consequently drainage by
ditching, if attempted, would necessarily be
a precise engineering problem. Moreover,
conditions in Louisiana are more or less
similar to those in the tropics, for there are
distinct wet and dry seasons. Ditches must
therefore be sp constructed as to produce a
rapid run-ofif during the heavy and extended
rains. Another example of slightly differ-
ent conditions is found in the Department
of Rivas in Nicaragua close to the shore of
Lake Nicaragua. This territory is exceed-
ingly malarious. The soil has a fairly rapid
run-off and a fair rate of absorption, but
has poor natural drainage because of the
topography and the dense vegetation.
The facts governing ditching for malaria
control may be presented in tabular form:
I. Country
Temrerate
Semi-tropical
Tropical
II. Rainfall
Maximum precipitation yearly
Maximum precipitation montlily
Maximum precipitation in twenty-four hours
III. Nature of Terrain
Elevation above sea-level
Porosity of soil
Vegetation
IV. Limitation of Funds Available
The following are the types of ditches
that may be employed:
I.
Concrete Ditches
Half-round
"V" ditch
\47r10us Cfoss Secfjons o-f OJ'Hches
jzr
2X
X O/rf b/^h, j/o/>e /:/ or -^s*
JT" syve/>-yyt^Aych -for iVajf yyot/
JT 3fva^ aho/>/7e/ <yTi>r/» vyff'/'tfr
Flume or Square ditch
II. Open Dirt Channel
Ditches
"V" type ditch
Broad channel with
small "V" type in
the bottom for
varied flow
Combination of the
two above
Straight side ditches
for clay soil :in 1
sandstone
III. Otl'.er Forms
Brick
Stone
Wooden
The following are the
types of ditches for vari-
ous conditions in the order
of their length of life:
I. Low, flat land with higli
water-table and relatively
poor soil absorption
a. Concrete "V" type or
half-round type. Ex.
Canal Zone Panama,
Le Prince
b. "\'" type, dirt sides,
slope 4.5°
II. Same as I, but in a
sandy soil
a. Concrete "V" type or
half-round type with
wing-walls and weep-
Iloles. Ex. Le Prince,
Canal Zone, Panama
b. "V" type natural
open-channel slope,
IJ/^ or 2 on 1
III. Country with slight dif-
ference in elevation, but
lieavy precipitation, soil
porous or wet
a. Broad channel with
small "V" type or
half-round type in
bottom, of concrete
b. Same as a, but of
dirt
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
217
I\'. Country with good fall, soil sandy, heavy rains
(Tropics)
a". Broad channels, frequent wing-walls to
prevent wash, and "V" type channel in
bottom of broad channel
V. Same as IV, with firm soil and average rainfall
a. Open-channel ditch of concrete or dirt of
strictly "V" type, slope 45°
\'I. Flat country, firm soil, clay or "gumbo," with
average rainfall (Louisiana)
a. Concrete "V" or half-round types
b. Small "V" type ditch with slope 45°
c. Open channel flume or square type
A few of the points to watch in the con-
struction of ditches or in rechanneling
natural stream courses are these:
1. Have ditch as straight as possible; the
fewer bends the better.
2. Bends should not be at right angles, but
over 130° to prevent undercutting of
banks.
3. Where bends must be more abrupt, use
baft]e-boards or widen the chaiuiel to re-
duce the current.
4. Avoid too sudden a change in grade, to
prevent gouging of the channel bottom.
5. In sandy soil and on steep slopes use
wing-walls to prevent side wash of sand
into the ditch;
6. Passing through culverts and under
bridges, widen the channel at the approach,
to reduce the velocity of the current.
7. Laterals should not enter the main ditch
at right angles to main ditch, but on a
large bend or an acute angle pointing in
the direction of flow. In case a lateral
enters the main ditch above the grade of
the main ditch, a stone fill is necessary
in the channel of the main ditch to prevent
scouring at the point of discharge. This
stone fill is necessary in some cases in the
channel of the ditch at the point of a
sudden drop in grade, to prevent scouring.
Also a stone ramp or fill is necessary at
the down-stream end of culverts and
small bridges where the channel is nar-
rowed, thus increasing the velocity and
possibly causing a scouring of the channel.
Hints on Ditch Construction
To increase the velocity of a stream. —
There are numerous means by which the
velocity of a stream may be increased: for
example, make the ditch narrower at the
point where the increased velocity is de-
sired, either in the original construction or
by a plank wall on either side of the chan-
nel and filled behind; increase the grade or
slope of the channel; or make the sides of
the ditch more nearly perpendicular. The
last-named method can only be employed
where the nature of the soil will permit.
To decrease the velocity of a stream. —
This may be done by reducing the grade of
the channel or by widening the ditch at the
desired point, and in some instances by the
use of baffles in the stream channel itself.
Unless this latter method is applied with
caution and only after some study, scouring
and undercutting of the banks may result.
Maintenance of permanent grade. — In
open dirt ditches a very good method of re-
taining the original grade is to drive stout
flat-topped stakes into the bottom of the
channel at intervals of ten or twelve feet,
the tops of the stakes to be level with the
bottom of the channel. In case the ditch
fills with sand, it is a comparatively simple
process to dig down to one of these stakes
and thus find the grade, then follow along
to the next stake, and so on. Where open
ditches are necessary on account of limited
funds, this method will effect considerable
saving in the cost of maintenance.
Some methods of filling. — The use of
stone with gravel firmly packed and then
cemented with a thin coat of neat cement
is an ideal method. Where cement is not
available, clay may be used effectively to
fill the voids of the cracked stone. In
Nicaragua, where the soil is loose and shift-
ing, the writer found that driving a large
number of stakes to grade into the bed of
the stream and then filling with cracked
stone, the whole covered with earth and
packed down firmly, resulted in a very good
fill.
Lignite Replaces High-Grade Coal in
Municipal Power-Plant
Use of Low-Grade Fuel Made Possible by Mechanical Stokers
ADJACENT to the power-plant of the
water and light plant, Moorhead,
Minn., are beds of lignite and other
low-grade coals. In spite of the proximity
of these fuels, the plant was burning
Pocahontas mine-run under its 200-horse-
power Stirling boiler because no effective
means of making use of the low-grade fuel
had been found by the management, with-
out endangering the plant's ability to give
uninterrupted service such as a power-sta-
tion of this type must give.
After considerable investigation it was
decided that these fuels could be efficiently
2t8
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
burned on underfeed stokers. This led to
the installation of two Jones "Standard"
stokers which are similar to types which
have been used elsewhere for burning high-
ash, low-volatile coals with relatively high
efficiency, high capacities and continuous
operation. The stokers were immediately
started, using Wilton, North Dakota, lignite,
a coal with a B.T.U. of only 6596 as fired.
A series of three tests was made to de-
termine the efficiency of the stoker and
boiler at regular loads, heavy loads, and
capacity. The results are shown below in
tabular form. The tests determined that
there was an efficiency of 65.9 at regular
load, and 64.5 at heavy overload. In the
capacity test 296.7 boiler horse-power was
developed in the 200-horse-power boilers,
5,iving 148.4 per cent of rated capacity.
After this combination had been in op-
eration for over two years, tests showed
that the plant gave 20 per cent maximum
capacity over the boiler rating with 65 to
70 per cent efficiency, the draft pressure
being ^4-inch water. The installation
of the stoker had cut the cost of fuel $1
per ton, equal to 40 per cent in cost, through
the use of a lower grade.
Results of Boiler Test
Coal Burned: Wilton, Dakota, Lignite
At Regular
Load
Coal burned per hour as fired lbs. 1061
Coal burned per hour per retort lbs 531
Water evaporated from and at 212° per hour lbs. 5246
Water evaporated from and at 212° per sq. ft. of
heating surface pier hour lbs.
Boiler h.p. developed (average) b.h.p. 152.1
Per cent of rated capacity developed percent 76.1
Water evaporated actual per pound coal as fired. .. .lbs. 4.59
Water evaporated from and at 212° F. per pound of
coal as fired lbs. 4.94
Water evaporated from and at 212° F. per pound of
coal dry lbs. 7.37
Water evaporated from and at 212° F. per pound of
coal combustible lbs. 8.22
Efficiency of boiler, furnace and grate percent 68.9
Under
avy Load
1734
867
8007
Capacity
Test
2533
1267
10237
232.1*
116.1
4.27
296.7 *
148.4
3.71
4.62
4.05
6.88
6.03
7.67
64.5
6.72
56.5
A Discussion of Stokers
To THE Editor of The American City :
I want to ask for .a limited space in The
American City for a review of the article,
"Hand Versus Mechanical Handling of
Coal and Ashes," by W. F. Schaphorst,
M. E., in October, 1921, and continued in
the November number. I have been familiar
with the various types and forms of stokers
in use for forty years.
The author's contribution to the subjects
treated is not without merit. There are,
howevef, some quite confidently made as-
sertions which are misleading. For in-
stance, stipulation No. 2, page 324, of ad-
vantages of stoker over hand fire, says in
part: "It is independent of the physical
ability of the mental attitude of the fireman
or his assistants." This sounds like a copy
from a stoker-promotion circular. There
are at least five distinctly different types of
stokers, and three or more different makes
of each type, with the operation of which
I am quite familiar. I have never yet seen
or known a stoker that is independent of
intelligent supervision to secure good re-
sults, even in a single-boiler plant, much
less in a 5,000- or 7,000-h.p. plant. More-
over, on page 327, in the fourth of his stipu-
lations of disadvantages, the author flatly
contradicts himself as follows: "The
mechanical stoker requires human atten-
tion." I should say, intelligent supervision.
No person should be deceived in refef
ence to necessary attendance even with use
of the best form of automatic boiler furnace,
nor should any believe that best hand firing
on tests can equal best operation of best
completely automatic furnace, much less in
regular daily or average work.
There is "no such animal" as a municipal
or other plant too small for advantageous
use of a stoker, especially one of the over-
feed type, the "Coal Feeder," which is the
only type of stoker that can be properly
designated as an "over-feed." It scatters
the coal over the fuel bed on a flat grate.
Just why a stoker is not as advisable in a
small municipal plant as in a non-municipal
plant is not stated.
Mr. Schaphorst does not seem to be
familiar with under-feed stokers, as he has
asserted that "no stoker made can take
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
219
care of all grades of coal." It is, as he
says, not only "almost impossible," but it is
altogether impossible "to prevent some
waste of unburned fuel" in the ashes, but
it is possible to have as clean ash from a
good automatic furnace as from any hand
fire work. I quite agree that human atten-
tion is necessary, but the over-feed "Coal
Feeder" referred to herewith will soon save
cost of installation, and up-keep too, in any
plant, even in a one-boiler plant.
The fuel economy advantages of stoker
firing are obviously just as great propor-
tionately in a small as in a large plant.
The Boston engineer's report and other
cited tests of saving of stoker over hand
fire are not phenomenal. There are scores
of plants where the saving of fuel by use
of automatic furnace amounts to 15 to 25
per cent or more, as shown on the monthly
book accounts of fuel bills.
Among the ".disadvantages" stated on
page 327 is the following: "Generally stok-
ers should not be installed unless it is also
decided to handle ashes and coal automati-
cally."
There are at least three times as many
plants where stokers or "automatic" fur-
naces are in paying use without mechanical
handling of ashes as where ash-handling
systems are used, and at least twice as
many plants equipped with what he errone-
ously calls "over-feed" or "opposed-feed"
stokers, where neither coal- nor ash-handling
is used, as where either is in use, and,
when the stoker is properly operated, there
has l>een no need of extra "manual labor"
nor "mechanical agitators" to avoid clogging
of coal in the feed opening or magazines.
Mr. Schaphorst's description of the
form and operation of what he calls over-
feed stokers is a mixture of error about two
distinctly different types, viz., front-feed
and side-feed types. They are different in
construction form, in operation and in re-
sults. He says over-feeds are more liable
to smoke. The front-feed is, but the side-
feed has no equal for continuous smokeless
combustion, nor for economy of fuel and
for crowding capacity, and this form has
no dump grate, but is continually and effi-
ciently kept clear of clogging by clinker
and other refuse.
In the operation of what he designates as
the "opposed feed type," it feeds from both
sides, but rotatively from one side and then
the other, instead of "simultaneously," and
the coal does not "rest, for a short time"
on plates "where the volatile gases are
driven ofif." The plates referred to as
"coking plates" are the bed-plates of the
coal magazines. The coal is not coked until
after it is pushed oflf these plates onto the
grate. If coking took place sooner, it would
be destructive of the adjacent parts of the
magazine. There is no "lower end" to this
form of furnace; exhaust steam is show-
ered underneath the grates to prevent clinker
from running or sticking to the grates, and
incidentally it prolongs the life of the
grates, which are the only parts in contact
with the fire.
I do not care to note the statements about
chain grate type nor "under-feed stokers,"
except to call attention to the evident at-
tempt to make a virtue out of the necessity
for carrying heavy fires, which is true of all
fires driven by a blast, and to correct the
error about higher temperatures. There is
no possible higher boiler furnace tempera-
ture in an under-feed than in the side-feed
automatic furnace, except that from lack
of suitable suction draft there may be a
cumulative heat effect, which is destructive
of furnace walls.
O. n. COTTON,
Dayton, Ohio,
Our Schools Should Be Health Builders
We believe that our schools have met with
a fair measure of success in inspiring moral
living. We have assumed that children
may and do improve in their study of arith-
metic, geography, writing and reading.
There is a general consensus of opinion,
however, that our experiments in building
healthy boys and girls have had few tangi-
ble and worthy results. We have never
really expected that children would gradu-
ate from school in as good or better condi-
tion than when they entered. At the end
of each year we have expected rather that
they would be in a run-down condition. It
is time we began seriou.sly to consider the
means whereby boys and girls will improve
in health whenever it is necessary, in the
same way that they improve in drawing or
geography.
DR. J. MACE ANDRESS,
U. S. Bureau of Education.
220
Experience with Bituminous Gravel
Streets
Methods of Constructing and Maintaining Streets in Richmond, Indiana
By D. B. Davis
City Civil Eagineer, Richmond, Ind.
(Editorial Note: The following article came to The American City as a letter
inspired by the article by Harrison L. House which appeared in the January, 1922,
issue under the title, "Reinforcing Gravel Roads for Motor Traffic")
WHEN the streets of Richmond, Ind.,
were originally improved, the great
local abundance of gravel led to the
decision to use that material for the road-
ways. The gravel was laid to a depth of
12 inches. Cobblestone gutters were laid at
the same time and were later replaced by a
combined cement curb and gutter. Partly
because of a slight difference in elevation of
the outer edge of the new gutter and partly
on account of the natural wear during a
period of some 20 years, these streets be-
came very flat, necessitating resurfacing.
It was the practice of the city to handle
this resurfacing with crushed stone at its
own expense, but in 1918, because of in-
crease in the price of stone and in freight
rates, resurfacing with that material became
prohibitive, and, not wishing to discontinue
the repair of streets, we decided to return
to the use of gravel and to continue the
same methods that were used for macadam.
The gravel used was from the city pit
and gave approximately the following screen
test :
Passing a screen Retained on screen
iH-inch lOO.O'/c
Clay
IJ-^-inch 54-inch.
H-'mch j4-inch .
H-inch J4-inch .
J4-incli J^-inch .
^-inch 50
50
11.7%
6.7%
16.9%
17.3%
29.4%
4.7%
NORTH 21ST STREET, A BITUMINOUS GRAVEL ROAD IN
RICHMOND, IND.
content 13.3%
The clay appears as a coating on the pebbles and
not as lumps in the mixture.
The following methods were used in con-
structing the gravel surface: The old worn
gravel surface was first loosened to a depth
of 3 inches by a scarifier attached to a lo-
ton roller. The new bank-run gravel was
spread in one course to a depth of from
4 to 5 inches. A finished crown of about
5^4-inch to the foot was attained. After
thorough harrowing, the gravel was damp-
ened and rolled. After once
setting it with the roller, it
was then more thoroughly
wet and rolled to a finish. On
the final rolling the surface
was brushed by a steel brush
attached to the roller; this
was instrumental in filling
the voids of the larger aggre-
gate and giving the surface a
smooth pebble-dash finish.
In 1919, it was determined
to experiment with Tarvia B
surface treatments on these
gravel streets. North 21 st
Street and North 17th Street,
comprising about 550 square
yards, were the first ones
treated. The success attained
on these streets resulted in
treating others each year,
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
231
n5*m "8"
/i. 2/ST STREET- LOCATIOfiS OF PATCHES &.
HOLES -SIZE OF EACH
esoV-O
340' ft»7*«
D.5o'|i,<
04o'<(-a i
60" 2"'
GRAVEL STREET SURFACE TREATED
LEtfGTH 945 Ft HIND OF TREATMENT TarVJS B
DATE OF TREAT/V1CNT I9IQ & 1920
DATE OF /fiSPECTION F&b.6J922
//iSPECTED BY Johti £3ton
coriDiTiOH Good
Patch
O Hole
fi.l7tt STREET— LOCATION OF PATCHES &
HOLES -SIZE OF EACH
l*Z*m
m /"
275
-''^Vo' «/'7-'
GRAVEL STREET SURFACE TREATED
Length 623' kind of treatment Thrvia B
DATE OF treatment 1919 A 1920
DATE OF INSPECTION Feb. 6 1922
INSPECTED BY John Eaton
CONDITION OOOO
■ Patch
PBINTS SHOWING RECORDS OF STREET INSPECTIONS
until at present there is a total of 50,000 season. It is absolutely necessary that a
square yards. second treatment be applied the next season,
For successful results it has been our ex- and if it is doubtful whether this can be
perience that the gravel surface must be done, it is not advisable to apply any sur-
hard and comparatively smooth prior to face treatments whatsoever on gravel,
the application of the surface treatment.
The application of these treatments the next Maintenance Charts
season after construction allows traffic to The accompanying charts show the
more thoroughly compact the original sur- maintenance required on North 21st and
face. If small depressions are present at the North 17th Streets, respectively, during the
time of treating, they are repaired by filling three years since 1919. No treatments will
with ^-inch stone, tamping it about 3/16- be necessary for these streets in 1922. After
inch below the street surface and. sealing two successive applications of the original
with hot Tarvia X. If there is dust on the binder, additional treatment has been found
surface, it can be removed to the gutter unnecessary for from two to three years,
with a rotary sweeper. Otherwise, good Richmond, Ind., has a population of about
results have been obtained by applying the 27,000, and the gravel streets treated are
material directly to the gravel. those which are closely built up and are
The original bituminous material was representative of the average residential
applied cold by means of a pressure distri- cross-streets and not the thoroughfares,
butor. For the initial treatment, y^- to >4- The cost of resurfacing with gravel at
gallon per square yard was used, with sub- present prices is approximately as follows :
sequent treatments of V^- to 54 -gallon per* per cu. yd
square yard. After the initial treatment. Cost of bank-run gravel at the pit. . .35
, ^ fr. i.i^-a,i.i.«v,iit. Hauling by teams, 6 loads per day, IJ/J yds.
when traffic has used the street for some per load, team at 65 cents per hour .72
.^ ,t r J • 111 Spreading on street at 40 cents per hour 13
months, a lew depressions may develop, due Extra man at pit loading at 40 cents per hour .13
either to an excess of dust or to a damp, n ^ c i » . "TTTT
, 1 r • , Cost of gravel on street ; $1.33
clayey spot on the surface prior to the ap- per sq. yd.
plication of the binder. These are of little 2^t f^^lf T^rr^. V\^^[^- y^r^s ''
consequence, but must be repaired before scarifying and rolling with roller. oe
the second application of the binder next Cost of resurfacing 85
222 THEAMERICANCITY Vol. XXVI, No. 3
The binder is applied by the city forces work is started. In order to encourage the
on petition by the people who reside on the property owners to have the streets treated,
street. A table of estimates is prepared and the city has agreed to pay one-third of the
kept on file in the engineer's office giving total cost and all of the cost of intersec-
the estimated cost of applying the binder to *^""f' ^ „ . , , • , • ,
, , , , r , J J -4.1, The followmg table gives the engmeer s
each block of gravel and macadam in the . ^ - ^ • •^- 1 ^ ^ 1 vt.
„,.,,.. , ^, estimate for the initial treatment with
city. This table of estimates shows the ,. , . i- ,• r r/ „ii^
/, , , ^ ,.,..,,. binder, using one application of J4 -gallon
width and length of each individual city square yard:
block, together with the rate of cost per ^^^. ^^ ^^^ pea "gravel covering at $1.50
lineal foot and the total cost to the prop- „per cu yd 0.007
, , ,, . n^, . Binder f.o.b. track at 13 cents per gallon 0.033
erty owners for each block. 1 his amount Cleaning and application 0.015
must be deposited with the city before any Estimate per square yard 0.055
Catch-Basin Cleaning in Akron, Ohio
The Cost of Sanitary Cleaning Methods Greatly Reduced
EARLY in 1918 the city of Akron, Ohio,
put into commission a machine of the
hydraulic ejector type mounted on a
5-ton truck for cleaning its catch-basins.
This Otterson Auto-Eductor cleaned 1,044
basins in the first seven months it was used.
The average size of the basins was 4x5
feet X 7 feet deep, and inasmuch as many
of the basins had not been cleaned for sev-
eral years, they were filled up with dirt, and
some of them even had grass growing on
the surface.
In 1921, another Otterson two-stage
Eductor, mounted on a Mack 5-ton chassis,
was purchased. The table below gives
interesting comparative figures on the cost
of cleaning the basins, the average being
$2.94 per basin in 1921, as against $3.50 per
basin in 1918. These figures, which include
the pay-roll, materials used, interest on in-
vestment, depreciation and overhead charges,
are far below the cost of cleaning by hand,
which averages $5.00 per basin exclusive of
cartage.
CLEANING CATCH-BASINS
, Street Cle.«ning, -1921
No. 72 No. 64
Kelly 5 T. Chassis - Mack 5 T. Chassis
Otterson Eductor Otterson 2 Stage Eductor
1918 Model 1921 Model
Performance:
Number of Days Operated 63 ' 192
Number of Hours OperatiM 710 1,580
Number of Catch-Basins Cleaned. 873 2,322
Dirt Removed — Cubic Yards 854 2,299
Costs :
Driver — Wages $1,100.50 $1,200.70
Helpers — Wages above 2,342.14
Gas and Oil 303.00 549.23
Total Operating $1,403.50 $4,092.07
Repairs — Wages 100.15 382.24
Repairs — Parts 522.11 359.73
Total Maintenance 622.26 741.97
Tire Cost
Depreciation @ 5 Years 1,237.60
Depreciation @ Actual Life, 3 Yrs. 820.00
Interest 129.00. 343.79
Total Capital Charges 949.00 1,581.39
Total Cost 2,974.76 6,415.43
Units:
Cost Per Catch-Basin 3.41 2.76
Cost per Cu. Yd. Removed 3.48 2.79
Cu. Yds. Dirt Per Catch-Basin 0.98 0.99
Citch-Basins Per Hour 1.23 j.47
Total Cost of Cleaning 3195 Basins $9,390.19
Co.st Per Basin 2.94
Allowances of Supervision and Garage Rental not
incl"4e4f
223
Municipal Water Rates — Part I
A Thorough Analysis of Present Rates and Rate-Making
By E. E. Bankson, D. E. Davis and C. A. Finley*
THE development of scientific rate-
making has followed the advent of the
public service commission, which deals
principally with the relatively small privately
owned plants susceptible to considerations in
operation which are often entirely sub-
merged and of little importance in the oper-
ation of the much larger municipally owned
plants. This paper
is presented with
the view of creat-
ing further interest
in this much-neg-
lected field.
The operation of
a municipally
owned plant af-
fords the oppor-
tunity for rate-
making on the
basis of true
equity, free from
tempt a t i o n s to
adopt policies of
financial expediency appealing to privately
owned plants. There are many elements in
common to both plants creating influences
in rate-making which are often reflected in
widely varying results, due to the radical
differences between the policy adopted by
the directors of a private corporation and
that followed by the legislators of a mu-
nicipality.
The operation of privately owned plants
in many states is under the jurisdiction of
the public service commission, which per-
mits a revenue sufficient to provide a fair
return on the fair value of the property, in
addition to operating expenses and an allow-
ance for depreciation of plant. The reason-
ableness of rates imposed by a private water
company would necessarily be measured by
application of the rulings oi th; public serv-
ice commission.
The operation of municipally owned
plants is generally not under the control of
• E. E. Bankson, of The T. N. Chester Engineers,
PittsburRh. Pa.: D. E. Davis, of The T. N. Chester
Engineers, Pittsburgh, Pa.; C. A. Finley. Managing
Engineer, Bureau of Water, City of Pittsburgh.
A municipality may operate its water
plant at a profit as a separate source of
municipal revenue if it is disposed to do
so and the law does not prevent. Such
operation may favor the property owner
who does not take water in proportion to
the value of his property, such as vacant
property or the extremely valuable prop-
erty requiring a small quantity of water.
On the other hand, if the plant be oper-
ated at a loss with the deficiency repaired
from the general tax levy, the water
taker or consumer as such would then be
favored at the expense of the taxpayer.
the public service commission, which fact
admits that different principles are to be
applied in the two cases. The duty of the
commission is to protect the interests both
of the consumers, as members of the com-
munity, and of the water company, as a
private concern; but the consumers may
exercise their control of a municipally
owned plant
through the power
of their vote.
An opportunity
for variation in
municipal rates
arises under the
question as to the
so-called owner-
ship of a munici-
pal plant, depend-
ing on the propor-
tion of the invest-
m e n t contributed
by property
through tax assess-
ments as contrasted to excess earnings
gathered from water revenue and invested
in plant. The reader will here understand
that this expression of so-called ownership
is used as a convenient term to indicate the
source of money that built the plant. Un-
less this factor is recognized in the building
of the rate schedule, some discrimination
may result towards one or the other of the
contributors of the plant cost, that is, the
property owner on the one side or the water
consumer as such on the other side, and the
equity of rates ittiposed by a municipal plant
would seem to depend on this seat of so-
called ownership.
A municipality may operate its water
plant at a profit as a separate source of
municipal revenue if it is disposed to do so
and the law does not prevent. Such opera-
tion may favor the property owner who does
not take water in proportion to the value of
his property, such as vacant property or the
extremely valuable property reiquiring a
small quantity of water. On the other hand,
if the plant be operated at a loss with the
224
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
deficiency repaired from the general tax
levy, the water taker or consumer as such
would then be favored' at the expense of the
taxpayer.
The thought often exists in the minds of
the layman that substantial justice will be
done if all revenue is derived from water
sales, since the consumer and the property
owner are substantially one and the same.
That this is not strictly true is evident when
considering the extreme cases such as the
valuable vacant property or the large office
building which enjoys water service, fire
protection, and increased property value out
of all proportion to the relatively small
charges for water used. This case shows a
wide contrast with that of the very large
consumer of water whose business is housed
within a relatively inexpensive building or
property.
The decision to operate a municipal plant
at a profit, or at a loss, is, however, to be
determined in part by administrative policy
rather than entirely by scientific rate-mak-
ing, but if accurate cost analysis is to play
any part in the problem of rate-making, it
must precede and remain separate from
questions of administrative policy, except
that the term "cost of service" may be suId-
ject to different interpretations according
to the administrative policy obtaining, the
purpose of cost analysis being to indicate
or mould the correct administrative ]X>licy
in this respect. Since the major purpose of
this discussion is to determine "total cost of
service" resulting in the "rate base," or the
total "annual burden" and the equitable dis-
tribution of this burden to the various con-
sumers of a municipally owned water plant,
any mention of administrative policy in con-
nection with cost is offered only as con-
tributory.
Cost of Service
Cost of water service as deduced from the
practice of public utility commissions in
their control of privately owned plants is
made up as follows:
(A) Fair return on a fair plant value
(B) An allowance for plant depreciation
(C) Cost of plant operating and maintenance
wherein the items for "fair return" cover
any profit permitted for the utility, and all
three items are based on used and useful
plant value.
This discussion of the absolute cost of
service rendered by a municipal water plant
will not involve an item of profit, and con-
sequently the item of "fair return" for a pri-
vate plant will be replaced by an item which
may be designated as interest on capital in-
vested. As the so-called ownership of plant,
bonded indebtedness, sinking fund, and in-
terest rate paid may vary with each plant,
it follows that the total cost of service will
vary with each municipal plant, though the
terms "depreciation and operation" carry
the same meaning as indicated above, and
this "cost of service" as distributed to the
consumers through the medium of the rates
charged will be further dealt with under the
heading "Distribution of the Burden."
Ownership of Plant
There is no contention that the city does
not own the plant, but there does appear to
be a difference in equitable rates, dependent
on the sources of funds for plant purchase,
these being the general tax levy on the one
hand, and the charges for water service on
the other hand, as illustrated in the follow-
ing comparisons.
The water-works plant of the city of
Toronto, Canada, appears to be bonded to
more than its present value, and that of
Akron, Ohio, only slightly less, as indicated
in the tabulation on "Rant Statistics,"
which means in a sense that the bondholders
own the plant, and the cost of service must
incorporate the total interest on the bonded
debt, and unless the water revenue provides
also a sinking fund for retirement of bonds,
the water-takers as such will never hold any
equity- in plant account. If the operating
revenue, in this case, should provide a sink-
ing fund in addition to interest and operat-
ing costs, the rates would ordinarily need to
be as high as, or higher than, those per-
mitted for a private plant.
The water-works plant of the city of
Erie, for the purposes of this discussion,
may be considered free of debt, and since
there are no interest or sinking fund charges
to meet, one might easily and erroneously
conclude that the water rates in Erie should
be very much less than in Toronto. But such
is not necessarily the case, for the reason
that the water rates in Erie provide the only
source of revenue for plant extension and
replacements. In other words, the water-
takers in Erie are paying for their plant as
they go along, and for the past ten years
this cost has been approximately equal to
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
225
6 per cent on the plant cost. This item,
therefore, takes the place of interest and
sinking fund for a bonded plant in the "cost
of service"- for Erie. If Erie should ever
stop growing, however, and no further plant
extensions be necessary, this item would
disappear from the "cost of service" and the
water rates should decrease accordingly,
whereupon the advantage of this position
would be more apparent. From the above
discussion, it is evident that the water-takers
have provided the funds for investment cost
of the Erie plant, and in the spirit of this
discussion we could say that the water-
takers or consumers own the Erie plant.
The water revenue in many other cases is
insufficient to carry the annual burden, and
any bonds retired would indicate a credit to
the general tax levy, which should entitle
the tax levy to the regular city interest rate
on all plant investment actually made, and
in setting up the "cost of service" the gen-
eral tax levy should receive a ledger credit
for providing these funds, resulting in a
corresponding charge to the water-takers
which would appear in the "cost of service"
distributed to the individual water accounts
through the rates applied, public service and
fire protection carrying a proper portion of
the cost.
We understand that the present policy in
the city of Cleveland is that the ownership
of small distributing street mains and serv-
ice lines to the curb is vested in the prop-
erty owner, or he foots the bill and carries
that entire burden by direct assessment, as
for sewers or street paving, while in the city
of Erie that total burden is carried by the
Water Department, thereby creating a dif-
ference in the basis for equitable rates in
the two cases. In the one case the consumer
has gone down into his pocket and paid out-
right for his service line and street main, or,
if a renter, he meets that burden through his
house rent, while in the other case the bur-
den of the items appears in the water rates,
corresponding to return on investment, this
variation resulting from the different loca-
tion or seat of plant ownership of the items
in question.
' The city of Pittsburgh offers a third com-
parison in this respect, where the property
owner assumes the burden of the service
line and the Water Department the service
mains. Or, again, a difference as to owner-
ship of meters offers yet another compari-
son. The purpose of the foregoing com-
parisons is to support the statement that the
rates charged for water in one city are no
evidence of equitable rates to be charged in
another city or in a private plant, but each
case must be analyzed separately and stand
on its own merits under the full conditions
obtaining.
Again, in support of the thought that each
schedule of rates stands alone, we tabulate
deductions from replies to questionnaires
sent to several cities. This tabulation indi-
cates among other things that the bonded
debt and resulting fixed charges vary from
o to 100 per cent, that the plant value varies
from $19.75 to $88 per capita, and that the
operating cost varies from $0.92 to $3.22
per capita, or from $18 to $95 per million
gallons.
Another deduction from this table is that
an average plant value is slightly less than
$40 per capita, while the average operating
cost for 1919 was slightly less than $40 per
million gallons, although this figure would
be reduced in normal times.
It is entirely possible that there may be
some discrepancies in interpretation of both
questions and answers preliminary to the
formation of this table, which would give
erroneous results, but we have no evidence
of error in the figures submitted and here
use them as illustrative of this position.
The results should remove any thought that
water rates in different cities can be com-
pared, because a comparison in total means
nothing.
Service Rendered
The function of a water-works plant is
admittedly two-fold^that of furnishing a
water-supply for general consumption and
for fire protection — and since this discussion
is based on the principle that "the rates
charged for any service should be in pro-
portion to the cost of such service," it be-
comes necessary to make a careful analysis
of all functions and duties assumed by the
water department and of all service
rendered.
Fire protection service is rendered to
property or to property owners in propor-
tion to the value of the property protected,
and charges should be entered directly
against the property or against the general
tax levy. General water service is rendered
to persons or industries largely in propor-
tion to the water delivery, with no necessary
226
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
WATER PLANT STATISTICS FOR 1919-1920.
City
Popula-
tion
Plant
Value
Bonds
Out-
standing
Plant
Value
perCap.
Operat-
ing
Cost
Operat.
Cost
per
Capita
Number
Con-
sumers!
Operat.
Cost
per
Cons.
Mill.
Gal.
Daily.
Operat.
Cost
per
Mil.
Gal.
.990,000
260,000
510,000
160,000
600,000
250,000
132,000
499,276
171,000
1,108,735
30,000
267,000
112,568
295,850
90,000
547,000
98,000
110,000
300,000
45,000
$28,000,000
12,500,000
19,198,490
10,000,000
10,000,000
7,443.707
2,610,887
16,000,000
15,000,000
23,583,428
12,000,000
1,915,000
12,847,492
9,000,000
195,000
2,407,000
763,200
16,209,316
4,105,000
2,855,114
$28.39
48.00
37.60
62.50
20.00
29.75
19.75
32.00
88.00
21:20
$953,936
382,335
890,948
267,000
458,973
247,722
276,294
1,150,599
249,396
1,169,333
60.615
$0.97
1.47
1.74
1.67
.92
.99
2.09
2.30
1.46
1.06
2.00
108,702
45,600
76,268
32,000
66,422
46,000
21,169
104,766
25,460
164,779
5,600
46,080
20,674
49,484
22,000
91,617
13,401
19,000
61,000
11,000
$8.76
8.40
11.70
8.35
6.92
6.40
13.10
11.00
10.00
7.00
10.70
"i7!56
17.50
"isiso
7.36
16.30
"'7.66
127
28
136
20
61.9
17.6
112
75
27.6
152
1 4
, 29
20
|25
1 13
118.4
9
20.4
27.5
8.5
i$20 50
Toledo
37.30
Buffalo
18 00
36 50
20 40
St. Paul
Youngstown
38.60
63.00
42 00
26 00
Detroit
21 00
41 50
10,000,000
3,099,000
13,800,000
3,000,000
32,000,000
3,650,776
3,755,000
11,000,000
1,600,000
Private
1,520,850
10,446,000
1,500,000
10,698,392
2,424,000
37.50
27.50
46.70
33.30
58.50
37.20
34.10
36.70
35.50
Albany
360,i66
867,000
3.22
2.92
49.30
95.00
Pittsburgh
Duluth
Erie
1,422,762
98,587
310,000
2.60
1.00
2.80
32.80
30.00
41 60
1,750,000
Private
Williamsport
77,141
1.71
24.86
Totals
6,476,429
$226,241,288
$90,635,364
$734 . 19
$9,232,740
$30.90
1,030,902
$182.47
931.8
$637.36
Average
$38.60
$1.82
$10.70
$37.50
relation between value of property 'and
quantity of water delivered; therefore, to
make a proper accounting for all service
rendered, the charge for water cannot prop-
erly cover fire protection, for there is no
necessary relation between the two, and in
fairness to all concerned, a charge for fire
protection must appear separate in a com-
plete set-up for equitable rates.
Providing a water-supply for fire protec-
tion service creates an increase in plant in-
vestment and in plant operation over and
above the cost which would be sufficient for
general water service. The exact cost of
fire protection service has been somewhat
in doubt within the limits of the two meth-
ods of competition used, that is, the excess
method and the proportional method, but
after a careful analysis has been made of
the fire protection service rendered by any
plant, a cost for this service can with fair-
ness be established and a charge indicated.
In the case of the city of Pittsburgh, the
ratio chargeable to each service was ob-
tained from available records of actual de-
mands, and the result was fairly checked by
the equation proposed by Metcalf, Kuich-
ling and Hawley in the 191 1 Proceedings of
the American Water Works Association.
General water service may first be sepa-
rated into two groups, as public service and
private service. If the tax levy carries the
burden of plant investment, this may amount
to more than the cost of the public service
received by the city and by property in
general, in which case the ledger should
(This discussion of the making of meter rates ivill
be continued in the April and May issues.)
A Chance for National Economy
Business and financial leaders are telling
the public to stop waste, and to work and
save in order to restore sound conditions.
The public could make a good beginning by
stopping the preventable fire waste of the
country, which is estimated to have amounted
to $500,000,000 last year, or approximately
$1,370,000 a day. Carelessness and ignor-
ance normally figure as the chief causes of
our fires, but there is also the mistaken be-
lief of many that when property is insured
against fire the insurance companies are the
only ones to worry if it burns. As a matter
of fact, insurance costs are so closely in-
terwoven with our social and economic
fabric that we are all affected by the fire
waste.
The careless or ignorant citizen re-
.sponsible for a fire taxes himself as well as
his fellows.
227
Diesel Engine in Light and Water Works
in Freeport, N. Y.
By Stanley Wright
THE village of Free-
port made its orig-
inal water - works
installation in 1894. This
equipment sufficed until
about 1898, when electric
lighting equipment was
added consisting of two
70-horse-power return
tubular boilers, two 50-
arc-light machines, and
one 37>^-k.w., A C. gen-
erator. Since 1898, addi-
tions have been made to
the plant continually, so
that in 1920, when the
population of the town
was about 12,000, the
power - house contained
the following units : four
200-horse-power boilers,
one 300-k.w. generator direct-connected to
a Hewes & Phillips single-cylinder Corliss
engine, one 200-k.w. generator belted to
a single-cylinder Fishkill Corliss engine,
and one loo-k.w. generator belted to a sin-
gle-cylinder Fishkill Corliss engine, totaling
600 k.w. in maximum capacity; the genera-
tors being all alternating current, 1,150-
volt, 3-phase, 60-cycle machines. The steam
pumping equipment consisted of two one-
half-million direct-acting Worthington
steam pumps.
In 1920 the load was running approx-
imately as follows : during the day an aver-
age of about 200 k.w.; during the evening
about 500 k.w. when both street lights and
domestic lights were on; and about 160
k.w. after midnight when the principal load
was street lights alone. This street lighting
is with arc lamps in the usual series system,
requiring constant current transformers at
the power-plant to regulate the voltage in
accordance with the number of lamps in
use, so that the same current is always
maintained. These arc lamps as they be-
come worn out are being replaced by nitro-
gen-filled incandescent lamps.
The water pumping in 1920 averaged
500,000 gallons per 24 hours, which is
INTERIOR OF FREEPOBT, L. I., POWER-PLANT, SHGWINQ
DIESEL ENGINE INSTALLATION
lower than for the average town of this
size, and is accounted for by the fact that
there are several independent wells scat-
tered about the town from which many
families obtain their supply.
The power-house is next to the railroad,
about a half-mile west of the station, close
to the wells from which the city water is
drawn, and a 293,760-gallon stand-pipe is
located next to the power-house and directly
connected to the mains, so that the pumps
work against an average head of 155 feet,
which is the approximate level of water
maintained. The village fire department
owns both steam and motor fire engines,
so that in case of fire the pressure from
the mains is supplemented by that of the
fire apparatus.
The Need for New Equipment
In 1920 the electric rates for house light-
ing were on a flat basis of 10 cents per kilo-
watt hour, street ^ghting being paid for by
taxation. During the summer of 1920 it
was becoming evident that additional power
equipment would have to be installed be-
cause the load had increased to a point
where during the evening peak all the units
in the plant were running at full capacity
228
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
and there was nothing in reserve. A study
of this increase in load since 1898 showed
the interesting fact that the demand for
electricity had practically doubled itself
every four years, and during 1920 was in-
creasing at a still faster rate. It became
imperative to have additional generating
equipment as soon as possible, so the Vil-
lage Trustees immediately began an investi-
gation to ascertain what type of new equip-
ment would be best to install for their con-
ditions.
The Diesel engine had been suggested,
but at first there was some skepticism con-
cerning the feasibility of putting in such a
machine to run in conjunction with exist-
ing steam equipment. After very careful
investigation extending over a period of
two or three months, supplemented by per-
sonal visits to some Diesel installations, the
Board became convinced that it would be
the most advantageous thing to do. It was
found that a new Diesel engine generating
unit could readily be placed in the existing
power-house without an addition to the
building; that it would operate in parallel
with the existing steam engines; and from
the Board's inspection of other Diesel plants
they felt sure that considerable savings
could be made over "all steam" operation.
The Board purchased a 365-b.h.p. verti-
cal, 4-cylinder Busch-Sulzer engine with a
250-k.w. direct-connected General Electric
alternator. The installation was completed
in the spring of 1921, including a 45-foot
overhead hand travelling crane of lo-ton
capacity; also, a panel was added to the
switchboard, and the arc-light transform-
ers were transferred to a platform especially
constructed in the engine-room.
Since the new unit was put in regular
service it has been running on a 24-hour
schedule, including Sundays. In general,
the engine is run two weeks without a stop,
and some longer runs of thirty full days
have been made. It is of special interest
to note that since the Diesel engine has been
installed it has been operated fully 95 per
cent of the total elapsed time, including
Sundays and holidays. In other words, in-
stead of keeping the Diesel unit to carry
over peak loads and for emergency, the
steam equipment is kept for this purpose,
and the Diesel grinds away on steady load
both day and night.
The savings over previous operation by
steam alone are greater than had been an-
ticipated, and the records show that the
new unit has been giving Freeport a net
saving of over a thousand dollars for every
month, compared with the previous cost of
current generated by steam alone. The two
direct-acting steam pumps are now being re-
placed by 40-horse-power and 60-horse-
power Alberger centrifugal pumps with G.
E. m"otors.
Operation of the Engine
The engine-generator unit forms a com-
plete power-plant in itself on a single
foundation. Aside from its economy of
operation, this type of prime mover is ad-
vantageous in requiring no boilers or boiler-
room equipment, nor the building space and
labor for it. Moreover, it is clean, compact,
readily accessible, and has no standby
losses. The same operators who take care
of the steam engine take care of the Diesel,
so no additional labor is required.
The fuel oil storage capacity consists of
one 10,000-gallon and one 12,000-gallon un-
derground tank, located just west of the
plant and on a railroad siding. At these
tanks there is a motor-driven pump, also
an emergency steam pump for transferring
the oil to the engine-room auxiliary tank.
The pipe in which this oil is transferred is
laid in a small trench, concreted and cov-
ered, in which there is also laid a steam
line so that in extremely cold weather it
can be kept sufficiently warm to prevent any
stoppage of fuel due to congealing from
low temperature. The motor-driven pump
is controlled by a small switch in the engine-
room on the wall beneath the auxiliary tank,
so that as soon as this tank is filled the op-
erator cuts ofif the motor. From the aux-
iliary tank in the engine-room the fuel
flows by gravity to the pump on the engine,
and from there it is delivered to the fuel
valve of each cylinder. As the fuel valves
open, a blast of air from the compressor
forces the fuel through the atomizers into
the cylinders. In full Diesel engines pure
air only is compressed, and by compression
becomes sufficiently hot to burn the finely
divided fuel as it is forced into the cylinder
by the air blast, incidentally eliminating any
electrical ignition system or other ignition
device. To start the engine there are pro-
vided two starting air tanks, in which air
is kept stored at high pressure at all times.
The air for fuel injection, which must nec-
essarily be at a higher pressure than the
M \K(1I,
1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
229
PLANT OPERATING RECORD
Village of Freeport, Long Island, New York
« 'il 5 > & (U f^
KWH Generated in Month Fuel Consumption Fuel Cost uSccrv^^-" m-
1921 Diesel Steam Total Gallons Pounds Diesel Steam— Total o S.'"-" ° ^ c"?
Oil— Coal— Oil @ Coal® •*'0'"«g>^g '> o
Diesel Steam 7c. $8.35 per « --jfe g -3. J5S
2240 lbs. Mg«_cS
June 91,070 27,317 118,387 10,068 288,126 $700 $1074 $1774 $2440 $666
July 94,610 30,981 125,591 10,242 278,946 717 1040 1757 2590 833
August 107,430 35,680 143,110 11,513 324,440 806 1210 2016 2950 934
September 110,320 45,321 155,641 11,480 338,472 804 1263 2067 3210 1143
October 112,700 81,139 193,839 11,898 503,460 832 1875 2707 3990 1283
November 123,500 85,888 209,388 12,916 495,072 903 1845 2748 4320 1572
December 128,050 112,997 241,047 13,190 569,664 923 2122 3045 4970 1925
compression in the cylinder, is furnished by a completely enclosed forced feed system
a three-stage air compressor directly driven in which the oil is circulated under regu-
from the main crank-shaft of the Diesel lated pressure to all the main bearings,
engine. crank pins and piston pins. After leaving
The system of lubrication on the Free- these points it drains from the engine bed
port engine is one deserving of close at- plate through a two-way filter, and after
tention ; all engineers know that this feature passing through the cooler located under the
is of the highest importance for the sue- filters is again pumped into the system,
cessful and continuous operation of any Oil for the pistons is provided by forced
engine. Most of the troubles with Diesel feed mechanical lubricator, the distributing
, engines of earlier design can be traced di- lines feeding oil to six points on the circum-
rectly or indirectly to faulty lubrication. ference. The cam .shaft is entirely housed
On the engine at Freeport there is provided in, and the cams dip in an oil bath.
L.-
Courtesy Elecfrtcol Merchandising
TWO DANGERS TO HIGHWAY TRAVEL AT NIGHT — THE BLINDING HEADLIGHT
AND THE ONE-LIGHT CAR
proper highway lighting would eliminate both dangers, not to mention others
230
Suggested Ordinances for Interim Zoning
By Edward M. Bassett
Counsel, Zoning Committee of New York
AFTER the Legislature had empowered
New York to establish zoning regula-
tions, and a commission had been ap-
pointed, insistent requests came from many
localities to protect them pending the prepa-
ration and adoption of the all-city plan.
Private one-family dwelling restrictions in
Fiske Terrace expired January i, 1916, and
this locality petitioned the Zoning Commis-
sion for immediate protection against
stores. The Commission refused, because such
piecemeal zoning treated certain selected
land preferentially and was therefore dan-
gerous, because it might have started zoning
with a critical lawsuit, and because first
one locality and then another might be thus
protected and withdraw its assistance from
the comprehensive plan. Before the zoning
resolution went into effect on July 25, 191 6,
a row of brick stores was erected, injuring
Fiske Terrace somewhat. If, however,
piecemeal ordinances had been passed for
this and other petitioning localities, the com-
prehensive plan would have been delayed
and perhaps defeated.
Although one may not recommend any
method of preliminary zoning, one may per-
haps point out the line of least danger.
Piecemeal zoning should be avoided. In-
terim zoning of a comprehensive or all-city
sort is safer. Here is an example :
"Wherever four-fifths of the frontage of the
lots on any street between two intersecting
streets contain at the time of the passage of this
ordinance structures exclusively residential, no
structure shall be built or altered for business
or factory purposes therein."
Such an ordinance is at least comprehen-
sive. It covers the whole city and after a
fashion treats all alike who are similarly
situated. If the Legislature has given the
city the power of zoning, the courts would be
quite likely to uphold such an ordinance,
except perhaps in some particular case of
extreme hardship. It has the demerit that
all preliminary and quickly written zoning
ordinances must have — it is arbitrary. The
matured zoning maps will recognize the dif-
ferent needs of different residential streets
and will take away nine-tenths of the ar-
bitrariness.
The suggested form can be altered as re-
gards the fraction, the present use, and the
prohibited use. It may be adapted to set-
backs. It is merely to illustrate the direction
of safety. The provision fixing the status
of the protected district as of the time of
the ordinance prevents what may be called
traveling districts or set-backs. Most in-
terim ordinances have allowed the district
to be altered by the erection of new build-
ings or the jdestruction of old ones. This
transitory application of the police power
has undoubtedly affected adversely the views
of the courts in some cases.
There is always a temptation to make an
interim ordinance adaptable to each locality
by introducing a majority consent. Here is
an illustration :
"Wherever four-fifths of the frontage of the
lots on any street between two intersecting
streets contain at the time of the passage of this
ordinance structures exclusively residential, be-
fore a permit shall issue for any building or
alteration for business or factory purposes
therein there shall be on file with the building
commission the written consent of the owners
of three- fourths of the entire frontage."
Such a provision is ineffective and the
courts will set it aside. Police power regu-
lations are governmental and not like con-
tracts between persons. Majority consents
of owners cannot give an official the power
to regulate. The local legislature must do
the prohibiting.
The United States Supreme Court has,
however, declared that, if the police power
regulation prohibits the objectionable struc-
ture, a provision for a majority consent to
make an exception does not invalidate the
ordinance. The following ordinance is sub-
mitted as comparatively safe :
"Wherever four-fifths of the frontage of the
lots on any street between two intersecting
streets contain at the time of the passage of
this ordinance structures exclusively residen-
tial, no structure shall be built or altered
for business or factory purposes therein, unless
the written consent of the owners of three-
fourths of the entire frontage shall be on file
with the building commissioner at the time of
the issue of a permit."
An interim ordinance should always refer
to the zoning enabling act in its preamble.
231
Insuring the Maximum Life of Block
Pavements
By A. J. Moynihan
THERE are millions of yards of blocks
laid each year, and in the construction
of block pavements, whether granite,
wood, or brick, one feature which always
demands the most careful consideration is
the filling of the joints. Filling the joints
either adds to or detracts from the average
life of the pavement. The completed pave-
ment will give results in proportion to the
type of filler and the method of application ;
therefore, as much care should be exercised
in the selection of the filler as is taken in
the selection of the blocks.
The consensus of opinion among engi-
neers and road builders is in favor of the
so-called flexible fillers. The reason for this
is that the filler must be of such a nature as
to allow for expansion and contraction of
the blocks due to climatic and temperature
changes and to moisture. Experience has
demonstrated that a properly prepared as-
phalt is one of the best fillers; however, the
mere fact that a flexible filler is specified
does not mean that the problem of filling
the joints is solved, as there are characteris-
tics which the filler itself must possess, as
well as provisions which should be included
in the detailed construction specifications for
the proper methods of application.
In order to secure most satisfactory re-
sults, the filler must be of relatively high
melting-point, adhesive, and malleable; a
product which will not soften materially
when subjected to high temperatures nor
become brittle at low temperatures. It must
Be wear-resisting and impervious to water
and street liquids. An asphalt filler of this
nature properly applied at a temperature of
between 350° and 425'^ F. by a combination
of the poured and squeegee methods for
granite block because of their depth, and
by the squeegee method alone for brick and
wood block, will insure long life to the pave-
ment.
In applying the asphalt filler, the filler
gang should follow the pavers as close as
possible, and in no case should they leave the
pavement over night without completely
APPLYING A FLUSH COAT TO GRANITE BLOCK PAVEMENT ON SECOND STREET,
CINCINNATI, OHIO
The flush coat consisted of et^ual parts of Texaco asphalt and sand by volume
232
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI. No. 3
THE FINISHED PAVEMENT ON SECOND STREET, CINCINNATI, OHIO
On this job the joints in the granite block pavement were three-quarters filled with pebbles and asphalt.
The work was finished with a mastic flush coat, which filled the joints and left a thin protective mat
on top of the block
filling the joints. In case of rain, the pave-
ment should be covered with tarpaulins so
as to keep water out of the joints before ap-
plication of the filler, as it is essential to
have the joints dry and clean before pouring
the asphalt.
Methods of Filling Joints
Granite block. — Clean, dry pebbles passing
a J/2-inch screen and retained on a 3/16-inch
screen are hand-swept into the joints. The
blocks are then rolled with a tandem roller
(either 8- or lo-ton) so that the pebbles are
shaken to thoroughly key the blocks, leaving
the joints about two-thirds filled. The as-
phalt filler is then poured into the joints
until the voids in the pebbles are completely
filled and the asphalt is within an inch of
the top of the blocks. A flush coat made up
of equal parts, by volume, of clean, dry, fine
sand and asphalt agitated so as to be thor-
oughly mixed, is floated over the entire sur-
face of the pavement, completely filling the
joints, leaving a light coat of the mix on
top of the blocks. A j4-i"ch covering of
dry pebbles, passing a ^-inch and retained
on an J/^-inch screen, is then evenly applied
over the surface. The completed pavement
can be opened to traffic immediately.
Brick. — After the brick have been thor-
oughly rolled, they should be swept clean by
hand brooming. The joints should be com-
pletely filled with an asphaltic filler applied
by the squeegee method. In floating the as-
phalt over the surface of the brick, sufficient
material is allowed to remain on the brick
so as to form a carpet coat. A covering of
dry, coarse sand is then evenly applied over
the entire surface.
Wood block. — Best results are obtained by
floating the asphaltic filler on the surface
of the blocks, squeegeeing back and forth
until the joints are completely filled. A
covering of clean, fine, dry sand is then
evenly applied over the surface.
Preparing the Filler
There are many details which should not
be overlooked in preparing a flexible filler
for application. One of the most important
features is the heating. The material
should be heated at a uniform rate; upon
reaching the temperature where best results
can be obtained, between 350° and 425° F.,
depending on the season of the year, the
filler should be applied as soon as possible.
When it is necessary to hold for any length
of time material which has been heated in
the kettle, the fire should be banked and the
material agitated from time to time so that
there will be no danger of coking or over-
heating, as this tends to harden the material.
The heating kettle should be fitted with a
thermometer, so that uniform heating is as-
M\ucH, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
233
sured and the material is applied at the
proper temperature.
To properly charge a kettle, the asphalt,
which is shipped in drums or barrels, should
be quartered and placed in the kettle so as
to half fill it. A slow fire is then started.
As soon as the asphalt is melted sufficiently
to cover the entire surface of the bottom of
the kettle, the fire can be gradually increased
and the kettle completely filled. The filler
should be agitated at regular intervals
throughout the heating to avoid burning.
Many users fill a cold kettle with material
and then fire it as hard as possible in order
to melt the filler quickly. This is very bad
practice, as it will warp the kettle and ruin
it in a very short time.
The kettle should be kept clean from car-
bon and sand which collects on the bottom ;
otherwise this crust acts as an insulator,
confining the heat, rendering it difficult to
melt the asphalt, and causing the bottom of
the kettle to burn out, greatly shortening
the life of even the best kettles.
The Value of an Efficient Fire-Fighting
Organization
Training and Organization of Dubuque, Iowa, Fire Department Greatly
Reduces Annual Fire Loss
By L. J. Jellison
Dubuque, lo-wa
WITH a population of 42,000 and a
fire department which has been
practically reorganized within the
last twenty months, Dubuque has held its
fire loss down to $75.72 per fire for the last
year. The fire department records show the
following data for the years 1916-1920:
No. of Fires
1916 220
1917 226
1918 258
1919 311
1920' 82
In January, 1921,
Loss
$642,000
226,000
55,000
374,000
502,813
Average
Loss Each
Fire
$2,918
1,000
213
1,203
1,735
the city, operating
A CRACK COMPANY OF THE DUBUQUE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH ITS
AMERICAN-LA FRANCE MACHINE
234
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
under the city manager form of govern-
ment, placed an experienced fire fighter in
charge of the department. Chief Joseph
Fisher's records for the period March, 1921,
to December i, 192 1, showed 240 fires, total
loss $18,173; average loss per fire $75.72.
This record indicates a potential saving in
fire loss, basing the deduction on the losses
in previous years, amounting to $373,507.20
for eight months, or $560,260.38 for twelve.
The Reorganization
Before the advent of Chief Fisher, the
Dubuque Fire Department was completely
motorized, yet it was inadequate, for the
want of trained men to handle the equip-
ment. There were ten pieces of apparatus,
with two men, not counting the officers, to
each machine. The first thing that the new
chief did was to ask for more men, and
twenty new men were added to the force.
Then the department was reorganized, and
men who had served between 20 and 32
years were asked to resign and were placed
upon the pension roll.
A training course was instituted, includ-
ing ladder climbing, laying hose, spott'ng
pumpers at hydrants, ladder raising, and
carrying of hose. Each company was
brought down to headquarters daily to
train. And then, in order to increase the
interest of the men in their work, inter-
company contests were held. The various
companies reached such a degree of effi-
ciency that it was decided to hold a public
demonstration and contest. Business men
offered trophies for the winners of vari-
ous contests, such as making a long run,
coupling to a hydrant, laying 200 feet of
hose and throwing water, also ladder climb-
ing and hose coupling.
The training of the men included mental
as well as physical exercise. An athletic
director was appointed, and certain periods
of the day were given over to wrestling,
boxing and bag punching. A school was or-
ganized and lectures were given by captains
and other officers of the various companies.
Mondays and Tuesdays were devoted to
examinations, and the men were given writ-
ten tests on the location of hydrants, prom-
inent buildings, elevators, fire-escapes and
exits of various buildings, fire alarm boxes,
sprinkler alarms, etc. The city was di-
vided into districts, and a test was g'ven on
each district. That Dubuque has defin'tely
proved that efficiency in a fire department,
coupled with thorough inspection by uni-
formed members of the force, is well worth
while, is demonstrated by its fire loss of
only $75.72 per fire since the reorganization
of the Fire Department.
HOW SOME PARK DEPARTMENTS ARE REPLACING DECAYING TREES AND THUS PRESERVING
THE BEAUTY OF THE PARK AREA
235
Fraser Town— A Plague-proof Town
in India
Sanitary Improvements at the Civil and Military Station of Bangalore
in the Mysore Province, South India
By J. H. Stephens
Engineer, Bangalore, India
IT was in i8:j8 that plague first broke out
in Blackpully, India, in its most virulent
form. It afterwards continued in a
milder degree, making its unwelcome pres-
ence felt every cold season, when it claimed
the most victims. The construction of
Fraser Town — a plague-proof town — was
a kind of spell upon them, for while so
many Mohammedans died, the plague hardly
touched the English. It took some time for
these people to understand that the principal
cause of all the trouble was insanitary
habits and manner of living. The unedu-
cated Hindu mind is very superstitious.
A GENERAL VIEW OF A CONGESTED INDIAN CITY WITH CLOSELY ABUTTING HOUSES
not sanctioned till the beginning of 1906.
This interval of eight years was not lost.
The plague was carefully watched year by
year and its peculiarities were studied.
Nearly every plague-infected house was
minutely inspected, and an intelligent reason
ascertained as to why the plague had af-
flicted that house in preference to those
around it, and thus this vile pestilence be-
trayed itself and it became possible to adopt
uiles for its permanent exclusion.
The scenes of sorrow and distress one wit-
nessed when inspecting the plague-infected
houses are indescribable. The more ignorant
class thought that the English were working
Evil and good spirits enter into all his
social and domestic relationships. It was
therefore necessary to assure him that the
Plague Demon and the other demons of
Hindu diseases would be effectually ex-
cluded from this new town in which he was
invited to locate. The plague has not been
an unmixed evil. It has shaken the faith of
the people in the protecting and purifying
efficacy of rites and sacrifices, and prepared
them for the gospel of fresh air and sani-
tation.
A little consideration of ancient Hindu
town planning and town building will show
how great was the spell of superstition
236
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
BLOCKS or BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN FRASER TOWN
which obscured the naturally acute Indian
mind, and the ancient nature of the covering
made it all the more sacred and secure and
difficult to remove. Ancient Hindu town
planning and town building are found in old
mutilated manuscripts, difficult to decipher
and hard to explain, except by learned pun-
dits. They were said to contain revelations
made by the deities at different times to
Rishis, or holy men who lived in the earliest
days.
Except for the small minority of the edu-
cated classes, India was very much as it was
centuries ago. Rites and sacrifices were still
considered the purifiers of a town, and im-
pure and filthy surroundings were contem-
plated with passive calmness as almost a
necessary part of existence. Any change
was looked upon as an unhealthful break of
old traditions. Till the plague came ! This
dreadful experience convinced the Hindus
as nothing else could have done. They saw
that the English people living in their new
town, but under better sanitary conditions,
were almost untouched by the plague, while
Indians died in thousands, so the more
wealthy who could afiford it rushed off to live
in the English sections of the town. There
was nothing in the rules of the land to pre-
vent their doing so. It was only their caste
prejudices which kept the Indians together,
but the law of self-preservation was found
to be stronger than the law of caste. Thus
the plague was not only a teacher, but a
reformer.
The Plan of Fraser Town
The relief of congestion in the Indian
sections of Bangalore could not be started
till accommodation was found for the
evicted people in some other locality. About
50 acres of high agricultural land about ij^
miles north of Blackpully were acquired for
building about 500 houses, most of which
were intended for the poorer classes. The
site was w^ell chosen, it was well drained
with falls of about j in 75, so that the drains
would have self-cleaning slopes, and it was
higher than most other parts of Bangalore.
It was bounded by the railway on the north
and by important public roads on the other
three sides. The soil consisted of red loam
for the upper 2 feet and hard gravel be-
neath. Its greater length faced south, the
direction of the prevailing breezes, so that it
was a high, well-drained, wind-swept,
healthful locality. This tract was broken
up into one-acre building blocks by inter-
secting roads and streets. The main roads
were made 99 feet wide; the other roads
were 66 feet and the streets 33 feet. Each
acre was divided into 20 building sites, and
sold under certain conditions and rules.
Those who desired it could build a larger
house on two plots only. More than two
plots was "not allowed for one house. This
gave 2,178 square feet for the smaller plots,
and 4,356 square feet for the larger plots.
Of these areas, only one-third was to be
built on, and two-thirds was to be kept as
an open space all around the building. That
is, for the smaller houses 726 square feet
would be the area of the building, and 1,452
square feet the open area all around the
building: in the larger houses 1,452 square
feet would be the area of the building, and
2,904 square feet the open space all around
the building. In practice this worked out
that the larger houses were at the ends of
the block and the smaller houses in the m'd-
dle, as shown in the photograph of blocks
under construction.
Makch, 1922
THE AMERICAN CIT-Y
237
The areas for the new buildings were de-
cided on after carefully measuring up the
spaces actually occupied by the poor in the
congested parts of the town and allowing a
certa'n proportion of increase. There was
some difficulty in carrying this out. Some
purchasers of plots did not understand why
they should not cover the ground entirely
with buildings, as used, to be done in most
other places. They had to be reminded that
this was one of the rules on which land was
sold to them, and it required great watch-
fulness to see that the rule was not broken.
In modern times, when garden cities are
building almost everywhere, with open areas
around each house, that which has been de-
scribed may be considered as ordinary sani-
tary improvements, but sanitary advances
have to be combined with the plague-proof
rules to make them effective, as will be de-
scribed.
Fleas on dead • rats or squirrels convey
■the plague to man. They are the propagating
medium, and not the originating cause of
plague. The germinating cause infects the
rodent, and the flea from the rodent conveys
the disease to man.
The "Plague-proof Rules"
Continuous observation for about seven
years connects moisture, stagnation and
damp with the originating cause of plague
in Bangalore. Therefore, the first and most
important plagik-proof rule which was to
make and keep Fraser Town free from the
plague was that it should be free from damp.
For this reason all its roads and its streets
were countersunk about 1^ feet below the
level of the natural ground. This made the
one-acre building-blocks like hillocks sur-
rounded by the countersunk roads and
streets. Even the natural percolation in the
upper soil was cut short at each acre-block
by the countersunk roads and street, thus
keeping the buildings quite dry even after
the heaviest rains. This was the first and
most important plague-proof rule.
The second rule extended from the orig-
inating cause to the propagating medium.
It ordered that the basements of all the
houses were to be not less than 13^ feet high
and were to be built of coarse granite rub-
ble jointed with good cement. Coarse gran-
ite rubble is both plentiful and cheap in
Bangalore, so that this rule was no hard-
ship to the builders. Many Indians do not
care for high basements, as they destroy that
privacy which they consider so important for
their women. The plague-proof reason for
the stone basements was to prevent the rat
from burrowing into the houses; also, it
helped in keeping the house dry. An ordi-
nary sanitary improvement and the plague-
proof rule in this case ran together.
The third plague-proof rule was that the
floors of all the houses should be of stone
slabs, or of hard, compressed tiles, so that
lats m'ght not burrow holes through the
TWO COMPLETED COTTAGES IN FRASEE TOWN, WITH THE OWNEE
238
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
floor, or vermin of any kind find lodgment
in it. This rule many considered a great
hardship in houses intended for Indians.
The orthodox Hindu had an old-time way
of making floors, in which religion was
mixed up with a dirty habit. But Eraser
Town was to be kept pure by sanitation, and
not by old religious rites, and so the stone
floors were insisted on — and stone was
cheap. These floors contributed to making
the houses rat-proof and vermin-proof, and
thus plague-proof.
The fourth and last plague-proof rule was
that all the roofs should be covered with
Mangalore tiles. This is the old Roman
interlocking tile. It is water-proof, but not
air-proof. All its joints are open. No
cement or mortar or nails are needed in its
fixing. The air passes freely through the
joints and keeps up a continual circulation
day and night. The houses are provided
with abundant doors, windows and ven-
tilators. Indians have a way of keeping
these safely closed, but they cannot close
the joints between the tiles, and so circula-
tion goes on continually, and the people are
learning to appreciate its value.
It is now about twelve years since Eraser
Town was erected as a plague-proof town.
Sir Harcourt Butler, the then head of the
Sanitary Department for all India, said at
the first All-India Sanitary Conference,
"Eraser Town is the only plague-proof
town in all India." Many from other places
in India wished to know how this was done,
and explanations were given. The good
people who built the houses in Eraser Town
were principally Indians. It was brave of
them to risk their money in building on these
new and untried rules. It has turned out
a great financial success. Whenever there
is a plague anywhere around, people flock
to Eraser Town as to a city of refuge, and
it has not disappointed them. What is per-
haps also very important is that the poorer
class of Indians are being taught a new
manner of living. The children are strong
and healthy. Each one has his own little
yard to play in and appreciates it; it is not
now necessary to play in the gutter.
After a trial of 12 years. Eraser Town
has passed the period of apprenticeship.
There should now be no going back to the
old Indian method of erecting abutting
buildings with no voids between. This is an
ordinary sanitary improvement known all
over the world, and land is comparatively
cheap in Bangalore. The plague-proof rules
supply a special want, and should be ob-
served in all plague-infected countries,
though they also help in improved sanitation
and may be adopted in a modified form to
suit special places where new towns are
projected.'
Port Development
NEARLY all the large cities of this
country are located on navigable
waterways, many of them being situ-
ated on deep estuaries leading direct to the
ocean. The World War resulted in the
creation of a great international trade be-
tween this and foreign countries. To main-
tain this trade successfully in competition
with other countries, it is necessary that the
most modern facilities for handling and
shipping goods shall be provided. Port au-
thorities in every city on the Atlantic,
Pacific and Gulf Coasts, and on our Great
Lakes, anxious to share in this foreign
trade, have been actively engaged during the
past few years in developing their terminal
facilities and are now planning greater ex-
tensions to handle the additional water-
borne cargoes. In order that a port may
compete in the world trade, it is essential
that provision shall be madfe in the planning
of the city for the great trunk railroads to
reach the water-front, either directly or over
a belt line railroad system, so that the cars
may deliver cargo at the ship's side. It is
also necessary that a system of traffic streets
shall be laid out and developed in the rear
of the piers and along the water-front, to
give highway facilities for motor trucks
and vehicles to make deliveries to and
from the industries, warehouses, and stores
located in the vicinity of the water
terminal.
The authority to plan and administer the
ports of this country is vested generally in
the officials of the city, although there are
several instances where ports are under the
control of state commissions; but in all
cases the development of the land side of
the port is a proper task for men skilled in
both city planning and other municipal
work. — "Municipal Engineering," George S.
Webster. Trans. Am. Soc. C. E., 1921,
page 516.
239
forward ^tops
in
Municipal Jiffairs
Police
Departments
The Duties of a *'City Mother'*
Los AngeleSj Calif. — After many years
of experience in police and juvenile work,
the writer conceived the idea of a confi-
dential office located away from the depress-
ing- atmosphere of Police Headquarters,
where troubled parents might come for
advice and assistance in the management
of children who were beyond their control,
thus saving to society many children who
might become a menace or a burden.
The title "C'ty Mother" has inspired con-
fidence in the hearts not only of parents
but of boys and girls as vv^ell, who might,
through reticence or fear, remain away
from the Police Station proper. While the
officers of the City Mothers' Bureau have
police authority, they refrain from using it
except when absolutely necessary. They
try through love, sympathy, encouragement,
and personal interest to teach children their
duty to parents and to society, and by this
same method to awaken parents to their
duty and responsibility.
The City Mothers have found that, by
gaining the confidence and holding the in-
terest of boys and girls until they have
reached the age of discretion, they usually
become good citizens. By this method
many very serious cases are uncovered
which probably never would have been
brought to the attention of the Police De-
partment.
Many parents seem to be asleep to the
dangers which surround their children.
Dangers have multiplied a hundred-fold in
the last twenty-five years, owing to the fact
that the parents are employed largely outside
the home. The multiplied means of easy
communication, swift travel and diversified
amusements constitute nothing less than
menaces to morality.
It has been found that the lack of under-
standing between the parent and the child is
often responsible for children's becoming
indifferent to obedience — and disobedience
as a rule is the first step to delinquency.
There are other cases where the children
have gotten beyond the control of the par-
ents before they realize it, and not infre-
quently have gone astray. TKfn the dis-
tracted parents in desperation reach out for
aid, and it is here the City Mothers extend
a helping hand and assist in bringing* the
strayed ones back into the fold.
Another great cause of delinquency is the
broken and unprotected home. Recently
the City Mothers had occasion to make an
investigation and they found the children of
an entire community demoralized by a
family of children whose parents were em-
ployed during the day. This home became
the rendezvous of all the children in the
neighborhood.
The work of the City Mothers' Bureau is
largely preventive, forestalling crime,
thereby saving the city annually many hun-
dreds of dollars, besides preserving that
which is of far greater value — the morals
of our girls and boys. A large number of
the cases are reported direct from the
schools.
This Bureau has been quite successful as
a "Domestic Relations Court," bringing to-
gether parents who, by their estrangement,
had broken up their homes and placed an
additional burden on the community. In
cases of failure to provide, a technicality
sometimes prevents prosecution, and we are
often able to secure the desired results with-
out going into court, frequently bringing
about a reconciliation of the parents and
reuniting broken homes.
The City Mothers have established a day
nursery where working mothers may leave
their babies for the small sum of ten cents
240
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
per day. There are four trained nurses in
charge of this nursery and here an average
of fifty children are cared for daily.
The City Mother has two assistants and
an advisory board of ten representative
women, who have helped to create a fund
with which to carry on the work of this
Bureau, as there is no appropriation from
the city other than the salaries of the office
force.
Owing to the growth of the Bureau and
the numerous outside interests involved, a
legal adviser was appointed by the Mayor
over a year ago.
MRS. ALETHA GILBERT,
City Motlver.
Recreation
Departments
Where Those Who Work
Can Play
Newport, R. I. — One of the most diffi-
cult things in the world is to maintain a
proper balance between work and play — ^to
enable work and play to be seen in their
right relation to each other.
Living, as we do, in the age of machinery
and specialized industry, there is little op-
portunity for seeing adults, especially men,
at productive work. The boys see their
fathers around home, smoking, reading, or
loafing, rather than at work in store or fac-
tory. When father comes home, growling
about the job, the impression that work is
something to be avoided as much as possi-
ble becomes fixed in the adolescent mind.
A recreation system where everything to
CAN we SAVe THG TRG€S ?
WATCH
THe
CHILDREN'S CATGRPILLAR CONTG5T
A POSTER USED IN THE NEWPORT, R. I., CHILDREN'S CAM
PAIGN AGAINST INSECT PESTS
play with is furnished gratis for the asking
tends to deepen this impression. Play can
best be appreciated when it follows work. A
system of recreation will render a great
service to its city if, in some way, it can
fix in the minds of the boys and girls that
only those who work can play, and that no
one deserves to play, or can play, unless he
works. People come to Newport to play,
not to work; therefore, it is especially diffi-
cult in this city to glorify work and to im-
press upon the youthful mind that work is
a good thing, and to correlate work and
play.
There is much work to be done in the
care and maintenance of a playground and
ball park, and much of this work can be
done by children. Of course, it is a very
wonderful idea that they should do it from
civic spirit, but after a children's crusade
against caterpillars which saved the city's
trees and saved the city an immense amount
of money, no adequate reward had been re-
ceived by the children in the form of greatly
increased recreation facilities, so that it ap-
peared to the writer that work and play
should be harnessed up a little more closely.
A work ticket was printed, which says in
large letters, 'Those Who Work Can Play —
5 cents," and in small letters, "This can be
exchanged for athletic supplies at any spon-
ing goods store in Newport when properly
stamped." Those who do work about the
playgrounds are paid by means of these
tickets as much as it would cost to have the
work done by men. We furnish very few
athletic supplies, but furnish the opportunity
for every team to work and purchase what-
ever supplies it needs. The plan is resulting
very satisfactorily. The continual sight of
this motto, "Those who work can play," can-
not fail to impress the
^^^^^^ij^^ idea upon the minds of
the children. The tickets
are all numbered, and a
record is kept of the
numbers given out to the
director of each play-
ground, together with de-
tailed instructions for
their disbursement.
It is suggested that a
boy or a girl under 10
ought to be worth from
5 to 10 cents per hour,
and a boy or a girl from
10 to 14 should be worth
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
241
from 10 to 20 cents an hour, according to
his ability. A boy or a girl from 15 to 17
should be worth from 20 to 25 cents an
hour, and boys and girls over 17 ought
to be worth from 30 to 40 cents an hour,
according to ability and application. The
director of each playground is to see
that he gets his money's worth for tickets
issued, and that there is no loafing on the
job; he must also be able to explain to the
Superintendent of Recreation what was ac-
complished for the tickets given out. These
tickets can be exchanged for athletic sup-
plies at any sporting goods store in New-
port, or they will be exchanged, at cost, at
the Recreation Office for any supplies in
stock. ARTHUR LELAND.
Recreation Consultant;
Superintendent of Recreation.
Ptthlic^elfare
£)epartments
Introducing the Community to
the Citizens
Boulder, Colo. — Know Your Community
Week was recently held in Boulder to ac-
quaint the rank and file of the citizens with
the social, economic and scenic resources of
the community. It was sponsored by the
Director of the City Department of Public
Welfare, the Commercial Association, and
the University Extension Division. Many
other agencies and organizations cooperated.
The exhibit was held in a large hall cen-
trally located. Thirty portable canvas
booths were furnished by the University
Extension Division and were arranged on
the one-way plan, so that all visitors entered
at one door and passed all the booths before
reaching the exit. A brief description of
some of the principal sections of the exhibit
may be of interest :
1. The Pioneer Section, consisting of
exhibits prepared by pioneers of this com-
munity and comprising such things as a
model of the first schoolhouse built in Boul-
der; the first melodion; the first chair, and
many other items that were the first of their
kinds brought to the community. These
pioneer exhibits were intensely interesting,
not only to the older folks, but also to the
younger ones.
2, The Photographic Section, compris-
ing five booths showing exclusively scenic
pictures of Boulder and Boulder County.
THESE TESTS WERE APPLIED TO BOULDER, COLO. THEY SUM UP THE ESSENTIAL
QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT ANY TOWN
242
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
3. The Public Health Section, dealing
with the milk, water and food supplies, as
well as giving an analysis of the vital sta-
tistics of the community. The data for the
vital statistics and some of the other sub-
jects were secured from a social survey just
completed by the University Extension Divi-
sion and the American Red Cross.
4. The Recreation Section, containing
among other things a miniature playground
illustrative of the type of playground that
any community could and should have. This
playground had exactly 100 dolls on it.
Many of the pieces of apparatus, such as the
giant stride, slide, swings, teeters, etc., were
operated mechanically.
5. The Education Section, in which the
public schools displayed samples of sewing,
cooking and manual art work. Many of the
visitors had had but little conception of
these phases of public school work.
The most convincing evidence of the in-
terest shown in the exhibit is the record of
the attendance, which was as follows: first
day, 1,187; second day, 1,559; third day,
1,845; fourth day, 3,030; making a total of
7,621 in a community whose population is
approximately 11,000.
Meetings so arranged as not to conflict
with the exhibit hours were held in the
afternoons and evenings. At many of these,
illustrated talks were given.
The services of practically all in connec-
tion with the exhibit and meetings were
gi-ven free, but what little expense, was nec-
essarily incurred was borne largely by the
City Department of Public Welfare.
CHARLES I. MADISON,
University Extension Division, University ot
Colorado
Park
Departments
A Municipal Auto Caaip at the
Gateway of a National Playground
Pueblo, Colo. — This city is admirably
located to attract the tourist. The Santa Fe
Trail passes through it, and it has four
other surfaced roadways leading to various
other cities, towns and summer resorts in
the mountains.
The municipal auto camping ground is
located just far enough from the business
district to afford it some privacy, and still
near enough for the purchase of gasoline,
oil, tires, spare parts, groceries and other
necessities for the motorists. In the camp
is a large, sheltered community stove, for
which fuel is furnished free, and also a
sanitary building, completely equipped.
Abundant water is supplied by the hydrants.
No charge of any kind is made to tourists.
In the near future it is planned to erect a
building and equip it with shower-baths and
facilities for washing clothes.
Colorado has the San Isabel National
Forest, with its wonderful attractions of
climate, mountain scenery, roads and fishing.
The forest covers practically the entire
mountain range within the state and has
many creeks, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and
other natural scenic features. A road sys-
tem is planned to cover the entire area and
connect it with state and county highways,
making it possible to visit practically every
city and town in the state and enjoy the
mountain scenery on the way. Much of this
roadway is completed and
more is under construc-
tion.
It is planned to provide
means by which ground in
the National Forest may
be leased from the Gov-
ernment for sites for sum-
mer homes. The building
of community houses and
shelter houses is among
other improvements
started uncler the direction
of the U. S. Forest Serv-
ice.
SANITARY COMFORT STATION, LIKE THE ONE AT PUEBLO,
COLO,, IS THE FIRST REQUISITE OF A GOOD AUTO CAMP
E. E. COLBY,
Superintendent of Parks.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
243
Healih
Doparimenis
The Work of a Municipal
Flycatcher
Riverside, Calif. — This city will soon be
known as "The Flyless City" if its Mu-
nicipal Flycatcher continues with his scien-
tific fighting of this pest with trap and
spray. Last year E. S. Beebe kept 150
traps, well baited with old bananas, melons,
milk, and occasionally old meat, at impor-
tant centers, collecting in his daily tour of
inspection millions of flies. This year he
is adding to the trap campaign a daily visit
to garbage cans, stables, dairies and such
gathering places of these obnoxious pests,
where with a spraying machine he dis-
patches countless hordes. His methods
should be of interest to every city.
Mr. Beebe, in behalf of Riverside's Board
of Health, uses three sizes of traps, the
middle-sized one being the most popular.
This is simply a wire cage three feet long
by one foot square, raised from the ground
about one inch. The bottom is made of wire
in the form of a V, with holes in the top
of the V through which the flies easily
crawl into the trap. All food is placed on
the ground or on a board outside, but di-
rectly under, the trap; thus the traps are
always clean. All traps are placed on the
ground, for flies prefer to feed on the
ground. After eating, they naturally fly
upward into the trap. Mr. Beebe, acting
on the fact that flies are much like humans
in some ways, places the traps in the shade
on hot days and in the sun on cold days.
Often requests for traps come to him from
garage owners, restaurant keepers, butcher-
shop or fruit-stand proprietors, who will-
ingly take care of them and thus extend
the scope of the Municipal Flycatcher.
For spraying he uses an ordinary tree
sprayer, and the mixture consists of one
part creosote to six parts distillate of coal
oil. Flies breathe through their bodies, and
this mixture kills them instantly. One il-
lustration shows Mr. Beebe spraying a
garbage can in an alley. All alleys are sys-
tematically visited during the feeding hours,
which are early morning and evening.
Boxes of refuse, manure piles, oil stations,
A MUNIOIPAli PLT-TBAP
are also visited daily. Millions of flies are
thus destroyed every day during the breed-
ing season. Though the Public Health
Board began its fight for a flyless city only
last summer, there is a most noticeable
diminution of flies in the streets, places of
business and private homes.
W. B. WELLS, M. D.,
Health Officer.
ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS THE FBICE OP
FLYLESSNESS
244
Street Cleaning in California
Suiting the Method of Treatment to Street Mileage and Surface
A SURVEY of the street cleaning
methods of eighteen California com-
munities shows that while some
flushing is done, the pick-up type of sweeper
is the principal piece of motor-driven ap-
paratus used. More than half of these com-
munities have not yet made use of motor-
propelled street cleaning apparatus. White
wings still predominate as a means of clean-
ing pavements.
The following statistics were furnished by
municipal officials in the various cities men-
tioned :
Alhamhra has 55 miles of paved streets,
chiefly oiled macadam, averaging 30 feet
in width. For cleaning, 5 white wings are
employed and i horse-drawn sweeper.
Anaheim, with 8 miles of 42-foot sheet
asphalt, employs 2 white wings for gutter
cleaning and i Elgin sweeper and i motor-
driven flusher to keep its broad avenues in
good condition.
Berkeley, with 20 miles of paved streets,
and 160 miles of oiled macadam on asphaltic
concrete base with an average width of 36
feet, employs 40 white wings and i Elgin
sweeper to cover the entire city.
Chico, with only 5 miles of asphalt sur-
facing on a concrete base, and with streets
averaging 70 feet in width, employs 3 horse-
drawn sprinklers and i horse-drawn flusher.
Corona, having 35 miles of 30- to 80-foot
width macadam, has 2 white wings, 2 horse-
drawn sprinklers, i horse-drawn sweeper,
and I motor-sweeper to maintain its pave-
ments in a cleanly condition.
Colton, with only 3 miles of paved 54-foot
cement concrete road, cleans its streets solely
by hand and employs i horse-drawn sprin-
kler to keep down the dust.
Eureka, with 8 miles of bituminous pave-
ments from 36 to 51 feet in width, has i
motor-driven flusher.
Modesto, with 19 miles of asphaltic con-
crete roads of 40-foot width, relies chiefly
on flushing and 3 white wings, 3 horse-
drawn sprinklers, and i horse-drawn flusher.
Oxnard, with 9 miles of Warrenite paving
80 feet wide, employs from 4 to 8 white
wings, 2 horse-drawn sprinklers, and i
horse-drawn sweeper.
Redding has 40 miles of 56-foot asphaltic
concrete roads and relies solely on its motor-
sweeper for handling the street cleaning
problem.
San Diego has 80 miles of 80-foot con-
crete road, which is kept clean by 12 white
wings and i Elgin pick-up sweeper.
Santa Barbara has 45 miles of 60- foot as-
phalt paving on a concrete base and uses 8
white wings, 2 motor sprinklers and 2 ma-
chine sweepers which are drawn by Fordson
tractors.
Santa Monica. — The 20 miles of asphaltic
concrete paving averages 52 feet in width
and is cleaned by 6 white wings.
Santa Maria has 4 miles of macadam and
concrete streets, averaging 88 feet in width,
and uses i horse-drawn sprinkler and i
horse-drawn sweeper.
San Jose, having 30 miles of asphalt pav-
ing averaging 50 feet in width, employs 20
white wings, 2 horse-drawn sweepers, and i
horse-drawn flusher.
Stockton, with 130 miles of asphalt pave-
ment, averaging 60 to 80 feet in width, main-
tains 80 white wings, 10 horse-drawn sprin-
klers, 2 horse-drawn sweepers and 4 horse-
drawn flushers, motor-driven apparatus be-
ing entirely absent.
San Bernandino has 30 miles of concrete
and Warrenite paving, averaging 483^ feet
in width. The street cleaning force consists
of 3 white wings, 3 horse-drawn sprinklers,
I horse-drawn sweeper and i horse-drawn
flusher.
Vallejo, with 25. miles of asphalt paving
on a concrete base, averaging 32 to 40 feet
in width, has 5 white wings and i Elgin
pick-up sweeper.
A Glance Ahead
The matter of sewage disposal is one of the most import.int ones in connection with
the maintenance of public sanitary conditions at every summer resort. Unfortunately, in a
great number of instances the reputation of particular localities has been ruined by the
serious results that have followed lack of education concerning this important detail in
modern sanitation.— Pttfc/tV Health, State Department of Health, Lansing Mich
245
Sewage Disposal by Fine Screening
at Bridgeport, Conn.
Installation of Riensch-Wurl Screens Prepares Sewage for Ultimate Disposal
by Dilution
A VISIT to the sewage treatment plant
located on the southwest edge of the
well-populated district in Bridgeport,
Conn., impresses the engineer with the thor-
ough attention given to detail, the excel-
lence of the concrete work, and the value of
this method of treatment as applied to
Bridgeport conditions.
The flow line of the interceptor at the
plant is at elevation lOO, or 22 feet below the
street level and 10 feet below mean low
water. In the original studies, several com-
binations of screens and pumps were con-
sidered, including the plan of having the
high-level screens following the pumps, so
that the screened effluent would flow by
gravity to the outfall. This scheme would
have saved something on the cost of con-
struction of the station, but it was discarded
mainly because the screens would be more
effective if installed ahead of the pumps.
In the plant as finally decided upon and
installed, the sewage from the 71-inch in-
terceptor flows through the sluice-gate to a
bar screen at elevation 100, and thence
through a concrete channel to the Riensch-
Wurl screens. The screened effluent flows
over an adjustable weir to the sump at ele-
vation 80, and is then lifted by the pumps
to the force main at elevation 105.
The plant is designed for three Riensch-
Wurl screens to handle a total dry-weather
flow of 35,000,000 gallons per day. The esti-
mated population of the district when fully
developed is 180,000. As the present popula-
tion of the district is in the neighborhood
of 100,000, two screens have been installed
and a third will be when needed. Each
screen consists of a circular disk 22 feet in
diameter and inclined to an angle of 15 de-
grees from the horizontal. A truncated
cone 12 feet in diameter at the base is cen-
trally mounted on the disc. The surface of
both disc and cone consists of a number of
removable bronze plates perforated with
slots 2 inches long and 3/64-inch wide. The
lowest point of the disc is set at the eleva-
tion of the influent, and the slope is such
A CONSTRUCTION VIEW, SHOWING METHOD OF POURING CONCRETE FOR CIRCULAR FOUNDATION
246
"> THE AMERICAN CITY Vol. XXVI, No. 3
G£N£f?A;.IWv^<A,S- l4 5*tET5-CV
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:>XTKiH;^. aE\ftT»N LOOWNG MRTh
t'^STEPN SeV^flE TREATMENT FuANT
SECTIONAL VIEW OF BRIDGEPORT SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT
that about one-third of the disc is above the
surface of the water.
The sewage flows onto the screen, which
is revolving at the rate of about one revolu-
tion in two minutes. The liquid passes
through the perforations on the disc and
flows over the weir into the pump sump.
The suspended solids which are retained
on the screen are lifted out of the water
as the screen revolves and are brushed off
the screen into the hopper of the screening
conveyor system. The brushes are cylindri-
cal and are carried on a revolving spider,
which is mounted on a shaft parallel with
the main disc shaft. These brushes work
on the same principle as a street sweeper,
which is carried along the street mounted
on a truck and at the same time is revolving
and brushing the refuse ahead of it.
The screenings are conveyed from the
hopper to the storage tanks by a pneumatic
system, which does away with the necessity
of handling it in open cans on an open con-
veyor belt. From the storage tank, which
is located 10 feet above the street level,
the screenings are dropped into tank
wagons, carted to the town farm and buried.
The pumping equipment of the station
consists of two 20-inch horizontal centrif-
ugal pumps, each having a capacity of 15,-
000,000 gallons per day, and two 15-inch
horizontal centrifugal pumps with a capacity
of 8,000,000 gallons per day each. These
pumps are direct-connected to electric motors
controlled by floats in the pump sump. The
floats are adjustable and electrically con-
nected to switches and automatic motor
starters, mounted on panels of the main
switchboard. A Venturi tube is installed on
the outfall, with the record chart and regis-
ter located on one of the main switchboard
panels. The 60-inch gate-valve, electrically
operated, is installed in a gate-house at the
discharge end of the Venturi tube. The
building contains a complete system for
heating, ventilating and plumbing, includ-
ing toilets and shower-baths.
Method of Construction of Plant
The original plans for the plant itself
were approved by the State Board of Health,
and construction started about the first of
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
247
19 19. The substructure is a reinforced con-
crete caisson, 80 feet inside diameter and 45
feet deep. The cylindrical shell forming the
outside wall is constructed of a series of
rings 10 feet high. The rings were cast
above ground, and after the concrete in each
ring was properly set, the forms were re-
moved and the ring sunk until the top was
approximately a foot above the ground.
The forms were then reassembled and the
next section cast. When the caisson had
reached the predetermined depth, the bottom
was placed under water. After the concrete
bottom was set, the caisson was unwatered,
and the bottom made smooth and fin-
ished to a surface. Following this, the inside
walls, partitions, beams and floor slabs were
built. The rectangular superstructure is of
tapestry brick with stone trimmings and a
red tile roof.
The lowest ring, which contains 475 cubic
yards of 1-2-4 concrete and 30 tons of steel,
was completed in March, 1919. After a
few days the forms were removed and set
for the second ring. The same forms were
used for all five rings. The second, third
and fourth rings, each containing 500 cubic
yards of concrete and 16 tons of steel, were
finished by June i, the concrete being poured
in continuous operations of about 8 hours
for each ring.
After the first ring had been poured and
the forms removed, the ring was allowed to
sink by excavating the material from the
interior. Two ^-yard clam-shell buckets
and two 65-foot boom stiff-leg derricks, set
up on opposite sides of the caisson, aver-
aged about 200 cubic yards of excavation a
day. One derrick was placed on the north
side of the caisson, the other on the south.
On the east side toward Bostwick Avenue
were two one-yard mixers and an 80-foot
double hoisting tower, from which the con-
crete could be delivered through chutes to
any part of the ring. Just north of the
tower was another derrick which supplied
sand and gravel to hoppers located above
the mixers. As the excavation proceeded,
levels were taken at frequent intervals each
day on the top of the shell, and if one side
was found to be sinking too fast, excavation
was stopped on that side and continued near
the other side until the ring was level again.
At no time was the caisson more than 9
inches out of level.
In the completed structure the absence of
unnecessary holes in the concrete partitions
and of places where concrete had been
chipped out after the forms were removed,
and of other such unsightly jobs, shows the
care given to the design of the complete
structure and to the excellence of the work
by the contractor. It is seldom that a piece
of work of this type can go through from
beginning to end without* a considerable
number of changes in design which show in
patchy work when the whole structure is
completed.
George W. Fuller and George A. John-
son, New York City, were the associated
consulting engineers for this work. The
general contractor was the Eastern Engi-
neering and Construction Company, Bridge-
port, Conn. The sewage treatment appa-
ratus and mechanical equipment was fur-
nished and installed by the Sanitation Cor-
poration, New York City, and the plant is
now operated by the Department of Pub-
lic Works, of which J. A. Courtade is
Director.
On the Calendar of Conventions
March 22-23. — Indianapolis, Ind.
Indiana Sanitarv and Water Siij)i>ly Association.
Annual meeting. Secretary, C. K. Calvert, 1902 North
New Jersej- Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
April 19-21. — Spartanburg, S. C.
Tri-State Water and Liaht Association of the Caro-
Unas and Georgia. Annual meeting. Secretary, W. F.
Stieglitz, Columbia, S. C.
May 1-4. — Nashville, Tenn.
Southern Commercial Secretaries Association. An-
nual convention. Secretary, Roger Miller, Chamber
of Commerce, Macon, Ga.
May 9-11. — Atlantic City, N. J.
National Fire Protection Association. Annual meet-
ing. Secretary, Franklin H. Wentworth, 87 Milk
Street, Boston, Mass.
May 15;19. — Philadelphia, Pa.
American Water Works Association. Annual con-
vention. Secretary. T. M. Diven, 153 West 171st
Street. Nevir York, N. Y.
May 15-19. — Atlantic City, N. J.
National Electric Light Association. Annual con-
venticn. Executive Manager, M. H. Aylesworth, 29
West SOth Street. New York, N. Y.
May 15-21. — Washington, D. C.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States. Annual
meeting. Secretary. D. A. Skinner, Mills Building,
Washington, D. C.
June 4-6. — Salt Lake City, Utah.
American A .t.^ociation of F.ngineers. Annual con-
vention. Secretary, C. F.. Drayer, 63 East Adams
Street. Chicago, 111.
June 13-17. — V^ictoria, B. C.
Canadian Good Roads As.tociation. Annual con-
veniion. Secretary. George A. McNamee, 909 New
Birks Building, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
August 9-18. — San Francisco, Calif.
International Association of Fire Engineers. Annual
meetinfj. Secretary, James J. Mulcaiey, City Hall,
Yonkers, N. Y.
October 9-13. — Cleveland, Ohio.
American Society for Municipal Improvements.
Annual convention. Secretary, Charles Carroll Brown,
P. O. Box 234, Petersburg, Fla.
248
What Is a Fair Salary for a Fire Chief?
THE accompanying table was prepared
from the returns on a questionnaire
sent out by The American City. In
analysing the figures given in a table of
this sort great care must be taken to avoid
jumping to conclusions. The simple fig-
ures of population and dollars cannot state
the whole case in regard to a given city.
For instance, the cost of living varies widely
in different parts of the country, naturally
imposing different standards of pay.
The most striking fact to be learned from
a table of this sort is the want of standard-
ization of salaries, which was demonstrated
by William E. Mosher in the article, "A
Fair Wage Versus a Chance Wage" in
The American City for February. Look-
ing down the table, we note that of two
Massachusetts cities of over 50,000, Brock-
ton and Cambridge, it is the smaller city
that pays the larger salary. Binghamton,
N. Y., Brockton, Mass., and Allentown, Pa.,
are nearly equal i» size, yet the Allentown
salary is not much more than half of the
Brockton figure, while Binghamton is mid-
way between. Yonkers, N, Y., is little
smaller than Cambridge, Mass., yet its sal-
ary is $1,000 greater, and is double that paid
in Reading, Pa.* Possibly the character of
the" industries of these cities accounts for a
variation of the size of the department re-
quired and the consequent demands on the
Chief.
Passing to the cities between 25,000 and
50,000, the table shows a greater amount of
uniformity. The largest salary reported is
in Lorain, Ohio, $3,000, the smallest, in
Irvington, N. J., $1,800, though there is a
considerable difference in the size of the
towns. There is a sharp contrast between
Lima, Ohio, and Lorain, Ohio, the cities
being nearly of a size.
Among the cities between 10,000 and 25,-
000, comparisons are more difficult, as such
cities vary widely in character: some are
largely manufacturing, others mostly resi-
dential. The character of the manufactur-
ing carried on might involve great differ-
ence of fire hazard, yet in this group there
is surprising uniformity of salary. The
largest reported salary is that of Corning,
N. Y., $2,040, and the smallest, Fulton,
• A volunteer department.
N. Y., $780, although these places are of
nearly equal population.
Among cities of less than 10,000 there
are great contrasts of salary. This is due
primarily to the fact that some have volun-
teer departments, while others have full-
time crews. For example, Suffolk, Va.,
pays $1,800 a year, and Saranac Lake,
N. Y., with a population but little smaller,
pays the Chief nothing. In general, through-
out this group the salary is nominal, $100
being a figure frequently met.
The group of places under 5,000 offers
the widest discrepancies in salary. Popula-
tion figures are given for places over 2,000
under the 1920 census, while those for which
no population is given have less than that
number. In most cases here, the salary is
nominal, there being a few notable excep-
tions. Ocean City, N. J., may be regarded
as a peculiar case, owing to its character
as a seaside resort, with a fluctuating popu-
lation. An interesting feature is the salary
in Hillsboro, Ohio, $30 a year, with an al-
lowance of $2 per call answered. Other ex-
ceptions are the allowance in Wheaton,
Minn., of $1 an hour for time actually con-
sumed in fire-fighting, and in Clarkston,
Wash., of $5 per fire.
It is unusual for a city to call to head its
department a man who has made a record
as fire chief of. another city. As a rule, the
chief is chosen from the fire department of
his city, after years of service. Owing to
his specialized profession, there is no free
market for his services — the city is not
obliged to bid for his service against com-
petitors within itself, as in the case of a city
attorney or engineer. From the very na-
ture of his profession, the chief is obliged
in many instances, to accept what his city
chooses to offer him.
It is impossible to look through the ac-
companying table and say, "This city pays
too much," or "That city pays too little."
Special circumstances may control what
seem to be the most serious injustices. But
the tables do show that some cities are
paying less than what may be termed an
average salary for cities of their class; and
such a statistical tabulation is of value in
showing such cities how they stand in com-
parison with other cities where approx-
imately the same conditions prevail.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
249
SALARIES OF FIRE CHIEFS
Figures State Annual Salary. Unless
Otherwise Specified
State and City
Over
Population 50,000 25-50,000 10-25,000
5-10,000
Under 5,000
Iowa:
Harlan .. 2,831
Marshalltown 15,731
Tipton 2,142
Kansa S.-
Kingman 2,407
Massachusetts:
Brockton 66,254
Cambridge 109,694
Hudson 7,807
Salem 42,529
Michigan:
Battle Creek 36,164
Grand Rapids.... 137,634
Minnesota:
Albert Lea 8,056
Benson 2,111
Wheaton
Missouri:
Kirksville 7,213
Marceline 3,760
Warrensburg .... 4,811
Montana:
Bozeman 6,183
Nebraska:
Hastings 11,647
New Jersey:
Irvington 25,480
New Brunswick.. 32,779
Ocean City
Princeton 6,917
New York:
Auburn 36,192
Batavia 13,541
Binghamton 66,800
Corning 15,820
E. Syracuse 4,106
Pulton 13,043
Granville 3,024
Herkimer 10,453
Jamestown 38,917
Little Falls 13,029
Middleburg
N. Tonawanda... 15,482
Rochester 295,750
Saranac Lake.... 5,174
Saratoga Springs. 13,181
Watervliet 16,073
Yonkers 100,176
Champlain
North C'Rolina:
Spring Hope
North Dakota:
Casselton
Ohio:
Ada 2,321
Akron 208,435
Bryan 4,252
Covinc!ton
E. Palestine 5,750
Hicksville 2,378
Hillsbovo 4,356
Lima 41,306
Lorain 37,295
Marietta 15,140
Middletown 23,594
Ravenna 7,219
Tiffin 14,375
Oklahoma:
Enid 16,576
Geary
Stillwater 4,701
Oregon :
Baker 7,729
Salem 17,679
• While fighting fires.
•• Plus $2 per call.
$130 per mo.
$37
None
$1
$3,500
3,000
3,273.76
$2,275
2,400
$1,550
$1,800
$1,800
$2,700
$150
$75 per mo.
$152.50
$50
$60
$1 per hr.'
$5 per mo.
$100 per mo.
$112.60 per mo.
$2,760
$2,400
$2,200
$4,200
$4,000
$1,650
$2,040
$780
$1,560
$1,680
$1,800
$2,000
$1,600
None
$200
None
None
None
$4,500
$2,112
$3,000
$125 per mo.
$2,000
$1,800
$100
$100
None
None
$60
$1,800
None
$60
$80»»
$200 per mo.
$1,800
$66
$116
$150
250
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
Salaries
OF Fire Chiefs (.Co,
ntinued)
Over
State and City
Population
50,000
25-50,000 10-25,000
5-10,000
Under 5,000
Pennsylvania:
AUentown ....
73,502
$2,000
Belief onte
3,996
None
' Bristol
10,278
None
Brockwayville .
None
Brookville ....
3,272
None
Carbondale . . .
18,640
$360
Harrisburg ....
75,917
$2,500
Oil City
21,274
$1,740
Philadelphia ...
.. 1,823,779
$5,000
Pottsville
21,876
$1,500
Reading
.. 107,784
$2,000
Warren
14,256
47,512
$2,100
$2,000
York
Rhode Island:
Central Falls..
24,174
$1,400
Providence ....
. . 273,595
$70 per wk.
South Dakota:
Aberdeen
14,537
$145 per
month
Mitchell
8,478
$100
Tennessee:
Jellico '.
1,875
$60
Virginia:
Portsmouth . . . ,
54,387
$2,520
Suflfolk
9,123
$1,800
Vermont:
Rutland ,
14,954
$1,550
Washington:
Clarkston
$5 per fire
Spokane
'.' 104,437
$3,105
West Virginia:
Bluefield
15,282
$175 per
month
Martinsburg . . ,
12,615
$1,500
Wisconsin:
Eau Claire
20,880
$2,400
Municipal Lodging House Useless Unless Run as
"Human Repair Shop'*
EXPERIENCE with the municipal lodg-
ing-house in New York City during
the past four years is a warning to
other cities that it is a costly and ineffective
institution if operated as a mere shelter,
instead of as a "human repair shop" and
clearing-house for unemployed and home-
less men and women.
This statement is made by Stuart A.
Rice, formerly superintendent of the New
York Municipal Lodging House, in the
American Labor Legislation Review.
"Completed in 1909 at a cost of nearly
$400,000, with a 'model' plant and equip-
ment, the institution quickly became known
throughout the world and might reasonably
have been expected to provoke extensive
imitation. The expectation has not been
realized. Not to exceed half a dozen Ameri-
can cities have a municipal lodging-house,
and even in these, the question of its discon-
tinuance is periodically brought forward."
Failure to distinguish between "unemploy-
able" persons, such as the sick and defective,
and the "unemployed," whose only need is a
job, is a serious fault of municipal lodging-
house administration. Separate treatment
for the two classes is essential. Two dis-
tinct problems arise when "a temporary de-
mand for emergency shelter for unemployed
men is periodically superimposed upon a
continuing demand for the classification and
treatment of unemployable men."
Official reports show that the daily per
capita cost for each lodger at the New York
Municipal Lodging-House during 1918 and
1919 was $1.50. "One dollar and a half a
day," says Mr. Rice, "would be a reasona-
ble per capita expenditure for a 'human re-
pair shop/ such as was visualized by Com-
missioner John A. Kingsbury in his 1914 re-
port to Mayor Mitchel. But when New
York City spends $1.50 in providing a 30-
cent 'flop' to its guests, the absence of imita-
tors among municipalities can readily be
explained.
"A 'clearing-house' for homeless men and
women — such as a municipal lodging-house
should be — would make a thorough-going
effort to understand the ills — physical, men-
tal and social — that afflicted each of its in-
mates. In brief, its end would be the per-
tnanent solution of the human problem with
which it is confronted."
551
A Successful Municipal Abattoir
The Community Value of the Paris, Texas, Abattoir Shows Great Possibilities
for These Public Utilities
By Cora Lee Moore
Secretary to the Mayor, Paris, Texas
ABOUT 88 per cent of the fresh meat
used in Paris, Texas, is slaughtered
at the municipal abattoir. The cattle
and hogs which are slaughtered are brought
in from the surrounding country, and in
that way the city furnishes a market for
the live stock raised by the small farmer.
Without this, the farmer in selling or dis-
posing of his live stock would have to pay
for freight and not receive any more per
pound after shipping to outside buyers. The
abattoir not only provides a market for ani-
mals but also enables the people of Paris
to obtain a first-class quality of meat at a
price considerably lower than could be ob-
tained if this meat had to be imported from
the packing-houses.
At the abattoir the most scrupulous sani-
tation is observed, as well as careful screen-
ing and good ventilation. Hogs are brought
in from the yard, killed, scalded, scraped,
properly cut up and dressed; the carcasses
are placed in the cooler and remain there
for 12 hours, at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. At
the end of this period, following the usual
order of things, they are placed in the "big
box," a refrigerating room kept at a tem-
perature ranging from 32 to 36 degrees.
Four days' free storage is allowed each cus-
tomer, the charges being as follows:
City Meat Markets. — Beeves, $2.50 each;
hogs and calves, $1.50 each; sheep and
goats, $1.00 each, including inspection. Ten
cents per day is charged after four days.
FLOOR PLAN
or
THE MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR
PARIS, TEXAS.
Office ofT/>eC/iy £nainger
C3iec./,J9ZJ
Sca/e.- /"■- /O'
t^
Office
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Ho for E3
- >mrH Btnch "-
[SM/rtgr Door
Ice 3ox
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-W-==^«?^
Cureiny Room
rerfiliztr Mach/ne
Screrned
£'ntrance
^-A S/,d/n
<ill J
Room
t
V
^
Entranct
H
Com-
j3
Coal Bin
Vert/cat
Boi/er
Si/d/'n^ Door'^
/filling Room
Drta^iny
Room
^'
Hide
Room
V
Pen I
Corrals
o/affcm
Scab's
252
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVt, No. 3
Private killings. — Beeves, $2.50 each;
hogs and calves, $1.50 each; sheep and
goats, $1.00 each, inckiding inspection.
Hogs when cut up and salted down, $2.50
each. Five cents per day storage after the
first four days. Salt is furnished by the
city.
It is a rule that everything brought to the
Paris abattoir must be brought alive, to
enable the expert veterinarian employed by
the city to make the inspection of animals on
the hoof, as required. Another inspection of
the carcass is made by a second official. No
meat may be offered for sale within the
corporate limits that does not bear the stamp
of the city inspector. This applies even to
all shipments of meat or fish that may be
brought in by rail from packers or others.
In this way the health of the public is pro-
tected from tuberculosis and other diseases,
and the best quality of meat is insured. A
salary of $100 a month is paid the veteri-
narian for his services of inspection, which
occupy only a portion of his time.
Besides the veterinarian, the force em-
ployed at the Paris abattoir consists of a
bookkeeper who looks after the general
management of the plant, collecting, etc.,
an engineer for the refrigerating machi-
nery, and three butchers or skinners, one of
whom makes deliveries to the retail butch-
ers in the city.
The Plant Incinerator
Animals that are rejected by the veteri-
nary are consumed in the huge incinerator
operated in connection with the abattoir.
It is often necessary for an attendant to
stand by to restrain negroes from snatching
part of the condemned meat from the
flames. The incinerator serves other useful
purposes. All combustible trash, city gar-
bage, dead dogs, cats, chickens, and waste
of every description is hauled by the city
free of charge and destroyed in the large
burners. The incinerator is so arranged
that no other fuel is required than the trash
gathered from the city. This entirely elim-
inates the unsightly paper and trash dumps
so commonly seen around towns and cities
that would otherwise be beautiful. The in-
cinerator is never without a useful job to
do.
The Curing Plant
A curing plant is run in connection with
the abattoir. This addition cost approx-
imately $5,000 and was made to meet the
urgent need of farmers who desired to be
able to kill hogs at any time during the
year. This curing plant, maintained at a
temperature of 40 degrees, is fully equipped
in accordance with modern practice, and
each customer has his own bin, upon which
he may place a padlock if he so desires.
His name and tag are on the box. He calls
and checks out his meat whenever he
chooses; or if he so desires, he may check
out any portion of the meat, leaving the
remainder in cold storage. Any citizen of
the town or surrounding country can have
his meat slaughtered and stored here any
day during the year, and the farmers par-
ticularly are taking advantage of this ser-
vice, so that this part of the plant is gen-
erally well filled.
The whole plant is housed in a one-story
wooden building and cost when constructed
about $10,000. Some parts of the equip-
ment, however, have been replaced.
The Paris abattoir made its errors, but
persistence and careful management have
placed it on a paying basis. For several
years, at the start, the abattoir failed to
pay. It was discovered that its volume of
business did not justify the operation of the
fertilizer plant which had been installed.
Also, it soon became apparent that the
charges were too low, and when they were
raised to a point where they would make
an adequate return, there were no com-
plaints from the customers. Quite a num-
ber of minor changes, all tending toward
the betterment of the abattoir, both mate-
rially and financially, took place in the first
year of operation. Each year finds room
for improvement, adding here and there
more modern equipment, etc. The last few
years have been very profitable ones for
the plant. In 1919 the cost of operation
was $9,514.56, which included $2,000 for re-
modeling. The receipts amounted to $10,-
730.54» and in 1920 the receipts exceeded
$12,000.
Hog Raising
A unique but nevertheless profitable
feature is the raising of hogs on the offal
of the plant. Their feed consists only of
the clean waste from the beeves slaughtered
by the city, and some corn. Sales are made
in small lots usually. In the latter part of
1919, however, one retail butcher bought
hogs from the city for which he paid
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
253
879.45; a few months later another sale
was made amounting to $654.90 ; another in
1920, $1,215, and still another for $290.
This is practically clear money, As there is
very little expense attached to this depart-
ment. In the last few months the market
has fallen off considerably and there are
very few sales made from the abattoir pens.
There are on hand at present about 37 hogs
weighing from 250 to 350 pounds, and 107
ranging from 100 to 175 pounds.
After twelve years of trial, the Paris
abattoir is giving genuine satisfaction to
the city and the surrounding territory, and
it is believed that the community would not
do without this advantage to the general
welfare through the output of clean, whole-
some and sanitary meats. The plant is
claimed to be the first of its kind in the
United States and should serve as a basis
on which every town and city with a popu-
lation of 5,000 or more can base a like in-
stitution, especially where there is a chance
of giving a market to the small producer
and of improving the quality and lowering
the price of meats to the consumer. It is
hoped within a few years to build a brick
structure which will have a more commodi-
ous cooling room, refrigerating room and
curing plant, and perhaps a smoke-house
and other new features. The cost of a new
plant would mean a far greater expenditure
than the present successfully operating abat-
toir represents.
New Street Signs in San Francisco
Definite Replacement Program Will Give Entire City These New Signs in a
Few Years
THE long-heralded and urgently needed
new street signs to guide the stranger
and assure the native of his destina-
tion have appeared in San Francisco. Con-
venient and understandable street signs in
San Francisco have been a matter that has
been agitated by civic organizations and
automobile clubs for a long time, and when
all the signs are installed it is expected that
the streets of this city w'ill be marked as
conveniently and thoroughly as those of any
metropolis in the country.
In the past the signs have been placed at
various elevations and upon different types
of supports, including telegraph poles, lamp-
posts and buildings. The result has been far
from satisfactory, and the appropriations
made for this work have not resulted in a
standardized system of any pronounced
effect.
The new sign, made by the California
Metal Enameling Company, Los Angeles, is
of the criss-cross type and consists of four
porcelain plates 5 inches by 22 inches with
3-inch letters mounted in a channel iron
frame j4-inch by i inch. The complete
frames and plates are in turn mounted on a
3-inch standard pipe support measuring 9
feet from the ground to the bottom of the
lower sign. The letters are of white on a
background of dark blue. One standard
complete with signs erected cost $18.
TYPE OF NEW SIGNS IN SAN FRANCISCO
According to the program of City Engi-
neer M. M. O'Shaughnessy, it is the inten-
tion to place these signs first in the down-
town section of the city, and each year to
carry out the work in the other sections un-
til every unit of the city is equipped with
proper and conspicuous street signs. The
signs in the down-town section will make
their first appearance from the Embarcadero
to Van Ness Avenue.
The 1921-22 budget provides for an ap-
propriation of $7,500 for street signs for this
fiscal year, and will carry the same allow-
ance each year as long as needed.
254
The New American Falls, Idaho —
A Town Reborn
By Russell VanNest Black
Town Planner
INSTANCES of planning the growth of
cities from the beginning are exceedingly
rare. Most planning efforts are occu-
pied with the patching of hopelessly jum-
bled grown cities — not planning, but re-
planning. When the rare opportunity comes
to build a town from the ground up, it is
hailed with delight. The planning for the
new American Falls has been just such a
pleasing problem.
After the days of the mining booms, men
settled back into the fertile valleys. There
towns grew upon the firm foundation of
agriculture. Irrigation, sheep and cattle
raising, dry-farming of wheat, and, later,
hydro-electric power, were the largest fac-
tors of growth. Wherever railroads tapped
these resources, towns sprang into existence.
Such a community is the old American
Falls, county-seat of Power County, Idaho.
It was founded with the coming of the rail-
road and lies in the very fertile but arid
Snake River Valley at the point where the
Oregon Short Line Railroad crosses the
river. The original town, now a community
of 1,554 people, was built without plan or
foresight, partially upon land ill adapted to
civic growth.
Moving the City
In developing plans for the utilization of
the hydraulic resources of the upper Snake
River watershed, it has been found that a
maximum development will involve the con-
struction of a dam at American Falls, where
topographic conditions render feasible the
most efficient control of the stream. This
dam will create a reservoir 125 square miles
in area, impounding water sufficient to ir-
rigate 300,000 acres of very fertile land.
The work is planned to be financed largely
by contributions from local interests under
the direction of the United States Reclama-
tion Service. Preliminary to undertaking
actual construction and in addition to the
work outlined in this article, the Reclama-
tion Service has completed diamond drill
borings at the proposed dam site and has
made extensive surveys and engineering
studies. It is estimated that the cost of
the reservoir may exceed $13,000,000.
More than four-fifths of the old American
Falls lies within the area to be submerged.
In all, there must be moved or wrecked:
344 residences, 46 business houses, 3 hotels,
2 schools, 5 churches, i hospital, 6 grain
elevators, i flour mill, and numerous shacks
and sheds. The railroad, which now passes
through the center of the town, also falls
for a short distance within the reservoir
right of way, and must be moved a maxi-
mum distance of 1,600 feet back from its
present location.
Rather than risk the results of private
initiative, the Government has undertaken
the relocation of the community. Six hun-
dred acres of virgin land adjacent to a
small part of the old town, which need not
be greatly disturbed, was purchased as a
site, and the writer wais engaged to prepare
complete plans for the new town.
The new site is on the higher ground, ap-
proximately a half-mile east of the old busi-
ness center. Comparatively level and un-
broken except by one or two shallow draws,
and sloping gradually from the reservoir
back to the low, irregular hills, it is almost
ideally adapted to civic development. The
only difficult adaptation is an adequate con-
nection with the surviving small, ill-
arranged section of the old town.
A chief problem lay in the size of com-
munity for which to plan. In the building
of cities there is but one thing apt to do
greater injury than the neglect to plan and
provide for the future, and that is, to pro-
mote a city where no power on earth could
properly maintain more than a hamlet.
The Town's Probable Future
Thorough investigation has been made of
the apparent resources of the district and
their probable influence upon the growth and
prosperity of the new town. Thousands of
acres of undeveloped irrigable land within
the zone of influence; vast extent of wheat
lands that may be dry-farmed to greater
MarciIj 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
25s
MAP OF AMERICAN FALLS, IDAHO, SHOWING THE OLD AND THE NEW SECTIONS
It is rare that the town planner can plan for an entirely new city. American Falls, Idaho, must be
entirely rebuilt, on account of the needs of reservoir construction. The head of the arrow, at the
extreme right, indicates north
advantage; the continued and possibly in-
creased raising of cattle and sheep; un-
limited electric power and the possibility of
the development of such industries as flour
mills and wool-scouring mills in this com-
munity, central to so much wheat and wool
production; the increasing importance of the
town as county-seat ; the reservoir as an en-
gineering accomplishment of broad interest,
and possibly as something of a pleasure re-
sort, attracting visitors from far and near;
and the thousands of workers to be brought
in during construction of the dam, some of
whom will inevitably remain — all point to a
bright future for the community. Leaving
out of consideration the not improbable dis-
covery of some undeveloped natural re-
source, it is not difficult to see the ultimate
town grown to a thriving community of not
less than 10,000 people.
This possible population has been assumed
as a basis for the plan, which, however, is
of an expansive nature, comfortable for the
few as well as for the many. If for any un-
foreseen reason the city does not grow, it
will be comfortably accommodated near the
center of the new site. If it needs to expand,
land and streets are provided to permit of
development along the most logical lines at
a minimum of inconvenience.
Determining Factors
The general character of the street system
is largely determined by the location of the
railroad, fixed by grade, the reservoir on the
west, and the low, irregular hills on the east.
Other factors are the surviving section of
the old town and the highways entering
from the surrounding country. The three
chief highways are: from Pocatello, the
nearest considerable community, 30 miles to
the north; from Rockland and the dry-
farming districts to the south; and from the
territory across the river to the west.
The hills and reservoir have forced a plan
somewhat elongated northeast and south-
west. This happens also to be the general
direction of the heaviest traffic flow, up and
down the valley, and is the most logical
trend of growth. Each of the 'main high-
ways is brought into town with considera-
tion of its greatest use, and is distributed as
directly as possible to the various centers —
residential, business, industrial, and social.
Effort has been made to lead these highways
into, rather than through, the community,
necessitating that every traveler obtain at
least a glimpse into the heart of the town.
The location of the railroad has been a
large factor in laying the first foundations.
To obtain suitable grade, it is necessary that
256
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
the railroad skirt the reservoir. Since this
eliminates the possibility of its ever cutting
through the community, and since for the
greater distance through the town it passes
unobtrusively through a deep cut, this loca-
tion is not undesirable.
Approaching from the M^est, the railroad
enters upon a heavy grade which places the
westernmost practical location for the pas-
senger depot approximately as indicated on
the plan. It is desirable that the business
center of the community be located in some
convenient relation to the depot. Coinci-
dentally, the area directly east of the pro-
posed depot location, being comparatively
level and centrally located, is well adapted
to development as the business and social
center.
The Various Sections of the Town
A broad avenue, designed as the chief re-
tail business street, is carried from the rail-
road and reservoir back some 1,400 feet to a
large public square, terminating in the court
house beyond. This public square is planned
to become the recreation center of the com-
munity, and sites have been reserved on its
four sides for the various public and semi-
public buildings, including: the court house,
Federal building, recreation hall, churches,
hotel, and theater.
In the northwest section of the site, ad-
jacent to the railroad and the freight depot
and to the leeward of the rest of the com-
munity, an adequate tract has been reserved
for storage warehouses, grain elevators,
loading-pens, heavy bus'ness, and whatever
mills or industries may desire accommoda-
tion. Blocks in this district have been
turned in a contrary direction, to make them
more accessible to spur tracks and to afiford
somewhat of separation from the second-
class residential district located on the level,
fertile land directly east of and accessible
to the industrial district and readily adapt-
able to the economical development of homes
and gardens.
South and southeast of the public square
and separated from the second-class area by
a large combined school and playground, is
the first-class residential district. This
largely occupies the first level of low, ir-
regular hills, more adapted to the better
class of development.
Complete restrictions defining the various
are to be placed in the land con-
tracts until such time as a zoning ordinance,
based upon these restrictions, can be put into
effect. First- and second-class residential
districts are to be differentiated by construc-
tion only. The retail business district, in-
cluding the broad avenue mentioned above
and the flanking streets on either side, has
also been divided into first and second
classes, the differentiation being based upon
construction and use. The section of the
old town to be retained, not being the prop-
erty of the United States, must remain un-
restricted until a zoning ordinance- is ob-
tained, but it is of a character unlikely to be
of appreciable influence upon the remaining
development.
The Streets
The average lot size in the second-class
residential district is 60 x 135 feet, and is
but slightly larger in the better-class district,
comparative size throughout being based
upon adaptability to use. Business lots aver-
age 25 X 125 feet, and the industrial area is
divided into 50-foot frontages for con-
venience of sale.
Street widths vary from 50 feet for minor
residential streets to 80, 90 and 100 feet for
the m.ain traffic leads, and 120 feet for the
short business street. All streets, in cross-
section, have been arranged upon an elastic
plan, with trees set to permit pavement
widening as need demands. To obtain de-
sired openness and space between houses,
set-back lines varying from 15 to 30 feet are
established throughout the residential dis-
tricts. All streets have been arranged with
a feeling for topography, to the end that
there are no excessive grades or side-hill
cuts.
Because the district is accustomed to their
orderly use and is not of a type in which
they are likely to become dangerous, public
alleys have been used throughout. They
are to carry the electric light and telephone
poles and other public utilities, including
sewer and water.
Water will be obtained from wells driven
in the higher ground east of the city. This
source failing, large flowing springs on the
west bank of the river will provide a boun-
teous supply.
Because of the low rainfall, about 15
inches, the surface run-off can be cared for
without any great extent of storm-water
sewer. Sanitary sewage will be treated in
septic tanks.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
257
Provision for Parks and Playgrounds
Adequate areas are reserved in the plan
for parks and playgrounds. The public
square is to become a restful area of cool
shade and greensward, furnished with a
band-stand, a bit of splashing water and a
wading pool for the youngsters. It is to
be, in every sense, the recreation center of
the community.
A shallow draw, a stream-bed dry during
most of the year, extends through the south-
erly portion of the new site from the rail-
road to the hills. This draw is ill adapted
to residential use. It is to be developed as a
naturalistic park with flanking park-like
streets and walks, and planted to a few of
the more hardy local native evergreens and
shrubs. In this mecca of the automobile
tourist it has become incumbent upon all
communities to provide tourists' camping
parks. An area between the main highway
from the south and the railroad is well
adapted to this use and has been reserved
for that purpose.
This is the present extent of park land,
with the exception that it has been recom-
mended that, as the community grows, atten-
tion be given to the preservation and de-
velopment of the reservoir shore and river
bank.
Two new school sites have been re-
served, each with area adequate for play-
grounds to serve the whole community.
Trees have been recommended for all
streets, including those of the business dis-
trict. The poplar is the favorite tree in
most parts of the Snake River Valley. How-
ever, experimental planting has proved that
the better trees, such as oak, elm and linden,
if given water, will thrive even more vigor-
ously here than in the East. The better
trees have been recommended throughout
the entire community.
To insure the comfort of the present small
town in the full-grown plan and to provide
that the community shall be conveniently
and economically condensed throughout its
various periods of growth, a considerable
number of blocks of the extremities of the
platted area will be temporarily withheld
from sale, and the first public improvements
will be installed only in the district of logical
earliest development and will be extended
little in advance of demand.
A Beautiful Example of Library
Architecture
VERMONT SQUARE BRANCH LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
258
^ba^^^^^^^^rfM^i^i
Municipal Finance
BONDING ACCOUNTING TAXATION
Detailed Revenues in New Jersey Cities
By Sedley Hopkins Phinney
Executive Secretary, New Jersey State League of Municipalities
THE tables accompanying this article
are two selected from six original
compilations made by the Bureau of
Municipal Information conducted by the
New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
They appear in the Appendix of a 45-page
study of "New Sources of Municipal Rev-
enue" intended as an aid to the harassed
city official seeking new revenues. They are
practical demonstrations of actual revenue
possibilities disclosed by the experience of
cities of various sizes.
Table I is entitled "Classified Revenues of
New Jersey Cities in 1920." It was com-
piled from the latest municipal audits avail-
able, on file in the State Department of
Municipal Accounts. The figures are rev-
enue accruals, not actual cash receipts, and
the classification used is that of the United
States Census Bureau slightly modified. As
the audits failed to report fully on certain
classes of revenue, the following were
omitted from the tabulation, and the indi-
vidual figures were given in the text : Spe-
cial Assessments, Subventions and Grants,
Donations and Gifts, Rates, Highway Priv-
ileges, and Rentals of. Equipment.
The individual figures were built up by a
classification of all the items appearing in
the audits, usually necessitating going into
the cash receipts of the mayor, city clerk,
city engineer, health department, library,
etc. In many casesr,it was not possible to
be sure of the proper classification of an
item, and many figures given were lump
figures which could not be divided. The
table represents the best that could be done
with the material at hand.
Since the cities have been arranged in
order of population, cities of comparable
size are automatically brought together, and
the city official can readily run his eye over
the columns and see how his revenues in
each class compare with those of other cities.
By quick computations the actual per capita
comparisons can be made of striking figures.
Take a few examples of the use of the
tables by a city official. Camden and Tren-
ton are nearly the same size, and their total
revenues are almost identical, yet for Tren-
ton the interest on bank balances is twice
that for Camden, while the item "All Other
Interest and Costs" is six times as great.
What is the reason for this? The Camden
official who is curious about this item would
make a careful survey of all factors in-
volved,, interest rates, amounts of money on
deposit, whether short-term or long-term
deposits, stringency of enforcing interest
and cost charges on delinquent taxes, and
other similar matters. The chances are that
this search would disclose wastes or unused
revenue possibilities. Inequalities in the col-
lection of the poll tax are still more star-
tling. Jersey City, with a population of
three-quarters that of Newark, collects about
one-fourteenth as much poll tax; and only
one-quarter of the amount collected by
Trenton, which has about one-half of Jersey
City's population. Other inequalities sug-
gest either laxity of collection or an in-
herent defect in this form of tax, probably
both. The purely nominal amount of rentals
of land and buildings in some cases raises
a query. For instance, what is it that
Bayonne rents for $75 per annum, and
South Amboy for $25 ? Could not full mar-
ket values be charged for these properties?
It must be understood that these questions
are purely illustrative and are not criticisms
of these particular administrations.
Probably the most significant and most
fruitful of enhanced revenues are the col-
umns "Fees and Charges" and "Licenses
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
259
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26o
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 3
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March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
261
and Permits." The variations here are a
reflection of the facts brought out in other
tables in the Appendix which show the
actual license fees charged for almost every
conceivable purpose in New Jersey cities
and towns. We find Atlantic City, with a
population one-quarter greater than Perth
Amboy, having a revenue from licenses
thirty-four times greater than the latter.
When we consider the resort character of
Atlantic City and the scale of fees charged
there, the difference is understandable.
There are other differences, however, that
are only explainable by variations in scope
and amount of licensing and that represent
huge revenue possibilities if the officials
choose to follow the example of their neigh-
bors.
In an attempt to analyze these differences,
Table V was prepared. The individual
items from which the various totals of rev-
enues from licenses and permits were made
were distributed among eleven main groups,
as follows:
1. Amusements. — Includes pool, bowling,
dance halls, carnivals, but not theaters.
2. Trade and mercantile. — Includes all trades
and mercantiles not shown elsewhere.
3. Pawnbrokers, etc. — Includes pawnbrok-
ers, auctioneers, junk dealers, and ped-
dlers.
4. Transportation. — Includes auto, jitney bus,
horse-drawn vehicle, street car, taxi-
cab, hack and express.
5. Hazardous occupations. — Includes all pur-
suits involving risk to the community,
such as garage, blastings, gas tanks, ex-
plosives, firearms, gasoline pumps and
tanks, and hoisting.
6. Advertising. — Includes bill-boards, signs,
bill posting and distributing.
7. Sewer and street openings. — Also includes
water.
8. Theaters and moving pictures.
9. Health. — All occupations involving in-
spections by health authorities. Milk
and ice dealers, scavengers, pig raisers,
cesspools and dump picking.
TO. Building. — Also electrical and plumbing
permits.
II. Miscellaneous and unscgregated.
Although the incompleteness of the origi-
nal data has prevented the complete detail-
ing of this table, enough is shown to form
many interesting comparisons. For ex-
ample, why did East Orange, population
50,000, get only $100 from amusement
licenses while New Brunswick, population
33,000, received $910? Does Paterson have
more pawnbrokers and auctioneers than
Camden? Although the cities have nearly
the same population, their respective rev-
enues from this source were $13,665 and
$1,640. And why did Jersey City get $36,-
743 from transportation fees and Paterson
only $1,420? The most striking contrast is
that of Atlantic City's revenues from trade
and mercantile licenses, of $132,404 against
the same item of $50. from the residential
city of Orange. The difference is readily
understood in this case because of the char-
acter of the two cities.
When it is considered that city adminis-
trators are largely amateurs, coming and
going with political changes, and that few
agencies of standardization and information
like the Bureau are in existence, it is not
surprising that there are the variations
brought out in these tables; it is surprising
that there is not more variation. This re-
port is one of fifty published by the Bureau
during the year which are intended to help
officials toward uniformity of practice and
scientific methods. Within a month of pub-
lishing the report, one mayor reported a
complete revamping of his city's scale of
license and permit fees, and said that this
one report alone had been worth to his city
more than their share of the cost of main-
taining the Bureau.
The most important single conclusion
reached in the preparation of these tables is
that there ought to be a state-wide compul-
sory uniform system of municipal account-
ing, so that comparisons of this sort can be
made regularly and currently by newspapers
and citizens' organizations without the labor
involved in this case. Figures should be
comparable and accounts mean the same
thing, thus enabling citizens to compare
revenues and costs of their government with
others, and one year with another. An en-
lightened citizenry is necessary for true
democracy and sound municipal account-
ing will do much to sweep the cobwebs
away.
262 ^
Motor Service for City Work
HOLT CATERPILLAR TRACTOR HAULING TROY TRAILERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
VICTORY MEMORIAL DRIVE BY THE BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS OF MINNEAPOLIS,
MINNESOTA
A BUCYRUS DRAG-LINE BACKFILLING ON THE WETHERBY SEWER, DETROIT, MICH.
Blaw-Knox coUapsible steel fonnu are teing used on this Job by the contractors, Nash Brothers,
Chicago, m.
IMarch, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
263
AN AMERICAN-LA FRANCE ENGINE OF THE GRINNELL, IOWA, DEPARTMENT MAKES SHORT
WORK OF A JANUARY FIRE
This truck carries a 65-gaUon chemical tank, 3,500 feet of hose, two 50-foot ladders, one 40-foot ladder,
one 10-foot roof ladder, and one 20-foot roof ladder
A GRAMM-BERNSTEIN SPEED TRUCK EQUIPPED FOR ALL ROUND SERVICE IN THE
ELECTRICAL DIVISION OF THE LYNN, MASS., FIRE DEPARTMENT
This truck answers all alarms to look after the wiring of the Fire and Police Departments
THE AMERICAN CITY
Five years trom now go out anS try
to find soft spots in that concrete!
For over twenty years the General
Chemical Company has been at the fore -
front of chemical research and manu-
facture in this country. Hard-n-tyte
is the latest contribution of its splendid
staff of chemists. It is the successful
result of long search for a concrete hard-
ener that really hardens the surface and
materially increases tts life. It enables
engineers and contractors to deliver
a quality of concrete work far in ad-
vance of anything that has been pos-
sible heretofore.
Don't take my word for it — just
watch that road stand up under traf-
fic. Give it a good "going over" every
six months. Don't just sit in your
car — get out and walk, so you can
see better. You've probably got a
cold chisel in your tool box — take it
out and see how much dust you can
raise on that road with it. That's one
way to find out what the Hard-n-tyte
Road Treatment really does for a
concrete road.
The other way is to do just as the
General Chemical Company engi-
neers did, and grind standard con-
crete road slabs, 1:2:3 concrete, for
1,800 revolutions in a Talbot-Jones
rattler charged with 200 lbs. of iron
shot. Half the slabs were treated with
Hard-n-tyte, just as this road, has
been treated. Half o^ them were left
untreated. When the test was fin-^
ished, the slabs treated with Hard-n-tyte
showed 30% less wear than the others.
Hard-n-tyte is the trade name ap-
plied to pure white crystals of mag-
nesium zinc fluosilicate. When these
crystals are dissolved in water and
the solution flushed over a concrete
road, the surface becomes flint hard.
This condition is caused by the for-
mation of insoluble and extremely
durable silicates and fluorides within
the concrete itself.
Hard-n-tyte is cheaply applied by
common labor. Concrete roads treat-
ed with Hard-n-tyte wear like mosaic.
Send us your name and address and
let us help you eliminate raveling, soft
spots and ruts in the concrete roads
you build this year.
General Chemical Company
1711 Broad Exchange Building, New York City
C9
■makes concrete rogd^ wear longer
When writing to Advertisers please mShtlon'.'PHB American City.
26s
f=ff=^
Summer Schools at Evanstoo, 111.,
and Palo Alto, Calif.
The decision having been reached that the
National School for Commercial Secretaries,
established in 1921 under the joint auspices
of the National Association of Commercial
Organization Secretaries, the Chamber of
"Commerce of the United States, and North-
western University at Evanston, 111., is to be
continued as a regoilar institution, the Amer-
ican City Bureau has announced its belief
that the welfare of the profession can iest
be served by its withdrawal from the na-
tional summer school field.
The Bureau has volunteered to place at
the disposal of the Board of Managers of
the National School its seven years of ex-
perience in the conduct of Summer Schools
for commercial organization secretaries, and
subscribes to the principle that the profes-
sion— which is now in a position to do so —
should control the courses of training to be
provided.
The National School, under the same
auspices as last year, will be held at Evans-
ton, August 21 to September 2 inclusive. To
make Summer School training available for
secretaries in the Far Western States, the
Bureau's Western School of Community
Leadership will be held at the same time
at Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.
For detailed information regarding the Na-
tional School, requests should be addressed
to the Chairman of the Board of Managers,
Robert B. Beach, Business Manager, Asso-
ciation of Commerce, Chicago; and par-
ticulars of the Western School may be ob-
tained from the American City Bureau,
Merchants Exchange Building, San Fran-
Gommunity Advertising by Means
of Films
San Jose, Calif. — The San Jose Cham-
ber of Commerce, in November, 1920, was
the first organization of the kind to present
its annual report to its members and the
community in film form, and it is now the
first city in the United States to conduct a
nation-wide publicity campaign by similar
means. The latter idea is not strictly new,
but in this case it has been utilized on so
stupendous a scale that it is worthy of note.
The Chamber's film report attracted atten-
tion throughout the country, and so great
was the demand for use of the film that
several prints were made and they are still
being circulated in many western and east-
ern states. Encouraged by this success, the
manager of the Chamber engaged the serv-
ices of an expert film photographer and
personally superintended the taking of
pictures in all parts of the Santa Clara
Valley, of which San Jose is the chief city,
showing every phase of the valley's attrac-
tions and advantages, and making up a film
of 2,000 feet, under the title, "Journeys
Through the Valley of Heart's Delight."
Several prints, of this film were made, one
of which is running daily in the California
State Exposition Building at Los Angeles,
through which a quarter of a million tour-
ists pass during the year.
Since the film was produced, communica-
tions have been received from many of the
largest distributing organizations in the
United States offering to distribute copies
to the public they serve, free of charge to
the Chamber. The Photographic Depart-
ment of the Ford Motor Company, after in-
specting a print of the film, urgently re-
quested 76 prints, to be delivered within
three weeks. The big job of making the
152,000 feet required was completed in four
weeks, and soon thereafter the prints were
released through 32 Ford exchanges in this
country to 2,500 theaters. The Ford people
estimate that these prints will be seen by
approximately 40,000,000 persons, so that
at least 30.000,000 would be a conservative
number. The 76 prints cost the Chamber
$7,000 for the making, or about 45^ cents
per foot, to which should be added about
K
ANSAS City selected
- this beautiful Flemisli
design standard created by
tbe General Electric Com-
pany and manufactured by
tbe King Manufacturing
Company for its Park, Street
and Boulevard ligbtmg.
..Mi\
1^'mg Manufacturinq L.a
5 3 W. Jackson Boulevard C hica^o. Ill
«„ «,Uin, .0 Ad«nU.s p... »«..«» T„ AM.K.C.K C.v.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
267
$500 for taking the pictures. The distribu-
tion costs the Chamber nothing.
The number of prints that could be util-
ized without further expense to the Cham-
ber beyond the cost of production seems to
be limited only by that organization's ability
to finance the prints. Francis Holley, of
the Bureau of Cbmmercial Economics,
Washington, D, C, has requested 20 copies ;
The National Non-Theatrical Motion Pic-
tures Company asks for five copies; the
Union Steamship Company of New Zealand
offers to run the film in the best picture
houses in New Zealand, Australia, England,
India, and possibly South Africa; prints are
being circulated by the Bureau of Visual
Instruction of the University of Wisconsin,
the University of Illinois and the University
of California, and several other large dis-
tributing organizations stand ready to cir-
culate prints as soon as they can be sup-
plied.
ROSCOE D, WYATT,
Manager, San Jos6 Chamber of Commerce.
Auto Tourists Appreciate City's
Hospitality
Corpus Christi, Tex. — Although Corpus
Christi has for years been one of the most
popular and well-patronized health and
pleasure resorts of the Southern coast, until
recently it was without a public camping
park where tourists could camp while on
their vacation.
The Commercial Association, after its re-
organization in May, began to consider the
advisability of establishing a free tourist
park. A committee was set to work to as-
certain how many tourists visited the city in
automobiles and camped, and what percent-
age of them left the city because camp
grounds were not afforded. The committee
called into conference a number of business
men and officials of the Rotary, Kiwanis and
Automobile Clubs. The proposition was put
up to the meeting and the survey read.
At this meeting it was decided that a fund
of $600 would be raised to secure a five-year
lease on a certain tract of land within ten
blocks of the business section of the city
and situated on and overlooking Corpus
Christi Bay, and to equip it with toilets,
water, electric lights, gas and other con-
veniences. The Commercial Association
contributed $300, the Rotary, Kiwanis and
Automobile Clubs $100 each, thereby sub-
scribing the money necessary within thirty
minutes. Plans had already been drawn,
and work upon the new tourist park started
the following morning, with the result that
within a week after the committee meeting,
Corpus Christi had one of the most complete
and up-to-date free parks in the South.
The tourists have organized what is
known as the "Tin Can Tourist Club" and
hold meetings nightly, in the interest of
sanitation, safety and comfort.
The city furnishes water free, the elec-
tric light company cuts its rates in half, and
$200 maintains the camp grounds for a year.
Corpus Christi's tourist traffic has already
picked up 50 per cent, and local merchants,
declare their trade has advanced accord-
ingly. It is conservatively estimated that
the camp ground, which cost $800, including
one year's maintenance, has in the first
three months resulted in $60,000 being spent
in the city which otherwise would have gone
elsewhere.
J. C. CARTER,
General Secretary, Corpus Christi Commercial
Association.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX., HAS JOINED THE LIST OF THOSE CITIES WHICH PROVIDE REAL
HOSPITALITY FOR TOURISTS
THE AMERICAN CITY
Making School
House Steps Safe
Architectural attractiveness was a fartor
_U was essential that every step be rnadc
slip-proof and safe-the steps had t° be
made durable-maintenance costs had to
be eliminated —
the tne which is set in cement mortar.
Thus every step in the building, two sets
of Smay^from shower baths to the top
flo^r ^e made slip-proof, tfipproof a"d
■ wTsJr-proof and the architects were able to
get the desired harmonious effects.
ALVNDUM SAFETY TILE is manu-
factured by
NORTON COMPANY
Worcester, Mass.
New York „
151 Cbambere St
Chicago
11 No. Jefleraon St.
Detroit. 233 W. Contress St. ^^
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thk Amkk.c.k Cxxv.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
269
Elizabeth Chamber Backs Big
Public Improvement Program
Elizabeth, N. J. — The Chamber of Com-
merce is supporting a number of move-
ments, which, if carried into effect, will
mean important developments in the city.
The Chamber encouraged and finally en-
dorsed an elaborate plan of the Board of
Works for the purification, widening and
deepening of the Elizabeth River. The
plan will cost about $3,000,000, and this ex-
penditure might be distributed over a period
of years without disturbing ttie value of the
plans.
Having successfully sponsored a zoning
plan, which was officially adopted by the
City Council on February 6 for the city, the
Chamber is now bending its efforts toward
the adoption of a general city plan. A
committee is at work on this proposition.
By organizing a new association known
as the Union County Park Association and
working under that name, the Chamber of
Commerce Committee was instrumental in
securing the appointment of a Union County
Park Commission, which will develop parks
and playgrounds throughout the entire
county.
The Chamber is also active in protecting
the interests of the city under the changes
contemplated by the Authority of the Port
of New York. The specific demands are
that any alterations in existing conditions
must keep the transportation facilities of
Elizabeth as good as, or better than, they are
at present, as upon transportation depends
the continued growth of the city.
M. D. GRIFFITH,
Secretary, Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce.
Two Towns Unite to Provide
Tourist Gamp
Albany, Ala. — As a result of the activi-
ties of the Chamber of Commerce, public-
spirited citizens of Albany and Decatur
have fitted up a tourist camp.
This differs from most other such camps
in that it is entirely enclosed and covered.
The former "Bob Jones Tabernacle" was
purchased, and fitted to accommodate fifty
cars. All conveniences are provided, such
as a gas stove for cooking, a coal stove
for heating in cold weather, and running
water. Inside the tabernacle, another room,
20 by 20 feet, is enclosed, which is comforta-
ble even on the coldest days.
Under the name of the Albany-Decatur
Community Club, the camp is supported
by the citizens of both towns, funds for
maintenance being provided by donations
and subscriptions.
W. W. RAHN,
Vice President, Albany Chamber of Commerce.
AN INVITATION TO STAY OUT AN INVITATION TO COME IN
Tlie Cbamber of Commerce of Springfield, 111., has been active in making the second picture possible
THE AMERICAN CITY
Mueller
Wiped Joint Goose Necks
Made in all sizes from % to 2"— w^ith lead pipe 18 to 36 in.
long — and come singly as sho-wn and ^vith 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8
branches — they are standard connections for service work.
The fact that the -wiped joints are made by -workmen
-whodothisone thing well day in and day out insures uniform
quality — and a better and less costly job than could be done
on the ground.
Write for descriptions and prices.
H. MUELLER MFG. COMPANV. DECATUR. ILL.. PHONE BELL 153
Water, Plumbing and Gat Bras* Goods and Tool*
New York City. Itf W. 30th St., Phon* Watklns 5397 San Francisco, 635 Mission St.. Phone Sutter 3577
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Mueller Metals Co., Port Huron, Micli., Makers of "Red Tip" Brass Rod; Bras*
and Copper Tubing; Forgings and Castings in Brass, Bronze and Aluminumi .
Die Castings in White Metal and Aluminum; also Screw Machined Product*. y^
72
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
271
Telling the Public About Its Roads
Johnstown, Pa. — The Johnstown Cham-
ber of Commerce is conducting an educa-
tional campaign to interest the people of
Cambria County in road construction. On
the back of the Chamber letter paper is a
county road map, the roads being printed in
different colors. By means of the key, one
can quickly see what part of the county pro-
gram has been finished, what is under con-
struction, and by whom and at whose ex-
pense the work is being done. Purple lines
represent county aid roads near completion ;
red lines, state aid roads in process or com-
pleted; green lines, state aid roads applied
for by the County Commissioners; and yel-
low lines, roads for which county aid has
been applied for by the Supervisors.
Cambria County is in a mountainous dis-
trict in the heart of the soft-coal region.
Its good roads program got a late start, but
there are now 115 miles of hard roads fin-
ished and enough funds available to com-
plete a comprehensive program reaching
all centers of population or industry.
Managing Secretary,
Commerce.
JOHN E. GABLE,
Johnstown Chamber of
Turning Waste Space Into a
Memorial Park
Calumet, Mich. — The Keweenaw Penin-
sula has long been known for its wild life,
its scenic beauty and its copper mines, yet
the district has been lacking in parks made
and maintained in the cities and towns of
the little wonderland.
At Calumet, which is the metropolis of
the district, the mines are segregated from
the town by a field of 17
acres. This space was
made after the town had
been destroyed by fire half
a century ago. Residents
of Calumet at that time
believed that the space be-
tween the mines and the
town would prevent the
spread of another fire.
For years this open
space was used as a base-
ball field and playground.
Over a year ago the min-
ing company engaged a
landscape artist to build a
park on the ground in
memory of the founder of
the mines, Alexander Agassiz, the famous
geologist.
The sketch shows the park as it will ap-
pear when completed. In the center of the
circle from which all lanes lead will be a
large monument of Mr. Agassiz, and the
pathway will be lined with birch, maple, elm
and oaks. The exterior trees are evergreens
from the forests surrounding Calumet, and
the interior rows are poplars. Wild flowers
and shrubs will be planted along the outside
of the park parallel with the evergreens, and
cultivated flowers will be planted in the in-
terior, where they will receive more sun-
shine.
The park will be thoroughly supplied with
modern equipment. A large gridiron and
baseball diamond is planned for the northern
end to take the place of the present field.
An amphitheater and a band-stand will be
erected at the southerly end near the Colos-
seum, which is one of the largest ice skating-
rinks in the country. Near the band-stand
will be an auto park large enough to ac-
commodate several hundred automobiles. A
picnic shelter and numerous tables are
planned.
The Calumet Chamber of Commerce is
planning a Community Planting Day at
which all school children in Calumet will be
allowed to bring cultivated and wild flowers
to plant in the park. The planting will be
attended to by citizens of the town, and
after the work is done the children will be
allowed to take care of their own plants and
study the growth.
G. T. MURPHY,
Secretary, Calumet Chamber of Commerce.
PLAN OF AGAd-JIZ
CALunE.T"nm
WABBEN H riANNlNC OFTlCEiJ INC
NORTH BIlilRICA. tIAOJL
NOTC— DCTAIL Of COnnUNlH »Y PLANTING JMOWN IN JtCTlON
THE AMERICAN CITY
A natter of
FROM the sublime of California
on a March day, not to thejri^
idiculous, but to the cold, snOw;
sleet and slush of late winter in the
northern part of the country ,Osborn
Push Brotfms are cleaning streets.'
Our line is complete. You will find
push brooms for heavy Snow and
others made 'of^combinations
of rattan, bamboo and africait bass,
each one made to fit particular con-
ditions. And then^the line includes
the old reliable Number 500, the
best I all f service "municipal push
broom you can buy.
Write for descriptive matter and prices
The OsbornMfg. Co.
tMCOPPOPA r£0
New York CLEVELAND Detroit
Chicago San Francisco
BROOMS
LARGEST MANUFACTURERS of INDUSTRIAL BRUSHES AND BROOM
73
When writirfg to Advertisers please mention The Auksican City.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
273
Americanization in Rochester
Rochester, N. Y.— The Rochester Cham-
ber of Commerce organized a Council for
Better Citizenship in 1920. One of its ainis
is to impress upon the new citizens their
privileges and responsibilities and to interest
the native-born in his new brother. The
Council consists of five committees: New
Citizens Committee, Service Bureau Com-
mittee, Education Committee, Legislation
Committee and Racial Advisory Committee.
The members of the New Citizens Com-
mittee appear at court on naturalization
days and greet the newly-made citizens.
During the year five big dinners are given
at the Chamber, to which the new citizens
are invited. Here the Chamber members
mix with the new citizens in the proportion
of about two or three to six. Exercises are
held and the final certificates of citizenship
delivered. In 1921 over 1,370 new citizens
were greeted, and of this number about
1,000 attended the dinners.
The Service Bureau during 1921 main-
tained a central office at the Chamber for
the help and information of the foreign-
born. Also three part-time offices were run
at local centers one evening a week in the
schoolhouses. During the year there were
over 5,000 callers at the Bureau. Assist-
ance was extended in about 400 instances
to families or individuals who needed help
in reuniting families. Other service included
information as to citizenship papers ; trans-
lating letters; encouraging the learning of
English; directing unemployed; obtaining
money on undelivered money orders, unused
steamship tickets, and twice-paid bills;
tracing telegrams and express shipments;
and correspondence with American consuls
and state department officials.
The Education Committee recently con-
ducted a "Learn English" drive. In the
Chamber, 250 teams were formed, consist-
ing of one Chamber or Council member
and an interpreter or team-mate. The
pledges taken covered promises to join a
class in English or citizenship. Reports
show that approximately 2,000 pledged
themselves and that already half of these
have registered in classes.
The Racial Advisory Committee has con-
ducted "Know Your Country" meetings in
foreign sections of the city. Speakers and
entertainment are provided. During the
fall of 1921 over 9,000 persons attended the
12 meetings held; and 6 more meetings with
an attendance of approximately 5,500 were
held in January, 1922. The report for the
year shows that there were more than 20,000
personal contacts.
Miss M. E. Bingeman, Secretary of the
Council for Better Citizenship, is the direct-
ing force, under the supervision of the Gen-
eral Secretary of the Chamber. No other
movement or enterprise in Rochester has
such a command upon the time and energies
of the best and most active men in the
Chamber and among the citizenship in gen-
eral, and no other inspires such enthusiasm
as does this undertaking.
The Council's plans for the future are
ambitious, among them one that will follow
up the work in the past to see just what
the effect has been. The idea is not to keep
any surveillance over new citizens or for-
eign-born, but merely to continue the
friendly relationship and practical assist-
ance which makes for confidence and com-
munity good-will.
JULIAN KILMAK,
federal Naturalization Examiner.
The "Made and Trade in Brockton"
Exhibit at the Brockton Fair
Brockton, Mass. — Any community wish-
ing to give itself a boost will do well to read
the chapter just written by the Brockton,
Mass., Chamber of Commerce in connection
with the big "Made and Trade in Brockton"
exhibit at the Brockton Fair.
This exhibit has brought Brockton manu-
facturers and merchants into an intimacy of
business relationship which has greatly
benefited the city's industrial and com-
mercial life. Manufacturers have learned,
through the various displays, that they can
secure made-in-Brockton materials which
heretofore they have purchased outside the
city. The same is true of the merchants, who,
as a result of the exhibit, now know that
there are local manufacturers who can sup-
ply their needs in sundry kinds of mer-
chandise. For example, one of our shoe
manufacturers, employing more than 3,500
operatives, learned from one of the displays
that another Brockton manufacturer made
shoe accessories. The shoe manufacturer
immediately placed a large order with his
fellow business man. Of Brockton's annual
business of $125,000,000, it is estimated that
at least $30,000,000 goes for purchases
from outside sources. It is our intention to
THE AMERICAN CITY
Dundee Road, Elgin Town-
ship, Elgin, III., gravel
■macadam maintained with
"Tarvia-B"
Save the old roads —
then on with the new —
Typical Spring conditions on a soft-surfaced road
Every Spring finds scores of communi-
ties inaugurating systematic programs of
salvaging the roads already built — ^put-
ting them in shape to handle the growing
traffic before nevsr construction is begun.
The economy of such a sound Good
Roads Program appeals to taxpayers
everywhere.
How about the roads in your com-
munity? Quite likely the old, worn-out
macadam that you have thought worth-
less can be quickly and cheaply restored
to usefulness by a traffic-proof Tarvia
top. ; i
For Road Construction
Repair and Maintenance
There may be other stretches tha
need nothing more than the time of {
patrol crew to patch them with "Tarvia
KP" — or a simple treatment of "Tarvia
B" to preserve the surface and make i
traffic-proof and weather-resisting.
Tarvia roads are mudless, dustless
waterproof and automobile-proof 36f
days in the year. Their low first cost anc
economy of maintenance places gooc
roads and their many advantages withii
reach of the most modest community
Illustrated booklets descriptive of the
Various Tarvia treatments free on request.
Special Service Department
This company has a corps of trained en-
gineers and chemists who have given
years of study to modern road problems.
The advice of these men may be had for
the asking by anyone interested. If
you will write to the nearest office
regarding road problems and condi-
tions in your vicinity, the matter P
will be given prompt attention.
NewYotk
YoliDCtown
Btjiimor.
Chicaro
N<wOrlai»
Toledo
Omnha
PI>[I.deli>h
BinTiinshan
Dululk
Columbu.
lickaonvill
THE BARRETT COMPAHY, Un
il.<l
:
Company fc£^'"
aeveland
D«U>.
VCiahinnoi
74 When writing to Advertisers please mention Tbb Aubucan Citt.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
27s
' 'Nn«i
P*^ 4-... '^J.'T'^-' "~
LOOKING DOWN THE AISLE OP THE EDUCATIONAL BUILDING OF THE BBOCKTON, MASS., FAIB
increase the volume of at-home purchases
until possibly one-half of the $30,000,000 can
be retained in this city.
Brockton is a natural trading center for
250,000 people. More than 300,000 people
attended the Brockton Fair. Practically all
these visitors at one time or another during
the four days of the Fair turned their steps
to the Educational Building. It was in this
great structure, containing some 50,000
square feet of floor space, that the "Made
and Trade in Brockton" exhibit was pre-
sented. ' i
Brockton is known far and wide as "the
city where they make the shoes" ; naturally,
the shoe industry played a leading part in
the exhibit. In miniature, the Brockton
District shoe industry was shown in actual
operation — workers at their machines pro-
ducing made-in-Brockton shoes. Each ma-
chine was driven by an individual electric
motor. Visitors were privileged to witness
in action all the various operations which
go to make a pair of shoes.
Possibly the outstanding fe/iture of the
entire exhibit was the "Style Show and
Trade-in-Brockton" exhibit, in which the
manufacturers and merchants combined,
Brockton is the first city to present a Style
Show in connection with an agricultural or
county fair. It has proved to be one of the
most novel of these displays ever held. The
runway for the 40 models is the largest in
the country, permitting displays of shoes
and garments being put to the actual use for
which they were manufactured — dancing,
tennis, golf, etc.
While it is admittedly difficult to trace re-
sults directly to the Fair displays, local busi-
ness men have stated that from unsolicited
quarters orders and new business have come
to them which are clearly the result of their
advertising at the Brockton Fair.
This trend of afifairs, which may be taken
to imply more business in the future as the
"Made and Trade in Brockton" exhibit
grows in size, quality and reputation, quite
naturally interests the exhibitors, who at
first held to the belief that they could hope
for* no results other than of doing their part
as citizens to make the Fair bigger and bet-
ter. It has also been most encouraging to
the committee in charge, the members of
which are approaching this year's exhibit
with renewed confidence both in the quality
of the show to be staged and the commercial
results which will follow.
FRED E. HILTON,
Secretary, Brockton Chamber of Commerce.
THE AMERICAN CITY
OLLOWSPUN
Liahiinc)
Siandards
\
!^*Ns»^
;ti
PSSEX County. New
Jersey, has used
Hollowspun reinforced
concrete lighting stand-
ards both for the court
house in Newark and for
park Hghting at Nutley.
Our new catalog supple-
ment No. 9, containing
full information on this
type of standard will be
sent on request.
Massey Concrete
Products Corporation
Peoples Gas Bldg,, Chicago
76
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thk Amekican City.
^7?
Street Markets in the United States
By Caroline B. Sherman
U. S. Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates
THE picturesque street markets found
in some of our small American towns
compete with European market
squares in individuality and charm. The
exploring traveller comes across them in
unexpected places and finds a day spent in
one of them full of interest and local color.
The street markets in Benton Harbor and
St. Joseph, Mich., constitute an interesting
development. These cities are surrounded
by many extensive vineyards, and the large
number of growers probably had an im-
portant bearing on the establishment of the
type of market at these points, for while in
neighboring counties cooperation m market-
ing has developed among the grape growers,
in the street markets of Benton and St.
Joseph there is an extreme development of
competition among buyers.
A Grape Market
Each day the farmers drive in to certain
crowded street corners with wagon-loads of
grapes — nothing but grapes. Informal regu-
lations are tacitly agreed to — the farmers'
wagons form in lines at these corners, and
no buyers pass beyond the lines. The buy-
ers crowd around each wagon as the line
moves up, and each makes a bid; the high-
est is usually accepted. Sometimes when
buyers have car-loads or boat-loads nearly
complete for shipments, bidding is very
brisk. But if the farmer thinks he can se-
cure larger returns by consigning his load
by freight or express to some city market,
he refuses even the highest bid and drives
on independently to the railroad station.
There is much controversy in this region
as to whether the returns from cooperative
associations or from street sales net the
greater profit to the grower. Study shows
that naturally the output of the associations
maintaining inspection brings the higher
average prices, but that the street prices
usually reflect very closely the daily quota-
tions from the tributary terminal markets.
A Social Market for Broom-Corn
The farmers of the broom-corn section of
Oklahoma are not so sure of the competitive
conditions in the street market of Lindsay,
which is devoted exclusively to the sale of
broom-corn. But here they bring their
product year after year, many of them
pressing neighbors and neighbors' teams
into service, that they may take their entire
crop to this market on a single day. So
short is the broom-corn season that this
crop has often been harvested by dint of
night work with shifts of "broom-corn
Johnnies," as the immigrant labor that drifts
into this region at harvest time is locally
known.
In Lindsay at the height of the broom-
corn season the streets are filled from curb
to curb by ten o'clock in the morning, and
often before that time. Many haul at night
in order to get a good location where they
can more readily attract the attention of
buyers.
Days on this market vary greatly. There
are times when buyers are everywhere in
evidence, jpassing from wagon to wagon, ex-
amining the bales, sampling the corn and
dickering with the farmers. When bids are
made by buyers, they are usually consid-
ered binding for the day, and the farmer
usually stays on to see if he can secure a
higher bid. Hundreds of buyers come to
Lindsay each year representing manufac-
turers, wholesale dealers and commission
houses.
Roanoke, Va., is planning a modern en-
closed market building with steel sheds to
shelter growers' wagons, but there are those
who will regret to see the passing of the
old market square. Here near the center of
the city, on land donated for the purpose,
every type of farm wagon congregates to
offer its simple wares, from the prairie-
schooner of the mountaineer to the one-
mule team of the local negro. One wagon
may be filled entirely with corn in the husk,
another with the unsorted apples of the
small backwoods farm. Others have well-
assorted first-class produce attractively dis-
played in convenient containers. Here and
there are baskets bright with field flowers
or the nosegays from old-fashioned gardens
— goldenrod, asters, phlox, marigolds and
THE AMERICAN CITY
Main Street, Arcade, K. T.,
showing some of the build-
ings heated by steam from
the Electric Light Plant.
Interior and Exterior of
Municipal Light and Heat
Plant, Arcade, N. Y.
Circular insert shows main
leaving Light and Heat
Plant for School Buildings,
across the street.
wtherCanDd
4 4 COMMUNITY Water Supply," "Community
1^ Electricity," "Community Gas," are so com-
■ monplace you give them no more than a passing
thought. Are you equally familiar with "Community
Heating?"
Arcade, N. Y. heats the business buildings and the
schoolhouse, using exhaust steam from the municipal
electric light plant. The system will fully pay for itself
in a very few years, and then will return about $5,000
net profit per year from a product formerly wasted.
But the profit is greater than this! There are reduced
insurance rates, lessened fire risk, freedom from furnace-
tending, no coal deliveries or ash collections.
For 40 years we have been installing "Community Heat-
ing" Systems for Industrial Plants, Institutions, groups
of residences, distributing steam through mains like water,
gas, electricity ; paid for similarly by meter.
Write for complete data regarding cost, operation and
profits. Is there exhaust steam being wasted by any
plant in your neighborhood?
Ask for Bulletin No. 20- AC on "Adsco Community
Heating." Bulletin No. 158-AC describes "Adsco
Heating" for individual buildings; Name of your archi-
tect appreciated.
American District Steam foiPANY
GENERAL OrriceS AND WORKS
l^ORTH TONAW,VNDA.N.Y
Branches :
First National Bank Building
CHICAGO
30 Church Street, Hoge Building,
NEW YORK SEATTLE
ADSCO HEATING
76
When writing to Advertiseri please mention Thk Amxkican City.
March^ 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
^79
THE SIMPLEST KIND OF MAEKET, WITHOUT STRUCTURES — SUITED TO THE NEEDS OF
TOWNS AND SMAiLER CITIES
coreopsis. Gay advertising umbrellas are in
marked contrast with the quaint hoods of
the large farm wagons, even as the gay
bandanna on the head of an old-time negress
emphasizes the decorum of the faded sun-
bonnet of the mountaineer. And in addi-
tion to its pictorial quality, this is said to be
one of the most successful curb markets.
Whether devoted to the single product of
a one-crop region or to the flotsam and jet-
sam of many farms run by diverse people,
these and other unique market centers, de-
veloped by local custom through the years,
constitute increasingly important commer-
cial features of American cities.
Why Zoning Pays
Zoning sells a town. An unzoned town is like a dead stock of goods on the shelves.
Zoning is a flexible harness in which city expansion works; it may be adjusted in
case it galls or frets at any point.
Zoning will flatten out the human pyramid, which congestion has created in a crowded
portion of the city.
Zoning substitutes method for chance, symmetry for confusion, progression for patch-
work, and order for chaos in city development.
Zoning affords for the poor man such security from nuisances and invasions as the
rich may provide at great expense. — Charles B. Ball in the Chicago City Club Bulletin.
THE AMERICAN CITY
11
The
Recognized
Textbook on
Playground
Planning -
This 128-Page Medart Catalog is recog-
nized everywhere as a text-book on Play-
ground Planning and Installations. It
shows in detail just what apparatus is best
suited for boys, for girls and for smaller
children. It shows ideal playground lay-
outs, where cost is secondary to service
and it shows, too, what combinations are
most desirable for smaller communities or
centers where only a limited appropriation
is available.
And, of course, it points out convincingly
just why you should always specify
Medart Playground Equipment.
Add this elaborate book to your library —
it is an actual help to anyone interested in
Playgrounds and Playground Planning.
Sent promptly on request.
FRED MEDART MFG. CO.
Potomac & De Kalb, St. Louis, Mo.
New York San Francisco
52 Vanderbilt Ave. Rialto Bldg.
Chicago, 326 W. Madison St.
When writine to Advertisers please mention Tsr AMRBTrAw Tttv
2$I
9jt w£^ Jnte^e6t ycu Mx Srwur tAat --
The right of a citizen to inspect municipal
business, including records and data, has
been upheld by the courts in the recent con-
test between the San Francisco Bureau of
Governmental Research and the city of
San Francisco.
In 191 7, the Bureau wished to make an
independent study of the Hetch-Hetchy
project. Informal and formal requests for
access to certain information relative to
diamond drill borings, dam location plans,
cost estimates, etc., were denied by the
Chief Engineer. This position was sup-
ported by the Mayor and the Board of
Supervisors. Suits were filed, one by the
Bureau and one by the Secretary of the
Bureau as a taxpayer.
The right of access was established by the
decision, which orders that there shall be
included within the writ of mandate for
citizen inspection all preliminary estimates
and details which form uncompleted data,
even though such matters may not have
been formally dignified by official sanction
as public records; and further, that citizen
inspection of records and "other matters"
cannot be prevented on the ground that
they are "confidential" by the circumstance
of the City Engineer's having communicated
them to the City Attorney.
some form of moving sidewalk can be de-
signed with frequent stations through those
sections now most congested with foot traf-
fic, and giving transportation at a rate of
about 10 miles an hour.
The City Planning Commission of Ashe-
ville, N. C, is undertaking the preparation
of a comprehensive city plan. This will in-
clude a planning survey, general city plans
and report covering : main streets and roads,
with typical street sections, giving their
width ^nd subdivision ; right of way for rail-
roads and locations for stations ; parks, play-
grounds and other open spaces, with loca-
tion, use and general character of develop-
ment proposed; approximate locations of
districts or zones for various classes of de-
velopment with proposed restrictions; and
locations for the principal public buildings.
The Montclair, N. J., Board of Health
has extended the work of its laboratory to
include the Wasserman reaction. This work
will be under the direction of Helen G.
Jacobs, B. S., who has recently been study-
ing the technique of the test at the research
laboratories of the New York City Health
Department under the direction of Dr. Wil-
liam H. Park and Miss M. A. Wilson.
Kenosha, Wis., adopted the city manager
plan at the January election. The council,
of five members elected at large for a term
of two years, will choose the city manager
for an indefinite term. Kenosha is the first
city in Wisconsin to adopt this form of mu-
nicipal government.
The municipal government of Paris,
France, is seriously considering the possibil-
ities of installing moving sidewalks. Prizes
have been offered for the best designs, the
competition being open until September 20
of this year. The greatest freedom is given
contestants, though it is understood that it
would be most desirable to have the pro-
posed sidewalks underground, rather than
on the surface. It is believed possible that
Hightstown, N. J., is making preparations
for a comprehensive town plan, including
studies in street extension, widening and
improvement, zoning, parks and play-
grounds, location of public buildings, and
street tree survey. The work is being
financed jointly by the town, the Board of
Trade, and the Peddie Institute, a private
school for boys, located in the community.
The New York Times states:
"Mayor Frank Pulver, of St. Petersburg,
Fla., had a request from the St. Petersburg
Purity League that he appoint a bathing
suit inspector, a formal communication from
the organization stating that the league 'in-
tends to protect the married men from the
wiles of the sea vamp.* "
THE AMERICAN CITY
SO Los Angeles Bought Four More
For years, motorcycles have been profitable
and efficient members of Los Angeles County's
splendid police department. But the Harley-
Davidson did not join the force until early
last Fall, when ten 1922 machines began to
run down "motorized crooks," chase speeders
and hurry relief and emergency calls.
So successful were these ten that on November
22, the Los Angeles County Police Depart-
ment bought jour more Harley-Davidsons!
Hundreds of cities, towns and counties find
the Harley-Davidson not only indispensable,
but a real profit-maker. It soon pays for
itself by the additional revenue it earns for
the police department, and its famed dur-
ability and economy of operation make it a
profitable investment that lasts for years.
Ask your local dealer for free demonstration of
the 1922 Harley-Davidson. Get the new,
lower prices, and write us for special, illus-
trated literature on police use of motorcycles in
many American cities. No obligation to you.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
IiIsiiPle^«ID^'^fl(!]ls(Diia
*'XOorWs Champion Mx>torcycle
283
Hope for the City Jobless
By R. L. Foster
Major, Quartermaster Corps, U. S. Army; Publicity Director, The President's
Conference on Unemployment
^ r' I ^HE problem of meeting the emer-
I gency of unemployment is pri-
marily a community problem. The
responsibility for leadership is with the
mayor and should be immediately assumed
by him."
This, in a paragraph, is the sum and sub-
stance of one of the most important recom-
mendations of the President's Conference on
Unemployment, to meet a nation-wide emer-
gency. How well that emergency has been
met can best be determined to-day by the
reports from the various municipalities
which have found themselves confronted
with the serious situation of joblessness and
business stagnation, and the more poignant
one of acute suffering and bitter distress.
The Conference is concerned mostly with
methods. Thinking persons did not expect
the nation's unemployed to be restored to a
job in some miraculous fashion, but one
big thing was accomplished — the Conference
did stimulate a sense of community responsi-
bility of such nation-wide proportions that
to-day there are hundreds of cities and
towns in every state in the Union reporting
to the working committee in Washington.
They tell that they have the situation in
hand, either by having an organization to
meet it or by so speeding up business and
industry as to provide some sort of em-
ployment for every man to whom jobless-
ness might mean hunger and cold, or worse.
The peak in unemployment is ordinarily
reached in mid-winter. The President's
Conference took time by the forelock and
spurred on the more sizeable communities
to a full realization of the task ahead of
them. It recommended:
"The basis of organization should be an Emer-
gency Committee representing the various ele-
ments in the community. This committee should
develop and carry through a community plan
for meeting the emergency, using existing agen-
cies and local groups as far as practicable. One
immediate step should be to coordinate and es-
tablish efficient public employment agencies and
to register all those desiring work. It should
coordinate the work of the various charitable
institutions. Registration for relief should be
entirely separate from that for employment."
To-day we find that the average munici-
pality is accordingly prepared for this work,
because it visualized ahead of time the prob-
lem of finding work for idle but willing
hands to do. The President's Conference on
Unemployment is responsible for this prepa-
ration. To the cities of the country must
go the praise and credit for the accomplish-
ment.
In a general way their achievements are
something to be proud of. There are ex-
ceptions, but the far greater majority did
something — they sold municipal bonds and
speeded up public work; they organized
workmanlike committees headed by the
mayor, and created jobs for the jobless; they
helped local industries by staging sales of
home-made products; they set projects go-
ing in winter which are generally put off
until spring or summer; they raised sub-
stantial sums to buy meat and groceries, to
pay the rent, to bring medical care, to put
shoes on children's feet, to furnish shawls
and overcoats and woolen socks.
As a result, the progressive cities of the
United States are to-day in a position of
readiness to take full advantage of the op-
portunities which will soon be theirs in the
improved order of things, and at the same
time they have demonstrated in the best pos-
sible manner their concern for the unem-
ployment of the home town folks.
Referring again to the recommendations
of the Conference, the cities united in agree-
ing that the relief of unemployment was a
local problem ; that it must be borne by local
authorities and citizens. From Washington
came the news to all of them that the Con-
ference had originated a clearing-house for
the exchange of information, while it urged
the commencement of public projects, no
matter how tight the money market or severe
the winter weather.
And the cities have "come across." There
are still thousands of unemployed, but their
army would have been greater had the Con-
ference never been held. Those who criti-
cise its work because we have not reached a
Utopian world, where everybody has pre-
THE AMERICAN CITY
The 12 Hour Underwriters'
Test—How Made and Why
The machine to be tested by the Underwriters' Engineer is re-
quired to pump continuously throughout the twelve hours. It
must deliver its rated capacity in gallons against 120 pounds net
pump pressure for six hours; half its rated capacity against 200
lbs. pressure for three hours and one-third against 250 lbs. for
three hours. Tests must be made drafting water.
These tests are made to protect the purchasers of fire trucks against
unreliable and over-rated pumpers, and to establish the value of
a type. All future machines of the same make and type will be
approved by passing a three hour test.
Pomps g^
"MORE GALLONS PER HORSE POWER"
The Pump That
Made This Success
The Reo-Northern pictured passed the 12-
hour Underwriters' test at 300 gallons'
capacity and at the close of the 12-hour
test, without stopping, delivered 344 gal-
lons against 122 lbs. pressure for an addi-
tional 30-minute run. This established
the IR-eo-Northern in the approved class.
The Underwriters must give credit for Reo-
Northern installations proportionate to its
rated capacity — They wrote the specifica-
tions of the test, they made this test, they
gave out the figures.
The Reo-Northern is a decidedly practical
and effective fire truck for outlying dis-
tricts of even our largest cities, as well as
for smaller communities.
|J2^H£^
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. U.S.A.
79
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Ahekican City.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
285
cisely the job he yearns for, may well pause
to consider the immeasurably greater
wretchedness and idleness we should be ex-
periencing now had there been no Confer-
ence.
Its delegates did not do away with hard
times by the mere waving of a wand, nor
did they point the way to perfect prosperity
at a high and lovely level. But they did re-
lieve a lot of men and women who wanted
a job — any kind of job — who would be
roaming the streets to-day and half starving
through the winter, if the Conference had
not been held. Let us see how some of the
cities have set about solving their own
peculiar problems.
Creating Jobs
An "Odd Job Campaign" has seemed to
many to be one of the sure-fire schemes.
How were these desirable jobs created ? For
example, here are . some city reports to
Colonel Arthur Woods, Chairman of the
Emergency Committee of the Conference :
Chicago has made a house-to-house can-
vass under the direction of the 23 battalion
fire chiefs, to compel householders to remove
from their premises all combustible material
and refuse, as a fire prevention measure.
This campaign has created many short-time
jobs. The Women's City Club has divided
the city into 35 districts, each in charge of
a woman chairman, who devotes specified
hours each day to getting jobs through its
membership.
Dallas, Texas, took a church census of its
190,000 population, and each householder
was asked if some special odd job — painting,
carpentry, gardening, or cleaning — could be
furnished the unemployed. A record was
kept of the replies and addresses, with the
result that a large number of days of work
were secured for the most needy.
Kearny, N. J., has an agent out every
afternoon, covering the town with several
helpers, in automobiles. They visit build-
ings under construction, look over streets be-
ing paved, and call at all industrial plants
and railroad shops, offering the cooperation
of the local employment bureau, and ascer-
taining exactly what kind of help is needed.
Each ward in Rockford, 111., has a com-
mittee with the two aldermen as chairmen.
These committees in turn have organized
precinct committees with a member in
charge of each city block. Personal contact
like this has resulted in a very successful
campaign to provide jobs and relieve dis-
tress.
Fort Smith, Ark,, has a rock-pile where
men break big stones into little ones, to be
mixed with cement and sand to improve the
local streets. Gloucester, Mass., and Evans-
ton, 111., pay the jobless to chop down con-
demned city timber, which is sold for fuel.
Youngstown, Ohio, has sold municipal
bonds and provides work in the city parks
for men with families. They are divided
into two groups, and work in two-week
shifts. The election officials lent their ma-
chinery, and a day was set apart for the
registration of the unemployed. AUentown,
Pa., is continuing all public work regardless
of weather conditions, and a special drive
has been made to remodel store fronts in
order to give work to builders. A "Cheap
Homes Campaign" has also stimulated em-
ployment and solved the housing problem.
Pittsfield, Mass., has a "flying shovel
squadron" which reports immediately to any
citizen who telephones, and clears the snow
from his sidewalk in a jiffy.
This is one way.
Bringing Man and Job Together
A second grouping of cities has succeeded
by matching up the man and the job, with
the least possible friction and delay.
In Fort Wayne, Ind., advertisements were
published in the newspapers, and the unem-
ployed were asked to fill out and send in
blanks. These were turned over to the
local employment agency, and local indus-
tries secured the help they needed.
Schenectady, N. Y., has taken care of its
own problem by bond issues for public im-
provements, and the city officials are enforc-
ing rigidly such ordinances as snow removal,
which is done under city supervision and
charged on tax bills of all derelict property
owners.
Atlanta, Ga., has formed a club of 500
citizens, each of whom has pledged the build-
ing of a dwelling to be rented at a reason-
able figure, thus giving employment to many,
and also helping the housing situation.
Boston, Mass., has asked all employers to
increase the number of their employees by
at least one, and as many more as is possibly
New London, Conn., runs special entertain-
ments in the theaters with local talent. The
unemployed are allowed to sell tickets and
retain a good percentage of the proceeds.
Civil service rules are suspended in Cam-
THE AMERICAN CITY
Single Jacket Underwriters Fire Hose
Copyright 1922. by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Inc
Goodyear Single Jacket Fire Hose bears
two marks that prove its high quality
— the Underwriters' label and the name of
Goodyear. In many communities it can be
used efficiently instead of more expensive,
heavier, double-jacket hose.
Goodyear Monterey Chemical Hose also car-
ries the Underwriters' approval— a guarantee
that this hose will withstand definite pressures
and resist effectively the action of acids. Its
design and the materials of which it is made
insure long, satisfactory wear.
Goodyear builds other types of hose for
municipal needs. For detailed information
about any of them, write to Goodyear, Akron,
Ohio, or Los Angeles, California.
Goodyear'8 complete line of tires
for fire apparatus and other trucks
includes a type for every need.
For straight chemical or hose,
combination chemical and hose,
triple combination and ladder
trucks, operating: over -wide areas,
■we recommend Goodyear Cord
Pneumatics. The same apparatus,
operated in smaller areas, over
hard roads only, should use either
Goodyear Cords or Goodyeai
Cushions. The SC Cushion is s
pressed-ontire especially good f oi
such use. For heavy pumpers
tractors and aerial trucks, which
seldom leave hard pavement, w<
suggest Goodyear All-Weathei
Tread Solids. Tell us your truck-
ing conditions and we will gladb
specify the most efficient tires foi
your work.
SO
Wbeo writing to Adyeitis^rs pl^s? motion T^e American City.
March, 1922 ' THE AMERICAN CITY
287
bridge, Mass., so that many persons may
rotate in the same jobs.
Houston, Texas, maintains a gang of
laborers ranging in number from 200 to 600,
paying them $1.25 per day and, if they have
dependents, supplementing this by charity.
Employers are urged to apply to the city for
labor, which is supplied from this gang.
Public-spirited citizens in Rock Island, 111.,
have banded together to hire one man one
day a week to keep him from becoming an
object of charity. In Erie, Pa., a drive has
been made to push the sale of "Erie-made"
products, in order to provide local employ-
ment. Lima, Ohio, has put 100 men to work
two or three days a week, paying them in
orders on grocery stores for food. Butte,
Mont., raises $60,000 each month, and ex-
tends some sort of aid to 2,500 families.
Unemployed single men can get two meals
a day of beef stew, vegetables, bread and
butter, and coffee, out of this fund. Gales-
burg, 111., has put $100,000 into water-mains,
and work has gone on right through the
winter, while the town provides lodging and
food for the destitute.
Fort Dodge, Iowa, reports that jobless
miners are working abandoned coal mines in
the vicinity, which has given them a living
and reduced the price of coal at the same
time. Red Oak, Iowa, has opened a stone
quarry and hauls the rock to the locations
where it will be used in the spring.
Salt Lake City, Utah, has established a
municipal wood-yard, where old railroad ties
and discarded telephone and electric light
poles are sawed into firewood by the unem-
ployed, at 25 cents an hour. They are paid
in lodging and meal tickets, and the kin-
dling is sold.
Funds for Relief
A third grouping includes those cities
which have appropriated funds, in addition
to the regular budget, to relieve distress and
suffering.
New Haven, Conn., is raising a commu-
nity chest of $500,000, which includes an
item of $50,000 for an emergency fund for
the unemployed. In Hartford, Conn., small
sums are advanced to unemployed persons
on their notes in favor of the city for re-
payment. This keeps borrowers from being
put on the pauper list and jobless workers
retain their self-respect.
Indianapolis has had an audit of city
funds, and, with $163,000 available, has
commenced work on parks and streets, with
a constantly increasing pay-roll of deserving
men, which now aggregates 1,200. In addi-
tion, $120,000 was raised in four hours for
the relief of the unemployed.
Cleveland's community chest organization
raised its quota of $3,500,000 in one week,
and it reports that enough more will be
forthcoming to prevent extensive suffering
in the present emergency. In Cincinnati,
the City Council has appropriated $10,000
for the Mayor's Unemployment Committee.
The Finance Committee of the Chamber
of Commerce, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., will
lend up to $100 to any unemployed man of
reputable character, and accept his note for
90 days at reasonable interest charged to
make up for any loss which may occur
through failure to pay.
The City Council of Racine, Wis., has
turned over $50,000 from its general fund
to the central association for the needy,
sick and unemployed. Applicants sign
notes and are expected to repay when they
get a job.
Buffalo has set aside $70,000 for groceries
and other necessities for the relief of 1,113
families. Detroit is lending out of emer-
gency funds $1,750,000 as necessity arises
to applicants for relief, some of whom return
it in work performed for the city. Kansas
City has raised $290,000 in a charity drive.
Boise, Ida., has opened a municipal wood-
yard, where wages are not as high as the
scale, but grocers have pledged themselves
to supply food at cost to men who take this
work, thereby making the money earned ap-
proximate the regular wage.
St. Paul, under an emergency clause in its
charter, is authorized to borrow $100,000 to
give employment to men with families, for
sewer building, bridge repair, and snow re-
moval. Other cities which have made ap-
propriations for public works, because of
the emergency, are: Los Angeles, Calif.,.
$2,000,000; Savannah, Ga., $300,000; Balti-
more, Md., $250,000; Dayton, Ohio, $500,-
000; Hazleton, Pa., $250,000.
With the Conference linking up the nu-
merous municipalities in a nation-wide effort
to combat idleness and relieve distress, with
the municipalities backing the movement
with patriotism, initiative, and full knowl-
edge of conditions, is it not fair to assume
that before many months have gone by, un-
employment and its twin brother, unrest,
will seem like ^ bad dream?
THE AMERICAN CITY
X TO MATTER what kind of a job they have been put
^ ^ up against, Pennsylvania QuaHty Mow^ers have more
than met every requirement.
Their record shows longest, most satisfactory service,
least upkeep cost and greatest durability in lawn mower
history.
Exclusive features, self-sharpening, crucible, tool steel
blades, automobile type ball bearings, selected material and
specialized manufacturing processes assure the most satis-
factory and the most economical service.
Write for **Pennsylvania TRIO Book"
Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works, Inc.
1615 North 23rd Street, Philadelphia
iiinBnMininnnn»iiinnnmmniiHn»iinniiiniMiiiiiiiiiiMiiMininii»niMHiin»inninniniiminnmmitmininnmnimiiiiriirtmiiiiiiiiriiriiii^
81 When writing to Advertisers please mention Thb American City.
289
The City's Legal Rights and Duties
Information for City Attorneys and Other Municipal Officers, Summarizing
Important Court Decisions and Legislation
Conducted by A. L. H. Street, Attorney at Law
Ordinance Requiring Hospitals to Be Con-
structed of Non-inflammable Materials
Upheld Under the General Law-Making
Powers of Charter
Under the charter granted by the fjeneral
assembly to the city of Dublin, Ga., author-
ity was granted to the mayor and aldermen
to make and establish such rules, laws, or-
dinances, regulatiofts, and orders as may to
them seem right and proper, respecting all
and every such matter and thing whatso-
ever "that may be by them considered neces-
sary or proper or incident to the good gov-
ernment of said city, and to the peace,
security, health, happiness, welfare, pro-
tection, or convenience of the inhabitants
of said city, and for preserving the peace,
good order, and dignity of said govern-
ment." They were also granted therein all
other powers necessary or incident to mu-
nicipal government, not in conflict with any
other special power or authority given said
city. Held, that the powers above expressed
were sufficient to authorize the mayor and
aldermen to pass an ordinance prescribing
that buildings to be used for hospital pur-
poses should be constructed of brick or
other non-inflammable material. (Georgia
Supreme Court, Brigham et al. vs. Mayor
and Council of City of Dublin, 108 South-
eastern Reporter, 532.)
Advertising for Bids Prior to Resolution's
Becoming Effective — Held Not to Make
Proceeding Defective
In a case lately before the Iowa Supreme
Court (Messer v. Marsh, 183 Northwestern
Reporter, 602) it appears that the City
Council at Jefferson, Iowa, adopted a reso-
lution for the paving of certain streets.
The Mayor was not present, but knew that
the resolution was to be adopted and he did
not veto it. Under the city's charter a
resolution not signed or vetoed becomes ef-
fective at the end of 14 days. Before that
period had expired, the City Clerk adver-
tised for bids, pursuant to the resolution,
and it was sought by plaintiff taxpayers to
enjoin performance of a contract awarded
under such advertisement, on the ground
that the advertising was premature. Hold-
ing that there was no jurisdictional defect
in the proceedings, the Supreme Court says:
"The Council had duly adopted the resolu-
tion of necessity, and thereby gained jurisdic-
tion to make the improvement. The Council,
by a unanimous vote, had passed a resolution
ordering the construction of the improvement.
In the same resolution in which the Council
ordered the construction of the improvement,
the Council also instructed the Clerk to adver-
tise for bids. . . . One publication of
the notice for bids was made before the resolu-
tion of construction became operative, which
was not more than a mere irregularity, that
did not deprive the city of jurisdiction to order
the improvement."
Public Utility Company and Municipality
May by Agreement Reduce Rates, But
Burden Is on Municipality to Show Such
Agreement
Speaking concerning rights under the mu-
nicipal franchise of an electric lighting and
power company, the Virginia Supreme
Court of Appeals said in the case of Ap-
palachian Power Company vs. Town of
Pulaski, 108 Southeastern Reporter, 885:
"It cannot be fairly doubted, we think, that
the municipal authorities and the company
could, by agreement, amend the ordinance and
reduce the maximum rate thereby authorized
and no further or additional consideration to
the company would be needed to support such
an amendment other than the continuing priv-
ilege during the term of the ordinance to con-
duct its business thereunder. We have, how-
ever, a statute (Code 1919, sec. 3022) which it
would be necessary to pursue if it were proposed
to increase the rates authorized by such a
franchise, but this statute would not preclude a
decrease of such rates by mutual agreement.
"The crucial inquiry in the case is whether
or not section 7 of the franchise has been re-
scinded and the [lower] rates named in the
communication of August 12, 1911, substituted
therefor. This being claimed by the town, the
THE AMERICAN CITY
Large Diameters
Easily Handled
:)\CMEliWESTABLE)
^ <TONCAN>
Made in 2-ft. upper and lower sec-
tions. Shipped knocked-down,
nested into bundles as shown
above. Even the larger diameters
of "ACMES" such as 48" and 60"
can be handled in sections by only
two men and hauled on an ordi-
nary farm wagon or light truck.
And when installed "ACMES"
meet all requirements. Made of
anti-corrosive Toncan Metal, they
endure ! Thousands of feet now in
use under highways and railroads.
Write for Catalog M-78.
THt.0^TQN:0JLyERT6SlLO(py
• G-AN^dNiQmo^ijS-A, Hit I
I'lytimmmmmmrnHLi
Price of Iron Now Back to 1913
Wait no longer. Buy now the iron or chain-link fencing you've been needing. Prices right.
Enterprise Iron "Works, 2460 Yandes St., Indianapolis, Ind.
For Schools, Hos-
pitals, Parks, Pub-
lic Bldgs., Ceme-
teries, Asylums,
Estates, Etc.
ENIEEIPMSI
FENCING
Ask about free
blue-print offer and
for illustrated
catalog.
82
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American Citt.
March, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
291
burden is upon it to show that the franchise
contract has thus been amended. Like other
contracts, a franchise of this character cannot
be amended without the consent of both con-
tracting parties."
If Necessary for Purpose Primarily In-
tended, Proposed Auttiorized Bond Issue
Will Not Be Enjoined Because Addi-
tional Incidental Purpose May Also Be
Accomplished
A municipality will not be enjoined, at the
instance of a taxpayer, from proceeding to
issue bonds authorized to be issued for a
given purpose (in this case to establish a
water- works system) on the ground that
another purpose (in this case operation of
an electric light plant) will be incidentally
accomplished, if the incidental object will
not interfere with the accomplishment of the
primary one. This was decided by the New
Mexico Supreme Court in the case of Page
vs. Town of Gallup, 191 Pacific Reporter,
460. The Court remarked:
"A municipality in its discretion may author-
ize its property to be used incidentally for a
purpose other than that for which it is primarily
purchased or constructed, if the use for inci-
dental purposes does not interfere with the use
for the primary purpose. . . . If it was
true, as alleged in the answer, that the machinery
which it was proposed to install was necessary
for the present and reasonably anticipated needs
of the town for pumping water, the fact that
the town proposed to use the machinery in con-
nection with some other municipal use could not
operate to prevent the town from installing the
machinery. A moment's consideration will
demonstrate the unsoundness of appellee's posi-
tion in this regard. It was a question of fact,
of course, as to whether the machinery in ques-
tion was necessary for the operation of the
water plant, or whether the council in good
faith had determined that it was necessary.
Suppose, for example, that the court after hear-
ing evidence had come to the conclusion that
the said machinery was proper and necessary
for such purpose. Would it have enjoined the
town from installing it simply because the town
proposed incidentally to use it in connection
with some other use while not being used in
pumping water? If so, then the town would be
precluded from installing any kind of machinery
or equipment that might be used incidentally
for any other purpose."
Scope of Municipal Power to Furnish
Public Service Beyond Its Boundaries
A city establishing an electric light plant
was under a "duty to pay due regard to the
future and provide for the probable neces-
sities of a rapidly increasing population,"
holds the Utah Supreme Court in the case
of Muir vs, Murray City, 186 Pacific Re-
porter, 433. And if, acting in good faith, a
city has a large surplus of current, it may
legitimately run a transmission line beyond
its boundaries to a near-by city and sell the
surplus. But the municipality cannot de-
fend its action in exceeding its charter
powers by engaging in non-governmental
enterprises on the mere ground of profit.
"Cities are not organized primarily for the
purpose of engaging in commercial enter-
prises, however profitable they may appear
or even prove to be." But while "cities are
not organized primarily as profit-making
concerns, yet when it is incidental, as in the
instant case, to a proper exercise of its
legitimate powers, the making of the enter-
prise a profitable one was highly commend-
able." And the Court adds that where
money is borrowed for a corporate purpose
and is profitably and judiciously expended,
to the benefit of the inhabitants, the city will
not be permitted to defeat liability on the
loan through the circumstance that the
transaction may have been somewhat ir-
regular.
Combination to Prevent Competitive Bid-
ding is Contrary to Public Policy
"It is the settled rule of the law that ar-
rangerpents and combinations among pro-
spective bidders for municipal contracts to
prevent competition among themselves, and
to bring about an award at a figure which
is not the result of an honest competition,
are contrary to public policy and void."
This observation was made by the Texas
Court of Civil Appeals in the case of City
National Bank of Corpus Christi v. City
of Corpus Christi, 233 Southwestern Re-
porter, 375.)
City Not Liable Under Provisions of Con-
tract Where Contract is Void by Reason
of Not Being Awarded to Lowest Bidder
A contract for a street improvement
being void because not awarded to the low-
est bidder, as required by the municipal
charter, the city cannot be held liable under
a provision in the contract, to the effect
that the improvement should be paid for
out of a special assessment fund, but that
on the city's failure to make a valid assess-
ment it should become liable. (Oregon Su-
preme Court, Montague-O'Reilly Company
V. Town of Milwaukee, 199 Pacific Re-
porter, 605.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
NEWPORT
CULVERTS
Made of Strongest Iron
Procurable
Newport Culverts are guaranteed to be
composed of 99.875% pure iron-copper,
alloy with copper content not less than
25%. In addition, each square foot of
exposed surface carries not less than
2 ozs. of spelter.
These are the reasons Newport Culverts
endure the ravages of time and rough
usage for decades.
Let us explain further why we thoroughly
believe there is no better culvert made.
Send us your name and address.
Newport Culvert Co., Inc.
542 W. 10th St., Newport, Ky.
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amekican City.
293
Municipal and Civic Publications
Prices do not include postage unless so stated
SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE TREATMENT
Harold E. Babbit, Professor of Municipal and Sani-
tary Engineering, University of Illinois. John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. 1922. XII + 531
pp. Tables, diagrams and illustrations. $5.
A very thorough treatise on the subject, prepared by
a teacher primarily for instruction purposes, covering
the entire fields of sewerage and sewage treatment. It
contains reports of tests on leaping and overflow weirs
performed at the University of Illinois and not pub-
lished elsewhere. The leading chapters cover the work
preliminary to design, the computation of quantity of
sewage, the hydraulics of sewers and design of sewerage
systems and their appurtenances, pumps and pumping
stations, materials for sewers, design of the sewer ring,
contracts and specifications, construction and main-
tenance of sewers, sewage and its disposal, with special
reference to disposal by dilution, screening and sedi-
mentation, septicization, filtration and irrigation, acti-
vated sludge, acid precipitation, lime and electricity and
disinfection, the disposal of sludge, and the use of
automatic dosing devices.
CONSTRUCTION COST KEEPING AND MANAGE-
MENT
H. P. Gillette and R. T. Dana, members American
Society of Civil Engineers. McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc., New York. 1922. First Edition.
XVII + 572 pp. Charts, diagrams and illustra-
tions, $5.
A book intended to assist engineers, contractors and
superintendents in reducing construction costs to a
minimum through the science of management, cost keep-
ing and forms. Specific chapters are devoted to the
laws of management, the rules for securing minimum
costs, piece rates, bonus and other systems of payment,
measuring the output of workmen, cost keeping, book-
keeping for small contractors, office appliances and
methods, and miscellaneous cost report blanks and sys-
tems of cost keeping.
SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Leonard Metcalf and Harrison P. Eddy, Consulting
Engineers, Boston, Mass. McGraw-Hill Book Com-
pany, Inc., New York. 1922. First edition. XIV
+ 598 pp. Tables, diagrams and illustrations. $5.
While not a successor to the valuable three-
volume treatise, "American Sewerage Practice," pub-
lished in 1914 and 1915, this book contains much
later data and valuable material based on the rapid
advance of sewage treatment practice since 1914. A
book most heartily to be recommended to new students
of sewerage and sewage treatment processes, and a
valuable reference for any municipal library.
THE COMMTJNITT
Edouard C. Lindeman, Professor of Sociology,
North Carolina College for Women. The Associa-
tion Press, New York. 1921. 222 pp. $1.75, postage
included.
An analysis of the forces which must be reckoned
with in influencing public opinion and community
action. The book was written primarily to interpret
the Community Movement to teachers, pastors,
Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. secretaries and others in-
terested in community leadership.
RURAL ORGANIZATION
Walter Burr, Professor of Sociology, Kansas State
Agricultural College. The Macmillan Company,
New York. 1921. XI -f 250 pp. $2.25.
The book considers the rural community both from
the economic and the human side. It t&kes up in detail
Buch subjects as farm production, marketing, finance
and transportation. Under community social functions
it discusses education, sanitation and health, recreation,
beautification and home making.
ROAD GUIDE OP THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY
The Lincoln Highway Association National Head-
quarters, Detroit, Mich. 1921. Fourth EdiHon.
336 pp. Maps. $2.50.
This official road guide contains a complete history
of the Lincoln Highway and full information regarding
mileage and places of interest along this f^iqov^ trans-
continental roadf
THE PLAY MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
Clarence E. Rainwater, Ph.D., Assistant Pro-
fessor of Sociology, University of Southern Cali-
fornia. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago,
lU. 1922. XI + 371 pp. Illustrated. $2.90,
postage included.
The author w^s for a number of years Director of
the Hamilton Park Recreation Center in Chicago, and
later Dean of The American College of Physical Educa-
tion in the same city. The volume is an analysis of
the play movement in the United States, including the
activities occurring in social and community centers,
in community music, drama, and pageantry, and in com-
munity service and organization.
LAND DRAINAGE
W. L. Powers, M. S., and T. A. H. Teeter, B. S.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. 1922. IX +
270 pp. Tables, diagrams and illustrations. $2.75.
While this book deals with the subject of drainage
primarily from the agricultural standpoint, it contains
much of value to the contractor and engineer who has to
do with the reclamation of arid and wet land. It is
intended principally as a text-book for students of gen-
eral agriculture and agricultural engineers, as a refe-
rence book for practical farmers, and as an aid to own-
ers of wet, overflowed, marsh, swamp or alkaline land,
and to contractors who would improve this type of land
area.
SPECIAL LIBRARIES OF THE UNITED STATES
"Special Libraries Directory," edited by Dorsey W.
Hyde, Jr., President of the Special Libraries Associa-
tion. 1921. 123 pp. The libraries are listed alpha-
betically by name, and also geographically by states and
cities. An explanatory paragraph describes the particu-
lar services each library is equipped to render. (Apply
to Dorsey W. Hyde, Jr., President, Special Libraries
Association, 3363 16th Street, N. W., Washington.
D. C.)
BITUMINOUS PAVEMENTS
"Bituminous Pavement Investigations in Certain
Texas Cities," Part II, by Roy M. Green, Manager
Westfrn Laboratories, Inc., Lincoln, Nebr. Published
as Bulletin No. 24, Texas Engineering Experiment Sta-
tion, by the Mechanical and Agricultural College of
Texas, Central Station, Tex. 1921. 120 pp. Illus-
trated. Discusses asphaltic concrete, sheet asphalt,
Uvalde rock asphalt, and Oklahoma rock asphalt. (Ap-
ply to J. C. Nagle, Director, Texas Engineering Experi-
ment Station, Mechanical and Agricultural College of
Texas, Central Station, Tex.)
WATER PURIFICATION
"Water Purification in Iowa," by Jack J. Hinman,
Jr., 8 pp. 1921. Reprinted from the Proceedings of the
Thirty-third Annual Meeting of the Iowa Engineering
Society, Des Moines, January, 1921. (Apply to author.
State University of Iowa, Ames, Iowa.)
COUNTY HIGHWAYS IN DELAWARE
Eighth Biennial Report of the New Castle County
State Highway Commissioner, of New Castle County,
Delaware, for the years 1919 and 1920. 28 pp. Maps
and illustrations. (Apply to Charles E. Gmbb, New
Castle County State Highway Commissioner, Wilming-
ton, Del.)
SAFETY FIRST FOR THE PUBLIC.
"An Analysis of Public Accidents." Published by
the National Safety Council, 168 North Michigan Ave
Chicago, 111. 1921. 10 pp. Includes an argument for
the adoption of uniform public accident report forms
(Apply to publishers.)
TUBERCULOSIS PREVENTION IN CANADA
"Twenty-first Annual Report of the Canadian Asso-
ciation for the Prevention of Tuberculosis," including
transactions of the annual meeting held in Toronto
May 21 1921. 139 pp. (Apply to Robert E. Wode-
house, M. D., O.B.E., Bank Street Chambers, Ottawa.
Can.)
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION
Report of the Commissioner of Education for the
year ended June 30, 1921. 42 pp. (Apply to Dr. John
James Tigert, Commissioner of Education, Washingtpfl,
THE AMERICAN CITY
Keeps Roads In Shape
All Through The Year
^T7"H ETHER it's scraping roads in Spring
^ ^ and Summer or clearing away snow and ice
in winter, Cletrac "fills the bill" on every job
it tackles. Its combination of good work a.ndfasi
work has given Cletrac the call in hundreds of
cities and towns in all parts of the country.
Cletrac's common sense, crawler-type con-
struction enables it to work right through the
year on any street cleaning, excavating, road
building and maintenance or heavy haulage job
you put up to it. When you buy a Cletrac you
get a power unit that works 30 days a month,
1 2 months a year.
We have some mighty interesting facts and
figures on Cletrac upkeep cost in comparison
with horses. We'll gladly send them on request
together with any other information you desire.
The Cleveland Tractor Co.
Largest Producers of Tank-Type Tractors in the World
19205 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
EASY ON A TRACK
THE CLETRAC WAY
84 When writing to Advertisers please mention T^E Aw^^^CAN City.
March, 192^
tnt AMERICAN CITY
^95
CHILD WELFARE WORK IN CHICAGO.
"Fighting to Make Chicago Safe for Children," by
Louise de Koven Bowen. 1920. 13 pp. Account of the
work of the Juvenile Protective Association of Chicago,
111. Also the Nineteenth Annual Report of The Juve-
nile Protective Association of Chicago for the period
from November 1, 1919, to November 1, 1920, together
with synopsis of the work for 1920 and 1921. 39 pp.
(Apply to Albert E. Webster, Acting Superintendent,
816 South Halsted Street, Chicago, 111.)
PROPER FOOD FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN
The School I<unch," by Mary Pack. Published by
the Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Eco-
nomics, College of Agriculture, University of Illinois,
Urban*, 111., as Circular No. 41. 1921. 23 pp. Illus-
trated. Applicable especially in rural districts. (Apply
to author, address above.)
A SHORT COURSE IN CIVICS
"Active Citizenship — A Study Outline," prepared
by Charles Davidson, Ph.D. H. W. Wilson Company,
New York, N. Y. 1921. 51 pp. 50 cents. Not a
text-book, but an outline designed for the use of clubs
or classes. (Apply to publishers.)
CANADIAN HIGHWAYS
Annual Report of the Department of Public High-
ways, Ontario, 1919. 1921. 101 pp. Illustrated.
Published by order of the Legislative Assembly of On-
tario. (Apply to r. 0. Biggs, Minister of Public Works
and Highways, Toronto, Ont.
PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTES IN THE UNITED
STATES
Preliminary Announcement of a Series of Public
Health Institutes to be held during 1921-22. Pub-
lished as Official Circular V. D. No. 2 of the United
States Public Health Service. 1921. 39 pp. List of
cities in which such institutes will be held, together
with programs. (Apply to The United States Public
Health Service, 16 Seventh Street, S. W., Washington,
SOURCES OF MUNICIPAL REVENUE
"New Sources of Revenue for New Jersey Munici-
palities," compiled by The Bureau of Municipal In-
formation of the New Jersey State League of Mu-
nicipalities, as Report No. 48. 31 pp. and appendix.
$1. A careful tabulation of revenues with discussion
and deductions from them. Two of the tables from the
appendix are reproduced elsewhere in this issue. (Apply
to Sedley H. Phinney, Executive Secretary, New Jer-
sey State League of Municipalities, 712 American Me-
chanic Building, Trenton, N. J.)
WATER RESOURCES OF NEW JERSEY
"Report on the Water Resources of the State and
Their Development," made by Hazen, Whipple & Fuller,
for the Department of Conservation and Development
of the State of New Jersey, 1922. 36 pp. Maps and
illustrations. A thorough and detailed survey of the
population and water requirements of the New Jersey
Metropolitan District and the water resources which will
meet those requirements for the next fifty years. (Apply
to Hazen, Whipple & Fuller, 30 East 42nd Street, New
York, N. Y.)
THE FINANCES OF KANSAS CITY, MO.
"Report on a Study of the Finance and Accounting
Offices of Kansas City, Mo.," prepared by the Kansas
City Public Service Institute. 1922. 103 pp. The
information presented and the recommendations made
are the result of nearly a year's study of the organiza-
tion, methods and procedure of Kansas City and other
cities, largely by Ray W. Wilson, Accountant of the In-
stitute. It offers suggestions which, it is believed,
•would promote economy and efficiency. (Apply to the
Kansas City Public Service Institute, 715 Kansas City
Life Building, Kansas City, Mo.)
STREET SANITATION CONFERENCE
Report of Proceedings of the Second Annual Con-
ference of the International Association of Street Sani-
tation Officials, held in Chicago in August, 1921. 43 pp.
Illustrated. (Apply to A. M. Anderson, Secretary, 37
West Van Buren Street, Chicago, 111.)
PROPOSED CHARTER FOR NEW YORK CITT
Home Rule Charter for the City of New York, pro-
posed to the Charter Revision Commission by Charles
L. Craig, Comptroller of the City of New York, 1922.
29 pp. (Apply to Charles L. Craig, Comptroller, New
York, N. Y.)
NEW JERSEY SEWAGE WORKS ASSOCIATION
Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the New-
Jersey Sewage Works Association, held in Trenton,
February, 1921. 24 pp. (Apply to Myron E. Fuller,
Secretary-Treasurer, 170 Broadway, New York City).
HOUSING CONDITIONS IN WINNIPEG
"Report on Housing Survey of Certain Selected
Areas," made in March and April, 1921, by Ernest
W. J. Hague, Assistant Chief Health Inspector, 1921.
101 pp. Illustrated. Also the "Report on a Survey of
Vacant Houses in the City," made in January, 1922.
11 pp. (Apply to Dr. A. J. Douglas, Health Officer,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Can.)
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
Papers and Proceedings of the Forty-third Annual
Meeting of the American Library Association, held in
Swampscott, Mass., June, 1921. Published as the July
number of the Bulletin of the American Library Asso-
ciation. 200 pp. Free to members. (Apply to Carl
H. Milam, Secretary, American Library Association, 78
East Washington Street, Chicago, 111.)
EDUCATION BUDGET FOR DETROIT
"An Analysis of the 1922-23 Budget Requirements
of the Board of Education, City of Detroit," by Arthur
B. Moehlman, .T. F. Thomas and H. W. Anderson. Pub-
lished as the February, 1922, number of The Detroit
Educational Bulletin. 64 pp. Illustrated. (Apply to
The Detroit Educational Bulletin, Board of Education,
Detroit, Mich.)
RURAL SANITATION
"Sanitation and Sewage Disposal for Farmsteads and
Country Estates," by William Paul Gerhard, C. E.,
Dr. Eng., Member American Public Health Association,
1922. 12 pp. 30 cents. (Apply to author, 17 West
42nd Street, New York, N. Y.)
HEALTH SURVEY OF LAFAYETTE, IND.
' 'Public Health Survey of Lafayette, ^nd., and Tippe-
canoe County, Ind.," by Murray P. Horwood, Ph.D.
Chapter I, "Water Supply," 1921. 23 pp. Illustrated.
Published by the Tippecanoe County Tuberculosis As-
sociation, Lafayette, Ind. (Apply to publishers.)
CHARTER REVISION IN NEW YORK
"The New York City Charter — Report on Charter
Revision," prepared by the City Club of New York,
for submission to the New York Charter Commission,
1921. 40 pp. (Apply to Raymond V. Ingersoll, Sec-
retary, City Club, 55 West 44th Street, New York,
N. Y.)
FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA
"Forest Fires in North Carolina during 1918, 1919,
and 1920. and Forest Protection in North Carolina,"
by J. S. Holmes, State Forester. Published as Economic
Paper No. 51, North Carolina Geological and Economic
Survey, 1921. 82 pp. Illustrated. (Apply to Joseph
Hyde Pratt, North Carolina Geological and Economic
Survey, Raleigh, N. C.)
MINNESOTA STATE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSOCIA-
TION
"Proceedings of the Forty- Ninth Annual Convention
of the Minnesota State Fire Department Association,"
held at International Falls, Minn., June, 1921. (Apply
to Chief John A. Gross, Secretary, Red Wing, Minn.)
PUBLIC MARKETS
"Open Types of Public Markets," by McFall Kerbey.
Published as Bulletin No. 1002, United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, 1921. 18 pp. Illustrated. (Apply
to Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, United
States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.)
SHIPPING WATER SAMPLES
"A New Water Sample Shipping Case," with some
observations on the changes that take place in stored
samples of water, by R. R. Spencer, Assistant Surgeon,
and H. P. Letton, Sanitary Engineer, United States
Public Health Service. Reprint No. 425, Public Health
Reports. 8 pp. Illustrated. (Xpply to the United
States Public Health Service, Washington, D. C.)
FIRE PREVENTION IN DETROIT
Report of the Fire Prevention Committee of the
Detroit Board of Commerce on Fire Prevention Week,
October 2-9, 1921. (Apply to J. Robbins, Secretary,
Fire Prevention Committee, Detroit Board of Commerce,
Detroit, Mich.)
OHIO STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S BULLETIN
Official Bulletin, Ohio State Fire Marshal's Depart-
ment. October, 1921. 32 pp. (Apply to H. A. Dyke-
man,, State Fire Marshal, Wyandotte Building, Colum-
bus, Ohio.)
BIBLIOGRAPHY OP CHILD HEALTH
Books on Health, as related to the School Child.
Second Edition, Revised. Bibliography Bulletin 69,
New York State Library. Published by the University
of the State of New York. 1921. 37 pp. (Apply to
James I. Wyer, Ph. D., Director of the State Library,
Albany, N. Y.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
The " Caterpillar's" *
usefulness is not lim-
ited to hauling garbage.
For grading streets and
roads, removing snow,
working on farm or
ranch, in the mining,
oil and [lumber indus-
tries — wherever power
and endurance is at a
premium, the "Cater-
pillar"* has no real
[competitor. There is
la "Caterpillar" of size
fand capacity for every
*power need, ■
HOLT
PEORIA> ILL.
STOCKTON. CAUR
Making Good in Minneapolis
Because their officials have proved the "Caterpillar"*
method the most practical and cheapest way of grad=
ing and maintaining roads, removing snow, and haul'
ing materials, Minneapolis and Hennepin County,
Minnesota, are now operating a fleet of 11 "Caterpil-
lars."* New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Akron,
Dallas, Spokane and scores of other cities and towns
are "Caterpillar"*-equipped in order to cut the cost
of public works to the lowest figure. We shall be
glad to exhibit motion pictures of "Caterpillars"* in
action on jobs like yours, or send you a copy of our
new booklet, "Caterpillar"* Performance.
*There is hut one ** Caterpillar"— Holt builds it
THE HOLT MFG. CO., /nc, PEORIA, ILL.
Branches and service stations all over the world
Eastern Division: 50 Church St., New York
2429 Farnam St., Omaha, Nebr. 305 MerchanU Bank BIdgr.,
417 Washington Ave. N., Indianapolis, Ind.
Minneapolis, Minn. 2045-47 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
5th and Court Sts., Des Moines, la. Holt Company of Texas, Dallas, Tex.
Canadian Holt Co., Ltd., Montreal, P. Q.
86
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amebican City,
297
Methods, Materials and Appliances
News for City and County Engineers, City Managers, Water-Works Super-
intendents, City Controllers, Park Superintendents, Purchasing Agents, and
Others Interested in the Economical Construction and Efficient Operation of
Public Improvement Undertakings
Waterproofed Cement for
Outdoor Swimming Pools
The construction of swimming pools by vari-
ous communities has become one of the most
interesting studies among engineers and mu-
nicipal officials. One of the chief problems en-
countered is building a pool which will be
water-tight, white, and will not stain.
The use of Medusa waterproofed white Port-
land cement, manufactured by the Sandusky
Cement Company, 626 Engineers Building,
Cleveland, Ohio, has overcome these difficulties
in a number of pools. There are two outdoor
pools where the use of this cement has been
particularly notable. Both have plaster coats
over a reinforced gray Portland cement base,
one using the plain white cement and the other
the waterproofed cement.
The outdoor pool at Riverside Park, near
Springfield, Mass., is of the saucer type, built
with reinforced concrete, and is some 300 feet
in diameter. A finish plaster coat of Medusa plain
white cement, white bank sand and hydrated
lime was used. This pool has been in use about
six years, and the white cement finish has with-
stood the severe weather of that part of the
country, frequently reaching far below the zero
mark; but in this case the cement has become
discolored through the absorption of vegetable
matter contained in the water of the Connecticut
River, although the hydrated lime was supposed
to make it impervious. If Medusa white water-
proofed cement had been used in this work, at a
cost of about $90 additional, this cause of dis-
coloration by water coming up from beneath
would have been overcome.
Another swimming pool which represents
about the best in pool construction to-day is an
outdoor pool, 60 X 40 feet, on the Henry Phipps
estate, Westbury, L. I. This pool was built of
concrete with a finished plaster coat of Medusa
waterproofed white Portland cement and white
crushed marble in a i to 2 mix. After the
forms were stripped and the surface roughened,
the plaster was applied in thin coats until a
thickness of i inch was reached for the side
walls. The floor was laid in one operation at
a thickness of 2 inches. Expansion joints were
placed perpendicularly on the side walls and
across the floors, 10 feet on centers to a depth
of J^-inch on walls and i inch in the floors.
After three days, when the plaster had become
sufficiently hardened, the entire surface was
gone over carefully with a fine carborundum
stone, sufficiently to remove the trowel marks,
and then brush-coated with clear cement. This
cement coating was allowed to remain until the
operation was about completed, at which time
it was again gone over with a fine carborundum
stone with plenty of clean water, until a per-
fectly smooth surface was reached. This pool
is very pleasing in appearance, and, after five
years, resembles white marble.
The above operation may at first thought ap-
pear expensive. The first stone rubbing is the
most costly, but when done at the proper time
a square yard can be rubbed by hand in ten
minutes. In the finish rubbing it is only neces-
sary to remove the cement film to bring up a
smooth surface. Most of this can be done by
machine on good-sized operations.
Medusa waterproofed white Portland cement
has been tested by the Y. M. C. A. Construc-
tion Department of New York City for absorp-
tion and discoloration from the body oils, and
after three weeks' tryout at the indoor pool at
58th Street and 8th Avenue, New York City,
it was pronounced a success.
CONCBETE SWIMMINO FOOL BXTIIiT WITH WHITE WATEB-FBOOF CEMENT, HASTINaS, NEBB.
THE AMERICAN CITY
'■afrCSiL- ■■'{''' r'-.V-.
*^T£^-(-..; v.v:
i.f-^.i':,:-,h">0-
Tractors
for power, speed, economy
Preparing streets for repaying, breaking up old pavements, making new
thoroughfares, all require an abundance of steady, dependable power.
Scarifiers, plows, drills, levelers, scrapers, graders, etc., do their best
work, and more of it, when propelled by good tractors. This is because
the tractor has the reserve power to keep the tool moving constantly
at proper speeds and with proper adjustments for maximum results.
Tractors like the BEST concentrate the pulling power of a large
number of animals within a small unit which is easy to manage, easy
to maneuver, and which has none of the weaknesses of the flesh.
Best Tractors are famous for stamina, power and dependability, and
their cost for up-keep and operation is small. That is why they are
being adopted more and more by municipal, county and state officials
for road and street making and maintenance.
Let us send you further details on the use of tractors for road and street
work. Write for catalogs, prices and names of our nearest dealers.
C.L.BEST TRACTOR CO.
SAN LEANDRO - CALIFORNIA
There are three models of Best Tractors — the "Sixty," the" Thirty"
and the "Cruiser" (60). All are factory-built — not assembled.
^9*
^?'-
"Sixty"
"Thirty"
Cruiser"
8«
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American Cjty.
Mar., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
299
A TYPICAL ZEOLITE SOFTENING AND ±il.i±iitiNa
EQUIPMENT
Water-Softening for Municipal
Supplies and Boiler Feed
The softening of municipal drinking-water
supplies is receiving the attention of many cities
and towns where reduction in the hardness of
water is proving to be an economic and indus-
trial necessity. P'or the solution of such prob-
lems, the Permutit Company, 440 Fourth
Avenue, New York City, has had on the Ameri-
can market for a number of years its zeolite
method of automatically softening water by ex-
tracting all of the hardness from the water
without the addition of chemicals 'or the applica-
tion of heat. A zeolite is a sodium aluminum
silicate compound which possesses the remarkable
property of exchanging its sodium for lime or
magnesia when these elements come in contact
with it in the form of hardness in water. Some
of the properties of zeolite have been known to
science for many years, but the first important
advance was made by Dr. Robert
Cans, who produced a stable artificial
zeolite of high exchange value, and an
apparatus for its practical use, thus
paving the way for rapid commercial
development.
Zeolite water-softeners are made in
pressure and gravity types constructed
with steel, concrete or wooden shells.
Water to be softened flows slowly
through the tank downward, its hard-
ness being automatically removed.
When the zeolite material needs re-
newing, all that is necessary is to flush
it with a salt solution and then back-
wash with some of the softened water.
Then the material is aS good as new.
Economic and satisfactory power-
plant operation demands that boilers be
fed with water that is free from all
scale, sludge and mud-forming im-
purities. For the prevention of scale,
the Permutit Company offers a water-
softening equipment of the zeolite type
which is in use in several thousands of
power-plants to-day and is effectively
perventing the formation of any scale
whatsoever. The complete removal of
all scale-forming impurities from
boiler feed water before it enters the
boiler is the logical correct way to
keep the boiler-heating surfaces clean.
Simplicity, ease of operation and sure re-
sults are necessary, and are provided by
this method. Sludge and mud-forming
impurities can best be removed from
boiler feed water by correct filtration.
Permutit water rectification apparatus
is also made for the removal of iron and
manganese, oil, excess chlorine and am-
monia.
New Engineering Firm
Under the firm name of Hudson &
Myron, Engineers, Messrs. Leo Hudson
and John P. Myron have formed a part-
nership for the practice of engineering,
with offices at 808-810 Wabash Building, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. Mr. Hudson has been in private
practice for the last fifteen years, principally in
water-works, sewerage, power-plants, valuations
and rates. Mr. Myron, until recently, was
connected with the Pittsburgh Filter and Engi-
neering Company.
Price With Kirkgasser
It has been announced that H. B. Price,
formerly Advertising Manager of the Belden
Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., who has
been connected with that company for several
years in various engineering, production and
sales capacities, has resigned and joined the ad-
vertising agency of George J. Kirkgasser &
Company. Mr. Price will specialize in electri-
cal and technical advertising, and in addition to
an engineering education brings to his new work
a wide practical experience in engineering, con-
struction, sales and operation.
f
TYPICAL
2i-HQUB BOILER FEED-WATEB
PLANT
SOPTSNINa
THE AMERICAN CITY
Street Flushers and Trucks
MORE MACHINES IN USE THAN ANY OTHER MAKE, BECAUSE
THEY GET RESULTS. REAL MERIT ALWAYS COUNTS
ASK FOR CATALOGS. THE TIFFIN WAGON CO., TIFFIN, O.
Makers, also, of Tiffin
Motor Trucks, Farm and
Dump wagons, and Munic-
ipal Vehicles.
Have Good
Streets Cheap
All Year' Round
Avery One-Man "Road-
Razer" is the fastest, most
satisfactory and economical
machine made for keeping
roads and streets good. One
man and this machine can
keep many miles of city
streets in good condition the
year 'round. Also solves the
snow problem.
It shaves the roughest, ruttiest dirt streets
in a few minutes' time. On rock and gravel
roads, the scarifier attachment loosens up the
surface and the "Road-Razer" blade shaves
it down to a hard, smooth surface leaving the
road better than new.
No other machine like it — a self-contained
VERY
Road Building and Road
Maintenance Machinery
unit — blades and power in one machine.
Turns in its own tracks in three seconds.
Backs up instantly. Has wide, flexible, three
section 12-foot blade that fits or shapes any
curve or crown of the street. Equipped with
powerful six-cylinder motor.
Sold on approval, subject to demonstra-
tion. Strongly guaranteed. Saves money for
tax payers and solves the problem of road
and street officials, the country over. .Write
to-day for prices and complete information.
AVERY COMPANY
223 Iowa St. Peoria, 111.
87
When writirg to Advertisers please mentioQ Tqs Amesican City*
Mar., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
301
A Pneumatic Tire That
Ruts Do Not Harm
Ruts need have no menace for the life of cord
truck tires now that Goodyear has perfected and
is marketing a "rut-proof" cord pneumatic truck
tire.
Spectacular proof that this tire is practicable
was afforded by a test in which these tires on a
Goodyear Heights bus were run against the
curbing for 500 miles. At the end of the test
the sidewalls were not worn through. Ordinary
pneumatic truck tires were worn through the
sidewalls in less than five miles when run against
the curb.
SECTION OP NEW PNEUMATIC TIEE
A — The Bead, B — Sidewall, 0 — Plies, D — ^Alr Vol-
ume, E — Breaker Strip, F — Tread, G — The Cure.
The Goodyear "rust-proof" pneumatic truck
tire is the result of objections to thej use of
pneumatic truck tires in some rural districts be-
cause of the premature wear of sidewalls, re-
sulting from the contact of these large tires with
the frozen ruts of winter and the sun-baked
ruts of summer. This became more prominent
as the use of motor trucks increased for inter-
city hauling over unimproved highways, and
Goodyear engineers immediately started a thor-
ough investigation of these conditions so as to
make pneumatic truck tires more efficient for
this class of service.
The engineers picked for development work
a section of Ohio in and around New Philadel-
phia where there were a large number of pneu-
matic-tired trucks engaged in hauling coal.
This particular section of Ohio seems to be a
little backward in the improvement of highways,
and road conditions were very severe during the
fall, winter and spring months, as the dirt
and clay roads would get soft with the heavy
rains and then freeze with the cold weather.
Ruts ran from 6 to 12 inches deep, so that if
pneumatic-tired trucks traveled over the roads,
the tires were running on the edge of the frozen
ruts, constantly wearing away the sidewalls.
The engineers developed a tire with a specially
compounded sidewall much thicker than the side-
wall used on regular pneumatic truck tires, and
put a number of these tires into use on these
coal trucks. The results were declared to be
very gratifying, and the idea was constantly
improved, resulting in the Goodyear "Rut-
Proof" cord pneumatic truck tires for use on
trucks which are forced to use unimproved
highways.
Tubular Steel Flag Poles
Many artistically executed flagpole monu-
ments have lately been erected by leading archi-
tects who, no longer handicapped by the insuffi-
ciencies of the wooden pole, have used its suc-
cessor, the tubular steel pole, for this purpose.
This product appeared about 1900 in New York
and was taken up as an exclusive specialty by the
Pole & Tube Works, Inc., of Newark, N. J.
The first few poles proving unduly expensive,
a special hydraulic swaging machine capable of
handling all sizes of steel pipe from 18 inches
to 2 feet in diameter, was built. In this manner
tubular poles are produced so nearly resembling
the time-honored wood poles as to be almost in-
distinguishable in appearance, and of such con-
struction as to remain permanently air-tight.
Under the constant vibration and occasionally
severe deflections during hurricanes, none but
the best-designed joint will remain tight; lead
caulking will "creep"; pins or screws will
loosen and open the way for moisture to attack
the broken paint film. The appearance of a
jointed tubular pole depends on the greatest
number of least visible reductions to effect the
taper — the greater the taper the better. The
well-known tubular steel poles are second to
the "continuous taper welded" type, which has
been chosen by fastidious architects for monu-
mental purposes, as shown in the photograph of
the monument at Duluth, Minn., of which Cass
tHE AMERICAN CItY
Klacliiiiery plays such a large part iu the work of building and
uiaintaiuing public highways, that it is important to select
machines that will give tlie most satisfactory service. Here
are a few suggestions:
First. Buy from a reliable, well-established concern that lias
the will and the organization to treat you right and to furnish
service.
Second. Buy a machine that will stand up under all condi-
tions. The machine that lasts is the one that is profitable to use.
Third. Don't be too much concerned about price. Get your
money's worth, but above all, get a good, Serviceable machine.
Keystone Corrugated Metal Culvert Pipe.
Furnished in diameters from 8 to 72 inches
any length desired. Guaranteed 25 years.
Monarch Pressure Oil Distributor. Fur-
nished either in the horse-drawn type or for
mounting on motor trucks.
The Monarch Steam Road Roller with Steam
Pressure Scarifier. A durable and depend-
able 3-wheeled 10-Ion roller.
Champion Steel Rork Crusher. Mounted with Elevator, Screen
and Portable Stone Bin. Made in several sizes, 15 to 300 to^s
daily.
The Winner Highway Patrol Road Grader, made in six dif-
ferent sizes. A one-man, two-horse machine for maintaining
dirt and gravel roads. Weight 1150 pounds. _^ Blade 6 feet
■\.long. '
j^sk^for our new cata/o^
^'^verythin^ for the Rose/maker*
BRANCH
offices:
boston. mass
NEWYORK.NY KENNETTSQUARE\,
GOOD ROADS
MACHINERY C?
I CHICAGO, ILL.
ATLANTA,GA.
PiTTSBURGH;^-
'PENNSYLVANIA KANSAS CITY, MO.
PORTLAND, OREGON -PHILADELPHIA. PA. -- SAN FRANCISCO Cr^ LOS ANGELES. CAL.
88
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amekican City.
THE AMERICAN CITY
When You Decide On
GRANITE
For
CURBING OR PAVING
You Settle the Problem
FOREVER
IVrite to any of the following firms :
members of the
Granite Paving Block Manufacturers' Association
OF THE United States, Inc.
AicvBiA Granite Co.
605 Gould Building
Atlanta, Georgia
108 Bell Block
Cincinnati, Ohio
Booth Brothers and Hurri-
cane Isi.E Granite Company
208 Broadway, New York
Cape Ann Granite Co.
Lanesville, Massachusetts
Central Contracting Co.
Salisbury, North Carolina
Davidson Granite Co.
Lithonia, Georgia
H. E. Fletcher Co.
West Chelmsford,
Massachusetts
Groton Granite Co.
10 Faneuil Hall Square
Boston, Mass
Guilford and Waltersville
Granite Company
Law Building
Baltimore, Maryland
Hildreth Granite Co.
Main Office
3 1 State Street,
Boston, Massachusetts
Branch Office
150 Nassau Street, New York
St. George Granite Co.
90 West Street
New York, New York
J. Leopold & Co., Inc.
233 Broadway, New York
Maine and New Hampshire
Granite Corporation
North Jay, Maine
Frank A. Malorey
694 School Street
Lowell, Massachusetts
R. B. Marrott and Son
Oneco, Connecticut
John Meehan & Son
912 West Dauphin Street
Philadelphia, Pa.
74 Cortlandt Street
New York, New York
New England Granite Co.
Westerly, Rhode Island
North Carolina Granite Co.
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Pine Mountain Granite Co.
Central Building, Atlanta, Ga.
Rockport Granite Co.
31 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts
13 Park Row
New York, New York
Roberts Harbor Granite
Company
Care of Booth Brothers
208 Broadway, New York
Salisbury Granite Co.
Salisbury, North Carolina
Stone Mountain Granite Co.
Stone Mountain, Georgia
VVlun writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
THE AMERICAN CITY
This signal placed
in roadway at street
intersection.
'Bring Your Traffic Problems to Us''
Federal Signal Company
ALBANY, N. Y.
90
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Mar., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
30
TUBULAR STEEL FLAGPOLE AT DULUTH,
MINNNESOTA
Gilbert of New York is the architect. Another
monument of this type, designed by Henry
Bacon, New York architect, was recently dedi-
cated at Naugatuck, Conn. This iio-foot pole
is novel in so far as it is bronze- jacketed
throughout its entire height of 88 feet above the
bronze socle. The jacket was spirally wound
under great tension, over the steel pipe, and
seam-soldered, and will remain a permanent pro-
tection. Harmonizing with the bronze orna-
mentation, it presents an appearance of great
beauty.
A Meter with Breakable Cast
Iron Frost Bottom
The Buffalo Meter Company, 2917 Main
Street, Buffalo, N. Y., has been manufacturing
disc water meters exclusively for 30 years, and
its American meter in the present form was
first placed on the market 18 years ago. To
meet the demand of numerous water-works
superintendents for meters with breakable frost
bottoms, the Buffalo Meter Company is now
making the American meter so that it can be
supplied in that style of outside case. It is not
the intention that this construction shall super-
sede the older styles of casings in which the
meter has been supplied for many years. The
frost-proof casing simply provides another type
of casing so that that type most suitable for the
service conditions may be supplied.
When the meter with a breakable frost bot-
tom casing freezes up and the pressure in the
pipe reaches 450 pounds, the bottom casing
breaks out at the disc chamber seat. This per-
mits all four parts of the disc chamber to
separate and the intermediate gearing to sepa-
WATER METER WITH BREAK-
ABLE FROST BOTTOM
rate at three points, thereby relieving each work-
ing part from injurious strain. Protection of
the intermediate gearing by freedom of its parts
to separate and move with the ice is patented.
The disc chamber is supported in a shallow seat,
so there is no possibility that it will stick or
jam when necessary to remove it for inspection
or cleaning. The disc chamber seat is entirely
in the breakable bottom, so after each freezing
a new and accurately machined seat is provided
It is claimed that the American meter is the
only meter with breakable frost bottom that as-
sembles right side up, that is, the assembly
starts by placing the disc chamber in the break-
able bottom casing. The flange bolts may be
drawn up unevenly or excessively tight and there
is no chance of breaking the frost bottom or dis-
torting the measuring chamber, because the pres-
sure comes entirely on the flange gasket. All
the features that have added to the accuracy of
the Niagara and American meters have been re-
tained in this new frost-proof model. The
pivot bearing, intermediate gears, thick rein-
forced measuring disc, adjustment for high and
low pressures, submerged bearings protected
against sand and sediment, interchangeable round
reading and straight reading registers are all
found in the frost-proof model.
THE AMERICAN CITY
tp*"-. i-» ■— ^<^a«i|(p^fc.
'- .i ' !■>■
imm"* «i\,'*-mr'-
CUT STREET CLEANING COSTS
SQUARELY IN HALF!
The AUTOSWEEPER
The ELGIN
Works at twice the speed of horse-drawn
sweepers. One AUTOSWEEPER does the
work of two horse-drawn sweepers.
Sprays the street and sweeps it.
Placed near center of street, it is unequalled as
a "feeder" to a pick-up sweeper.
Circular No. A-44 tells all about the AUTO-
SWEEPER.
A sentence from a sample letter: —
"We have made 50% saving in street cleaning since
introducing the ELGIN, Aug. 20, 1918." Name
on request.
You'll find "The Eventual Method" in The
ELGIN: the machine that sprays the street, cleans
the gutter, sweeps I 0 ft. of pavement, collects the
refuse and carts it away.
1 63 owners have 284 Elgin machines.
Circular No. A-4S describes The ELGIN.
The
AUTO-EDUCTOR
During last September, Chicago's 7 AUTO-
EDUCTORS cleaned 2.809 catch basins at
$1.90 each.
In the same month, Chicago cleaned 1 , 1 65
catch basins by hand. These cost $4.41 each.
The AUTO-EDUCTOR saved $2.51 per
catch basin.
Without alteration, and with little additional equipment, the
AUTO-EDUCTOR becomes a flusher, sprinkler, tree-
sprayer, snow plow, ordinary truck, etc. Can be used 365
days a year, both day and night.
Circular No A'50 tells how.
THE ELGIN LINE COMPRISES AMERICA'S LEADERS
ELGIN SALES CORPORATION
501 Fifth Avenue, Old Colony Building,
NEW YORK
U. S. A.
CHICAGO
91
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Mar., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
305
Elgin to Sell Otterson Eductor
Announcement has been made by George C.
Dodge, President, Elgin Sales Corporation, 501
Fifth Avenue, New York City, that the Otter-
son Auto-Eductor for cleaning catch-basins has
been taken over by the Elgin organization. It
will be manufactured at Elgin, 111., by the Elgin
Street Sweeper Company and w[ll be sold by
the Elgin Sales Corporation and its representa-
tives throughout the United States. The right
of the Elgin Company in the Auto-Eductor
cover only the United States and its possessions.
Sales will be handled in exactly the same man-
ner as those of the Elgin motor sweeper and
other machines of the Elgin organizations.
Norwood Engineeriag
Company Reorganized
On February 15, 1922, the Norwood Engineer-
ing Company, of Florence, Mass., underwent a
reorganization. The major portion of the capi-
tal stock is owned by G. Wilson MacDow, of
Boston. The business of the company will be
conducted along the same lines and under the
same management as at present, with a possible
expansion if business warrants. Officers were
elected as follows : President and Treasurer,
Warren M. King; Vice-President and General
Manager, H. W. Hosford ; Clerk, H. B. Hayen ;
Assistant Treasurer, G. Wilson MacDow. H. P.
Otis of Florence, L. C. Perrin and R. N.
Smithers of Boston, with the officers above
named, comprise the Board of Directors.
Lang Retires as President
of Lakewood
At the annual meeting of the Lakewood Engi-
neering Company, Cleveland, Ohio, Charles F.
Lang retired f roin the presidency. Reports from
the field force show every indication of an
increase of business in all departments, par-
ticularly in the paving and general construction
fields. It has already been necessary to in-
crease the factory force to meet the improved
demand.
What Antigo Found in
its Sewers
Not very long ago the city of Antigo, Wis ,
was thinking of digging up 450 feet of 24-inch
sewer to remove the material that was clogging
if. At that time the city got in touch with the
Turbine Sewer Machine Company, Milwaukee,
Wis., and a demonstration was given in wljich
2,000 feet of sewer was cleaned the first day
The sewer was found grown full of roots and
clogged with sticks and mud, and the only way
out of the trouble would have been to dig a new
trench along the sewer and lay a new line, all of
which would have cost a large sum of money.
The purchase of a Turbine machine saved the
cost of laying this new sewer. It took three
men to hoist chunks of roots and rubbish from
the manholes.
In addition to root growths, these machines
have removed excess cement at joints and vitre-
ous deposits from sewers in other cities.
A MASS or IiABOE ROOTS TAKEN FROM A 24-INCH SEWER AT ANTIGO, WIS.
THE AMERICAN CITY
(yenml Motor^ltadlcsi
Keeping Austin, Minn., Roads In Good Condition
In Austin, Minnesota, as in almost every
other hustling community, they appreciate the
fact that good roads always lead to better busi-
ness. And what's more, they have backed up
their faith with works as well as words.
So nowadays when one drives into Austin,
he is impressed at once by the "spic and span"
appearance of the place which is traced im-
mediately to the well-built, clean-kept roads.
They leave such a pleasing impression with the
visitor that he cannot help but become an en-
thusiastic booster for the town.
Keeping these good Austin streets clean and
dustless has been the task allotted to the G M C
truck shown in the photograph above. And it
has done this work faithfully and well, provid-
ing the same dependable service day after day
with uniformly low operating costs.
Many other towns, cities and villages are
using G M C trucks with the same satisfying
and economical results. For the G M C engine
was designed exclusively for motor truck usage
with full appreciation of all the essential quali-
ties necessary for the success of such an engine
under all conditions — economy of operation —
surplus power — and quick accessibility for re-
adjustment and replacement, with the conse-
quential lowered costs for this work.
Removable Cylinder Sleeves
As an example of the practical accessibility of
G M C construction it is possible to remove a
cylinder sleeve from the G M C engine and
replace it in a few hours. This eliminates the
heavy repair expenses that follows when the
entire cylinder block must be taken from the
truck and remachined, as in the case of the
common type of engine.
Each cylinder in a G M C engine is a separate
sleeve which is pressed into place in the cylinder
block. The sleeves are machined on both sides
to accurate thickness and the expansion and
construction of the walls under temperature
changes, is consequently spread evenly, prevent-
ing the cylinder from becoming out of round and
causing excessive wear.
No Lost Compression
Moreover this type of cylinder construction
insures an absolute and continuous fit of piston
rings and pistons, preventing any loss of com-
pression as is the case of the common type of
engine when cylinders become out of round.
This is only one of the many improved fea-
tures of G M C construction that truck buyers
everywhere appreciate because they insure more
and better motor truck service at a lower cost
for maintenance and operation.
Furthermore, with all these improvements,
substantial reductions have also been made on
the complete line of G M C trucks from one to
five tons capacity which increase still further
their practical economy for all hauling re-
quirements. Write for a copy of our special
truck book, it will be sent to you promptly with-
out obligation.
«a
General Motors Truck Company
Division of General Motors Corporation
Pontiac, Michigan
DEAUBBS AND SEBVICE IN MOST OOMlVnTNITIES
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
307
What Are Your Municipal Problems?
A Series of Questions Relating to Activities Now Receiving the
Attention of American Cities
FOR the purpose of assisting mayors and
other city officials, especially those
newly elected, in preparing their mu-
nicipal programs, The American City pre-
sents a list of important activities and prob-
lems that concern progressive cities. In
view of varying conditions and circum-
stances in different cities, the adoption of
all these suggestions by any one city is not
urged, but municipal officials may gain
valuable ideas from a study of these ques-
tions.
Administration
Does your charter need revising in whole
or in part? Many cities have been able to
more economically administer their cor-
porate business by judicious changes in
their charters, enabling them to adopt com-
mission government or the city manager
plan.
Are your local ordinances in need of re-
vision and codification? Several cities have
revised and codified their ordinances in the
last year or two for the clarification of mu-
nicipal business and administration.
Is the election machinery in your city
effective and operated at a minimum cost?
This problem is receiving special study, and
where election machinery is controlled by
the state, action is being taken to reduce the
cost of elections within cities without im-
pairing the efficiency of the election ma-
chinery. The adoption of voting machines
in many places has been one great step in
this direction.
Is the organization of your city depart-
ments effective, and are the blank forms
used by them satisfactory? Many cities are
still using obsolete and unnecessarily in-
tricate forms in their health, fire, police,
building, inspection, tax, purchasing, street
cleaning and other departments and bureaus.
The use of carefully designed forms and of
machine addressing frequently makes big
savings in departmental budgets.
Taxes and Assessments
Does your board, bureau or department
of assessment and taxation need to be re-
organized? In some states a city is per-
mitted by ordinance to abolish its elective
assessors and to establish a department of
assessment and taxation with a single head
appointed by the mayor and a board of
review.
Does your method of assessing real and
personal property need to be revised? A
large number of cities within the last two
years have reorganized their methods of
assessment and are now operating on a
much more efficient basis. A number of
large cities have also increased their as-
sessed valuation, so that real property is
now assessed at or near loo per cent of its
true value.
Does your method of levying special as-
sessments for local improvements need to
be changed? This is a matter which has
been brought up for serious consideration
in nearly 200 American cities within the
last few years.
3o8
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
Do you need to improve your method of
collecting delinquent taxes? Tax collection
is usually a knotty problem with city offi-
cials, and a careful study of it may mean
immediate and larger returns to the city and
a lessening of tax sales.
Finance
Has your city adopted a uniform account-
ing and budget system? Many cities have
made notable progress in this work within
the last two years, reducing the labor of
accounting systems through loose-leaf ledg-
ers and other devices and effecting greater
economies through proper budgeting.
Has your city adopted central purchasing
for the various department bureaus and offi-
cials? A large number of Mid-Western
and Western cities have adopted central
purchasing and effected gieat economies in
the buying of office supplies, machinery,
etc., for municipal work.
Is your city receiving a fair rate of in-
terest on its daily bank balances and time
deposits? This is a great source of trouble
in some municipalities and results in the
loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars
each year if daily bank balances and the in-
terest thereon are not checked up.
Is your city adequately regulating and
licensing businesses and private activities?
Several cities within the last year have re-
vised their license ordinances so to provide
more effective regulation and more ade-
quately reimburse the city for the cost of
the licensing. This is one satisfactory and
proper method for increasing municipal
revenue.
Salaries and Pensions
Are you paying your city officials and em-
ployees too little, or too much? The
American City has given much time and
space to the investigation of this subject and
has published extensive tables giving the
salaries paid to municipal officials in various
offices throughout the country.
Are your municipal pension systems and
funds for policemen, firemen and other em-
ployees effective and in satisfactory condi-
tion? In many states the employers' liabil-
ity laws apply to cities as well as to private
employers. Proper care should be taken to
finance pensions and compensation funds
either through a reliable company or
through municipal insurance.
Has your city adopted the most econom-
ical methods of insuring municipal em-
ployees? There are several methods in use
to-day which can be studied to advantage
by municipal officials.
School Finance
Are your relations with the school au-
thorities as to management and financial
control satisfactory? Inasmuch as educa-
tion is usually the leading item in a mu-
nicipal budget, great care must be exercised
in the expenditure and the methods of con-
trol and management of school funds, and
systems should be studied with a view to
making more effective use of the money and
to increasing the value of the educational
system of the community.
Health
Does your city health work need to be re-
organized? In some states, laws have been
passed permitting the abolition of the bu-
reau or board of health and the creating and
maintaining of a department of health with
a single head appointed by the mayor. In-
asmuch as the health department is one of
the most important to the welfare of the
city, a full-time health officer with adequate
appropriations should be maintained.
Is it the practice in your city to destroy
school books and supplies furnished at pub-
lic expense and used by pupils with con-
tagious disease? If after investigation, it is
found that your city is doing so, the matter
should be taken up at once with your board
of health to determ'ne whether it is possible
to eliminate this item of expense through
disinfection.
Is your city effectively regulating soft-
drink places? Model ordinances on this
subject have been prepared and careful
studies of the subject made by cities, with
regard both to health and to finance.
Street Paving, Lighting and Cleaning
Are your streets properly paved to handle
the type and volume of traffic they are called
upon to carry? A careful study must be
made of the volume of traffic in each part
of the community, to decide whether dirt
roads, water-bound macadam, bituminous
types, Portland cement concrete, brick or
other type block roads are necessary to
carry local or through traffic as the case
may be.
Are your business streets and residential
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
309
districts adequately lighted? In order to
protect your city from crime and accident,
ample street lighting is necessary. The
higher-value business districts are made
even more valuable through ornamental
lighting, which lengthens the business day
and brings added prosperity to the com-
munity.
Is your method of street cleaning effec-
tive and economical^ Many cities in the
United States are revising the organization
of their street cleaning departments and
methods of street cleaning through the
adoption of more modern apparatus.
Fire Department
Is your fire department efficient and oper-
ating at a minimum cost? One of the prob-
lems now receiving the consideration of
officials interested in fire fighting is the
motorization of fire apparatus, the establish-
ing of the two-platoon system and the ex-
tension of fire prevention work.
Is your city effectively regulating the in-
stallation of gasoline curb pumps and gaso-
line tanks? As installations of this type in
automobile service stations may be a great
source of danger to life and property, ade-
quate attention and proper regulation are
vital.
Police
Is your police department efficient and
operating at a minimum cost? Crime pre-
vention is an important problem now being
studied by many American cities. The use of
motor vehicles by criminals is forcing many
cities to revolutionize their methods of
patrolling streets and highways. Traffic
regulation and parking of vehicles are also
problems that have increased in importance
in the last year or two.
Is your city effectively regulating pool
and billiard rooms? A careful regulation
is necessary in places of this type to prevent
their becoming gambling establishments or
gathering-places for criminals.
Traffic Control and Accidents
Do you have any difficulty in handling
traffic at congested points? From the small-
est village to the largest city, the problem
of traffic regulation is assuming added im-
portance. Suitable silent policemen or dif-
ferent types of traffic signals should be
Studied carefully, as they do much to pre-
vent accident and expedite the movement of
traffic.
Are there any grade crossings in your city
wltere accidents may occur? The elimina-
tion of grade crossings is one of the vital
problems in many American cities to-day.
With the increasing number of motor cars
carrying more people out on the highways,
grade crossings are a constant source of
danger and should be eliminated by judi-
cious handling of the question of ways and
means with the railroad.
Water
Have you tafien cognisance of the fact
that adequate filtration and sterilization of
your water-supply is necessary to protect
public health? A study of municipar water-
supplies shows that there are practically
none which can do without either filtration
or sterilization as a protection against
water-borne disease.
Is your municipal waterslied completely
reforested? The reforestation of municipal
watersheds is not expensive, and with
proper care the revenue which can be de-
rived therefrom increases as time goes on.
Zoning and Building
Is your city zoned? Proper and judicious
restrictions placed on various districts as to
the types of structure and business which
may be conducted in those zones go far to
stabilize real estate value.
Are the plumbing, building and sanitary
codes of your city effective and up-to-date?
A study of the codes of other cities may be
of great assistance in producing a more
effective code for your city. It may mean
more economical construction, which will
have a direct bearing on the solution of the
housing problem.
Parks and Playgrounds
Is your parfi area sufficient to provide a
breathing space for all living in the con-
gested portions of your city? Adequate
breathing spaces in the form of parks, both
large and small, need to be provided in
every city for the well-to-do as well as the
poor. Such spaces increase the healthful-
ness of the community and add to its ma-
terial happiness.
Have you well-equipped playgrounds for
children? On? of (he best ways to contrgl
310
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
the old "gang spirit" and to build up the
moral and physical health of children living
in the congested districts is through well-
equipped playgrounds judiciously distrib-
uted throughout the town or city.
Waste Disposal
Is your method of collection and disposal
of municipal garbage satisfactory and eco-
nomical f One of the livest questions in
municipalities to-day is the proper method
of collecting and disposing of garbage.
There are a number of systems of collection
and methods of disposal to choose from,
which each city must study from the stand-
point of local conditions.
Is your method of sezvage disposal effec-
tive, or do you need to adopt some new sys-
tem f Sewage disposal has undergone al-
most revolutionary changes within the last
ten years, so that now the sewage of a large
city may be disposed of in a much smaller
area than heretofore and with less nuisance,
and the sewage of a small city can be treated
properly in an exceedingly small area or
within one inconspicuous building.
Municipal Markets
Have you municipal markets, and, if so,
are they satisfactory? An increasingly
large number of American cities have insti-
tuted markets under the direct control and
supervision of the city. These have greatly
reduced prices and have gone a long way
towards helping the taxpayer of moderate
means during the period of high prices.
City Automobiles
Does your city effectively and economi-
cally care for and regulate the use of auto-
mobiles ozvned by it and used by officials and
employees? This is an important matter,
and the adoption of a municipal taxi service
has proved of great economy in a large
number of cities.
Cooperation and Planning Bring Many
Improvements
New Water Pipe, Street Lighting and Gas-Mains for Prescott, Arizona
By M. R. Hirshfeld
THE business streets of the city of Pres-
cott, Ariz., for a number of months
resembled nothing else so much as a
shell-torn village in Belgium during the late
World War, with this exception — the tear-
ing up and the work done were constructive
rather than destructive.
Preparatory to paving fourteen blocks of
the business district, the city installed new
water-mains, $22,000 worth of lo-inch cast
iron pipe being put in at a cost of $10,000
for labor. Despite about two weeks of very
wet weather, when the trenches had to be
drained numerous times and much trouble
with caving trenches was encountered, the
work was completed well within the speci-
fied time limit. With the filling in of the
trenches, Prescott streets began to resume
a normal appearance.
While the city was installing these new
water-mains to replace the steel pipe that
had been laid nearly 40 years ago, the Pres-
cott Gas and Electric Company installed in
the business district gas-mains large enough
to serve the city of Prescott until it has in-
creased in size three times. The gas com-
pany also made repairs and replacements
where necessary in, the residence districts.
The result is that now that the street paving
has finally been done, it is down for good,
and little tearing will have to be done later
to permit laying or repairing gas- or water-
mains.
Better-Lighted Streets
Next on the program of civic improve-
ments was the street lighting. Prescott's
streets were illuminated with the old-fash-
ioned high swinging lights placed at the
intersections of the streets, save in a part
of the residence district, where modern
ornamental iron standards had already been
installed. The City Council let a contract
calling for ornamental standards for the
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
311
A TYPICAL SCENE IN PRESOOTT WHEN GAS AND WATER MAINS WERE BEING LAID OR
RENEWED PRIOR TO PAVING BUSINESS STREETS
business district and for a few additional
blocks in the residence district. Novalux
globes were specified for use in the down-
town district. A local electrical company
was given the contract for the lighting, at
a price of approximately $12,000.
Following the installation of the lights
will come the paving of all the down-town
streets. It had been hoped to have that
work completed by January, 1922, but the
City Council found the bids of local and for-
eign contractors were too high. The lowest
bid, of $3.68 a square foot, was refused, and
the Council decided it was too late in the
fall to ask for new bids. Now the work
must necessarily be delayed until the early
spring, at which time it is the plan of the
city to rush it to completion. In the mean-
time, Arthur J. Kline, the City Engineer,
has been instructed to obtain figures on all-
concrete, concrete with bitulithic base, and
black base paving. The sum of $200,000
has been set aside by the city to be expended
on the paving. Some paving work has al-
ready been done this year on one of the
residence streets. Warrenite-Bitulithic sur-
facing having been used. The cost was
$85,000, and ornamental lights on the same
street were installed at a cost of $7,260.
In the early spring one new bridge is to
be constructed, a reinforced concrete struc-
ture, for which a sum of $20,000 has been
appropriated. A group of local construc-
tion engineers have entered bids for its
construction.
On the city budget for the current year,
provision was made for a children's play-
ground, sufficient funds having Ijeen appro-
priated to make the first purchase of play-
ground equipment. This is to be supple-
mented by popular subscription during the
winter, and early spring should see the city
ready to install such equipment.
Heretofore, the supply of water in the
city of Prescott during the dry summer
months has been something of a problem.
Following the planning of the other civic
improvements, the city last year voted $350,-
000 water bonds. This sum is to be ex-
pended in the construction of three addi-
tional reservoir dams and pumping plants.
About $50,000 is to be used on a reservoir
dam at Banning Creek, three miles from
Prescott, an additional $16,000 has been set
aside for replacing old pipe and laying new,
and the remaining $275,000 will be used to
dam Granite Creek and the Hassayampa
River.
That the United States Government in-
tends to cooperate with the city of Prescott
in this elaborate program of municipal im-
provement can be seen in the tentative plans
being prepared for the erection of a new
post office, one that will be in keeping with
the state and county buildings in the city.
The Government already has purchased a
site for the new post office directly opposite
the county court house, which is situated in
the center of a parked block in the heart of
the city.
312
New Swimming Pools in Birmingham,
Alabama
City and Local Manufacturer Jointly Finance Two Large Concrete Swimming
Pools Near Industrial Section
By Helen Bethea
IN the summer of 1921 the city of Birming-
ham, Ala., and the Tennessee Iron and
Coal Company completed two swimming
pools at Ensley, within the limits of the city
and at a convenient walking distance from
the industrial section, supported by the plants
and the mining interests of the company.
The completed pools cost $45,000, tfie com-
pany furnishing $25,000 and the city paying
the remainder of the expense. The pools
measure 50 x 100 feet each and are
3j4 feet deep at the shallow end and 9 feet
deep at the other. They are separated by a
12-foot concrete walk.
The pools are not covered, but buildings
practically surround them. At one end is
the filtration plant and at the other the gal-
piping is so arranged that the water is re-
turned to the pool through four orifices
located at the shallow end of each pool
near the floor. By this means almost perfect
circulation is maintained, as is demonstrated
by the fact that bathing caps, belts and
other articles lost in any part of the pools
always drift rapidly to the grating over the
suction pipe to the pump.
The water in both pools is turned over
every 24 hours, and although the attendance
is from 300 to 2,000 per day, bacteriological
tests have shown the water to be satisfac-
tory at all times. Since the pools have been
in use, they have been emptied and scrubbed
every two weeks. This is not necessary
from a sanitary point of view, but is highly
THESE TWO POOLS FURNISH SAFE RECREATION TO THE PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
lery for spectators. On both sides are the
bath-houses, administration building, and
lockers, so that the pools are entirely sur-
rounded and are accessible only through
doors and passages.
The capacity of each pool is approxi-
mately 250,000 gallons of water. They are
filled with filtered water from the city sup-
ply. The water is then pumped from the
lowest point in each pool by a centrifugal
pump and forced through pressure filters and
thence to the ultra violet ray sterilizers,
from which it is returned to the pool. The
desirable because, since the pool is not cov-
ered, moss or algae grow along the sides,
making the water appear very dark in color
even though samples taken from the pool
are perfectly clear when examined in a
glass cylinder.
When the pools are emptied, the sides and
bottom are washed and scrubbed with
brooms and scoured with a hose. Chloride
of lime is sprinkled over the exposed sur-
faces. The addition of a small amount of
bluestone to the water has been found to
materially retard the growth of the moss.
313
Interest in Annual Reports
A City Manager and a Water- Works Superintendent Strive for Reader Interest
THE first semi-annual report of Harri-
son G. Otis, City Manager, Clarks-
burg, W. Va., to the City Council has
recently appeared in pamphlet form and
contains features that are somewhat out of
the ordinary. This report was ordered pub-
lished by the City
Council, and 5,-
000 copies were
distributed from
house to house by
the Boy Scouts
without charge.
Each copy con-
tained a reply
card addressed to
theCity Manager
and provided
with space for
the filing of sug-
g e s t i o n s and
complaints.
The report is
only 24 pages in
length and is
written in simple
language, with
short paragraphs
and frequent
headlines, and
with only the
small amount of
figures necessary
to bring out the
desired compari-
sons. At the be-
ginning is a full
list of the per-
sonnel of the city
government, followed by an alphabetical
schedule of all the items connected with the
operation of the municipal government con-
cerning which the public most often seek in-
formation. With this schedule the telephone
number and the official to be called in each
case are given.
Following the list of city officials comes
a "Foreword and Summary," epitomizing
in single sentences the chief points of in-
terest in the report proper. The report it-
self sets forth the progress which has been
"DO DBOPS"
To Refresh the Memory and to Revive the Spirit of Co-operation
Do drop the habit of making messenger boys of your Councilman ;
Phone "92" instead.
Do drop around to the Colonial Building and get acquainted with
your city employees.
Do drop a line to the City Manager, making suggestions and com-
plaints, but do not forget to sign your name.
Do drop the custom of calling up city officials at their homes, out-
side of office hours, except in emergency cases.
Do drop in and make the City Treasurer glad by squaring up old
accounts, if you owe the City money.
Do drop the idea that the police can make and keep the town clean
morally, without your help.
Do drop a hint to the police judge when you suspect law violation;
your confidence will be respecteid if requested.
Do drop a card to the City Physician, or call "331," whenever you
learn of any reportable disease, even a very mild case
Do drop the notion that the Health Department is designed as a
spite bureau, for use in "neighborly" altercations.
Do drop your garbage and other trash in proper cans for city col-
lection, and not in the alley or over the river bdnk.
Do drop the hope that all street and sewer complaints can be given
immediate attention ; there are 28,000 other folks in town.
Do drop the theory that a few soft coal cinders on a soft mud
road will make a good pavement.
Do drop over on Hewes Street and see- our "central fire station."
Then work for one we need not be ashamed of.
Do drop in at the Public Library some afternoon or evening and
see what we have and what we need.
Do drop your work for two minutes more and lend a constructive
thought to your city government.
Do drop the attached coupon into the mail box or bring it with you
when you call at the Colonial Building
Do drop your "hammer" and pick op your "saw" and "Let's go."
made under the new form of government.
Frequent bold-faced subheads separate the
stories into easily digestible portions.
A tentative program for street improve-
ment lists about eighty streets which it is
hoped the city will be able to pave during the
next two years.
This is followed
by a detailed out-
line of the pro-
posed bond issue
and a schedule
of improvement
procedure which
boils down sev-
eral pages of
legal red tape
into fifteen short
sentences. The
back page of the
report is devoted
to "Do Drops" as
presented here-
with.
The reaction
of the taxpayer
to this informal
plea for coopera-
tion is exceed-
ingly interesting.
The City Man-
ager has received
scores of reply
cards which have
been mailed by
citizens after
reading the re-
port. The sug-
gest i o n s deal
with almost all the stages of municipal con-
struction and administration. Requests for
street lights, street and sewer repair and
improvements of various sorts are common.
One lady suggests "Fifty dogs less in Goff
Plaza" as a desirable city improvement.
Several new customers for the city's waste
collection system have resulted from the
"Do Drops." The proposed bond issue is
the basis of many of the replies received.
In addition to the written complaints and
suggestions received, a large number of
P4
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
citizens, who very likely have learned
through the report who are the proper offi-
cials to deal with various matters, have
visited the city offices for personal inter-
views. The experiment of printing and dis-
tributing a reasonably interesting and easily
read city report has resulted in increasing
the number of contacts between the city
government and the citizens and has been
found quite worth while. City official's in-
terested in securing copies of this report as
a sample for consideration and study, may
write to Harrison G. Otis, City Manager,
Clarksburg, W. Va., for a copy.
Finding Out Who Read the Report
The extent to which citizens usually read
municipal reports is well illustrated in a
recent example cited by Beekman C. Little,
Superintendent of Water-Works, Roches-
ter, N. Y. Year after year he had been
v/riting what is called an "Annual Report
of the Water Bureau" for the Mayor's an-
nual message. He had the idea that nobody
ever read the report, and wanted to test
that statement, so, hunting through the dic-
tionary for some outlandish word which
might attract atteiTtion, he found the word
'gallimaufry" [a hash or hodge-podge, Ed.]
and used it in describing an old small water-
works plant which the city had absorbed in
extending its territory. He found out very
quickly that the reporters at least read the
message, for they jumped at that word like
a trout at a fly and, through the locals col-
umns and the editorials of the Rochester
papers, a great deal of publicity was given
to "gallimaufry" and the Water-Works
Superintendent. Mr. Little states, however,
that in spite of this, not many people read
the report.
City departmental reports are frequently
garbled in the newspapers, and therefore
the preparation of a short, interesting report
which can be distributed at little or no ex-
pense through the cooperation of that ad-
mirable organization, the Boy Scouts, opens
a field for the serious consideration of mu-
nicipal officials. By distributing the report
direct to the homes, the city official is sure
that his message has reached the citizen and
the taxpayer in exactly the form in which it
was prepared.
School Buildings Make Costly Bonfires
A Warning— Most of These Fires Occurred in Small Towns and Cities
By Norman M. Stineman
A FAIRLY close watch on newspapers
during December and parts of No-
vember and January, when the cold
weather season was upon us, revealed the
complete destruction by fire of thirty-one
school buildings in various parts of the
United States, with a total reported loss of
$2,600,000. A number of other school fires
v^hich caused damage of varying degrees
without causing complete destruction are
not included in the foregoing figures. While
these reports are unofficial, it is altogether
likely that the cost of replacing the de-
stroyed buildings will be far greater than
the value of the old structures. For in-
stance, the loss reported on the high school
at Millinocket, Me., was $60,000, while the
school board is now having plans prepared
for a fire-proof building of much larger
dimensions and greatly improved facilities,
v/hich will cost several times that amount.
The schools reported as completely de-
stroyed by fire are the following:
High scliool at England, Ark., destroyed November
10, 1921. Loss $50,000.
lligh school at Millinocket, Me., destroyed Novem-
ber 13. Loss $60,000. Fire started in furnace room.
Plans under preparation for much larger fire-proof
building.
High school at Venus, Tex., destroyed November 19.
Loss $45,000.
High school at Lake Odessa, Mich., destroyed Decem-
bef 4. Loss $60,000; insurance $42,000. School offi-
cials having plans prepared for a fire-proof building.
High school at Cold Springy Ky., destroyed Decem-
ber 6. Loss $30,000; insurance only $3,000. This
was a two-story brick building built in 1850.
Village public school at Aberdeen, Tex., destroyed
December 6. Loss $3,000. Cause of fire unknown.
High school at Marshall, Mo., destroyed December 7.
Loss' $70,000; insurance $36,000. Cause of fire un-
known.
College building at Wilberforce University, Wilber-
force, Ohio, destroyed December 7. Loss $300,000.
Cause imknown.
High school at Scotts, N. C, destroyed December 8.
Loss $20,000; insurance $12,500. Fire started in fur-
Atril^ 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
315
nace room. The building had just been completed in
time for the opening of school last fall and was one
of tlie best-equipped high schools in that section of
the state.
High school at Roy, N. Mex., destroyed December 9.
Loss $45,000; insurance carried by the contractor.
The building was \mder construction and nearly com-
pleted, and was to be occupied January 2, 1922.
High school at Santa Rosa, Calif., destroyed Decem-
ber 17. Loss $75,000.
High school at Houghton, Mich., destroyed Decem-
ber 18. Loss $150,000; insurance $115,000. Fire
started in basement. Built in 1899.
High school at Presque Isle, Me., destroyed Decem-
ber 23. Loss $60,000.
Kentucky Military Institute at Lyndon, Ky., de-
stroyed in December. Loss $100,000.
Henry Lord Grammar School at Fall River, Mass.,
destroyed December 26. Loss $300,000. The building
was under construction and nearly completed. Fire
probably due to defective wiring.
Nine room high scliool at Sinking Springs, Pa., de-
stroyed December 26. Loss $60,000.
Lewis and Clark Grade School at Wenatchee, Wash.,
destroyed December 27. Loss $30,000; fully insured.
Fire started in upper part of building, probably from
defective wiring.
High school at Maquoketa, Iowa, destroyed Decem-
ber 29. Loss $80,000. Fire started in fuel room.
Administration building of Lyndon Institute, Lyn-
donville, V't., destroyed January 3. Loss $70,000; in-
surance $42,000. Cause unknown.
High school at Troy, Pa., destroyed January 6. Loss
$100,000; insurance $65,000. Caused by defective
chimney.
Independent school at Itasca, Tex., destroyed Janu-
ary 6, Loss $10,000; insurance carried.
Blackstone College for Girls at Blackstone, Va., de-
stroyed January 9. Loss $175,000; insured. Building
destroyed was only one remaining, a companion struc-
ture having been destroyed by fire in May, 1920. Will
rebuild fire-proof.
Building of Morristown Normal and Industrial Col-
lege, Morristown, Tenn., destroyed January 10. Loss
$100,000.
High and grade school at Barnum, Minn., destroyed
early in January. Loss $75,000.
High and grade school at Clarksburg, Tenn., de-
stroyed January 12. Loss $10,000; insurance $5,000.
School was built only five years ago.
High and grade school at Otter Lake, Mich., de-
stroyed January 13. Loss $40,000. Building was
completed only two years ago. Cause of fire un-
determined.
Administration building of Blackstone Military In-
stitute, Blackstone, \'a., destroyed January 14. Loss
$150,000. Probably due to defective wiring. Fire
occurred only five days after burning of a girls' school
in the same city.
St. Bartholomew's school at Columbus, Ind., de-
stioyed January 17. Amount of loss not reported.
Fire started in basement. First intimation of fire
came when flames and smoke burst through classroom *
floors occupied by the children.
High school at Wallowa. Ore., destroyed January 10.
Less $50,000: insurance $34,000. Built in 1910, and
one of the best-equipped high schools in eastern Oregon.
High school at Niagara Falls, N. Y., destroyed Janu-
ary 24. Loss $200,000; insured. Fire started in
chemistry laboratory.
Eight-room public school at Port Morris, N. J., de-
stroyed January 25. Loss $00,000; insurance $28,000.
Caused by defective chimney.
Perhaps the most noticeable fact regard-
ing these fires is that, with two exceptions,
all of them occurred in comparatively small
cities and towns. This bears out the state-
ment made in an article on page 469 of the
November, 1920, issue of The American
City to the effect that fire-proof construc-
tion for school buildings is even more neces-
sary in smaller towns and cities and in the
open country than in larger cities. In the
smaller communities fire protection is either
entirely absent or, at the most, is not as
prompt or effective as in large cities having
well-organized fire departments. This is
not an argument for non-fire-proof con-
struction of schools in large cities, for
even in those communities an occasional
disastrous fire proves the need of fire-safe
schools. Then, too, reports are not lacking
oi instances where fire-proof construction
prevented the spread of school fires that
might otherwise have resulted in costly
damage or complete destruction, thereby
proving that fire-proof construction is a
good investment.
It is extremely unfortunate that we con-
tinue to burn up our schools while many
cities are putting forth every effort toward
the raising of funds for new schools, in the
attempt to catch up with the increased
school population. It is still more unfor-
tunate that many school boards continue
the penny-wise and pound-foolish policy of
building new schools of combustible con-
struction, on the theory that they can be
built for less money. Perhaps they can be;
but J;he slight saving in first cost is out of
all proportion to the advantages that might
be gained by spending a little more money
oil first cost, thereby giving the community
a school that will not burn, that will be a
permanent investment, will command low
insurance rates and require but small main-
tenance expenditures.
Other school boards are awake to the les-
sons taught by the fires, for news comes
from Millinocket, Me., and Lake Odessa,
Mich., to the effect that the new schools
planned to replace the destroyed buildings
will be as fire-proof as modern design and
construction methods can make them. At
Champaign, 111., the Chamber of Commerce
has decided not to wait for a disastrous fire,
for a committee of the Chamber is investi-
gating existing schools with the idea of
m.aking them more fire-resistive. In view of
the conditions so forcibly demonstrated by
the long casualty list of destroyed buildings,
school boards that continue to build com-
bustible structures are failing utterly in
their duty to the community.
3i6
The Municipal Forest of Malone, N. Y.
By J. H. King
Chairman Forestry Commission, Malone, N. Y.
UNDER a New York State law of 1914,
the village of Malone took up the re-
forestation of 35 acres of denuded
pine land, given to the village by the Malone
Light and Power Company. The state fur-
nished free of charge, with the exception
of transportation, 300,000 four-year-old
transplants, made up of white and Scotch
pine and some 500 North Carolina poplar
cuttings. The young trees were set out in
seven hours by some fifty high school boys
working under the supervision of a repre-
sentative of the State College of Forestry
at Syracuse. This was in April, 1920. The
tended to reforest, so that in the end there
will be a forest of not less than 100,000
trees, and in time the village will have a
source of revenue in the reforested area if
it is handled properly.
The high hill on which the village reser-
voir is located, known as the Pinnacle, is
to be covered with trees. When this is
completed, it will be one of the beauty spots
of the town.
The municipal or town forest idea is a
rather new thing in the United States, but
it has been tried and found profitable in
Europe, where many towns derive sufficient
PLANTING TEEES IN A DISTRICT NEAR LACONIA, N. T., ON LAND SIMILAR TO THE MALONE
PLANTATION
spring of 1921 found the poplars all dead,
and all but about 3 per cent of the pines
living. The result was so encouraging that
the Chamber of Commerce planned to con-
tinue the reforestation last spring. It was,
however, impossible to secure suitable plant-
ing stock. On account of the dry season
it was not deemed advisable to plant in the
fall, so the Chamber planned to go on with
the work this spring.
There are probably 35 acres more of the
same type of barren land in the gift of the
Light and Power Company, which it is in-
revenue from their public forests to largely
offset the taxes. Many small towns in the
Black Forest of Germany have no taxes to
pay, because of their public forests, and in
some instances the citizens even receive a
dividend instead of a tax bill.
On account of the large amount of idle
land suitable only for forest growth in
many sections of New York, and also be-
cause of the scarcity of our timber supply,
it is believed that other towns could well
follow the example of Malone in establish-
ing a municipal forest.
PLANT MUNICIPAL FORESTS AND PROTECT THEM
One tree will make a million matches; one match may destroy a million trees.
317
Oavorind a Concrete Reservoir
laves Aonejj
New Reservoir Reduces Fire Hazard — Covering Protects Health
By L. J. Jellison
THE city of Dubuque, Iowa, has ade-
quately protected its main business
district from the scourge of fire and
provided for the health of citizens through
the completion of a 7,500,000-gallon covered
reservoir located on an eminence 250 feet
above the valley business center and a few
blocks away from main factories and busi-
ness places. This concrete reservoir with
its slightly arched cover is 180 feet in diam-
eter and 41 feet in depth. The cost for the
reservoir proper was $82,000, and the con-
crete cover was $32,000, a total of $114,000.
The reservoir tank was completed several
years ago, but because of its open top it
was impossible to keep the water clean. In
summer it was necessary to clean the tank
every ten days. The fire hazard, due to
putting the tank out of commission, was in-
creased. Thus the reservoir was an expen-
sive proposition, through labor and loss of
water incident to the cleaning process. The
full 7,500,000-gallon storage capacity now
insures a main pressure of from 85 to 95
pounds, whereas under old conditions 65
to 75 pounds pressure was all that could be
maintained with safety.
Benefits to the city from the improvement
have been four-fold. The town has been
given a clean bill of health. Future expense
of cleaning the reservoir during the summer
months has been done away with, through
elimination of algae growth and possible
contamination. Fire underwriters have
given the city a number of credit points that
will in time reduce insurance rates. The
construction of the arched top is such that
at some future date it can be utilized as the
foundation of a community building, or as
a skating rink.
Construction of the Reservoir
The reservoir was hewn from practically
solid rock, and thus a saving of $80,000
was effected through its location at the
present site. Proposals made at the time it
was contemplated favored a high bluff, ad-
jacent to the water-works plant near Eagle
Point, and removed from the territory to be
served by more than two miles. With fric-
tion losses so high in pumping such a dis-
tance, engineers determined the greater
value of the present site overlooking the
business artery of the city, obviating the
necessity of pumping the water a second
time, and allowing transference of many
patrons from high to low service.
The main pumping station of the city is
located at Eagle Point, where sheer bluffs
rise along the shores of the Mississippi
River. The water-supply is obtained from
sand and gravel wells ranging in depth from
100 feet downward. A surface storage
reservoir of 650,000-gallon capacity acts as
a mediary to the distribution system. There
are two services, high and low. Formerly
the low service was limited by the level of
water in a reservoir of 1,000,000-gallon ca-
pacity built to impound water from mine
workings. High-service pumps, electrically
driven, took the water from the level reser-
voir.
With the reservoir completed and in its
present location, the high friction loss as a
result of the long-distance flow has been
eliminated. An almost perfect balance is
3i8
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
maintained in all parts of the city, according
to needs, and with only a 3-pound pressure
loss as against a 41 -pound pressure loss had
the reservoir been erected on the site first
chosen.
In constructing the reservoir, contractors
were confronted with a limestone rock and
homogeneous clay formation. A circular
reservoir was decided upon because of ex-
cellent approach to property, plat and allow-
ance for a new high-service pumping sta-
tion to be built in the future.
The reservoir bottom was made level with
rock strata and with only enough pitch to
drain. The lower wall was built solidly
against rock. Despite the fact that the up-
per portions of the wall were to be sur-
rounded with clay and rock to its top, the
v/all was made just as strong as though no
earth were to l>e against it. A thin wall,
practically without horizontal reinforce-
ment wherever it was against solid rock,
was erected. Stresses in the wall above the
rock were transmitted to solid rock by
means of buttresses. Steel dams % x 8
inches, to prevent seepage, were provided
for 4-foot concrete wall sections extending
without break around the reservoir.
A 24-inch cast iron pipe acts as inlet and
outlet for the reservoir. A check valve
opens in and out of the reservoir. Incom-
ing water is circulated around the reservoir,
and produces as much stirring as possible
without artificial means. The flow out of
the reservoir is from all directions. The
valve arrangement is such as to give ade-
quate circulation within the reservoir at
minimum cost.
Enforcing the Standard Weight Bread
Law in Los Angeles County
AT the Fourteenth Annual Conference
on Weights and Measures, the sub-
stance of which has just been made
public by the Bureau of Standards of the
Department of Commerce, in Miscellaneous
Publication No. 48, Weights and Measures,
Charles M. Fuller, Sealer of Weights and
Measures of Los Angeles County, Calif.,
gave some interesting data in regard to the
enforcement of bread legislation, including
tolerances, the result of five years' success-
ful enforcement of a standard weight bread
law.
The law provides that the standard weight
of all loaves of bread within 12 hours after
baking shall be 16 ounces, 24 ounces, or
multiples of the i6-ounce size. A tolerance
of one ounce above the standard weight is
allowed for each i6-ounce unit, but no stated
tolerance below the standard weight is al-
lowed, because, were there such a tolerance,
certain unscrupulous bakers would not hesi-
tate to scale their bread that amount short.
At least 25 loaves are weighed, and the
average taken is established as the standard
weight. If there is any doubt about the
average weight, several hundred loaves are
often scaled.
When the bread is found short and the
baker has had a previous good record, all
bread as much as an ounce under weight is
seized for distribution to charitable institu-
tions, and the baker is given a warning. If
the offense is repeated, the bread is con-
fiscated and the baker is prosecuted as well.
All weighings are entered on cards printed
for that purpose, and these are filed under
the name of the bakery so that a record of
every place of business is readily available.
In the enforcement of this act, 25 bakers
have been convicted, $535 in fines has been
collected, and several thousand loaves of
bread have been confiscated and turned over
to charity. The act has worked out so suc-
cessfully in eliminating the unfair competi-
tion of bakers who would cut the price by
selling an underweight loaf, that e\ren those
firms that were first opposed to the stand-
ard weight bread law are now in favor of it.
At a meeting of the Wholesale Retail Bakers
Association of California, a unanimous
resolution was passed endorsing this law.
Municipal Tennis Courts in London
An example of the interest shown in tennis in England is gleaned from the fact
that London has 589 tennis courts under municipal control, and although the fee for
playing is quite small, the receipts from these courts last year totaled $40,000.
319
The Use of Local Mineral Aggregate in
Bituminous Macadam Roads
By Major W. A. Welch
Chief Engineer and General Manager of the Pah'sades Interstate Park Commission of
New York and New Jersey
THE proper use of local mineral aggre-
gate in bituminous road construction
means great economy in these days of
high transportation and labor costs. It is
possible to build good bituminous macadam
toad surfaces with practically any stone or
coarse gravel found in the United States,
provided this aggre-
gate is free from
loam, dust and silt
when used.
The Subgrade Is
the Real Road
The bituminous
mixture is, at best, a
wearing surface,
like the rails of a
railroad, and it must
be thoroughly and
properly supported
by the subgrade or
it will fail. The sub-
grade is the real
road. It must be
properly placed,
thoroughly drained,
well settled and
compacted, and on
such a subgrade, ex-
cept on main trunk roads, a bituminous
surface can be laid successfully with a
mineral aggregate of comparatively low
crushing strength. It is, of course, very
necessary to thoroughly bond this aggregate
and keep it free from moisture, dirt and
dust, for these are the greatest enemies of
proper bonding.
A railway engineer establishes the size
and weight of his rails in accordance with
the weight and speed of his traffic. On
main trunk lines these rails are made heavy
enough to carry the heavy, fast traffic, in
spite of minor defects in the subgrade, but
on the branch lines and feeders the rails
are lighter for economy's sake. Experience
has taught these things and many others
It would seem much wiser for the
engineer to carefully study all availa-
ble local mineral aggregates and pre-
pare his specifications to permit the
greatest possible use of them in his
surfaces than to fall into the easier
method of copying standard specifica-
tions, thus compelling contractors to
import these aggregates and so
greatly increase costs. Better put this
extra money in your subgrade work,
as that is really your road.
It is possible to build good bitu-
minous macadam road surfaces with
practically any stone or coarse gravel
found in the United States, provided
this aggregate is free from loam, dust
and silt when used.
to the railway builders, and the highway en-
gineer should profit by these years of ex-
perience and experiment, for our highways
have become very like our railway?^. Main
trunk lines should have wearing surfaces
which will carry any traffic and any speed,
without failure, in spite of minor defects
in the subgrade, but
such surfaces are
not necessary on
minor roads, and it
is not economy to
build them.
The safe crushing
strength of trap
rock or basalt aver-
ages approximately
350 tons per square
foot ; granites, 350
tons per square
foot ; limestones and
marbles, 300 tons
per square foot;
sandstones, 215 tons
per square foot;
good air-cooled slag,
300 tons per square
foot ; and ordinary
chalk, 15 tons per
square foot.
Practically all the stone in this country
comes within these limits, and all of it, save
the chalk and very soft sandstones, will
make good bituminous macadam road sur-
faces. Specifications must vary with thq
types ; the softer aggregates must be used
in larger sizes, greater care must be exer-
cised with them to keep out the dust, and
the rolling nmst be governed by the type of
aggregate. The harder stone can De thor-
oughly compacted by heavy rollers and still
be penetrated and thoroughly bonded by the
asphalt or tar, but the softer stones, when
used in penetration work, must not be rolled
as hard, or they will not allow the binder
to properly fill the voids. Care must be
taken to keep the aggregate even, as many
320
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
quarries have seams or strata of soft shaley
stone, which, if put in with the better ma-
terial, will cause trouble. More care must
be taken with the top course or seal coat
when the softer aggregates are used, to in-
sure a thorough coating on the actual wear-
ing surface.
The Cause of Failures
There is little accurate information ob-
Other failures were plainly due to im-
proper mixing or penetration, from care-
less workmanship ; others to the careless use
of dirty aggregate, so full of loam, silt or
dust that the binder was not able to reach
the stone; or the aggregate was badly
graded ; or the binder was bad or improperly
heated. One sheet asphalt failure was due
to the use of glacial silt as the only aggre-
gate, ground as fine as cement.
LAYING THE TELFORD BASE OF A BITTTMINOUS MACADAM PAVEMENT IN A HEAVILY
TRAVELED SECTION OP THE INTERSTATE PALISADES
PARK RESERVATION, NEW JERSEY
tainable on this subject. Few experimental
sections of such surfaces have been laid
and watched. Of all the failures of bitu-
n;inous macadam surfaces which have come
to the writer's notice, none have been due
in any way to the character of the mineral
aggregate. By far the greater number of
these failures are due to bad subgrade, and
the others to poor workmanship, dirt and
dust in the aggregate or poor bonding, be-
cause of improper rolling and penetration.
Many of these failures are caused by frost
action in the subgrade and by improper
drainage, which permits this frost to heave
up the surface; or by the gradual accumu-
lation of moisture in poorly drained places
in the subgrade, which destroys the support
ol the wearing surface through no fault of
that surface.
Some Successful Instances
I know of one piece of penetration surface
in which three experimental sections were
laid, each of about 500 feet. In these sec-
tions were used trap rock or very hard
basalt, limestone, just an average grade, and
sandstone of good character, while on all
the rest of the road granite of good grade
was used. This surface was laid in three
layers of 2 inches, 2 inches and i inch.
Two years after opening, a seal coat was
put on, and nothing has been done with it
in the last six years. The same materials
Vv'ere used on the seal coat, and I can dis-
tinguish no difference at all in these four
sections of pavement. This road has car-
ried as many as 400,000 cars and trucks per
season of 8 months, and the pavement is in
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
321
perfect condition; but it is laid on a perfect
subgrade and 18 inches of Telford.
Between the entrance to a ferry c:lip and
the foot of a mile-and-a-half-long hill, brick
paved on concrete base, with grades from
5 to 8 per cent, there is a rock fill 300 feet
long. As this fill was expected to settle, it
was decided to lay a temporary cinder sur-
face on it. Three inches of clean steam
cinders were spread and rolled with a 1,000-
pound roller, and bituminous binder was ap-
plied at the rate of one gallon per yard
and lightly covered with more cinders. Two
years later another application of J/^-gallon
per yard of binder was made and lightly
covered with cinders, and at the end of
another two years this 300 feet of temporary
surface is in perfect condition. More than
330,000 cars and trucks used it during the
last 8 months, and yet the crushing strength
of cinders is not great.
In eastern Ohio and western Pennsyl-
vania, much slag has been used and, when
treated like limestone, has made good sur-
faces. Many surfaces have been laid with
crushed gravel, which is, of course, just like
good crushed stone, if properly screened and
v/ashed before crushing. The usual speci-
fication for this aggregate requires 60 per
cent more of material to have angular
fragments, but some surfaces have been laid
with gravel without crushing, and when the
aggregate was clean, properly sized and
bonded, the surfaces have been good. In
Massachusetts and other New England
states, this uncrushed gravel aggregate has
been extensively used in the so-called tar
concrete pavements, with success when the
workmanship was good. Many old gravel
roads have been successfully surfaced with
only gravel aggregate. Good workmanship
nieans more in bituminous macadam sur-
faces than mineral aggregate does.
It would seem much wiser for the engi-
neer to carefully study all available local
mineral aggregate and prepare his specifica-
tions to permit the greatest possible use of
it in his surface, than to fall into the easier
method of copying standard specifications
and so compelling contractors to import
these aggregates and thus greatly increase
costs.
Better put this extra money into your sub-
grade work, for that is really your road.
Acknowledgment. — From a paper read at the Good
Roads Congress, Chicago, 111., January, 1922.
Changes in Road Surfaces
When Adam Mac Adam in 1770 developed
the road surface which to this day bears
his name, he was so far in advance of the
age that people demurred at using so ex-
pensive and unnecessarily hard a type of
surface. To-day we find that macadam
paving ranks with the cheaper and "soft"
types entirely unsuitable for much of the
traffic which passes over it. We must also
bear in mind that traffic has changed. The
horse-drawn vehicle has almost entirely
passed out of existence and has been re-
placed by the gasoline-propelled vehicle,
which carries loads many times in excess
of those carried by the horse-drawn type.
The macadam road, like the horse-drawn
vehicle, is "out of date," and surfaces are
required to-day which will withstand the
weight of the present-day traffic, although
in some localities where the traffic is no
greater in comparison than that of the
"horse, mule or ox" age, macadam can still
be used with entire satisfaction, as are
gravel, sand, clay and other "soft" types.
In the past ten years there has been a
great change in the types of roads suitable
for traffic conditions on main travelled high-
ways. In 1910, plain and surface-treated
macadam were considered among the high-
est types of paving for country roads, and
a large percentage of the mileage was of
the two types. There was a small mileage
of brick and concrete and a somewhat
greater mileage of bituminous macadam,
but plain and surface-treated macadam were
the predominant types of hard-treated
roads. How great the change has been is
shown by figures recently issued by the Bu-
reau of Public Roads. On Federal Aid
roads completed between 1916 and 1920 only
2.9 per cent of the total area paved was
plain and surface-treated macadam. The
types which formerly constituted such a
small part of the mileage were as follows:
bituminous macadam, 3.1 per cent; bitumi-
nous concrete, 6.;^ per cent; cement concrete,
19.3 per cent; brick, 4.1 per cent. — Highway
News Digest.
322
An Infant Hygiene Record Card
By Dr. A. O. Peters
Commissioner of Health, Dayton, Ohio
DAYTON'S public health nursing ser-
vice operates with ten nurses of the
Visiting Nurses' Association and ten
city nurses under the supervision of the Vis-
iting Nurses' Association and the Commis-
sioner of Health. The nurses do all kinds
of nursing in their districts except school
work. The card shown below, with a cer-
tificate of birth, is taken to the home of
every child — whether of well-to-do or of
indigent family — whose birth is reported.
This gives the nurse entry into every such
home, as the infant hygiene record cards
can be obtained in no other way.
D
NaiiM
Paren
EycP
Regul
Houn
Is Vat
ivision of Health and gL Visiting Nurses Association
dayton7J(o H r o
INFANT HYGIENE RECORD
Is - - _ ^ No. of C£iU. -Delivi^rril
tophylactic
stion of Lj{
o( Sleep
r
. Bre.st.fedf
. InterTak „
Jt'.ll.
'' '
- Temp „ VenliladoD
- How Bathedr .-
SaniUiion _...,
-
^nation in
Circumstances
Reaction to V
iait- __
REMi
RKS'
■• " 1
- „ _ ^....
:
Re-visits
Name of Nurac
REPORT 1
1 1
HELP SAVE THE BABIES
Through the cooperation of the medical profession and parents with the Division of Health and the Visiting !*iurses Association, the infant death rate in Daytori
has been reduced from 124 per one thousand living birtfis in 1913 to 83 in 1920. This is a saving of 130 infant lives every year. , '*'
It is well known that any infant death rate above 50 or 60 indicates that some babies are dying from preventable causes. This means that every year Dayton u
still losing from 60 to 100 babies whose lives should be saved. Every baby— no matter how well he may seem— needs as constant owe TO KEEP HIM WELL as any
sick person needs to restore health. If you will faithfully keep the records on this chart for which it provides, i( will greatly assist your physician in treating your
baby should it become sich and will help him to prescribe proper care to prevent sickness. At any time the visiting nurse will gladly assist you in carrying out the
orders given by your physician for the care of your baby. Call Main 2466.
CHART BELOW THE WEIGHT OF YOUR CHU.D FROM WEEK TO WEEK AND COMPARE WITH THE AVERAGE CURVE
The curved line showB the average weight of an infant during the first fifty-two weeks.
REMINDERS:
0«E
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(1) Regular feed-
ing, bathing
and sleep
(2) Regular bowel
'3) Weigh each
week. There
should be a
padual gaia
in weight
U) Give plenty of
cool, boiled
6) 'Jseproper
clothing.
(r) Don't use
paciftcra.
Ce) Forbid mouth
kissing
(9) Keep baby off
dirty floor
flO) Have plenty
o£ ventilation
— nig*it and
day
(ir No food nor
tept that pre-
scribed by the
physician
(13) Krfep flies
fl3) Regular m-
(monthly or
oftener), by
the physician
Wok
3
4
t
10
11
13
17
19
23
2«
2i
33
"
37
42
44
45
47
Lbs.
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Note in apace to
the right any ill-
neiB contracted-
by your child.
phyiician'a nam*,
if called.and other
facta
-^
^
3^3
Making the City Plan Effective
By Leo J. Buettner
Secretary, City Planning Commission, Johnstown, Pa.
tN the early stages of the city planning
work in the city of Johnstown, Pa., in
the year 1914, the Planning Commission
realized that it was necessary to have some
sort of guide in its work and requested that
the City Council make an appropriation for
this purpose. An appropriation was made,
and the Commission employed experts to
make a comprehensive plan and report of the
city of Johnstown and surrounding bor-
oughs.
When these experts started to work, the
Commission concluded that the report and
recommendations would have to be made in
such a way as to appeal to the citizens of
the community. With this idea in mind, it
was suggested that only Johnstown views be
used to illustrate the plan and report; in
other words, that photographs be taken of
•conditions in this city as they existed, and
that white lines on the photographs show
what was recommended in the way of im-
provement.
When a citizen of Johnstown opens this
book, he immediately recognizes the place
where some improvement is planned and
also gets an idea of the effect of the im-
provement. This method of illustrating
fixes the proposed change or improvement
in the mind of the citizen so clearly that he
will not easily forget it. Many other cities
are now following with great success this
idea of illustrating city planning projects.
The report and plan was printed and dis-
tributed among the leading citizens and
business men of the city. Unfortunately,
however, the Commission made the mistake
that many others have made — of not having
enough copies of the report printed. It is
when the report is first published that citi-
zens are anxious to get copies and are inr
terested in knowing what it contains. After
the first edition is exhausted, it is usually
hard to get another appropriation to cover
the cost of printing additional copies, and
the citizens do not display the same degree
JAY-WALKEKS, MAIN AND FEANKLIN STREETS, JOHNSTOWN, I-A.
1. Tlie source of the trouble: diagonal entrance to Central Park. 2. The remedy: eliminate diag^-ial
entrance; create side entrances; establish permanent pedestrian lanes; introduce semaphore system,
illuminated at night. 3. Future car tracks.
324
tHE AMtRtCAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
of interest that they did when the first edi-
tion was being distributed.
In connection with the report and plan,
the experts made a large map, 10 x 15 feet
in size. This map was erected in the city
planning headquarters and covers one side of
the room. On this map every recommenda-
tion made in the report is shown in colors.
The map is one of the best means of educat-
ing the people of the city as to the various
improvements that have been proposed. The
Commission never misses an opportunity of
showing this map to the citizens, as this is
one of the methods of making the city plan
efifective. It makes plain the practical side
of city planning, and also shows that the
comprehensive plan and report of Johns-
town does not mean "tying pink ribbons on
lamp posts." In Johnstown, as in other
cities, a great many people have the idea
that city planning means the spending of
millions of dollars to create a "City Beauti-
ful." This method of illustrating helps to
offset such ideas to a great extent.
The Taxpayers Have to Be "Shown"
It has been found that the taxpayers are
always willing to pay the bill provided that
they can see what they are getting for their
money. The education of the taxpayer is
the solution of the whole problem of making
the city plan effective. A great many of the
proposed improvements in Johnstown, as
well as in other cities, will have to be paid
for out of funds realized from the sale of
bonds. In order to do this in Pennsylvania
cities, it is necessary, after a certain per-
centage of bonded indebtedness has been
reached, to get the consent of the electors
to increase the bonded indebtedness. By
keeping the city plan continually before the
electors and showing them the practical side
of it, a planning commission makes them
thoroughly acquainted with it, and when
. they are asked to vote in favor of a bond
,iissue to pay for some improvement recom-
[-' mended in the city plan, there is no argu-
!}ment. It must also be remembered that the
taxpayers and citizens of our cities are the
ones that elect our ofificials, and, if familiar
j with the provisions of the comprehensive
i plan, will support candidates for city and
county offices who are pledged to carry out
the city plan.
It is always a question of "Why?" with
the taxpayer. In order to show the tax-
payer why, Johnstown has a complete set of
lantern slides of all the pictures and maps in
the comprehensive plan and survey. With
these the Commission goes before any club,
Sunday school, lodge, social organization,
parent-teachers' association, and any other
gathering of people who desire to hear
about the proposed improvements. This lec-
ture on the comprehensive plan can be had
upon application to the Commission, with-
out cost or expense to the organization or
gathering. The lectures help to get a great
deal of public sentiment back of the plan.
Intelligent Use of Local Newspapers
The newspapers are also a great factor
in making the city plan effective. The
Johnstown newspapers are to be very highly
commended for the splendid manner in
which they cooperate with with the Plan-
ning Commission in giving its recommenda-
tions unlimited space and in often comment-
ing editorially upon the recommendations.
In giving newspaper publicity to a compre-
hensive plan, however, great care must be
taken in writing the articles and in making
statements of the probable cost of the pro-
posed improvement. The best method is to
"make haste slowly." It is very easy to
scare the citizens of smaller cities regarding
the carrying out of the provisions of the
comprehensive plan, especially if they see
headlines like this: "$10,000,000 Will Com-
plete City Plan." When an approximate
estimate of the cost of any improvement is
published in a newspaper, the article should
also, if possible, carry with it an approxi-
mate estimate of the increased valuation
that will result from the proposed improve-
ment. This will show that city planning is
really a paying investment. If cities would
estimate the increased values of the sur-
rounding properties that are derived by
making improvements, there would be little
or no trouble in actually carrying out a large
number of the proposed improvements
within a comparatively short time.
The Schools the Most Effective Ally
All of the foregoing will help to make the
city plan effective, but the very best method
is the use of the schools. A city planning
commission can with a little assistance or
cooperation on the part of the school
authorities obtain wonderful results. In
Johnstown the Commission has been very
successful with the plan in the schools. In
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
325
STREET OBSTRUCTIONS
1. Actual space between obstructions,
projecting steps. 4. Crates, etc.
2. Legal width of sidewalk, 13 feet. 3. Cellar entrances,
the fall of 1920 it was suggested to the
superintendent of grammar grade schools
that the comprehensive plan be used in the
schools in some way so that the pupils as
well as the city would get the benefit. As a
result the comprehensive plan and survey
was adopted by the teachers of the eighth
grades as the subject for the study of the
English language under the title of "Future
Johnstown." This was done in the follow-
ing manner :
First of all, the Commission held a meet-
ing with the teachers and lectured to them,
showing them the various slides. The plan
was then divided into six parts as follows :
Commission, jurisdiction, duties and object
The plan as a whole
Thoroughfares
Rivers and bridges
Parks and playgrounds
Municipal buildings
One subject was assigned to each of the
six grammar grade schools. Next, the Com-
mission took the slides into the schools and
lectured to the children. Each slide was
shown and briefly explained. The children
were allowed to ask questions, in order to
make sure that the pupils understood the
proposed improvement thoroughly. Then
the children were taken to the sites of the
proposed improvements. Every child was
required to make an oral report and later a
written report of the improvement. The
pupils thus were learning how to use Eng-
lish correctly and at the same time learning
the needs of their city. The children wrote
original stories about the proposed improve-
ments, as no printed matter was given them.
The object of this method was to get the
children to ask questions, and this is where
the valuable part of the school work came in.
Mother, father, sister, brother, relatives and
friends were interviewed on these subjects
by the little folks. Usually, the adult was
not familiar with the plan and gave the child
some excuse or put off answering its ques-
tions until such time as he could come to the
City Hall and find out about the improve-
ment upon which the student desired in-
formation. In this way the large map was
again used to make friends for the plan.
As the work in the school progressed,
speakers were developed, and one of the
pupils was selected from each class as its
speaker on "Future Johnstown," at the com-
mencement exercises. On the evening of
the commencement exercises these pupils
gave an illustrated lecture on the needs of
328
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
If you see caterpillars stripping willows,
poplars, aspens and cottonwoods, don't go
by on the other side. Stop and obtain some
specimens and mail them in a box, secure
against breakage, to your state entomologist,
or write and tell him what you have seen.
The satin moths have pure white wings,
and their bodies are covered with long
white hairs, so that the whole appearance is
as of satin. The males are a little smaller
than the females, and the body length varies
from 15 to 20 millimeters in the male and
20 to 25 millimeters in th6 female, with the
wing expanse varying from 35 to 55 milli-
meters. In other words, they are almost an
inch long and the wings spread from one
and a half to two inches in width.
The eggs are laid in conspicuous patches
from one-half to one inch in length and are
covered with a white secretion. A single
female may lay as many as 550 eggs. Most
of the egg-laying is done in the middle of
July. In Europe these eggs may not hatch
until the next spring, but in Massachusetts
they were observed to hatch in hot weather
in about 15 days.
The larvae have many tubercles bearing
long hairs and are conspicuously marked
with large whitish patches on the dorsum
of the segments. The young larvae feed on
the epidermis of the leaves, giving them a
skeletonized appearance. When they reach
about the third stage of development, they
construct little silken hibernating pockets
in the crevices of the bark, and here they
remain dormant until the spring foliage
comes out, when they appear and feed until
fully developed in June or July. They seek
shelter and construct cocoons on the trees
or sides of houses. The pupal stage lasts
about nine days. The first moths have been
observed in New England about July 2, and
from then on they become very abundant.
The new bulletin is entitled, "The Satin
Moth: An Introduced Enemy of Poplars
and Willows," by A. F. Burgess, U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture, Department Cir-
cular 167, May, 1921, and can be obtained
on application to the Bureau of Entomology,
Washington, D. C. It was not primarily the
purpose of this article to discuss the new
pest, but rather to draw a lesson from its
arrival and establishment.
The Menace of Foreign Pests
The whole record of American shade tree
troubles proves to us that our trees are most
endangered by the foreign importations. It
seems to be a biological law that a pest es-
caped from its natural environment and its
normal enemies, and transplanted into a
favorable climate with the proper food, will
become far more serious than in its native
habitat.
We have but to mention again the gipsy
moth, which came to America about thirty
years ago, and the brown tail moth, which
appeared a little later; these two species
nearly devastated the trees of New England,
and were fast advanc'ng on New York when
vigorous measures were taken to suppress
them. We will cite the elm leaf beetle, the
willow leaf beetle, the Japanese beetle, the
horse chestnut borer, the San Jose scale,
and many other scales, the pine shoot moth,
the elm sawfly, the poplar borer, the poplar
curculio, as prominent among the forest and
shade tree pests that have come to our shores
uninvited and taken possession of our price-
less heritage.
In 1917 the writer edited for the Depart-
ment of Agriculture a volume known as the
"Manual of Dangerous Insects Likely to Be
Imported." The purpose and intent of this
volume was to call the attention of our
American authorities to the numerous pests
of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and
South America which might in our great
extending commerce reach our shores and
become pests. The time is coming when our
nation must have outposts in all lands
whence come our imports, stationed there to
observe the dangerous pests and warn our
authorities, as well as guard our coinmerce
by preventing the importation of dangerous
products. Such action will have the whole-
some effect of forcing importing nations to
effect control of their pests in order to save
their commerce.
The Need of Local Vigilance
This event must emphasize more than
ever the need of national, state and mu-
nicipal vigilance, if we are to save for
future generations the trees we love so
well. It will not do to rely on the meager
Federal and state appropriations to keep
pests from reaching our shores and spread-
ing. Every city must have expert forces
constantly engaged in watching and caring
for its trees and shrubbery. They must be
men who know what to guard against and
what they must do in emergency.
Pest control is a highly developed science.
April, 19^^
TME AMERICAN CI t Y
3i^
I
At present it involves
a tremendous amount
of technical training.
No two pests can be
controlled in exactly
the same manner, and
the entomologist must
know the diiiferent
methods available and
exercise his judgment
and past experience in
meeting the tree prob-
lems under his jurisdic-
tion.
The glory of every
city is the mantle of
green formed by its
shade trees, those
blessed companions of
man, which give him
shade and shelter and
relieve his eycjstrain
caused by the glare of
city streets. The ti*ees
are the most important
agency in clarifying
the atmosphere. They
are the pride of the
householder, the mod-
els of the artist, the in-
spirers of the poet.
Such of our cities as have become congested
and pushed their house lines on the side-
walks, long since found the absolute neces-
sity of creating frequent breathing spaces,
where green grass and beautiful trees could
be grown, to give relief to the dweller in
the closely packed sections.
The parks are the resting-places of the
populace. Residential sections with park-
ings of trees are the most highly prized by
home owners, and, in fact, the presence of a
beautiful tree on a property is a distinct
asset from the real-estate standpoint.
If the citizens prize the trees so highly,
why are our cities often so negligent of the
health of their shade trees ? When a mem-
ber of our family is sick, we call in a spe-
cialist and expect him to cure the disease.
For every trouble we consult men who know
what to do, except when our trees are in
danger; then we seem to pass the responsi-
bility on to some one else, or shrug our
shoulders, and say, "It is too bad" — but in
many cities no action results. That is why
these new pests get a strangle-hold on the
I'OT'LARS IN A MASSACHUSETTS TOWN, DENUDED BY
THE SATIN MOTH
nation. If the men of Watertown and Cam-
bridge who observed the satin moth in 1918
and 1919 had truly done their duty, we
should not have in New England a pest
threatening the poplars and willows of
America.
The control of your shade tree pests
should be confided only to reputable tech-
nical men who can show by diploma or other
credential that they are qualified as experts
to handle these problems. Every different
species of tree has its own distinct types of
pests. All of the pests of a single tree can-
not be handled by any one or two standard
m.ethods, nor can they all be reached at the
same time of the year. Only certain pests
can be reached by lime-sulphur sprays;
some must be treated with nicotines, arsen-
icals, oils, etc.; some must be guarded
against by banding; others work in the
heart of the tree or branch and present
extremely serious problems. Who but a
technically trained man can be expected to
know how to go about solving these prob-
lems and effecting control?
330
What Is a Fair Salary for a City Clerk?
THE following tables, prepared from a
questionnaire sent out by The Amer-
ican City, cover a distribution of re-
plies wide enough to give a fair idea of the
current salaries of city clerks. It is diffi-
cult to compare the salaries of city clerks.
Their duties differ considerably in various
localities, making it necessary to be careful
not to draw hasty conclusions from these
figures.
Among the large cities reporting, Minne-
apolis, Minn., pays the highest salary —
$4,500. Pittsburgh, Pa., which is larger
than Minneapolis, pays but $3,600. There
are considerable differences in the salaries
paid in the cities of about 100,000 popula-
tion: Lawrence, Mass., $2,800; Lowell,
Mass., the same; Trenton, N. J., $2,400;
Oklahoma City, Okla., $3,000; Erie, Pa.,
$2,500; Reading, Pa., $2,400; Scranton, Pa.,
$2,300; Nashville, Tenn., $3,000. Wide
divergences appear in the 75,C)00 group.
Sioux City, la., reports $175 a month, a
rate of $2,100 a year; Wichita, Kans.,
$2,400; Holyoke, Mass., $3,000; St. Joseph,
Mo., $1,800; Allentown, Pa., $2,000;
Charleston, S. C, $2,400. In the 30-50,000
group are such figures as that of Stamford,
Conn., $3,500, which compares favorably
with the salary paid in much larger places;
Decatur, 111., $1,800 and fees; Gary, Ind.,
$3,000; Lewiston, Me., $1,800; Salem,
Mass., $2,400; Bay City, Mich., $2,000;
Jackson, Mich., $2,500; and Lansing, Mich.,
$2,400. It is interesting to note that Mont-
clair, N. J., pays $3,900, while Orange, N.
J., slightly larger, pays but $2,400, and
Union, N. J., with a still smaller population,
$4,000.
In the smaller cities and towns compari-
son is very difficult. In most villages, and
in many places of considerable size, the city
clerk is expected to devote only a portion
of his time to the duties of that office. For
instance, in Chillicothe, Ohio, the city clerk
draws no salary as such, his office being
combined with that of city auditor. In fact,
combinations of offices are frequently met,
although these are not Indicated on the
tables. A few of the typical ones may be
noted, as they may suggest feasible combi-
nations for other cities :
In Weiser, Idaho, the city clerk is also
police judge. In Hymera, Ind., his office is
combined with that of city treasurer; in
Atlantic, Iowa, which pays $290 a month,
he is also superintendent of utilities. In
Tipton, la., he is weight master and col-
lector. Combinations of the offices of city
clerk and city auditor or city treasurer are
common. In Westfield, Mass., the city clerk
is also clerk of registrars; in Forsyth,
Mont., city attorney; in West View, Pa.,
street commissioner and building inspector;
in Orange, Texas, city treasurer, tax asses-
sor and collector. City clerks act as city
purchasing agents in many places, among
which may be mentioned Tekoa, Wash.,
Aliquippa, Pa., Farrell, Pa. Two cities re-
port that the city manager performs the
duties of city clerk: Franklin, N. Y. (where
he is also purchasing agent), and Black-
stone, Va. In places of small size, where
there are a number of duties no one of
which requires full time, and yet where
each requires considerable attention, such
combinations work out very well and are
to be recommended
A number of cities report that the city
clerk is partly paid from fees or commis-
sions of various sorts. Welsh, La., Bar
Harbor, Maine, and Bath, Maine, report
that the clerk is paid no regular salary, but
receives fees only.
SALARIES OF CITY CLERKS
Unless Otherwise Stated, Figures Represent
Yearly Salary
State and City Population
Alabama
Albany 7,652
Brewton 2,682
Arizona
Bisbee 9,205
Globe 7,044
Mesa 3,036
Miami 6,689
Prescott 4,300
Tucson 20,292
California
Grass Valley 4,006
Huntington P'k 4,513
Sawtelle
Colorado
Durango 4,116
Greeley 10,833
Monte Vista 2,367
Montrose 3,581
Paonia
* m — per month.
** f — plus fees.
Over
10,000
Under
10,000
$ 180 m*
45 f**
400
200 m
200 m
250 m
105 m
225 m
1,320
150
50
125 m
2,100
400'
110
100 m
Al'KIL, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
331
I
State and City Population
Pueblo 42,908
Rockv Ford 3,746
Salida 4,689
Trinidad 10,906
Connecticut
Stamford 35,086
Torrington 20,623
Florida
Miami 29,549
Miami Beach
Georgia
Perry
Thomasville 8,196
\'aldosta 10,783
Idaho
Lewiston 6,574
Paris
Payette
Rexburg 3,569
Wallace 2,816
Weiser
Illinois
Abington 2,721
Arlington H'ts
Carbondale 6,267
Clinton 5,898
Decatur 43,818
Eureka • '
Golconda
Harvard 3,294
La Grange
I.a Grange P'k ....
Mascoutah 2,343
Mound City 2,756
Oregon 2,227
Princeton 4,126
Zion 5,580
Indiana
Covingfton
Crown Point 3,232
Frankfort 11,585
Gary 56,375
Hymera
Mishawaka 15,195
Mt. Vernon 5,284
Salem 2,836
Tell City 4,086
Winchester 4,021
Iowa
Afton
Atlantic 5,329
Relle Plaine 3,887
Chariton 5,175
Cherokee 5,824
Clear Lake 2,804
Elkadcr
Fort Madison 12,066
C.lenwood 3,862
Guthrie Center....
Hawarden 2,491
Humboldt
Manchester 3,111
Muscatine 16,068
Oelwein 7,455
Osceola 2,684
Perry 5,642
Rock Rapids 2,172
Sheldon 3,488
Shenandoah 5,255
Sidney
Sioux City 71,227
Spirit Lake
Tama 2,601
Tipton 2,142
Kansas
Anthony 2,740
P.aldwin City
Cherry vale 4,698
CofTeyville 13,452
Conway Springs. . .
Dodge City 5,061
Over
10,000
2,280
150 ni
3,500
37.50 wk.
Under
10,000
300
125 m
150 m
1,800 f
1,000
3,000
1,700
1,800
1,500
225 m
60
135
m
160
m
400
1,200
1,800
1,000
145
1,200
125
100
m
600
200
50
f
25
m
70
m
250
300
100
mf
1,500
165
m
900
450
500
180
135 m
850
200
250
700
100
f
290
m
115
m
90
m
900
20
m
100
300
35
m
175
m
200
130
m
70
m
400
100
m
150
150
m
125
m
50
60O
175
135
m
150
70
m
110
m
60
,800
State and City Population
Douglass
Ellis
Fort Scott 10,693
Fredonia 3,954
Harper
Hays 3,165
Hillsboro
Hoisington 2,395
Horton 4,009
Hutchinson 23,298
Kinsley
Lebanon
Marion
Marvsville 3,048
Olat'he 3,268
Ottawa 9,018
Parsons 16,028
Peabody 2,455
Pittsburg 18,052
Protection
Stafford
Troy
Weir 1,945
Wellington 7,048
Wichita 72,217
Wilson
Kentucky
Cvnthiana 3,857
Hickman 2,633
Somerset 4,672
Louisiana
Colfax
Honaldsonville .... 3,745
Thibodaux 3,526
Vivian
Welsh
Maine
Bar Harbor 3,622
Bath 14,731
Brewer 6,064
Lewiston 31,707
Maryland
Chcstertown 2,537
Easton 3,442
Port Deposit
Westernport 2,977
Massachusetts
Attleboro 19,731
Blackstone 4,836
Dracut 5,280
Gloucester 22,9J7
Holbronk 3,101
Holyoke 60,203
I^wrence 94,270
Lowell 112,759
Ludlow 7,470
Montague 7,675
Marblehead 7,324
Melrose 18,204
Millbury 5,652
Northbridge 10,074
Pepperell 2,468
Salem 42,515
Sutton 2,578
Taunton 37,137
Uxbridge 5,384
Westfield 18.603
Wej-mouth 15,057
Wiliiamstown 3.707
Winchester 10,391
Winthrop 15,446
Michigan
Allegan 3,637
Alma 7,542
Bay City 47,554
Bessemer 5,482
Big Rapids 4,558
Blissfield
Cadillac 9,734
Kast Jordan 2,428
Hancock 7,527
Harbor Beach
Holland 12,166
Over
10,000
1,800
1,800
1,800
2,400
fees only
1,800
1,800
1,500
3,000
2,800
2,800
1,800
35 m
2,400
2,500
2,000
250 f
812.50
520 f
2,000
2,600
Under
10,000
50'
m
600
100
m
75
m
140
m
35
m
75
m
100
m
60
m
65
85
75
m
100
m
1,500
50
m
37.50
m
150
m
420
300
125
m
95
150
300
75
40 m
120
15 m
fees only
fees only
520 f
420
1,500
50
300
75 f
200
200
600
400 f
abiout 800
200
200
100 f
800
300
150 m
3,000
1,800
1,200
100
2,000
35 m
135 m
1,500
2,2,2
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
State and City Population
Iron Mountain 8,251
Ishpeming 10,500
Jackson 48,374
Jonesville
Lansing 57,327
Ludington 8,810
Marine City 3,731
Marquette 12,718
Menominee 8,907
Niles 7,311
Royal Oak
St. Clair 3,204
Sparta
Wyandotte 13,851
Minnesota
Bertha
Jackson 2,144
Le Sueur
Minneapolis 380,582
Renville
St. Charles
Mississippi
Amory 2,801
Pontotoc
Tupelo 5,065
Missouri
Butler 2,702
Carthage 10,068
Charleston 3,410
Columbia 10,379
Farmington 2,886
Greenfield
Harrisonville 2,073
Higginsville 2,724
Joplin . 29,902
Monroe Citv
Poplar Bluff 8,042
St. Joseph 77,939
Sarcoxie
Sedalia 21,144
Sikeston 3,797
Slater 3,797
Montana
Big Timber
Forsyth
Glasgow 2,059
Glendive 3,816
Great Falls 24,121
Havre 5,429
Red Lodge 4,515
Kalispell 5,147
Livingston 6,326
Miles City 7,937
Roundup 2,409
Whitefish 2,867
Nebraska
Bloomfield
Clay Center
College View 2,249
Crawford
Grand Island 13,960
Hebron
Loup Citv
McCook '. 4,303
Norfolk 8,634
Osceola
Ralston
Stromsburg
Wahoo 2,338
Wayne ^... 2,115
Wilber
Nevada
Reno 12,016
Sparks 3,238
New nAMPsiiiRE
Berlin 16,104
Concord 22,167
Franklin 6,318
Milford 3,783
New Jersey
Asbury Park 12,400
Belvidere
Over
lO.OOO'
1,000'
2,500
2,400
125 m
2,400
4,500
125 m
100 m
1,800
1,80'0
1,200
1,400 f
1,400
1,500
Under
10,000
150 m
300
1,800'
1,200
1,640.16
1,800
2,400
1,200
10 m
35
40 m
37.50 m
180
100
125 m
45 m
85 m
fees only
300 f
fees only
200
150
35 m
75
1,200 f
2.50 m
70 m
400
50 m
500
125 m
75 m
50 m
60 m
1,500
175 m
2,000
300
1,200
300
50 m
110
300
150
200
300
100' m
300
150
100
250
300
300
60 m
1,500
200
200
State and City Population
Cape May City.... 2,999
Edgewater 3,530
Englewood 11,627
Frenchtown
Jamesburg 2,671
Long Branch 13,521
Madison 5,523
Milltown
Montclair 28,810
Orange 33,239
Plainfield 27,700
Princeton 5,917
Roselle Park 5,438
Salem 7,435
Summit 10,174
Trenton 111,289
Union 20,651
Westfield 9,026
Wildwood
NiiW Mexico
Albuquerque 15,157
Deming 3,212
New York
Adams
Auburn 36,192
Babylon 2,523
Brewster
Canton 2,631
Catskill 4,728
Cazenovia
Champlain
Clinton
Clyde 2,528
Cuba
East Aurora 3,703
Floral Park
Glens Falls 16,638
Groton 2,235
Haverstraw 5,226
Hempstead 6,382
Homer 2,356
Hudson 11,745
Jamestown 38,917
Kenmore 3,100
Newark 6,964
Newburgh 30,272
New Paltz
Niagara Falls 50,760
Norwich 8,269
Ogdensburg 14,609
Olean 20,500
Phelps
Philmont
Port Chester 16,572
Poughkeepsie 35,000
Sal.-imanca 9,276
Saratoga .Springs... 13,181
Scotia 4,358
Sherburne
Sherrill
Sidney 2,670
Walton 5,425
Waterloo 3,809
Watertown 31,285
North Carolina
Asheville 28,504
Canton
Edenton 2,777
Gastonia 12,871
Hickory 5,076
King's Mt 2,800
Raleigh 28,674
Reidsville 5,333
Salisbury 13,884
Waynesville 1,943
North Dakota
Casselton
Enderlin
Hillsboro
Jamestown 6,627
Landon 1,223
Lidgerwood
Lisbon
Oakes
Wahpeton 3,069
Over
10,000
1,200
1,500
3,900
2,400
3,000
1,000
2,400
4,000
125 m
2,700
1,100
1,500
1,900
2,500
3,300
1,800
2,100
1,500
2,500
1,650
3,000
2,100
2,600
1,800
Under
10,000
1,000
1,500
150
150 f
2400
400 f
900
500
500
1,000
840 f
300 f
250
350
125
150
600
600
100
150
100 f
±80
500
400
1,200
400
2,200
150
(0 m
40 m
125
300
175
75
1,700
1,600
600
125
240
300
200
60
m
1,400
3,000
100
m
, 150
m
250
300
200
35
1,800
250
200
40
m
50
m
6Q0
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
333
Over
State and City Population 10,000
Ohio
Arcanum
Karnesville 4,865
Bellefontaine 9,336
Bowling Green 5,788
Brookville
Cheviot
Chillicothe 15,831
Cleves
Delaware 8,756
Elyria 20,474 1,500
Granville
Htiron
Kenmore 12,683 1,800
Kent 7,070
Lebanon 3,396
M'Connellsvillc . . .
Mansfield 27,824 2,400
Mt. Gilead
Ottawa
Painesville 7,272
Sandusky 22,897 960
Vermillion
Oklahoma
Anadarko 3,110
Blackwell 7,174
Boley
Broken Arrow 2,086
Edmond 2,452
Lawton 8,930
Madill 2,717
McAlester 12,095 2,100
Muskogee 30,277 2,500
Oklahoma City 91,258 3,000
Poteau 2,679
Sapulpa 11,634 2,100
Stigler
Stillwater 4,701
Tahle<iuah 2,271
Okfgon
Eugene 10,593 140 m
Grant's Pass 3,151
Klamath Falls 4,801
La Grande 6,913
Pendleton 7,387
Seaside
Tillamook
Woodhurn
Pennsylvania
Aliquippa
Allentown 73,502 2,000
Bangor
Berwick 12,181 500
Bradford 15,525 2,500
Bridceville
Bristol 10,273 400
California 2,480
Cambridge Springs.
Catawissa
Chamhersburg 13,171 1,800
F'ast Bangor
East Stroudsburg. . 4,855
Ebensburg
Ell wood City 8.958
Emaus 4,370
Erie 93,372 2,500
Farrell
Franklin 9,970
Greenville 8,101
Harrisburg 75,917 2,100
Hawley
Indiana 7,013
Ingram 2,900
Tohnsonhurg 5,400
Kennctt Sq 2,398
Landsdowne 4,797
Lititz 3,680
McDonald 2,751
McKeesport 45,975 1,800
McSherrystown . . .
Malvern
Meadville 15,563 2,000
MiPlinburg
Montrose
Under
10,000
260
300
1,600
1,490
200
900
nonet
150 m
1,700
200
175
1,800
900
30 m
30 m
260
none
360
1,200
2,400
20 m
75 m
100 m
1,800
125 m
25 m
125
m
1,800
40
m
1,020
175
m
135
m
125
m
1,700
150
m
100
m
65
m
370
250
300
360
460
175
60 m
120
170 m
25 m
140 m
2,000
1,560
50
400
300
35 m
150
600
120
400
35
150
1,600
76
t Office of city clerk coml)ined with that of city
auditor.
State and City Population
Narbuth 3,704
Northampton 9,349
Oakmont 4,512
Perkasie 3,150
Pitcairn 5,738
Pittsburgh 588,193
Reading 107,784
Sayre 8,078
Scranton 137,783
Shenandoah 24,726
Spangler 3,035
Susquehanna 3,764
Swoyersville 6,876
Uniontown 15,609
Washington 21,480
West View
Wrightsville 1,943
Youngsville
Rhode Island
Pawtucket 64,248
Warren 7,841
South Carolina
Bamberg 2,210
Barnwell
Bennettsyille 3,197
Branchville
Charleston 67,957
Darlington 4,669
Greenwood 8,703
Orangeburg 7,290
Valhalla 2,088
South Dakota
Aberdeen 14,537
Canton 2,225
Clark
Elk Point
Flandreau
Ilighmore
Huron 8,302
Mitchell 8,478
Platte
Watertown 9,400
Tennessee
Bristol 8,047
Dyersburg 6,444
Harriman 4,019
Nashville 118.340
Texas
Beaumont 40,422
Brady 2,197
Brownsville 11,791
Brvan 6,307
Corsicana 11,356
Crockett 3,061
Del Rio 10,589
Denison 17,005
Flatonia
Galveston 44,255
Karnes City
Longview 5,71 3
Marshall 14.271
Memphis 2,839
Mineral Wells 7,890
Now Braunfels 3,950
Orange 9,212
Paris 14,040
Pilot Point
San Maria 4,527
Seymour 2,121
Terrell 8,349
Tcxarkana 11,480
Tyler 12,085
Vernon 5,142
Weatherford 6,203
Yoakum 6,184
Utah
Cedar City 2,462
Logan 9,439
Parowan
Vermont
Hardwick 1,550
Lyndonville 3,558
Montpelier 7,125
Over
10,000
3,600
2,400
2,300
1,100
1,980
2,200
3,750
2,400
175 m
200 m
1.50 m
190 m
Under
10,000
100
20 m
400
300
x,800
500
126
300
360
180 m
75
20 m
750 f
80 m
900
151.67 m
300
2,400
1,800
1,680
190 m
25 m
165 m
300
1,600
200
SOO
460
2,400
2,100
150
1,890
1,800
2,000
1,200
3,000
3,000
110 m
100
m
175 m
125
m
50 m
125
m
175
m
20 m
25 m
185 m
360
1,500
2,000
225 m
7.50 m
90O
fees only
125 m
2,400
600
1,500
400
175 m
125
1,100
25 m
2,000
334
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. ,]
State and City Population
Newport 4,97()
Northfield 3,096
Springfield 5,283
Virginia
Bristol 6,729
Chase City
Cape diaries
Chatham
Covington 5,623
Falls Church
Newport News 35,596
Norton
Suffolk 9,123
West Point
Washington
Bremerton 8,918
Davenport
Everett 27,644
Garfield
Pullman 2,440'
Puyallup 6.271
Over
10,000'
3,000
175 m
Under
10,000
2,100
100
800
150 m
none
300
60
1,500
10 m
10 mf
1,100
12
150 m
900
25 m
100 m
45 m
State and City Population
Ritzville
Tci<oa
Wenatchee 6,324
West X^ikginia
Clarksburg 27,869
Elkins 6,788
Martinshurg 12,515
Monndsville 10,669
Wheeling 54,322
Wisconsin
Alma
Bloomer
Chilton
Clintonville 3,275
Madison 38,278
Manitow.jc 17,563
Nekoosa
Park Falls 2,676
Phillips
Sheboygan 30,955
Over
10,000
2,400
1,500
1,500
3,000
2,400
2,700
1,500
Under
10,000
900
40 m
200
1,400
200
200
600
900
250
60 m
600
The Smoke Problem in Cities
The Elimination of Smoke a Municipal Problem in Which Federal Help is Assured
MUNICIPAL authorities or organiza-
tions in New Orleans, Kansas City,
Salt Lake City, Akron and Spring-
field, Ohio, and many other large cities are
taking active steps in fighting the smoke
evil. Smoke is the unsightly and offensive
resultant of improper combustion and is
damaging to both health and property. The
prevention of objectionable smoke in the
manufacturing and business centers of
large cities is a problem that cannot be
easily solved, and at present no city v^hich
uses a considerable quantity of bituminous
coal is free from smoke. The cities of the
East, however, have avoided this problem
by a general use of the smaller sizes of
anthracite coal. For this reason it is not
surprising that the greatest improvement in
the methods of burning bituminous coal has
been made in the Central and Western
States.
The smoke problem is nearly as old as
civilization itself, for coal was being mined
in Great Britain about the tenth century.
In 1306, Edward I issued a proclamation
prohibiting the burning of coal in the
city of London, because of the "sulferous
smoke and savour of the firing." In 1648
the people of London petitioned Parliament
to prevent the importation of coal into the
city. Beginning about 1750, when steam
was applied to industrial purposes, coal be-
gan to be used more extensively, and con-
sequently smoke became more abundant. In
1819, the government appointed a House of
(Commons' committee to inquire into the
matter, and another committee was ap-
pointed in 1843, Two reports were issued
in 1843 ^"d 1845, but no legislation resulted.
Other investigations were made in 1846,
1854 and 1866, and finally in 1875 the Public
Health Act was passed, dealing with the
question of smoke.
In the United States the problem, of
course, did not appear so early, but as cities
of considerable size developed here, the
problem was also felt. It has been the sub-
ject of discussions, finally becoming of such
importance that extensive investigations
were made in Pittsburgh, Chicago and Salt
Lake City by the U. S. Bureau of Mines.
The Salt Lake City investigation was de-
scribed in some detail in the July, 1920,
issue of The American City.
Smokeless combustion requires the
maintenance of a uniform and proper sup-
ply of fuel and air under conditions of suit-
able temperature, mixing, and volume of
combustion space. The one word "uniform-
ity" embraces most of the ideals for smokeless
combustion. There are available for power-
plants, both municipal and private, a variety
of designs of mechanical stokers that, when
properly operated, will result in smokeless
combustion. When improperly operated,
however, the mechanical stoker will produce
smoke just as abundantly as improper hand-
firing. In some parts of the United States
where the coal mostly in use is one that
easily produces smoke, the smoke from
household fires becomes a nuisance. Salt
Lake City is an example of such a place,
Saving Roads From Impact
The Importance of Surface Finish and Methods of Maintaining It
By H. Eltinge Breed
Consulting Engineer, New York City
IN an economically designed concrete
road, the life of the pavement depends as
much upon the surface finish as upon
any other factor. We know that impact is
the great cause of destruction of our pave-
ments. As a smooth cylinder is rolled along
n smooth table there is practically no im-
pact, but if there are ridges in the table, and
the cylinder bumps along over them, there
will be such a series of impacts that, if the
cylinder be heavy enough and be rolled
often enough, the surface will be worn out
and the table damaged.
That is analogous to what is happening
to our roads. If the wheels of the vehicles
are smooth and the pavement surfaces
smooth, there is no damaging impact from
traffic. The road lasts, even though it be
weak in proportion to the volume and
weight of traffic it must carry. If surface
irregularities develop, the whole pavement,
no matter how strongly built, soon shows
the effects of wear. Our roads are built
usually to withstand a pressure of 800
pounds per lineal inch of tire, yet if a %-
inch obstruction occurs in the surface, the
impact of one rear wheel of a 5-ton truck
may exert an impact presssure of 20,000
pounds upon the road. Under such pressure
the unevenness becomes a depression, whose
edges spall and break, causing further im-
pact and more depressions until the pave-
ment is badly damaged.
Causes of Uneven Pavement Surfaces
There are five general causes of uneven
surfaces in pavements :
1. Foreign materials in the aggregate, which,
failing to amalgamate, are thrown out,
leaving holes and depressions.
2. Non-uniform aggregates, which cause in-
equalities in wearing resistance to traf-
fic, and subsequent depressions in the
weaker places.
3. Poor workmanship in striking off and
finishing concrete pavements.
4. Cracks, longitudinal and transverse, due
to frost action, changes of temperature,
or unequal bearing in the subsoil.
5. Uneven joints, perhaps the most common
cause of surface troubles, due often to
the piling up of joint material or to a
difference in elevation of slab surfaces.
Three Maintenance Methods
Three general methods of preserving
good surface finish, once it is obtained, are
the use of steel reinforcements, the division
of the road longitudinally, and the wider
spacing of joints with the use of dowels.
The chief advantage of steel reinforcing
is that it gives the road greater bearing
power and greater resistance to frost action.
It also offsets irregularities and weaknesses
in subsoil. By helping to preserve the in-
tegrity of the pavement, it minimizes any
tendency towards cracking, which is, of
course, a cause of surface unevenness.
The division of the road longitudinally
increases its beam strength about four-fold.
Observation has shown that longitudinal
cracks are not found in slabs 9 or 10 feet
wid(*, although they are encountered in
practically all slabs beyond that width. The
reason for this difference is still a matter
of conjecture, but until it is ascertained,
highway engineers should be guided by re-
sults hitherto obtained and build their con-
crete roads in two longitudinal sections.
Since transverse joints are a prolific
source of trouble, it is well to diminish their
number as far as possible through the use
of longer slabs. This wider spacing of
joints becomes feasible through the use of
steel reinforcement to meet the temperature
stresses of the slab. The use of dowels
gives stability to the joints and holds the
surfaces even. The submergence of joints
an inch below the surface has proved un-
satisfactory. This method was devised at
first to secure a smooth surface and to
permit the use of a finishing machine, and
it seemed admirable until subsequent ex-
pansion crowded and crushed the concrete
above the joint material, leaving a badly
ravelled and spalled joint. The best method
of making the joint is to submerge the joint
material until after the screed or finishing
machine has passed over it, then to lift the
33<^
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
joint material slightly above the surface
with long-fingered tongs, following this by
finishing the joint with a split float or split
roller, rounding the concrete next to the
joint material with an edging tool.
Specific application of these general
principles is found in the requirements for
the special concrete highways in Delaware,
Pennsylvania and New York. The specifi-
cations exact good workmanship by allow-
ing a maximum of only ^-inch depression
in 10 feet of pavement tested with a straight
edge. The use of a straight edge on green
concrete indicates depressions to be recti-
fied, and insures good results. These states
specify materials with such precision as al-
most certainly to preclude i/ie use of non-
uniform aggregate or of foreign materials
in the aggregate. The roads are designed
so as to minimize the danger of movement
in the slab, and the resulting cracks. Spe-
cial attention is given to the placing of
joints and to the suitability of the machin-
ery in use.
All these precautions were taken on con-
crete roads built last summer in old Ben-
nington, Vt., by the Fred T. Ley Company,
Springfield, Mass., and so far not the slight-
est indication of any surface unevenness
has appeared. This tends to support the be^
lief that it is possible, within necessary
financial limits, to build roads that will be
practically indestructible under the traffic
permitted by law.
Proper Method of Finishing
The actual method of finishing is, of
course, important in securing a smooth sur-
face. Some road builders prefer to use the
finishing machine with the roller and belt.
It is essential that the roller be light. A
too-heavy roller pushes the crown out of
the pavement and spoils the surface. Most
specifications call for a weight of from 12
to 15 pounds per foot length. Some build-
ers omit the roller, using only the machine.
I believe that the roller helps. One advan-
tage of the finishing machine is that dryer
concrete can be used with it, which gives
greater strength to the pavement. It gives
also more uniform results than can be ob-
tained with a green gang, and seems in
general more fool-proof than the hand
method. Still, many engineers and con-
tractors prefer to strike-off with the hand
screed, using the roller and belt. This has
the advantage of eliminating one piece of
plant, and if a heavy screed is used in the
hands of competent workmen it gives as
smooth a finish to the surface as the finish-
ing machine
With either method the board belt gives
unquestionably the better finish. The bow
belt, however, can give good results. Proper
belting takes ofif not only the water, but
also the clay, loam, laitance, etc., that tend
to form scale on the surface.
Acknowledgment. — From a paper read before the
convention of the American Road Builders' Associa-
tion, Chicago, 111., January, 1922.
A CONCEETE CROSSROADS WITH CLEAR VISTAS AND WIDE RADIUS CURVES
TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS
337
fhrward ^tops
in
Municipal j{f fairs
Puhlic^elfare
Departments
Saving Money on Public Works
St. Paul, Minn. — This city has in opera-
tion a system of conducting its public works
which has proved remarkably successful as
a money-saver.
The Chief Engineer submits an estimate
to the Contract Committee as to what the
job should cost. Then bids are publicly
asked for, received and tabulated. If the
lowest bid is less than the estimate, the con-
tract is usually awarded to the lowest bid-
der. If the bids are higher than the esti-
mate, the work is done by Force Account.
On all Force Account work done so far un-
der the present administration, the costs
have ranged under the lowest bid received.
St. Paul has a municipally owned asphalt
plant, and to cents a square yard is charged
against the job for depreciation of equip-
ment. This is expended in the maintenance
and up-keep of the asphalt plant.
The following table gives an idea of costs,
when paving by Force Account :
PAVING BY FORCE ACCOUNT
Kind Sq. Yds.
Sheet asphalt 16,952
Asphalt concrete 11,544
Brick 15,918
Creosote blocks 14,103
Tarvia 13,240
Totals
ri,757
$281,870
Miscellaneous works, such as sewer and
water connections, and drainage to be done
in connection with the paving, came to $8r,-
544, giving a grand total of $363,420.
A comparison with similar work done by
the city under contract is interesting:
PAVING BY CONTRACT
Kind Sq. Yds. Cost
Sheet asphalt 63,119 $162,597
Brick 35,400 191,190
Concrete reinforced 66,355 160,070
Creosote blocks 41,302 262,370
Totals 206,236 $776,239
On three jobs for which the city asked
bids, and for which the final costs have now
been compiled, the following figures furnish
interesting comparisons :
Actual cost, exclusive of water and sewer
connections $42,037.79
Engineer's estimated cost 57,800.00
Contractor's bid price plus 2 per cent added
for inspection as required by the city-
charter 57,810.54
This gives a total saving on the Engi-
neer's estimate of $15,762.21, and on the
contractor's bid of $15,772.75.
It will be noted that the contractor's bid
calls for 2 per cent additional for inspection.
This, of course, is not sufficient to cover the
inspection cost. However, it is a charter
provision that only 2 per cent can be added
and the balance must be paid out of the In-
spection Account of the Permanent Im-
provement Revolving Fund. The total sav-
ing to the city is therefore really greater
than the figures given above.
The Force Account system has also made
it possible for the city to get much keener
competition from contractors, as it is known
that they are obliged to bid not only against
other contractors, but against the city as
well.
IT. C. WENZEL.
Commissioner of Public Works.
pinance
J)epartmonis
"Your Tax Dollar"
Detroit, Mich. — The accompanying
chart was prepared to visualize for the citi-
zens of Detroit the services they receive for
their tax dollar. An informed citizen body
is the strongest guarantee for good govern-
ment.
It has been stated repeatedly in the pages
of The American City that a municipal
budget is a financial statement of the work
program of the city — the activities to be
undertaken, their cost, and how thtjy are to
338
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
^V:
YOUR TAK DOLLAR
IS SPEMT T9K THE rOUOVItlC SERVICES
A GRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF THE DETROIT BUDGET
be financed. The actual preparation, con-
sideration, and adoption of such a program,
in accordance with accepted budget princi-
ples, are too seldom realized in our cities.
Detroit's budget is an effective document,
however, informative to the administrative
departments, the legislative body, and the
public.
The budget for the year ending June 30,
1922, is $65,339,634, for the following char-
acters of expense:
Fixed charges $ 7,229,326
Operation and maintenance 41,043,567
Public improvements 15,746,466
Deficits 1,320,275
Total $65,339,634
The manner of financ-
ing the entire program is
carefully estimated, as
follows :
Taxation $40,164,706
Bond issues 12,981,577
Miscellaneous income —
Cash balances,
sales of prod-
ucts and ser-
vices by de-
partments, pri-
m a r y school
money, fines,
licenses, p e r-
mits, etc 12,193,3,")]
Total $C5,339,f!3l
In general, the fol-
lowing points relative to
Detroit's budget proce-
dure should be noted :
1. The budget includes
all activities of the
city for the year (ex-
clusive of public im-
provements previously
authorized either by
Council or by the
people, local improve-
ment work, and trust
funds).
2. The need and oppor-
tunity for public ser-
vice are considered
first, and, when de-
termined, the means
are provided for
financing these ser-
vices.
3. The activity is the
basis of the request.
For example, for the
police department the
costs of street patrol-
ling, traffic control,
public safety work,
harbor duty, detectives, etc., are separ-
ately estimated.
4. Requests for expenditure are coordinated
with estimated income.
5. The departmental requests are prepared
well in advance of the fiscal year, are
reviewed in detail by the Mayor, sub-
mitted to the Council for their consid-
eration and the final passage of an ap-
propriation ordinance — all before the be-
ginning of the fiscal period.
6. Requests for expenditure are classified
by department, fund, character, activity,
and object of purchase.
7. Transfers may be made, when necessary.
APKir., 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
339
A contingent fund is provided for
emergencies.
A system of appropriation accounting is
maintained currently by the Controller,
to assure that the budget plan as enacted
is being observed.
Detroit Bureau of
C. E. RIGHTOR,
Governmental Research.
Police
Departments
Traffic Vigilantes in St. Louis
St. Louis, Mo. — The experience that St.
Louis has had with the work of a Traffic
Vigilante Committee has been more than
satisfactory — it has been distinctly profitable
from the standpoint of safety. The slogan
of the Vigilantes of St. Louis is, "Make St.
Louis the Safest City in the World to Live
In."
The organization consists of about 325
Vigilantes, and the only publicly known one
of them is the Chief Vigilante, who is the
writer. This secrecy about our organization
has been maintained for several reasons,
the best of which is that there is a marked
psychological advantage in holding out to
the general piiblic, particularly the motoring
public, the thought that there are a great
number of keen-eyed, determined men
watching to see that the law is not violated,
and watching at the time when the uni-
formed policeman is not
around. It is a patent
fact that a man will not
drive past a street car
when it is imloading pas-
sengers if there is a uni-
formed policeman at
hand, but the same man
would try to sneak by
if he did not fear that
the motor car behind
him had in it one of
those argus-eyed Vig-
ilantes. If that Vigilante
carried some visible
mark of identification on
his car or person, he
would be as conspicuous
to the law violator as a
policeman would. We
of the work that makes it most effective.
The plan of procedure is simple. If a
Vigilante sees a traffic violation, he catches
the license number of the offender. On one
of the blank post-cards which he carries in
his pocket he checks the particular offense
committed (the post-card indicates about
twenty), signs his Vigilante number, filling
in the time and the place of the occurrence,
and mails the card to the Chief of Police
of St. Louis.
At the office of the Chief of Police, the
Safety Council's Vigilante Division main-
tains a stenographer, a clever young lady
who knows in most instances what to do.
All these post-cards are turned over to her
each morning and she sends out on each one
a notice to the offender telling him what and
where and when his offense was and in-
structing him to make a written explanation
thereof to the Chief of Police. In case of a
very flagrant or major offense, the offender
is given peremptory orders to report in per-
son to the Chief of Police to make explana-
tion as to why he violated the law.
By this method we secure the good will of
the Police Department because the report of
our work is published each week in the
Police Journal, which reaches every police
officer, and it is felt that the Vigilantes are
really auxiliary policemen who must be con-
si<Iered at all times and helped. The Board
of Police Commissioners of the city is
warmly and strongly in approval of our
feel that it is the secrecy ^ branch police station in st. louis,
MO.
340
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
work and renders every possible assistance,
and the Chief of Police gives his heartiest
support to us, and his hardest third degree
to the offender vv^ho comes by invitation to
see him.
The Vigilantes have been very active.
There have been weeks when they have
turned in as many as 2,000 reports of vio-
lations. That was when a special drive was
on. The normal number of reports per
week is 600. These cover practically every
item of traffic law violations, including no
lights and one light, but our best attention
as Vigilantes is given to the major offenses,
such as reckless driving, passing street cars
when loading, passing corners at high speed,
and others of a dangerous character.
The organization is very careful in the
selection of members, for in the beginning a
few mistakes were made. Appointments of
very young men have not been satisfactory,
because they used their badges to intimidate,
to get out of trouble themselves, or to "play
smart." The personnel now consists of men
ranging from thirty to fifty years, all of
them of excellent standing in the commu-
nity, many being heads of large businesses.
The bigger the man is in the business world,
the more anxious he is to help make his city
the safest in the world to live in.
The total experience up to this time with
the Vigilantes as an important branch of
Safety Council work has been highly satis-
factory and we would not recede from it
nor drop it. In addition to keeping down
the number of street accidents and casual-
ties, it is of marked advantage to the local
Safety Council itself in frequently furnish-
ing opportunities for good newspaper pub-
licity which do not arise from the more
prosaic safety work done in industrial plants
or schools.
ROHERT E. LEE,
Chief Vigilante.
AcKNOWi EDGMENT. — From an address delivered be-
fore tlie Public Safety Section of the National Safety
Council at the Tenth Annual Congress.
£)opariments
of Education
An Open Air Theater
on the High School
Grounds
Santa Monica, Calif.
— Twelve years ago, when
bonds were voted to build
a new high school in
Santa Monica, a few far-
seeing persons planned
that this should be erected
on Prospect Hill, one of
the most sightly locations
for miles around, com-
TWO VIEWS OF THE OPEN
AIR THEATER IN SANTA
MONICA — THE UPPER
LOOKING FROM THE
STAGE, THE LOWER
SHOWING THE STAGE.
THE POOL ACTS AS A
SOUNDING BOARD.
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
341
nianding a magnificent view of ocean, plain
and mountains.
They were criticised for building it off
the beaten track, some distance from the
principal residence section of the city, but
they ignored criticism and went ahead. To-
day a splendid group of school buildings, a
miniature college plant, ranking high in the
United States for location, beauty of archi-
tecture, and equipment, crowns the hill
which slopes gently toward the Pacific
Ocean over an area of fourteen acres, all
included in the High School grounds.
A part of the plan was the creation of an
open air theater after the Greek style, but
unique in following the architecture of the
High School group. About two years ago
bonds were voted by the people, and work
was begun early last spring. This beautiful
structure, which will seat 3,000 persons, has
been completed at a cost of $30,000. It has
been dedicated as a memorial to the boys
from Santa Monica who perished in the
World War, and is now known as the Santa
Monica Memorial Open Air Theater, a mon-
ument of which the city may well be proud.
The theater is terraced out of the hill at
the foot of the High School grounds, pro-
vided with concrete benches, and an ample
turf stage, on which has been planted a full-
grown sycamore tree brought from a
near-by canyon. A sounding-board, in the
shape of an oval pool of water just in front
of the stage, enables the voices of speakers
to be distinctly heard by those in the highest
tier of seats.
This theater is rather distinctive, if not
unique, in high school planning, and a noble
example of the progressive policy of a board
of education. In its use, the theater serves
both the school and the community at large.
TTORACE M. REROK.
Superintendent of School;^.
Jnre
£)epartnients
It Pays to Advertise
Billings, Mont. — Nowadays, when one
has something that he wants to bring to the
attention of "the man in the street," he ad-
vertises. The American public has been
educated up to the idea of noticing adver-
tisements, s'gns and bulletins. By the same
m, "
^^m'^'^'-"^'-' -
^^^^^^^^^^S^A
■»!.-.«F««, mm*
-. . ..
f 'OllEF«fRKim. ■]
UPSTAIRS ;^jj
•-ilJ ^ -1
1
. ■-.^I
1
II
IF you LIVED IN BILLINGS, MONT., YOU
WOULD STOP A MOMENT TO
READ THIS BOARD
token, these notices must hold the attention,
or they will get nothing more: than a passing
glance, and their message will soon be for-
gotten.
Business men advertise, showmen adver-
tise, churches advertise — why not fire de-
partments ? More must be done than giving
occasional talks to clubs and schools, hold-
ing formal fire drills, etc., if the nation-wide
campaign for fire prevention is to continue
to grow in effectiveness.
The idea of installing a bulletin board or
display frame, like the one shown in the
illustration, came to the undersigned as he
was passing a motion-picture house. People
of all walks of life pause to look at the
poster of the movie hero or heroine. The
experiment has shown that they will do the
same before a striking display on the front
of the fire station.
The display is changed periodically. To
attract the first notice of passers-by, it usu-
ally contains one of two striking pictures of
a fire. On coming closer, the citizen, his
attention already aroused, reads the printed
matter, which may be an account of the re-
sults of carelessness with fire, or the benefits
derived from the use of some sort of fire-
resisting building material, such as wired
glass or metal sash. Statistics showing the
annual or weekly fire loss are sometimes
used, but sparingly, for it has been observed
that the average reader "doesn't care for
figures."
There is never any lack of material for
display. All papers and periodicals coming
to the Department are conned for articles.
Pictures are often obtained from insurance
interests. Such magazines as "Safeguard-
ing America Aga'nst Fire" are clipped.
V. H. .STEELE,
Chief of Fire Department.
342
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
ONE OF UTICA'S ATTRACTIVE PLAYGROUNDS
Rocreaiion
Departments
"Selling" Recreation to a
Municipality
Utica, N. Y. — For the year 1921 the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment of
the city of Utica granted an appropriation
of $20,000 for the Department of Recrea-
tion, a sum nearly double that which this
department received the preceding year.
In view of this appropriation, and also be-
cause the Department of Recreation as a
separate department was not three years
old, and consequently little known, the
Recreation Commission realized the de-
sirability of familiarizing the taxpayer with
the activities of the department during the
year.
In the attempt to make this appropriation
go as far as possible in a city of 100,000, no
provision was made for the publication of a
report. In fact, owing to the prohibitive
cost of printing, very few departmental re-
ports were published by the city of Utica
during 1921. The idea of printing a brief
four-page folder largely of a statistical na-
ture was borrowed from the Utica Council
of Boy S'^outs. The cost of printing these
folders in quantity being less than $7 a thou-
sand, it was comparatively inexpensive to
circulate them far more widely than a com-
plete report could have been distributed.
In this folder, under the head of "Com-
munity Activities," it is stated that 49,635
people attended 162 com-
munity gatherings in 4
centers, which were large-
ly self-supporting.
"Playground Activi-
ties" are referred to as
"A laboratory for put-
ting into practice the
precepts of parent and
teacher." Here we are
informed that 189,499 at-
tended 12 playgrounds
during July and August,
and, in addition, 46,251
attended grounds open
during May and June
after 4 P. M. Omitting
details, the main organ-
ized activities are enumerated: for example,
52 boys' baseball teams in 10 leagues, 13
girls' teams in 3 leagues, 39 volley-ball
teams, 121 folk dances of 13 nationalities, 7
playgrounds with systems of self-govern-
ment, 2,441 children in 61 story hours, etc.
Under "General Activities" it is stated
that 29 organizations were aided in various
ways in planning and carrying out field
di.ys, outings, social gatherings and diverse
programs more or less recreational; 96
young men and young women were enrolled
in a training course for recreational leader-
ship conducted with the cooperatxn of vari-
ous local agencies.
A brief statement of the aims, principles
and methods of the Department of Recrea-
ton occupies the last page. In view of the
appropriation previously mentioned, the fol-
lowing statement, appearing at the end of
the tabulated statistics, is significant: "19
cents per capita was the total cost of main-
taining the Utica Department of Recreation
for the past year."
While the generous cooperation of all the
local newspapers throughout the year and
the space and endorsement given in the
monthly bulletin of the Utica Chamber of
Commerce are not to be underestimated, the
Commission is convinced that the distribu-
tion of 10,000 copies of this folder has
played a large part in "selling" recreation to
the Utica taxpayer. Ample proof that Utica
ii' "sold" on this proposition is seen in the
increased appropriation just granted pro-
viding for 15 playgrounds and 8 community
centers for the current year.
W. C. BATCHELOR,
Superintendent of Recreation.
343
Municipal Water Rates— Part II
A Thorough Analysis of Present Rates and Rate-Making
By E. E. BanksoD, D. E. Davis and C. A. Finley*
GENERAL water service may first be
separated into two groups, as public
i service and private service. It may
pbe again divided according to flat rate ser-
vice, and metered or measured service.
Flat Rate Service
The flat rate method of charging for
water service is a heritage to us from
pioneers in the water-works field, thereby
carrying the approval of long custom, to-
gether with the approval of the wasteful
user, because it winks at his extravagance
at public expense. It seems to devolve
wholly on the water -works men to gradually
make obsolete the flat rate system. Flat
rate charges or assessments are admittedly
inequitable and conducive to wasteful
habits, but being yet with us, they should
always appear in excess of meter rate
charges, for the same amount of service,
with the hope that such a practice will
create converts to the metered or measured
service method.
The average domestic flat rate in the city
of Pittsburgh is 55 per cent in excess of the
meter rate for similar service, but every flat
rate consumer has the option of transferring
to measured service if he so desires. As
against this high flat rate, there remain
under flat rate service approximately two-
thirds of the total number of consumers
with no apparent desire to avail themselves
of the economy offered; in fact, most of the
metering accomplished has been of a com-
pulsory nature.
The Pittsburgh plant has a capacity in
excess of fully metered requirements, and
it is interesting to discover through cost
analysis that no economy can be effected by
metering the entire city at once, or, at any
rate, in excess of that necessity to reclaim
plant capacity from wasteful service to use-
ful service, or additional demands, as con-
ditions may require. In the case of Erie,
however, the plant capacity has been reached
• E. E. Bankson, of The J. N. Chester Engineers,
Pittsburgh, P.-i.; D. E. Davis, of The J. N. Chester
Engineers, Pittsburgh, Pa.; C. A. Finley, Managing
Engineer, Bureau of Water, City of Pittsburgh.
under the present flat rate policy, and it is
clearly evident, in the interests of economy,
that a policy of metering domestic consum-
ers should be adopted.
Metering may reduce domestic consump-
tion more than half, which has the same
effect as increasing plant capacity, and it is
far cheaper to meter than to build additional
plant. It would be poor economy — in fact,
wasteful — to create additional plant capacity
for the purpose of supplying flat rate con-
sumers instead of placing them under meas-
ured service. Aside from discussion along
lines similar to those above, we cannot see
that flat rates have any place in scientific
rate-making, for the reason that flat rates
are subject to the laws neither of science
nor of equity.
Measured Service
In the case of the city of Pittsburgh, the
computed demand under fully metered con-
ditions would show a reduction of 40 per
cent from the present pumpage, which re-
duction represents no curtailment of useful
service, but represents rather the reducible
leakage and careless running of water to no
avail.
There appears a common error among
water-works men and engineers of over-
estimating the amount of water which will
be used when a city is fully metered, this
error resulting in a financial deficit as
metering progresses. This tendency to over-
estimate is a logical result of a habit formed
in designing plant capacity for maximum
conditions, and such a designer carries this
habit over into the field of rate-making,
where he discovers, too late, that his meas-
uring stick was too large and the revenue
not realized as computed.
We have also observed a tendency, on the
part of those inexperienced, to use present
pumpage, of a flat rate system, as the start-
ing point from which to forecast future
revenue under fully measured service, ap-
parently forgetting that there is no reliable
relation between the two, and forgetting
also that revenue is indicated by the dial on
344
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
345
Distribution of the Burden
Meter rate schedules are generally one of
three types:
1. Straight price to all per 1,000 gallons
2. Minimum charge type
3. Service charge type
2 and 3 are on the basis of either a straight
price or a sliding scale, in addition to certain
fixed charges. It is generally conceded as
costing more per 1,000 gallons to serve a
small consumer than to serve a large con-
sumer, and if this fact be here admitted, we
have thereby eliminated the straight-price
or flat-price-to-all idea.
A minimum-charge type sHding-rate
schedule can be constructed v^'hich would
closely approach the costs of rendering the
service, but the Public Service Commission
of New York has ruled against the mini-
mum-charge type in a gas case in the fol-
lowing words, which apply equally to water :
''The minimum gas rate is inequitable. A
sample case cited is the best proof. Mr. A. and
Mr. B. are in the minimum class, which is
placed, say, at $1. Mr. A. used 90 cents' worth
of gas a month; he pays $1. Mr. B. used 20
cents worth of gas a month; he also pays $1.
If the interest on the service investment to that
residence or office is 50 cents, the company sus-
tains a loss from Mr. A. of 40 cents that must
be made up by some other consumer, while it
has made a profit of 30 cents off Mr. B."
The service charge is recognized by the
New York Commission in these words :
"A service charge ... is a legal and
just charge if properly adjusted as to
amount." The Association of Boroughs in
Pennsylvania, on advice of its counsel, has
recently withdrawn a proposed bill intending
to make the service charge illegal in Penn-
sylvania. These and many other incidents
seem to indicate to the writers the increasing
recognition of the service charge.
Service Charge Limitations
Advocates of the service charge have in-
cluded portions of the total annual burden
under this charge, ranging all the way from
"single consumer charge" to "entire fixed
charge and overhead expense."
The writers maintain that a proper serv-
ice charge is usually in excels of a simple
consumer charge, but much less than the
total fixed charges and overhead expenses,
and have developed principles on which the
service charge can fairly be computed as
indicated in two examples appearing at the
end of this discussion.
The service charge is based on the as-
sumption that a company stands ready, un-
der certain expense, to do a service or sell
a commodity for which no purchaser may
materialize. In so far as it is compelled to
do so or is reasonably in danger of having
to do so, the company is undoubtedly en-
titled to financial remuneration and to have
its financial position insured.
200
/so^
DIAGRAM
Showing the Ro/etion of
Flet RotG Assessment to
Consumption by Meter Measure
City of Pittsburgh
I920
/4i/f>r3fff Off all
-ur
-^
^
100.
<a£^
o.«a«^
P*'
[K3^
Co'
508
*S
>rat
*us
Annual /\55&ssm&n
/c:
' if on f/<it Rate
If.
20.
Do/'srs
30:
35'
4).
4:':
sa9°
346
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol, XXVI, No. 4
It is not any fixed condition that may be
applied empirically to all plants, but exists
between two limitations which may be desig-
nated as the maximum service charge,
when the plant stands ready to deliver and
no water is taken, and the minimum service
charge, when the size, diversity and variety
of consumers maintain practically a con-
stant demand on the plant.
It is assumed that in order to warrant any
service charge, it must be shown that the
conditions on which it is based actually
exist; it must be a real condition and not
based on any theory of what might or could
happen. It must be based on common sense
and actual facts developed from the operat-
ing conditions of the plant in question.
The full or maximum service charge may
be said to exist when a plant is fully estab-
lished with reservoirs full and pipe lines
under pressure running at a rate just suffi-
cient to offset leakage losses but with no one
taking water. The minimum service charge
exists in the case of a plant whose cus-
tomers maintain a constant cycle of de-
mands on the plant and where there is no
loss due to standing ready to serve.
A typical example of the maximum serv-
ice charge would be when a plant has one
customer taking the entire output, but taking
it at such irregular times and in such un-
certain quantities that the plant is compelled
to keep its entire equipment ready for opera-
ton at a moment's notice. The cost to this
plant, even when no water whatever was
taken, might easily be 90 per cent or more
of its full operating cost. The plant is
rendering what may be typically designated
as a service as distinguished from the sale
of a commodity, and it is entitled to re-
muneration therefor. The service in this
case financially predominates over the sale
of the commodity.
A typical example of a minimum service
charge may exist with a large city plant
having, say, 100,000 customers whose varied
demands on the plant impose on it prac-
tically a fixed cycle of conditions hourly,
daily, weekly and seasonally. Such a plant
is usually so designed that it is practically
at no actual expense on account of standing
ready to serve a commodity for which there
is no purchaser. Its function is the sale of
a commodity as distinguished from mere
readiness to sell. 'Practically speaking, the
m.aximum loss directly imposed by failure of
a purchaser is the loss incident to the serv-
ice line, the meter and the reading and bill-
ing; these, having been determined, can be
designated as a minimum service charge.
The maximum service charge may be con-
sidered in its application to a certain large
city plant which serves about 100,000 cus-
tomers at an average rate of about 15 cents
per thousand gallons. If the theory of the
service charge be carried to its logical se-
quence and it is assumed that all customers
withdraw their patronage, the expense of
this plant would still be over 90 per cent of
its active operating expense. If this 90 per
cent were provided for in a service charge,
the price of the water would be about i>^
cents per thousand gallons, with the result
that the plant would be on a flat rate basis
and meters would be of no practical value.
As a matter of fact, this plant (aside from
fire protection) is not primarily in the busi-
ness of furnishing a service, but of selling
a commodity, and suffers practically no
financial risk or possible embarrassment
from standing ready to serve. It does lose
the interest and maintenance on the meter
in addition to the billing charges, when the
customer fails to buy, and is entitled to col-
lect this in the event of the customer's
failure.
The two extremes in the type of plant
have been taken to show the wide possible
range of a service charge designed to meet
the financial risk imposed on a plant in
standing ready to serve. In one extreme,
the service cost takes precedence over the
commodity charge and amounts to prac-
tically the whole bill ; in the other instance,
the commodity charge take^ precedence and
nearly absorbs the service charge. The
range of possibilities between these two ex-
tremes is infinite.
In the case of the Consolidated Ice Com-
pany vs. the city of Pittsburgh, it was nec-
essary, in the interests of the city, to combat
a theory which developed a high service
charge and a low commodity charge, and we
quote from the testimony of Mr. Finley in
that case as follows:
"To maintain this condition in the Pittsburgh
plant, even if no water were sold, means the
pumping of about fifteen billion per year to keep
the plant full. The cost of supplying these
fifteen billion gallons, instead of the forty-five
billions now handled, would be a large percent-
age of the present cost, substantially the entire
cost, except as follows : the saving due to not
pumping the thirty billion gallons which the
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
347
consumers now use would be about $350,000
(out of a total annual burden of about $2,650,-
000), and the ready to serve charge would be
the total cost of production less this $350,000.
If now the suggested method of allocating this
charge according to the suggested basis in fixed
quantities against the consumers is adopted and
the $350,000 is allocated amongst the consumers
according to the amount of water used, then, to
all practical intents and purposes, the city is
back again on a Hat rate assessment basis, ex-
cept for the fact that the consumer, in addition
to the fixed amount laid up against him, would
pay something over one cent a thousand gallons
for the water consumed. This means that the
entire economic value of metering would dis-
appear. There would be no check on the waste
of water, no personal interest on the consum-
er's part to eliminate waste, and the unneces-
sary outlay of capital in order to handle this
waste would then obtain. . . If the art of
supplying water to large communities is to make
any economic progress, and there is no question
as to the desirability of this end, it must not be
defeated by any false rate hypothesis which takes
but little account of the amount of water used
and virtually harks back to the flat rate theory
based on what might, or could, or should be de-
manded of the plant. The water meter is the
instrument by which great advance in the
economy of the art is to be effected. It in-
troduces the element of self-interest in the re-
lation of the consumer to the producer and pro-
duces a result which no amount of inspection,
argument or propaganda can accomplish. It
shows on its dial just what has happened to
the plant regardless of the value of any orifice
and what it might or might not have demanded.
It reveals the big consumer and the little con-
sumer in their true relations, and it is not sur-
prising that many rate schemes have been de-
veloped, the purpose of which has been to de-
feat the objects of metering and to escape the
responsibility of paying in accordance with the
meter readings. Any such rate scheme which sub-
merges the retarding influence of the meter on
waste water, smothers the greatest opportunity
for economic advancement available at the pres-
ent day in the art of supplying water."
(To be continued in the May issue)
Cowtcsy Eleitric Merchandising
WELL-LIGHTED SUBURBAN HIGHWAY BETWEEN SCHENECTADY AND ALBANY, N. Y.
Proper lighting units nlaced at correct heights and intervals can make night travel almost
'as easy, safe and fast as day travel
348
An International Clearing-House of
Civic Information
THE International Union of Cities —
rUnion Internationale des Villes —
was first organized in Ghent in 1913.
It was interrupted by the war, but renewed
with enthusiasm in Brussels in 1920. At
the reorganization meetings Stephen Child,
city planner, of Boston, was present and
was delegated to further the interests of
this Union in America. In connection with
this work he spent some months during the
summer of 1921 at the Brussels headquar-
ters. He states that the main purpose of the
Union is to collect and study contemporary
documentary information of all kinds relat-
ing to civic affairs, and to distribute briefs
or short reviews of such material through-
out the world. The details of the organiza-
tion are varied to suit the peculiar condi-
tions of the nations interested. In Europe,
for example. National Unions of Cities are
formed, the cities themselves joining offi-
cially and paying fees dependent upon popu-
lation.
For America, however, it is now pro-
posed, after much study of our conditions
and many conferences with leaders in civic
affairs, to organize in Washington, in the
Division of Construction and Housing of
the Department of Commerce, a Bureau
or Center to be affiliated with the Inter-
national Center at Brussels. This Ameri-
can Center would then, in cooperation with
the Library of Congress (which would act
as Custodian of Documentation and rearr
range its own rich stores of civic data tdfit
this need), collect and digest contemporary
American civic data, contributing this to
the international organization, would con-
tribute thereto also a small sum annually as
America's share toward the support of the
Central Office, and would receive therefrom
the invaluable current civic data from
European and other civilized lands. Our
National Center then would distribute
freely to our progressive communities and
civic organizations all these important data
in regard to world-wide civic cond'tions,
which they so greatly need and for which
some of them now pay large sums of money
through the expense of investigating com-
mittees.
These data are disseminated from Brus-
sels by means of a series of pamphlets con-
taining brief reviews of municipal docu-
ments. The notes or summaries are printed
on one side of the page only, permitting
members to cut them out and mount them
on cards, assembling and classifying the
items as they arrive month by month. To
facilitate this process, each separate item is
numbered in accordance with the Dewey
system of decimal classification.
The note-books thus made serve as the
necessary intermediary between the central
collections and the administrative organ-
izations, for whose use all the various col-
lections are destined. By their means, all
who are interested receive, in abridged and
condensed form, the broad and intense
movement of municipal activities revealed
by the literature of civilized countries.
The work of organizing subsidiary cen-
ters is proceeding rapidly in France, Bel-
gium, Italy, Holland, the United States,
England, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Po-
land, Scandinavia, and many other coun-
tries. Eventually there will be established
a world-wide organization through which
it will be possible for all classes of its mem-
bership to receive not only the reviews of
all contemporaneous municipal development,
but also answers in considerable detail to
particular questions. The organization of
this service will take more time; it will, in
fact, require additional funds and will
therefore be available to members only on
payment of nominal fees covering its cost.
By this means, however, an affiliated mem-
ber or organization — a city planning com-
mission in America, for example — desiring
to know more about a certain subject than
is given in the brief reviews of the pam-
phlets, can receive all the details — facts,
figures, and even photostat copies, plans,
drawings and pictures, if desired. In this
way the International Union of Cities will
become in very truth an international clear-
ing-house of civic information.
349
BONDING
Municipal Finance
ACCOUNTING
TAXATION
Is Your City Living Within Its Income?
ACCORDING to the latest available
figures from the Bureau of the Cen-
sus, three-fourths of the cities of the
United States are living beyond their in-
comes. Figures are now available for 156
cities. Those for 71 were given in the De-
cember number of The American City,
and those for 85 of the remainder are given
herewith.
The dates covered are, roughly, th^
twelve monthS' prior to June 30, 1921. For
cities whose fiscal years do not end on that
day, the figures given are for the last com-
plete fiscal year prior to that date. The
same exception holds for the three columns
headed 1920-1917-1914. In some cases this
should be read 1921-1918-1915, according to
whether or not the greater part of the fiscal
year in question lies in one or the other
calendar year. The grouping is the most
satisfactory that can be made for purposes
of comparison without uselessly complicat-
ing the tables.
The tables headed "Costs" represent the
entire expenses of the city for the year,
and the same applies to the receipts. The
columns headed "Surplus" and "Deficit"
represent the difference between the ex-
penses and the total revenues. The figures
for debts include both the funded and the
floating debts, minus the sinking fund as-
sets, if any.
What May We Conclude?
When the former table was published in
The American City, it seemed unwise to
suggest many conclusions, as only 71 cities
were represented. But with the figures for
156 cities at hand, it is possible to draw cer-
tain very definite conclusions, without rest-
ing the case upon the statistics for any one
city, which, as was explained in the Decem-
ber issue, may be temporarily affected by
extraordinary local conditions.
The first conclusion is that it would be
highly desirable if the cities of the United
States, possibly by state groups, would
adopt uniform systems of classification of
receipts and expenditures and accounting.
There is at present the greatest diversity of
classification, nomenclature, and method.
While this does not appear in the consoli-
dated tables given below, it is one of the
outstanding features of the facts from
which these tables were compiled.
The second conclusion is that American
cities are badly in need of better budgeting.
It is important that three out of every four
cities are spending more than they are re-
ceiving; but it is not less interesting that
some — a few — cities tax more heavily than
they need to for their anticipated expendi-
tures. The figures seem to indicate that in
a great many cities — a large proportion, in
fact — the so-called budget estimates either
of revenue or expense are little more than
guesses. It is, of course, impossible to
predict exactly what the expenses or rev-
enues of a coming year will be; but it is
not impossible to have the two figures come
within hailing distance of each other.
Sometimes, however, totally unforeseen cir-
cumstances will arise which will disarrange
even the most accurately prepared budget,
and bring about, for instance, a very wide
discrepancy between anticipated and actual
expenditures. For that reason this conclu-
sion, which is correct in general, should
not be applied severely against any par-
ticular city without complete knowledge and
thorough investigation of local circum-
stances.
The third conclusion is drawn from a
comparison of the per capita funded and
floating indebtedness of the cities. A city
cannot offer its citizens the full advantages
which they deserve, in the way of pave-
ments, school buildings, parks and play-
grounds, etc., without incurring large debts.
These will be funded debts, and are quite
350
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
distinct from floating debts, which are often
incurred without sound basis. Too often
the floating debt is merely a device to cover
imprudent spending to please the voters,
without raising the taxes and so antagoniz-
ing the taxpayer. But the funded debt usu-
ally represents solid benefits to the commu-
nity; and it is interesting to note that some
cities carry a very light funded debt. Such
cities may properly ask themselves if they
are not being too thrifty — if they are not
denying themselves certain advantages
which would be worth far more than their
cost, in public health, convenience and gen-
eral welfare. It is no particular credit to a
city to have an abnormally low funded debt
if that means that the school children are
badly housed, or that the city's streets are
mud half the time and swirling dust the
remainder.
The fourth conclusion is that it is difficult
to establish a "fair" or average tax rate, or
per capita cost of government. The cost of
administering Mobile, Ala., was $19.25 per
capita for the year, while the city govern-
m.ent of Seattle cost every inhabitant over
five times as much. The other cities range
in between.
The reader, looking over the table, can
draw other conclusions based upon his par-
ticular knowledge of cities and their local
conditions. But not one can give these
tables even the most superficial study with-
out realizing the importance of such statis-
tics and the practical benefit that will at-
tend their careful consideration.
-Per Capita Debt Minus-
1
Per Capita
-^
Sinking Fund Assets
Form of
State and City
Cost
Receipts
Surplus
Deficit
1920
1917
1914
Government
ALABAMA
Mobile
19.25
18.75
.50
50.45
49.17
55.86
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles
69.20
73.52
4.32
75.03
92.45
96.12
Council
Oakland
38.74
73.57
39.69
67.69
.96
'5.88
40.66
52.58
43.56
59.20
54.48
73.22
Pasadena
City Mgr.
San Francisco
53.04
51.99
1.05
96.75
88.65
92.60
San Josg
21.77
22.74
".98
43.21
30.73
31.56
City Mgr.
CONNECTICUT
Bridgeport
52.54
46.24
6.30
75.68
58.61
21.64
GEORGIA
Atlanta
31.71
40.97
33.14
31.74
31.49
44.84
28.46
29.21
'3.87
.22
4.67
2.53
17.58
63.57
33.30
37.41
22.48
71.04
33.1,5
28.09
66.81
29.56
Augusta
Columbus
Macon
ILLINOIS
Chicago
47.99
40.89
7.10
32.31
28.30
27.34
Council
Cicero
27.14
23.88
3.26
13.72
Pres. &
Trustees
E. St. Louis
24.97
27.79
2.82
29.86
26.01
21.57
Commission
Evanston
42.13
36.19
,5.94
15.19
Council
Oak Park
35.46
35.64
' .17
34.64
Pres. &
Trustees
Qiiincy
37.46
35.79
1.67
6.44
8.20
9.83
INDIANA
Gary
48.11
38.58
42.51
33.40
5.60
5.18
16.02
46.82
15.38
23.43
18.19
Indianapolis
Council
IOWA
Cedar Rapids
48.32
39.25
9.07
36.35
23.79
34.18
Council Bluffs
45.52
34.88
10.64
42.45
29.07
29.47
Council
l^es Moines
52.97
34.31
44.03
32.15
8.94
2.16
56.36
21.47
45.99
21.18
32.02
26.56
Commission
DubuQue
KANSAS
Wichita
50.63
32.01
18.62
40.58
26.07
36.52
Commission
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
65.48
71.38
5.91
107.29
117.66
116.47
Council
Cambridge
46.33
50.60
4.28
51.80-
58.53
67.23
Chicopec
48. .'')0
45.42
36.10
36.31
61.41
39.98
41.26
35.74
40.95
57.40
4.64
8.52
4.16
.37
4.oi
37.83
49.41
22.81
34.04
48.55
46.12
28.85
49.04
49.90
42.46
35.39
28.21
54.57
Fitchburg
Haverhill
Lawrence
Holyoke
Lowell
43.11
33.97
51.59
35.01
35.22
45.84
v. 2. 5
8.10
'5'. 7.5
37.10
26.99
72.90
29.14
28.06
75.07
24.52
26.99
74.98
Maiden
New Bedford
Newton
72.91
54.00
69.43
47.«0
3.48
6.20
50.60
69 26
51.42
64.77
64.03
71.12
Springfield
Waltham
43.29
38.65
1.64
22.78
14.41
MICHIGAN
Battle Creek
49.88
46.45
3.43
22.62
8.36
Grand Rapids
41.57
39.67
1.90
3l!20
31.23
30'. 7 4
Pontiac
64.19
35.98
28.21
74.51
MISSOURI
St Louis
40.57
39.55
1.02
19.42
23.21
30.17
Council
NEW JERSEY
Atlantic City
69.13
65.53
3.59
151.16
150.32
142.86
Bayonne
65.32
34.12
46.54
28.60
18.78
5.52
90.03
43.92
28.79
43.69
40.03
42.11
Commission
CamJen
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
351
, Per
State and City Cost
Elizabeth 33.33
Hoboken 79.22
Passaic 29.77
Perth Ambov 57.98
Trenton 33.25
W. Hoboken 22.52
NEW YORK
Auburn 40.04
Buffalo 57.13
New York 59.53
NORTH CAROLINA
VVilminarton 32.86
Winston-Salem 39.46
OHIO
Canton 43.40
Cincinnati 53.48
Columbus 55.38
Portsmouth 22.96
Springfield 27.36
Youngstown 40.93
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma 48.98
Muskogee 40.23
PENNSYLVANIA
Chester 21.56
Harrisburg 30.20
Lancaster 16.77
Pittsburgh 63.01
Scranton 23.18
TENNESSEE
Memphis 33.89
Nashville - 29.08
TEXAS
Beaumont 32.11
Dallas 49.02
Galveston 33.85
UTAH
Ogden 48.96
VIRGINIA
Newport News 31.03
Norfolk 02.22
Portsmouth 29.61
Richmond 35.56
WASHINGTON
Seattle 107.72
WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston 34.33
Huntington 26.76
Wheeling 41.19
WISCONSIN
Racine 45.97
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington 51.63
sita
Receipts
27.77
39.94
25.16
36.53
38.69
23.37
Surplus
5.44
.85
Deficit
5.56
39.28
4.61
21.45
^Per
Sin
1920
24.49
59.63
50.61
41.46
47.57
23.45
Tapita Debt Minus->,
cing Fund Assets
1917 1914
28.96 38.18
59.72 44.21
38.05 38.12
53.62 38.83
27.10 25.38
25.32 26.33
Form of
Government
Commission
Commission
Council
Council
37.79
55.28
53.49
2.25
1.85
6.04
18.37
70.58
182.93
19.33
71.23
186.11
16.31
70.58
179.44
25.56
27.05
7.30
12.41
75.45
58.25
60.55
51.29
26.43
48.15
38.70
24.12
28.16
26.25
1.16
.80
16.97
5.31
16.68
lV.68
98.05
190.06
.59.93
73.47
41.77
66.95
60.23
167.76
44.04
42.71
47.45
41.90
152.41
48.68
40.69
37.29
Council
Council
Council
33.55
43.26
3.63
13.44
73.23
100.32
65.82
76.34
62.37
84.65
Commission
City Mgr.
17.29
29.74
17.93
54.28
21.85
V.ie
4.27
.46
8.75
1.33
33.80
42.92
27.17
107.91
18.49
23.99
35.26
30.52
95.08
21.93
27.28
39.45
25.68
93.13
19.03
Commission
Commission
Council
Council
35.26
26.36
1.37
2.72
87.90
74.63
90.79
63.12
88.01
53.10
Commission
Commission
29.51
35.95
35.51
2.61
13.07
1.67
47.62
B09
105.08
43.51
123.74
53.26
125.45
35.29
13.67
59.88
38.70
19.19
36.31
21.92
39.91
V.35
11.85
25.91
7.69
39.87
1C5.31
94.35
83.33
sV'.gi
47.13
76.09
84.45
44.99
80.29
-
91.39
16.35
ISO 12
118.54
114.24
Council
30.55
27.70
27.39
1.63
3.77
13.79
42.24
34.99
23.46
32.06
34.45
19.20
34.33
22.93
37.94
8.03
20.95
18.29
19.87
Council
55.42
3.79
2.60
9.40
16.26
The Growing Demand for Noiseless City Streets
That there is a growing demand for less
noise in city streets is shown in the clamor
among citizens and officials in New York
and other eastern cities for a type bf pave-
ment that will reduce the noise of heavy
motor traffic. Clifford Pinckney, City Engi-
neer of Manhattan, recently adopted the
resilient asphaltic concrete base for Fifth
Avenue with this end in view, clamiing that
this type of construction takes up the shock
of impact. The Public School Principals'
Association of Newark, N. J., has asked the
City Commission in that city to adopt a pav-
ing construction program to extend over
four years that will provide noiseless pave-
ments in the vicinity of the schools. In
voicing this attitude, Newark takes the lead
in this respect among the cities of the coun-
try. The complaint in Newark is that the
constant noise caused by heavy vehicles
running over rough or rigid pavements pre-
vents both teachers and pupils from carry-
ing on their work effectively. It is the be-
lief of the principals that the greater effi-
ciency permitted by pavements that are
smooth, resilient and noiseless will more
than compensate for the additional cost.
The action in Newark is in line with con-
clusions long since reached by hospital au-
thorities everywhere and by the owners of
theaters and auditoriums in many places.
Professor Stevenson of Rutgers College, in
a recent address before the Philadelphia
Engineering Society, emphasized the impor-
tance of noiseless street pavemnts.
352
An Attractive School Entrance
Courtesy Architectural Record
ENTRANCE STEPS OF HIGH SCHOOL AT POET CHESTER, NEW YORK
Hewitt and Bottomley, Architects
353
Clearing Roots From Sewers
Fifteen Thousand Feet of Sewer in Schenectady, N. Y., Freed From Obstructions
IN the last year the Department of Public
Works of Schenectady, N. Y., has re-
moved root growths from more than
15,000 feet of sewers under the direction of
Charles Hayes, Superintendent of Sewers.
Only the sections of the city where condi-
tions were the worst were selected for the
first operations. The cost of the cleaning"
eters. The cleaner is placed in the sewer
main at one manhole and drawn to the next
one by means of a steel cable attached to a
hand-operated windlass. Jointed rods are
forced through the sewer first, and it is to
these rods that the cable is attached while
it is drawn through. In some cases the de-
partment has found sewers so badly clogged
THIS ARRAY OF ROOTS FROM 100 FEET OF SANITARY SEWEE ON
LINDEN STREET, SCHENECTADY, QUITE EFFECTIVELY
HELD UP THE FLOW OF SEWAGE
operations was $1,300 for labor, and the in-
terest and depreciation on the Turbine sewer
cleaner and other equipment amounted to
approximately $1,050.
If an attempt had been made to excavate,
clean and replace the sewers which had been
blocked by root growths, the cost would
surely have exceeded $10,000. The work of
cleaning the sewer was delayed for some
time at the beginning in order to build sev-
eral new manholes, as the cleaner could not
be used in sections where the manholes
were more than 450 feet apart.
The machine used consists of a water
motor equipped with guides and cutters to
adapt it for use in sewers of varying diam-
that it was very difficult to force the rods
through the entangled growth.
The cutter of the machine is revolved by
the water motor, which is run by water pres-
sure supplied through lengths of fire hose
attached to the nearest hydrant. The water
discharged from the motor flushes out the
roots and discharges them at the next man-
hole below, where they are caught and re-
moved to the street.
In Schenectady there are about 150 miles
of sewer mains with pipe joints every two
or three feet, through which it is possible
for tree roots to gain entrance. Several
years ago an ordinance was passed requiring
the removal of all poplar trees within a
354
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
THE MACHINE THAT KEMOVED THIS PILE OF ROOTS AOT) DIRT FROM 151 FEET OF
8-INCH SEWER IN SCHENECTADY
specified time. The sewer department, how-
ever, found that the roots of soft maples and
elm trees were causing almost as much
trouble in the sewers as the poplar roots.
and they are much more difficult to remove.
In a few cases the roots were found to be so
thick that it was necessary to remove sec-
t'ons of the sewer pipe to get them out.
Building Up a Municipal Light and
Power Plant
The Interesting Growth of the Municipal Plants at Greenville, Texas
By H. L. McLow
Commissioner No. 1, Greenville Municipal Plants, Greenville, Texas
THE original municipal light and power
plant at Greenville, Texas, was in-
stalled in 1890 and consisted of one
belt-driven, 200-kilowatt generator. A bond
issue of $15,000 was issued and applied to
the construction of this plant, which was lo-
cated in the down-town section. In 1909,
under the leadership of Mayor Nichols, a
bond issue of $50,000 was authorized and
two new AUis-Chalmers units were installed
at the present location in connection with
the Greenville water-works, and the present
light and power system was established.
The writer has been in charge of the de-
velopment and administration of the com-
bined plants since 1913.
Over $100,000 has been expended in secur-
ing new equipment and in expansion since
1916. Every cent of this has come out of
the revenue of the plant, and no bond issues
have beer* sought. The total amount of
bonds issued since the plant was instituted,
including all outstanding indebtedness in-
curred by the city of Greenville on account
of its electric light and power plant, is $65,-
000, of which there remains outstanding
only about $41,000 in less than 5 per cent
bonds. The commercial value of the elec-
tric light and power system of Greenville is
estimated at $500,000. Space is already al-
lotted for a 1,000-kilowatt steam turbine,
Vvhich will be the next unit to be added.
The street and commercial lighting serv-
ices are on independent circuits, and a third
independent circuit is being installed for
power service.
Notwithstanding the high cost of coal,
material, labor and operation in general
since 1916, there has been no increase in the
light and power rates to consumers, and the
plant has been successfully operated for the
past eight years at the rates given below.
The income from these rates has taken care
of all charges, including the retiring of
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
355
INTEEIOR OF POWER-PLANT OF THE GREENVIXIE, TEXAS, LIGHT AND WATER WORKS
bonds, and, as reasonable proof that the
plant has been adequately maintained, it has
been out of commission only 25 minutes dur-
ing that period.
LIGHTS
First 100 kw. at 10 cents
Next 200 kw. at 9J^ cents
Next 200 kw. at 9 cents
Next 500 kw. at Syi cents
Kxcess 1,000 kw. at 7J4 cents
Minimum charge 50 cents per month
POWER
First 500 kw. at 4 cents
Next 500 kw. at 3}4 cents
Excess 1,000 kw. at 3 cents
Minimum charge 75 cents first horse-power or frac-
tion
50 cents each additional horse-power or fraction
3 cents kw. for stoves, without minimum charge
This plant supplies all of the electric light
and power in the city of Greenville and in
the territory five miles beyond the city lim-
its. It maintains itself without any tax on
the people and operates 2,100 street lights,
£95 white way lights, gives light and power
to the public schools, municipal buildings,
parks and playgrounds, and takes care of
all maintenance and operation charges and
all expansion and improvement, interest and
sinking fund for the bonds originally issued
for its installation. In 1913 the plant capac-
ity was 1,000 kilowatts per day, and in 192 1,
6,950 kilowatts a day is obtained regularly
from the 5,000-kilowatt turbine alone.
Paving Assessments in St. Paul, Minn.
In St. Paul, Minn., the cost of not ex-
ceeding 12 feet of paving can be assessed
against abutting property. This is based
on the theory that all city streets should have
paved roadways for comfort, convenience
and sanitation, and that the property abut-
ting on the pavement should pay for such
a part as may be required to give access to
that property and provide a passageway for
vehicles going to neighbors' property.
With a 24-foot pavement and a vehicle
standing at the curb on opposite sides, there
will be room for a vehicle to pass between.
If any greater width of paving than 24 feet
is necessary, it is for the purpose of a street
car line, motor bus traffic or through traffic.
Abutting property is not assessed for
paving the street railway portion of the
street, and there is no reason why it should
be as.sessed for paving the right of way for
trucks, motor busses or pleasure cars bound
for some distant part of the city. While
not more than 12 feet can be assessed
against the abutting property, the city
council can to its discretion assess the cost
of less than 12 feet. This enables it to pave
outlying street connections with county
highways or state roads where the property
could not stand the entire assessment for
the pavement. The cost of the paving that
is not assessed is met through a wheelage
tax, general revenue or a bond issue.
356
Rat Extermination and Its Part in
Public Healtli Campaigns
By Edmuad B. Besselievre
Consulting Engineer, New York
THE rat has been convicted of being
one of the most serious offenders in
the spread of disease and the destruc-
tion of property. On the evidence pre-
sented by sanitarians and public health offi-
cials, the systematic extermination of the
rodent is now recognized as an integral
part of all comprehensive health campaigns.
In the Southv^est, and especially in the
states along the Gulf Coast, the rat has be-
come abhorrent as the primary agent in the
spread of bubonic plague, epidemics of
which have caused great loss of human life
and property in several cities in that region.
The cities and states that have been afflicted
with that terrible visitation are strenuous
advocates of rat extermination, and it would
be wise for other municipalities and states
to follow these examples and include ex-
terminative measures in their general health
programs.
It has been stated on excellent authority
that the rodent population of the United
States is equal to the human. In that case,
the problem of rat extermination would be
easily solved if each of us would take upon
himself the task of killing one representa-
tive of the genus "Mus." We could aptly
adopt as the slogan for such a campaign
"Get Your Rat."
The individual effort, however, should not
cease with the getting of the one rat. In
view of the inefficiency of many of us, each
of us should "get" as many rats as possible.
Exterminative measures are of different
kinds. It is seldom sufficient to employ
one only. Usually a combination of several
methods is adopted and proves to give the
quickest and most effective relief.
Methods of extermination may be divided
into three general classes :
1. Natural
2. Mechanical
3. Chemical
These three classes cover the general
basic agencies now in use among sanitary
engineers and public health officials, and
each one of them includes several types or
subdivisions, each particularly applicable to
some combination of local conditions.
A brief article does not permit explaining
in detail the means of applying each method,
but a casual discussion of them from the
view-point of expediency and efficiency will
serve a useful purpose:
1. Natural agencies
a. Starvation
By removal of sources of food
supply and by proper protection
of foodstuffs and other rodent
comestibles
b. Suffocation
By effectual closure of exits
from burrows or harborages
c. Natural enemies
Use of cats, dogs, ferrets and
other natural enemies
d. Destruction or removal of harbor-
ages and breeding-places
2. Mechanical agencies
a. Trapping
By cage or snap traps set and
baited by volunteer or paid
trappers
b. Destruction of breeding-places
By tearing down, boarding up,
fire, etc.
c. Ratproofing
By proper ratproofing of dwell-
ings and business establishments,
particularly places where foods
are stored
d. Shooting
By regular roundsmen or or-
ganizations of Boy Scouts and
others
e. Drowning
By flooding burrows and holes
with water, with the possible
assistance of the fire department,
etc.
3. Chemical agencies
a. Poisoning
By means of standard brands of
manufactured rat foods and
poisons
b. Suffocation
Through the use of noxious
gases and fumes in burrows and
inaccessible places where rats
are known to harbor
Each of these methods has its peculiar
degree of fitness in certain cases. Some of
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
357
SCENES FROM THE SOUTHWEST WHERE ANTI-RAT CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN PUSHED
EFFECTIVELY
Upper Left — A city dump where plague-infected rats were found. Upper Right — Shrubbery near this
residence must be trimmed out and the building raised to an elevation of 18 inches from the ground
or a "chain wall' placed under the building. Below — Proper foundation for a bungalow to insure
protection from rats
them are more generally adaptable in pub-
lic campaigns than in cases of single dwell-
ings or foci.
In the several campaigns for the eradica-
tion of bubonic plague with which the
writer has been connected, the combination
of methods that procured the maximum de-
gree of extermination in the shortest space
of time were starvation, destruction of
breeding-places, trapping and ratproofing,
and in cases where shipping was involved,
the employment of chemical suffocation.
While the destruction by natural enemies
would seem to be one of the easiest and
cheapest plans to adopt, it is not encour-
aged by experienced officials, especially in
those localities where rat-borne diseases are
present. It is true that the cat and the
ferret and the smaller members of the
canine family can reach the rat in places
where ordinary human agencies would fail,
but should the rat be infected with bubonic
plague or some other disease, the fleas with
which he is infested will upon his death
emigrate to the fur of the animal which has
killed him. In the case of the cat or the
dog, which is usually allowed in the house,
the disease-bearing flea is then carried
directly into contact with humans.
Shooting is seldom employed on a large
scale, as it requires a fairly expert marks-
man to shoot and kill a rat in the short
time in which Mr. Rat allows himself to be
seen in human presence. Usually the result
is a wounded rat, which will crawl into the
nearest hole or burrow, there to die and re-
main as a noisome reminder of an ineffec-
tual method. Drowning is not wholly satis-
factory, because it is difficult to discover
the proper hole in which to apply the water.
Rat burrows usually have several exits, and
if any one of them is left open, the water
has no effect.
Poisons are often efficacious in individual
houses or in places where doctored meat or
food can be placed in the rat's path of travel,
but the use of this method is discouraged in
a general campaign. The chunks of poi-
soned meat or other food are just as attrac-
tive to a hungry cat or dog as to a rat, and
if promiscuously distributed, may cause
angry pet-owners to make their presence
felt around campaign headquarters.
Noxious gases have been tried, but, out-
side of their general use on board ships,
have proved to be of no great service. They
are dangerous to human life unless expertly
handled, and it is very difficult to close all
358
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
the cracks or vents in an ordinary building
to make the gas effective. On shipboard,
where all ports are provided with tight clo-
sures, the use of hydrocyanic acid gas has
been adopted as the standard means of
fumigation and has given very encouraging
results. Even there, however, careless han-
dling and improper airing of the hold of a
vessel have several times caused the loss of
human life. Hydrocyanic acid gas is odor-
less and colorless and takes immediate and
deadly effect..
Properly conducted campaigns of rat-
proofing, rat-trapping and destruction of
possible rat harborages will go further to
eliminate the rat population of the United
States than any other combination of meth-
ods so far employed. The states of Texas
and Louisiana have issued pamphlets and
circulars descriptive of these methods. Mu-
nicipalities will do well to enlist the co-
operation of the organized health agencies
of these states.
Let each municipality set aside a certain
period of days wherein a concerted effort
shall be made to destroy as many rats as
possible, and let the war-cry of the cause be
"Get Your Rat."
Motion Pictures Show Road Building
THE United States Bureau of Public
Roads, Washington, D. C, has com-
pleted for free distribution and use in
picture houses as well as at conventions,
educational conferences, etc., throughout the
country, two reels of pictures showing in.
detail the construction of the various types
of asphalt roads. The pictures were pro-
duced particularly for the purpose of show-
ing how best results may be obtained in
asphalt construction. They are loaned to
responsible parties free of charge, except
for transportation costs.
The first reel, entitled "Building Bitu-
minous Roads," indicates the wide applica-
tion of bituminous materials in highway
construction. It shows the character of the
bituminous materials and demonstrates the
principal laboratory tests used in determin-
ing their suitability for the various types of
roads to meet various climatic and traffic
conditions. A portion of the reel shows in
detail all the various steps that should be
taken in surface-treating a macadam pave-
ment. This scene opens with a large motor
truck distributor spraying the bituminous
material upon a macadam surface in the
suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa. The distribu-
tor is followed closely by a horse-drawn
wagon spreading the stone chip covering.
The bituminous macadam pavement is a
type much superior to plain or surface-
treated macadam. In its construction the
asphalt is treated and applied either by
mechanical or by hand distributors.
The use of the small hand pouring pots
in applying the asphaltic binder is demon-
strated on a road near Pittsburgh, Pa. This
demonstration is followed by views show-
ing the mechanical distribution of the as-
phalt by motor trucks on a project in West-
chester County, near New York City. The
trucks are first shown loading at a railroad
siding from huge tank cars. They then
leave for the road, where the material is
applied under pressure at the rate of one
and one-half gallons to the square yard.
Laborers are pictured covering this mate-
rial with stone chips. A powerful roller
then compacts the pavement. The road is
then shown, by the passing of traffic, to be
ready for immediate use. According to
engineers, one of the big advantages of
asphalt pavements is that they can be
opened to traffic as soon as constructed.
The second reel, entitled "Building Mixed
Asphalt Pavements," shows methods used in
constructing both the asphaltic concrete and
the sheet asphalt types of pavement. This
reel contains views of plants at Pittsburgh,
Pa., and Columbus, N. J., where the stone,
sand and asphaltic binder are heated and
mixed. The "mix" is loaded upon trucks
and hauled to the road. Here it is spread
with rakes and then compacted by a roller.
This picture shows that the mixed types
may also be opened to traffic immediately
after their completion. The pictures demon-
strating the construction of asphaltic con-
crete roads were taken on a new road under
construction between May's Landing and
Pleasantville, and leading into Atlantic
City, N. J. The pictures of sheet asphalt
construction were taken on a road near
Columbus, in Burlington County, N. J. This
county now has sixty miles of sheet asphalt.
359
The Public Utility of Museums
By John Cotton Dana
Director, Newark Museum Association, Newark, N. J.
^^¥*^UBLIC utility" is a phrase bor-
r^ rowed from Lord Sudeley, of Eng-
land, who has in recent years
written much and spoken often in the House
of Lords in favor of an increase of the work
of museums in the field of general education.
The Newark Museum, in the twelve years
of its existence, has done all that its modest
collection, limited income and restricted
quarters in the Public Library building
would permit, to make its objects and the
labors of its stafif of interest and value to
its owners and supporters, the people of
Newark.
We begin with the children of the city,
of course. For them we have several thou-
sand objects which teachers in the schools
use to make books and studies more attrac-
tive and intelligible. The
teachers select what they
wish, and the Museum
sends to their schoolrooms
two loads, in vans, each
week.
In the Museum is a
room in which are always
shown objects of interest
to children, and often col-
lections made and put up
by children themselves.
For a time, when space
was available therefor,
the curator of this "Chil-
dren's Room" encouraged
boy and girl collectors to
form clubs to study birds,
plants, stamps, wireless,
etc., and these clubs pros-
pered.
Our "theory of public
utility" asks that we join
with our public school
teachers, our Shade Tree
Commission, our County
Parks Commission, our
scientific clubs, etc., in de-
veloping, in our city and
county parks, institutions
with appropriate shelters
and buildings, which will
promote interest in all aspects of outdoor
life, in natural history, etc., with the
Museum as an attendant and helpful spirit.
This plan is here mentioned even though it
has thus far been a subject for discussion
only, because it speaks so clearly of our
conviction that cooperation with existing
agencies is fundamental to our theory of
museum work.
Ottier Civic Organizations Must Use the
Museum
To produce tangible results in the educa-
tional field, the Museum must ask teachers
and managers of public and private schools
not only to make use of its objects, but also
to tell it, the Museum, what material they
can best use, how they wish to have that
THE NEWARK MUSEUM LENDS THESE OBJECTS TO SCHOOLS
36o
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
material prepared, and what direct personal
assistance they can render in making the
whole museimi of "educational utility" to
the community.
Museums have been content to acquire,
preserve, describe and place on view objects
within their chosen field, and then to say,
in effect, that their duty is done, in that they
give to those who wish to use them an ex-
cellent opportunity to come and see, and to
learn of the worlds of art and of science,
as their collections expound those worlds.
The supporters of museums have been in
large measure content to see museums as-
sume this attitude of self-satisfied seclusion;
but they begin now to realize that other
existing public-supported agencies, estab-
lished to expound the worlds of art and
science to their supporters, can readily take
and use much of the contents of museums
and, with their aid, can add much of interest
and effectiveness to their own educational
activities.
England has begun to use museums in the
field of industry. Finding that existing mu-
seums are, with rare exceptions, not even
attempting to come into close and helpful
contact with manufacturers, bench-workers,
craftsmen and designers, it has formed an
organization which is trying to give to these
people an opportunity to learn from one
another, and from their like in other coun-
tries, by displays of the factory and studio
products of to-day. In Newark we were
moved to attempt this work several years
ago. To do it we needed the assistance of
local manufacturers and importers, and we
found it difficult to demonstrate to them the
advantages that would follow the develop-
ment in their city of a museum of "com-
parative industry" ; a museum, that is, which
should carry out the plan England is now
developing, and should prepare for our pro-
ducers, merchants and transporters a series
of displays of local products with like prod-
ucts of other cities.
We therefore took a wider range, that of
the whole state of New Jersey, and in two
successive years collected and showed thou-
sands of finished objects, and objects illus-
trating processes of production, in the fields
of clay and of textiles. The two exhibi-
tions were, of course, only modest experi-
ments, but they seemed to demonstrate the
truth of that part of the theory of the value
of "greater public utility of museums" which
lies in the statement that a public museum
should present its supporting community to
itself as an organization functioning for
production.
Museums Should Expound Foreign
Industrial Conditions
It is a habit of museums to gather from
other countries things rare and peculiar —
old art products, objects explanatory of re-
ligion and social manners and of the de-
velopment of these. That is, they gather
art curios and ethnological specimens.
That is all as it should be. But museums
should also gather and display objects
which, with the help of maps, charts, dia-
grams, legends and pamphlets, shall ex-
pound to farmers, workers, manufacturers
and distributors the resources, products and
potential needs of other countries. These
displays need not be and should not be per-
manent. They would include no "museum
pieces," those things that persistently so ob-
fuscate museum managers as to make them
unable to see the moving picture of the
world as it is. These presentations would,
each for a few weeks or months, present to
our makers, buyers and sellers the industrial
aspects of a given country, and then would
be dispersed.
In Newark we tried out this suggestion
and produced, in due course, quite an in-
teresting picture, in object, map and legend,
of the Republic of Colombia. Again this
was an experiment only; but it seemed to
show that any museum can arouse in its
community an alert and informed interest
in the character and the future of any coun-
try whatsoever.
Other museums which can be called
veritable public utilities are the American
Museum of Natural History in New York,
which has long pursued "public utility" and
overtaken much of it, as any layman can
learn who will send for a sample copy of its
beautiful monthly journal. Natural History;
the Philadelphia Commercial Museums,
which pursue not only the industrialist to his
great pleasure and profit, but also Pennsyl-
vania's public school system to the gratifica-
tion of its teachers, as one can learn by ask-
ing for a copy of one of its recent reports;
and the Educational Museum of St. Louis,
which is more than a museum that helps on
the work of the city's public school system,
for it is a component part of that system
itself.
36i
How a Municipal Plant Kept Down
the Cost of Gas and Water
By D. A. Reed
Manager, Water and Light Department, Duluth, Minn.
THE history of the Duluth gas and
water plant dates from the year 1883,
when the work of construction was
inaugurated by the Duluth Gas and Water
Company, a private company organized for
that purpose.
The source of supply for the water was
about a mile east of the center of population,
on the north shore of Lake Superior, with
an intake extending some 700 or 800 feet
into the lake. The water at this location be-
came so contaminated in the next five or ten
years by sewage discharged from several
sewer outlets thqit two violent typhoid epi-
demics resulted, with 60 to 70 deaths. The
rates were high, the service poor, and the
water bad. Several attempts were made to
purchase the plant, and several times when
the question was submitted to the people it
was either lost because of the high price
asked, or because of invalidation by the
court.
The first price considered was over two
million dollars. The plant was finally pur-
chased and turned over to the city in 1898
for $1,250,000. At that time there was 40.6
miles of water-mains and 29.56 miles of gas-
mains. At present there is approximately
185 miles of water-mains and 175 miles of
gas-mains, which represents a plant over
five times its original size when taken over
by the city 23 years ago.
The gas plant has been moved to a new
and more favorable site, and two new hold-
ers of 200,000- and 500,000-cubic-f eet capac-
ity have been erected in addition to a new
holder of 1,000,000-cubic-feet capacity
erected by the Zenith Furnace Company, the
concern from which gas is purchased at the
present time.*
* No gas has been made at the Duluth plant since
1908. The Zenith Furnace Company operates a smelter
and coke oven plant. The gas is generally considered
a by-product, although at the present time the company
is making only coke and gas, not having operated the
smelter for some months. The city's contract price
with the Zenith Furnace Company is 37 yi cents a
thousand cubic feet for all gas except that used for
house-heating purposes. The house-heating gas is 32^2
cents. Owing to the fact that the company has for
the past few months been operating only its coke
ovens, the department has been paying a flat rate of 40
cents per thousand cubic feet.
During this 23-year period the total num-
ber of water customers has increased from
2,113 to 13,826, and the gas customers from
1,1 1 1 to 15,571, or an increase of over 9 to i.
The value of the plant has increased from
$1,250,000, the sum paid for it in 1898, to
$5,487,333.08 on the first day of January,
1921. The average number of gas meters
per mile of mains has more than doubled,
and the number of water meters has trebled.
Not only has the water plant paid its way,
has been self-sustaining, but the customers,
who have furnished all revenues, have ac-
quired a proprietary interest in the plant of
nearly a million and a half dollars. It has
created a depreciation reserve of nearly one
million dollars, has passed the peak of its
indebtedness, and is now steadily retiring its
bonds as opportunity offers for their pur-
chase. Except for a refunding issue in 1906
of $295,000, none of the bonds have yet be-
come due, and none will mature until 1926;
consequently, they cannot be retired, except
on the consent or request of the holder.
With one exception, every bond that has
been offered has been retired. How has it
been accomplished? From its earnings?
With one exception, every cent of it.
For a brief period the taxpayers con-
tributed a one-half-mill levy for the support
of the water and light plant. It was quickly
recognized, however, as being a mistake, and
the income was relinquished, on the sugges-
tion of the department itself, in 1914. With
this exception, the plant has never received
a cent of support from the city, the tax-
payers or any other interests, except what it
has honestly earned by service rendered, and
it has not always received pay for that.
True, it does not pay taxes, but it renders a
service to the taxpayers in its hydrant serv-
ice that costs the department $110,000 a
year, and which, if the city of Duluth had
happened to be just across the river in the
state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Railway
Commission would have ordered paid. The
city allows about one-half of this amount, or
$55,000 a year, for the hydrant service that
costs the department $110,000.
362
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
The difference between the cost of this
service and the amount paid for it by the
city may be fairly considered as a contribu-
tion in lieu of taxes.
The Question of Rates
Since 1898, when the city took over the
plant, the following rates have been in
effect :
GAS
Light Fuel
1898 $1.90 $1.00
1899 1.40 1.00
1901 1.25 1.00
1902 1.15 1.00
1903 l.OO 1.00
1904 90 .75
1905 90 .75
1906 75 .75
1909—
Light and fuel, $.75; all over 50,000 cu. ft., $.50
House heating, any quantity, $.50
Minimum bills, $.25 per month
WATER
1898 $.30 per 100 cu. ft
1901 25 per 100 cu. ft.
1907 17 ^ per 100 cu. ft.
1913 —
8,000 cu. ft. at $.17J4 per 100 cu. ft.
8,000 cu. ft. at $.10 per 100 cu. ft.
60,000 cu. ft. at ^.OT/z per 100 cu. ft.
100,000 cu. ft. at $.05 per 100 cu. ft.
All over at $.02 J/^ per 100 cu. ft.
1914—
10,000 cu. ft. at $.15 per 100 cu. ft.
10,000 cu. ft. at $.12 per 100 cu. ft.
All over at $.08 per 100 cu. ft.
Minimum bills, $.50 per month
No rates for either gas or water have been
changed since January i, 1914. While the
era of high prices has swept over the entire
world during and since the war and has in-
creased the salary of every employee of the
department below that of the manager, some
of them being doubled, has more than
doubled the cost of cast iron pipe and of pig
iron, has increased the price of coal for
m.aking gas and operating its pumping sta-
tions, has increased the cost of electrical
energy, still the price of gas and water has
remained the same without a single change
of any kind for the past eight years. Fur-
ther than this, the profits of the department
were never higher in any previous year
than for 1920, and for the combined plants
were $174,381.41. And still further, there is
not another place, town or city, anywhere in
North America, so far as the writer has been
able to discover, where manufactured gas is
sold for 50 cents or 75 cents. If there is,
the writer will be grateful to anyone that
will furnish him the information.
Policies That Have Brought Success
Experience develops policies. Policies are
subject to the law of the "survival of the
fittest." The policies that survive gradually
become so established that, although unwrit-
ten, they become law ; for instance, in these
plants :
1. All charges are ba.sed upon cost.
2. No material service is ever rendered
free of charge.
3. No price is ever cut to retain a cus-
tomer, or for any other reason except to
correct an error.
4. All customers pay the same price for
the same service.
5. No charity is ever extended, except
when the recipient bears a certificate from
the clerk of the Poor Board.
6. Every complaint is given the utmost
consideration and courtesy.
7. No charge is ever based upon what the
traffic will bear.
As to financial matters:
The Division of Public Utilities has its
separate fund, which is not mixed up in any
way with other city funds.
All revenue derived from the sale of gas
and water is turned into this fund.
All interest charges and bonds retired are
paid for from this fund, as well as all pay-
rolls, construction accounts, and other items
of expense in the operation of the plant.
Extensions and betterments are paid for,
as far as may be practicable, from the cur-
rent earn"ngs.
Bonded indebtedness is reduced as rapidly
as possible.
Covering the personnel are the following :
All permanent employees are under civil
service rules, and no applicant can be placed
on the eligible list until he or she has passed
the required examination.
All vacancies are filled by promotion from
lower ranks, when practicable.
Selections for higher positions are made
on the basis of past efficiency.
For misdemeanors or inadequacy of serv-
ice, the penalty is suspension without pay.
Again let it be said, do not grant special
privileges to anyone and do not ask for any
for yourself or for the plant which you are
trying to manage. The largest and most
destructive argument that has ever been
leveled against public ownership is that the
plant is self-supporting because it enjoys the
special privilege of exemption from taxa-
tion. The director of the Taxpayers League
was surprised when we told him that we
were perfectly willing to pay taxes on ex-
actly the same basis as any other utility, but
that we wanted the Taxpayers League to see
that we received full pay for the hydrant
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
363
service. With this argument settled, there
remains only one other shot that they can
fire, and that is that we enjoy exemption
from the payment of cash dividends on the
money invested. In our case this would be,
say, 8 per cent on $1,445,000, or about $115,-
600 a year. This amount would take quite
a slice from our net earnings, but to whom
would we pay the dividends? To our cus-
tomers, of course, for they are the ones who
have invested their money in the plant. But
why tax these same customers in order to
pay back to them dividends which can be
paid just as well in reduced rates, and which
arc being paid in reduced rates, and which,
as they gradually come to own the entire
plant, free from all debt, they will receive
as maximum cash dividends in reduced rates
every time they pay a water or a gas bill ?
The public ownership of this plant has
had a most wholesome and steadying effect
upon other utilities privately owned. Seven
years ago the electric light plant had either
to turn its plant over to public ownership or
to reduce its rates. On an appeal to the
voters, it chose the latter, and the people
voted against purchase by the city. It has
not asked nor tried to raise its rates during
or since the war. The Street Railway Com-
pany is still operating on a 5-cent fare.
Acknowledgment. — From a paper read before the
Public Ownership League of America, in Chicago, 111.,
in November, 1921.
The Health of City-Dwellers Demands
Shaded Open Spaces
THE COMING OF HOT WEATHER REMINDS CITIZENS OF THE DEBT THEY OWE TO THOSE
WHOSE FORETHOUGHT PROVIDED THEM WITH SUCH PARKS AS THE ONE SHOWN ABOVE
• ,„ American Cities Use Motor
^Xu^e^tTMany Departments
.SOUTH BEND" SPBINKLING
OUTriT ON TEDEItAL TBTJCK, IN
THREE BIVEES, QTJBBEO
^^, 5-ton Holt tractor^;^^^^ ^Stoiland Special Quick L^f
grader is a
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
365
THREE AGES OF FIEE FIGHTERS EXHIBITED BY THE AMERICAN-LAFRANCE FIRE ENGINE
COMPANY AT THE ELMIRA CONFERENCE OF NEW YORK STATE MAYORS AND OTHER
MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS
ONE OF NEW YORK CITY'S NEW FLEET OF TEN 5-TON CITY SERVICE TRUCKS
The
and
These White trucks have a 245-inch wheel-base and are equipped with 50-horse-power motors,
ladder equipment, supplied by Peter Pirsch, includes one 55-loot ladder, one eacn 40-, 30-, 25_
18-foot ladders, and one 16-foot extension ladder. The trucks also carry a 40-gaUon chemical tank and
200 feet of 34 -inch chemical hose
A GROUP OF DUMP BODY MACCARS USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OP HIGHWAYS, BOBOUOH
OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY
366
Transforming an Old Waterway Into a
Roadway
Utica Replaces the Erie Canal with a New Street
By Charles Mattel Niles
TIME brings inevitable changes. The
mechanical marvel of to-day may be
on the scrap-heap to-morrow. There-
fore, it is not surprising that the Erie Canal
in the city of Utica, N. Y., is to be aban-
doned after a century of service. When the
original canal was thrown open to traffic
a hundred years ago, the people of Utica
Under Twentieth Century conditions the
usefulness of the canal began to wane. Its
benefits were more than offset by its many
disadvantages. Lift bridges, with their con-
comitant delay and expense, had to be main-
tained on all the principal streets in the
center of the city. Elsewhere there were
many elevated spans with high approaches,
GRADING PREPARATORY TO REMOVING HIGHWAY BRIDGE WITHOUT INTERRUPTING TRAFFIC
celebrated the occasion with great rejoicing,
rightly believing that the canal would be of
enormous commercial benefit to them. Now
they are equally enthusiastic over the elim-
ination of the canal in the interest of Twen-
tieth Century progress.
Flowing from west to east, the old Erie
Canal practically bisected the business sec-
tion of the city. It was the only means of
water transportation that the city possessed
until the opening of the new Barge Canal.
In the course of time the banks of the old
canal became lined with warehouses and
manufacturing plants. Long after the ad-
vent of the railroads it continued to play an
important part in the commercial affairs of
the city.
which produced an equally undesirable
situation.
With the opening of the Barge Canal in
1 91 7, the situation suddenly became acute.
The Barge Canal took part of the water
which had previously supplied the Erie
Canal and there was not enough water left
to maintain the level required for naviga-
tion in the older waterway. Careless people
used the canal channel as a dumping-place
for every imaginable kind of refuse. The
old bridges were unsafe for heavy motor
trucks ; in fact, trucks broke through the
flooring on several occasions.
By the referendum adopted at the general
election in rgiS, the city obtained the right
to close the canal between Schuyler Street
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
367
and Third Avenue, a distance of about
three-quarters of a mile, providing a con-
duit were constructed to maintain the flow
of water in the remaining portions of the
canal.
With all the legal obstacles cleared away
at last, plans were formulated for the con-
struction work necessary to the elimination
of the old canal. It was decided to begin
by building 1,100 feet of reinforced con-
crete conduit, which would permit the clos-
ing of the canal in the busiest part of the
city and the removal of three particularly
objectionable bridges. The conduit was de-
s'gned to have a gradient of .045, giving a
capacity of 90 second-feet, which was
deemed sufficient to maintain the water-level
in the canal east of the fill. The conduit
follows the north side of the old canal-bed
close to the former tow-path.
The conduit has a peculiar cross-section.
It consists of two covered channels of nearly
equal carrying capacity, but different shapes.
The channel nearest the canal bank is 5 feet
in width and 4 feet deep, with a slightly
curved invert. The southerly channel is 4
feet wide and 6 feet deep and has a semi-
circular bottom. The tops of both channels
are at the same elevation, so the invert of
the deeper one is 2 feet lower than the
other. This type of construction was
adopted so that the deeper channel may be
converted into an intercepting sewer if at
some future time the canal should be en-
tirely closed. It would be used for sanitary
sewage only and would be extended to a
contemplated sewage disposal plant east of
tlie city.
The conduit was built with city forces, as
that was considered the most economical
method under existing conditions. The old
tow-path provided an ideal location for the
portable concrete mixer, and a ready route
for bringing up the aggregate. The eleva-
tion of the tow-path was sufficient to permit
the product of the mixer to be chuted
directly into the forms. Collapsible wooden
forms in lo-foot sections were designed and
built especially for the job. The conduit
rests on an 8-inch bed of concrete. The par-
tition wall between the channels is i foot
thick; the outer walls are a foot through at
the top and have a batter which makes them
about 18 inches wide at the base. The top
is 8 inches thick. Top and sides are re-
inforced with heavy expanded metal. The
job required about 2,200 cubic yards of
concrete.
SECTION A
(^OnSTQUQTED
Dimension of weills
and foundation to be
sam& ■gs shown on
section st n'^ht
ELEVATION SHOWING METHOD OF BUILDING DUAL CONDUIT
368
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 4
Some of the Difficulties
On account of the unusual weather which
prevailed during the winter of 1920-21, the
conduit construction was alternately men-
aced by frost and flood. Zero temperatures
alternated with thaws, resulting in frequent
floods, which several times threatened seri-
ous damage to the work. A temporary dam
was built across the canal channel at each
end of the conduit site. Pumps were in-
stalled at the lower end of the conduit to
keep the work properly drained. On one
occasion when high water seriously men-
aced the partly completed conduit, reserve
fire engines were used to help pump out the
pit. In freezing weather the sand, stone and
water were heated and the finished concrete
was protected with a layer of earth or
straw.
As the construction of the conduit pro-
gressed, the filling of the old canal channel
followed closely. A large amount of ashes
and trash collected about the city was used
for filling; also cinders from boiler plants.
In this way the expense of making the fill,
which contained about 22,000 yards, was
comparatively small. A top dressing of
clean earth was placed on the fill. Jay
Street, which formerly met the canal at an
acute angle and ended there, will eventually
be extended along the new fill to Hotel
Street. This will provide a new cross-town
thoroughfare, which will help to relieve traf-
fic congestion in the busiest part of the city.
The conduit was first built under the
three bridges to be removed, and the inter-
vening portions were then constructed. The
filling was brought up close to the floor of
the bridges before the planking was re-
moved. Then all superstructure was razed,
the whole work being accomplished with
practically no interruption of traffic. The
old, unsafe bridges at Hotel and John
vStreets were removed first. The material in
the bridges reverted to the state under the
provisions of the special act.
Removing "the Hump"
The removal of the bridge at Genesee
Street, the principal business artery of the
city, presented a peculiar problem. It was
in reality three bridges in one. The central
part of the bridge was a high truss span
with its floor raised about 7 feet above the
grade of the street. It had long elevated
approaches and carried a double-track trol-
ley line. This structure was locally known
as "the hump," and its elimination was one
of the main objectives of the entire job. At
each side of the trolley bridge were heavy
plate girder spans at the street grade.
These were lifted by pneumatic pressure
when the canal was in use.
The east lift was removed first, and tem-
porary trolley tracks were laid on the fill.
Then vehicular traffic was routed over the
trolley bridge while the west lift was being
taken away. The heavy plate girders were
moved intact through the city streets a mile
to the Barge Canal harbor, whence they will
be taken and used elsewhere by the state.
Finally, the high bridge and its approaches
were razed and the trolley tracks relocated
in their permanent position. The entire
street for a distance of 600 feet will be re-
graded and newly paved as soon as the fill
has safely settled.
Thus, after a twelve years' fight for civic
betterment, this splendid improvement is
now nearing completion. The expense has
been met by the issuance of bonds. The cost
of the entire job, including conduit con-
struction, filling, removal of bridges and
paving, will be approximately $150,000.
This expenditure will be many times repaid
by the economic and esthetic improvement
to the business section of the city; in fact,
the entire community will be immensely
benefited.
Road Accidents Minimized in Maryland
The Highway Commission of Maryland,
which received $1,600,000 for highway
maintenance and construction in 1921,
adopted the policy that in addition to the or-
dinary maintenance, special attention should
be given and money expended to eliminate
danger points on the roads and thus reduce
accidents to a minimum. With this in view,
a system was worked out whereby every
accident on the state road system is reported
daily and is represented by a colored tack
on a large map in the office of the Chief
Engineer. An intelligent study of this map
shows the points or sections of road that
need immediate attention. — Highway News
Digest.
3^9
'/=i f=yf=/
Successful Campaign for City
Water Plant
Stevens Point, Wis. — Two water ques-
tions submitted to voters of the city at a
special election held Wednesday, February
8, were carried by overwhelming majorities
of more than 9 to i. Municipal ownership
of the local water utility, as well as the de-
velopment of a new source of supply, is now
a certainty as a result of the election.
The two questions submitted to the voters
were :
(i) The purchase of the plant of the
Stevens Point Water Company for the sum
of $175,000 plus the actual cost of the con-
struction of mains in the streets since June
I, 1921 ; and (2) providing for the issuance
of bonds in the sum of $100,000 for the con-
struction of a pumping station in the Plover
River basin. The strength of the support-
ing votes and the weakness of the op-
position proved the only surprise of the
election. While it was generally predicted
that both questions would win, even those
who were m.ost confident looked for a vote
less decisive. In every ward both ques-
tions voted upon carried by heavy majori-
ties, and the victory is considered a clear-
cut expression of just how strongly the
people of the city feel the need of a good
(vater-supply.
About six years ago, the voters had an
opportunity of expressing their desire for
the purchase of the Stevens Point Water
Company's plant, but the issue was defeated
by 10 to 7, and the matter was allowed to
drift along until the Chamber of Commerce
undertook to revive the issue.
The Board of Directors of the Chamber
felt that before the question of purchase be
again voted upon, steps should be taken
towards locating and developing a new
source of supply of pure, wholesome water,
and after much labor persuaded the City
Council to appropriate a sum of money suf-
ficient to retain the services of a hydraulic
engineer. This was done, and W. G. Kirch-
offer of Madison was engaged. After
the usual preliminary surveys, he advised
the Council, through the Chamber, that he
had located a supply of spring water in
quantities sufficient to serve a large city.
The Council then voted a sum of money
with which to purchase the 40-acre tract of
land upon which the springs were located;
options were secured from the owners of
the present water-works company, and at
the election of February 8 the citizens in-
dicated by their vote that they had had
enough bad water and were in favor of
purchasing the present plant, developing the
new supply and making this utility a mu-
nicipal one.
F. LESLIE BODY.
Secretary, Stevens Point Chamber of Commerce.
How One City Fosters Respect
for Citizenship
Logan, Utah. — Birth, marriage and
death — we are told that these are the three
noteworthy events in any one's life. But
the city of Logan has added a fourth — when
young men and young women attain the
dignity of citizenship they are publicly ban-
queted in honor of tTie event.
On the last day of January of this year,
nearly 150 of the young people of Logan
who had attained their majority were en-
tertained by the city, the Logan Chamber
of Commerce, and other civic organizations
in the first of what promises to be an annual
celebration. While other communities have
seen fit so to honor their naturalized citi-
zens, Logan is the first city to show this
consideration to its own sons and daughters
who have gained the right to vote.
The whole affair was planned to give the
young voters a proper respect for the bal-
lot, to show them that along with the privi-
leges of citizenship go many responsibilities,
to teach them some of the principles upon
which their government stands — in short,
THE AMERICAN CITY
Concrete Pavement, Troy, X. ) .
Hard-n-lyte Road Treatment used.
Do you realize what 30% longer life
means on the concrete roads you build?
Read this book and find out!
Just think of it! Concrete that stands the crunching
grind of traffic 30% better! Concrete that stands up
30% longer under the constant gnawing of the ele-
rnents! The ability to give the taxpayers a road
like that adds something to a man's reputation.
But that isn't all. Hard-n-tyte reduces the problem
of maintenance to almost nothing. When Hard-n-
tyte goes on a concrete road, your worries about
soft spots, ruts or crumbling stop! The weather-
proof silicates and fluorides formed by flushing the
Hard-n-tyte solution over the road, produce a flint-
hard surface that will stand up under the hardest
kind of traffic for many years to cotrte.
But all the things you want to know about lengthen-
ing the life of concrete can't be told here, so send in
the coupon below for your copy of the booklet,
"Hard-n-tyte Highways." Send for it today — it
tells the whole story.
General Chemical Company
1711 Broad Exchange Building, New York City
—makes concrete roads wear longer
General Chemical Co.,
171 1 Broad Exchange Bldg.,
New York.
Please send me a copy of "Hard-n-tyte Highways."
Name
Address.
City. . . .
State. .
Mail this Coupon to us NOW !
For over twenty years the General Chemical Company has
been at the forefront of chemical research and manu-
facture in this country. Hard-n-tyte is the latest contribution
of its splendid staff of chemists. It is the successful result of
long search for a concrete hardener that really hardens the
surface and materially increases its life. It enables engineers
and contractors to deliver a quality of concrete work far in
advance of anything that has been possible heretofore.
77
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amebican City.
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
371
A BANQUET WAS GIVEN TO THE NEW CITIZENS OF LOGAN.
UTAH
to make of them better Americans. As one
citizen expressed it:
"When 1 attained the right to vote, I knew
nothing of the sacred duties this right en-
tailed. It had cost me nothing and was, as far
as I could tell, worth nothing. Only after years
of experience did I begin to realize that I held
in my hands one of the most sacred political
rights which it is given man to possess. I be-
lieve that, if we can bring our young citizens
to an early realization of the power and sacred-
ness of the ballot, we have done much to ele-
vate the ideals of democracy."
Logan's first "New Citizens Night" was
admirably planned. At six o'clock on the
evening of. January 31, the young people
sat down to a banquet. Representatives
from various organizations in the city were
placed among the young people to aid in
their entertainment. Songs and stunts en-
livened the aiifair and put all in the right
mood for the more serious toasts of the
evening. A number of citizens, in costume,
took the parts of immigrants from various
countries and, during the course of the ban-
quet, criticized severely the institutions of
our government, only to be answered in
vigorous speech by the young citizens. A
local attorney, responding to the toast, "The
Vote," told of the privileges and responsi-
bilities that go with citizenship. A local
club woman, in toasting "The Future
Woman," outlined the duties that the woman
of to-morrow must hold sacred.
Following the banquet, a great public
meeting was held, at which the new citizens
were special guests. After the singing of
patriotic songs. Chief Justice Frick of the
Utah Supreme Court explained the funda-
mental principles of American democracy
and showed that a clear understanding of
the government of the United States comes
from a mastery of the truths in the Declara-
tion of Independence."
D. E. ROBINSON,
Ajtricultural College of Utah.
Chamber Promotes
Model Market-
House
Lexington, Ky. — "Not
a morsel of food for a fly
to light upon" is the
slogan and the achieve-
ment of Lexington, Ky.,
in the construct'on of a
modern market-house that
spells the last word in
science and sanitation so
far as consolidated mar-
kets are concerned.
The building is a model of compactness,
convenience and completeness, and is well
worth the study of any community inter-
ested in modern methods of food mer-
chandizing and in making its market an
asset instead of an eyesore to the city. Lex-
ington claims to have in its new market-
house features that are not to be found in
any other municipality and that represent
the latest and best methods of handling and
retailing food products.
Before tenants are permitted to take over
the stalls, all fixtures are set up, including
cash registers and scales, and are uniform
throughout. Sealed glass cases, of newest
type, are used for holding and displaying
perishable wares. The entire basement is
given over to the operation of a refrigerat-
ing plant and dry storage, with individual
spaces for each tenant of the building.
Cleanliness marks the handling of food
products from the time they are placed in
the refrigerator until they reach the cus-
tomer in his or her home.
The main floor, with its booths for gro-
ceries, meats, vegetables, drugs, soda, coffee,
fruits and flowers, maintains a system for
serving all the household needs of the cus-
tomer in the shortest time possible. All de-
liveries are made through a central auto-
mobile delivery service, and a central tele-
phone switchboard directs a cooperative
service of taking and filling orders. A com-
fortable rest room, with writing and tele-
phone facilities, is provided on the mezza-
nine floor, overlooking the quiet, cleanly
scene of efficient marketing service going
on below.
The project originated in the Lexington
Board of Commerce and was worked out
under the direction of Dyer J. Lockwood
and an engineering corporation experienced
in such work, after studying the plans, de-
THE AMERICAN CITY
HOLLAND,
Michigan, was
the first to decorate
their streets with this
wonderful French de-
sign lighting standard
created by the Gen-
eral Electric Company
and manufactured by
the King Manufac-
turing Company.
King Manufacturing Co.
53 West Jackson Blvd.
CHICAGO ILLINOIS
78
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
373
fects and possibilities for development of
similar enterprises in other cities through-
out the country.
C. F. DUNN.
Secretary-Manager, Board of Commerce.
A New Hospital for Keene, N. H.
Keene, N. H. — For many years the local
hospital facilities of Keene had been inade-
quate. In December, 1920, the Chamber's
Committee on Activities, through a ques-
tionnaire, showed the community to be
united in realizing the need of a new hos-
pital. Backed by this sentiment, a commit-
tee from the Chamber of Commerce, the
Board of Trustees, and the Board of Health
tnet, and through their efforts a new Board
of Trustees was elected, which was ready
to carry out a program to build a hospital.
By newspaper publicity, bulletins, and vari-
ous other means, the need of a hospital was
brought prominently before the people, who
were ready to support the new Board of
Trustees in this undertaking.
The organization for the drive, which re-
sulted in raising $275,000 for a new hospital,
was as follows : the Executive Committee,
composed of rej-rescntatives from the chief
organizations in t'le city; four joint chair-
men— two men and two women; twenty-
four teams in the city, of eleven members
each, and one in each of the towns in the
county. At the head was a professional
organizer, brought into the city for the pur-
pose of giving all his time to the campaign.
The actual campaign required seven weeks,
only ten days of which were consumed in
actual solicitation. The campaign had all
the characteristics of an intensive war drive
and was entirely successful. Not only was
there $50,000 over-subscription, but the com-
munity spirit was the best that we have yet
seen.
PRICE GAINES,
Secretary, Keene Chamber of Commerce.
Volunteer Labor Rebuilds
Highway
Canon City, Colo. — Colorado roads suf-
fered heavily the past season from heavy
rains and floods. The county and state ap-
propriations could not take care of the ex-
pense of restoring them to normal condi-
tion. The citizens of Canon City had al-
THROTJGH THE ErPOETS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE $275,000 WAS RAISED TO BUILD
THIS HOSPITAI. AT KEENE. N. H.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Broadway High School Annex,
Seattle, Washington.
F. A. Naramore, Architect
ALTJNDUM SAFETY TILE USED ON ALL INTERIOR STAIRS.
MODERN SCHOOL PRACTICE REQUIRES SLIP-PROOF
CONSTRUCTION
Making stairs and hallways safe for careless children has been a big prob-
lem. Stairways, ramps, floors and walks must and can be made safe for
flying feet, even in wet weather.
ALUNDUM SAFETY TILE will prevent the slips and falls that invariably
occur on ordinary surfaces. School buildings throughout the country are
being equipped with this slip-proof, indestructible tread on steps and floors
of every kind. Made in different colors and used either alone or in combina-
tion with other tiles to produce a slip-proof surface.
It never wears smooth and will last as long as the building. It is eco-
nomical. Data for architects and other information may be obtained on
request.
NORTON COMPANY
53 Park Place
New York
WORCESTER, MASS.
IJ N. Jefferson Street
Chicago
233 W. Congress Street T37
Detroit
70
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
375
ready demonstrated
that roads could be
constructed by volun-
teer labor, having built
over two miles of
moilntain road to open
up a new scenic attrac-
tion and rebuilt the
Royal Gorge road three
different times.
The beautiful Phan-
tom Canon highway
was rendered impassa-
ble by floods. This road
covers a distance of 32
miles, extending be-
tween Canon City and
Florence to Victor and
Cripple Creek. It looked
like a hopeless task to
restore the road to
travel. State engineers
made estimates of $90,-
000 to rebuild. The indomitable local spirit
prevailed, and the citizens of Florence made
up their minds that this scenic highway
must be restored. They set the ball rolling.
The first day's call resulted in a response
from 150 men of all classes. They followed
this up for four days with from 50 to 60
men each day. The progress was amazingly
fast. The cooperation of Canon City, Vic-
tor, Cripple Creek and Penrose was then re-
quested, with the result that each day saw
from 75 to 150 men working like Trojans.
By the end of the second week this magnifi-
cent highway was again open to travel.
Another view of the highway appears on
the cover of this issue of The American
City.
e. a. bradley,
Secretary, The Chamber of Commerce.
Fire Prevention Propaganda in
Newark Schools
Newark, N. J. — To gain temporary pos-
session of the silver cup shown in the ac-
companying picture, pupils of the South
Market Street Grammar School of Newark,
N. J., submitted 208 essays in connection
with the observance of Fire Prevention Day
last year. The prize was offered by the In-
surance Section of the Newark Chamber of
Commerce to the school sending in the larg-
est number of compositions on "Home In-
spection to Prevent Fires." The cup will be
EUGGED COUNTRY FOE, EGAD BUILDING
But citizens of Florence, Canon City, Victor, Cripple Creek, and Penrose,
Colo., put the road through
contested for annually, and permanent pos-
session will be attained only upon three suc-
cessive awards of the prize. Inscribed on
the cup, leaving space for future inscrip-
tions, is the following:
"Fire Prevention Day — October 9th, 1921 — School
THE PRIZE OF THE FIKE PREVENTION ESSAY
CONTEST OF NEWARK, N. J.
THE AMERICAN CITY
^:iiii;!!!:!!:;iiiiiiu;!!:::i;iiiiiiiiii;;:;;;;iii:iim!!!ii!:i;ii:iii;i
Mueller Water Meter Testers
Experienced "Water Works men test new
meters before they are installed. It's important
to kno^v that the meters are correct— because
they measure the volume of water passing
through to the consumer. They iell how much
the consumer usesm
Testing a meter with the MUELL E:f9 is as easy and
simple as telling time. After a certain amount of water is
passed through the meter, a weight on the per cent bar of
Tester is balanced and gives a correct reading of per cent of
e«rror, either over or under the normal or correct figure.
No company furnishing metered water can afford to be
without a MUELLER Tester. A few large meters under-
registering will lose more money for the company in a year
than the cost of a MUELLER Water Meter Tester.
Detailed descriptions and prices on request.
H. MUELLER MFG. CO.. DECATUR. ILL.
PHONE BELL 153
Water, Plumbing and Gas Brass Goods and Tools.
New York City, 145 "W. 30th St., San Francisco, 635 Mission St.,
Phone "Watkins 5397 Phone Sutter 3577
Samia, Ontsurio, Canada
Mueller Metals Co., Port Huron, Mich., Makers of "Red Tip" Brass Rod; Brass
and Copper Tubing; Forgings and Castings in Brass, Bronze and Aluminum;
ss in White Metal and Aluminum: also Screw Machined Products.
80
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
AlRIL, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
377
Prize — Annual Competition — Fire Prevention Competi-
tion— Permanent Possession with Three Successive
Awards — Awarded by the Fire Insurance Section of
the Chamber of Commerce of Newark, N. J., to the
South Market Street School for submitting the largest
number of competitions in 1921 Contest."
Three other cups were given as indi-
vidual prizes for the best compositions sub-
mitted.
The essay contest was inaugurated last
year and was conducted with the coopera-
tion of the municipal Bureau of Combust-
ibles and Fire Risks and the Superintendent
of Schools. It was confined to the grammar
schools, with the idea that the pupils of
this grade would be more impressed with
the purposes of the competition. There
were 515 compositions submitted. It is
confidently expected that this number will
be vastly increased in the succeeding years
of the contest.
E. W. WOLLMUTH,
Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
San Francisco Chamber Will Offer
Unique Service to City's Guests
San Francisco^ Calif. — In line with the
new program adopted by the San Francisco
Chamber of Commerce, it is proposed to
make this city known as the most hospitable
city in the world; the idea is that the visit-
ing guest or tourist is a potential asset if
properly received. Hence, the Program
Committee and the Chamber of Commerce
have organized, under the leadership of
Dr. B. M. Rastall, industrial engineer, for
the purpose of extending the hospitality of
the city to every visitor. It is planned to
see that no one is permitted to go away
without having received special courtesy
and also an adequate and definite knowledge
of the city's resources and
advantages. So far this
is the only American city
to organize itself definitely
ior this purpose.
It is planned that every
incoming steamship and
transcontinental train
shall be met by an author-
ized agent of the Hos-
pitality Committee ; that
hotels and every recog-
nized resource of the city
shall cooperate to make
San Francisco known as
"The City of Hospitality."
The visitor will be greeted
on his arrival, and an ef-
fort will be made to find out his probable
destination and to get any information
which the vistor desires to give. This in-
formation is then sent by special messenger
to the Hospitality Committee headquarters
and filed, the vistor is assigned to his par-
ticular host, and the efifort is started to
make his visit one of profit or pleasure. As
far as possible and practical, each visitor
will be assigned to a host who is in his own
line of endeavor.
The organization for this task is very
definite and makes the entire scheme simple
— not a burden on any one. Five thousand
citizens have been asked to volunteer their
services as hosts to the tourist or business
visitors for three half-days each year; no
one is asked to go beyond what he can
afford to do, or to entertain in an elaborate
way. He is asked to call on the visitor
who is assigned him, extend the welcome of
the city, and ofifer such suggestions as to the
city's resources and points of interest as
may seem advisable, with perhaps a tour of
the city by automobile, or a luncheon. In
fact, it becomes his business to see that his
particular guest shall have the right knowl-
edge of San Francisco, and shall leave it
feeling that he has been really welcomed
and that his particular mission (be it busi-
ness or pleasure) has beevi definitely aided
by the Chamber's representative.
Each host knows in advance just the par-
ticular half-day which he is expected to de-
vote to this entertaining; thus the burden on
him is minimized and the possibility is
eliminated of a guest's arrival without a
host to receive and entertain him. Nor is
To SAN FRANCISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
192
SAN FRANCISCO HOSPITALITY
I volunteer my services for THREE Half Days dur-
ing the coming year to the San Francisco Hospital-
ity Committee. Upon advance notice by the com-
mittee I will hold definite dates exclusively for assisting
and entertaining such guests as are assigned to me.
Nc
ONE SIDE OF THE CARD FILLED OUT BY VOLUNTEERS FOR THE
SAN FRANCISCO HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
THE AMERICAN CITY
JUST how many thousand miles
Osborn Push Brooms cover each
day is impossible to estimate and it's
of no importance — but it's a sure fact
that they are in daily use in over 500
cities in the United States.
The present day development of our
brush and broom business is the result
of over 30 years experience. This wide
experience, coupled with the findings
of our . Engineering Department and
the tests of our Experimental Labor-
atory has naturally resulted in an abil-
ity to'make brooms and brushes give
unusual service.
An inquiry will bring, by return mail, prices and
any further information wanted.
The Osborn Mfg. Co.
New York CLEVELAND Detroit
Chicago San Francisco
BROOMS
LARGEST MANUFACTURERS of INDUSTRIAL BRUSHES AND BROOMS
81
When writinij to Advertisers plrase mention The American City.
April, 1922
THE AMERICANCITY
379
this service to be pushed to the place where
the visitor is wearied.
If the visitor be one of prominence, com-
mittees will give special attention, and tele-
phone and telegraph plans will be made for
his pleasure and comfort. Many of the
definite details of his entertainment will be
left to the individual judgment of the host
to whom he is assigned.
Naturally, for the first months the details
of this plan for promoting the city's ad-
vancement will be in the making and will
be changed as conditions may require; but
there is little doubt that the opportunity
offered by this movement will give San
Francisco a unique position among Ameri-
can cities.
CHARLES A. SIMMONS,
Executive Secretary, San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce.
Removes Advertising Signs from
Street Poles
New Orleans, La. — One of the problems
the Civic Bureau of the New Orleans Asso-
ciation of Commerce has had to face in giv-
ing the city streets a cleaner appearance is
the prohibition of promiscuous tacking and
placing of signs on the posts along the
streets. Efforts, extending over a period of
more than a year, have proved successful,
however, and although at times signs are
still strung to posts, the cases are very
scarce — in fact, almost negligible.
It was a hard fight to convince the police
and city officials that the committee was
right. They were reluctant to give up the
chance of playing politics by allowing cam-
paigns, with more or less merit, to use the
streets for advertising purposes. The com-
irittee, however, with the law on its side
asked only that the municipal ordinances be
enforced. Violators were called to the at-
tention of the police, and in several cases
the signs were removed by the police before
being put in place. Several firms that used
the posts to advertise their private busi-
nesses were asked to stop the practice and
have their signs removed, and, seeing the
wisdom of the request, complied with it.
Throughout the whole period of the work,
the local railway company and the telephone
and telegraph company, owners of the posts
along the streets, have cooperated with the
committee. They have had old signs re-
moved and "have refused to allow anyone to
tack or hang any advertisements on their
posts.
A. K. SCHARFF,
Secretary, Civic Bureau, New Orleans Associa-
tion of Commerce.
On the Calendar of Conventions
April 19-21^ — Spartanburg, S. C.
Tri-State Water and Light Association of The
Carolinas and Gcorqia. Annual meeting. Secretary,
W. F. Stieglitz, Columbia, S. C.
May 1-4. — Nashville, Tenn.
Southern Commercial Secretaries Association. An-
nual convention. Secretary, Roger Miller, Macon, Ga.
May 3-6. — Detroit, Micii.
American Physical Education Association. Annual
convention. Secretary, Dr. J. H. McCurdy, 93 West-
ford Avenue, Springfield, Mass.
May 9-11. — Atlantic City, N. J.
National Fire Protection Association. Annual meet-
ing. Secretary, Franklin II. Wentworth, 87 Milk
Street, Boston, Mass.
May 12. — Nnw York, N. Y.
National Hig'tzi'ny TrafHc Association. Annual meet-
ing. Secretary, Elmer Thompson, 247 West 54th
Street, New York, N. Y.
May in-19. — Philadelphia, Pa.
American Water Works Association. Annual con-
vention. Secretary, J. M. Diven, 153 West 71st Street,
New York, N. Y.
May 15-19." — Atlantic City, N. J.
National Electric Light Association. Annual con-
vention. Executive manager, M. H. Aylesworth, 29
West 39th Street, New York, N. Y.
May 15-21. — Washington, D. C.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of
America. Annual meeting. Secretary, D. A. Skinner,
Mills Building, Washington, D. C.
May 17-18.— Waxahachie, Tex.
League of Te.xas Municipalities. Annual conven-
tion. Secretary, Frank M. Stewart, Government Re-
search Division, Bureau of Extension, University of
Texas. Austin, Tex.
June 5-7. — Springfield, Mass.
National Conference on City Planning. Annual con-
ference. Secretary, Flavel Shurtleff, 60 State Street,
Boston, Mass.
June 6-7. — Antigo, Wis.
M''isconsin Association of Commercial Secretaries.
Annual meeting. Secretary, D. A. CalJwell, Chamber
of Commerce, Wausau, Wis.
June 6-9.— St. John, N. B.
National Public Health Congress. Annual meeting.
General Secretary, Dr. R. D. Defries, 206 Bloor Street.
Toronto. Ont.
June 6-10. — Swajipscott, Mass.
Nezv England Association of Commercial Executives.
Annual meeting. Secretary, Charles E. Smith, Cham-
ber of Commerce, Woonsocket, R. I.
June 13-17.— Victoria, B, C.
Canadian Good Roads Association. Annual con-
vention. .Secretary, George A. McNamee, 909 New
Birks Building, Montreal, Quebec.
June 20-23. — Colorado Springs, Colo.
National Association of Comptrollers and Accounting
Officers. Annual convention. Secretary, Mark M.
Foote, Comptroller's Office, Chicago, 111.
June 22-29. — Providence, R. I.
National Conference of Social Work. Annual meet-
ing. General Secretary, William H. Parker, 25 East
9th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
June 26-July 1. — Detroit, Mich.
American Library Association. Annual convention.
Executive .Secretary, Carl II. Milam, 78 East Wash-
ington Street, Chicago, 111.
July .8-16. — London, England.
English Federation of Settlements. International
Conference.
August 15-18. — San Francisco, Calif.
International Association of Fire Engineers. Annual
meeting. James J. Mulcahey, City Hall, Yonkers,
N. Y.
October 9-13. — Cleveland, Ohio.
American Society for Municipal Improvements.
Annual convention. Secretary, Charles Carroll Brown,
P. O. Box 234, St. Petersburg, Fla.
THE AMERICAN CITY
M#LL#VSPII1
Lic^hiincj Siandards
e «
T7OND DU LAC.
Wisconsin, has in-
stalled HOLLOW-
SPUN reinforced con-
crete lighting standards,
both for park lighting and
for business streets. Our
new catalog supplement
No. 9 contains full in-
formation on this and
other types of HOL-
LOWSPUN standards.
A copy will he sent on request.
Massey Concrete
Products Corporation
Peoples Gas Building, Chicago.
A
I
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
3«i
The Baldwin-Fairmount Filtration Plant
and Pumping Station in Cleveland
Additions to Extensive Water- Works System Have Many Interesting Features
BEFORE the water-works was started
and while Cleveland was still a small
village, water was obtained from
springs and wells. There were one or two
good springs, but most of the water was
hard, so that water for washing purposes
was hauled up the hill from the river in
barrels and wagons.
and one reservoir of 6,000,000 gallons ca-
pacity. In 1920 the distribution system had
increased to 1,452 miles of pipe and four
reservoirs with a combined capacity of
about 157 million gallons. The average
daily pumpage in 1857 was 348,700 gallons,
and in 1920, 140,337,000 gallons.
The record shows that the number of
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MODEL OF GROUNDS OF BALDWIN FILTRATION PLANT AND RESERVOIR, PREPARED FROM
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS' PLANS
In 1854 work was started on the first
pumping station, drawing its water from
Lake Erie. In September, 1856, water was
pumped into the mains, an event which was
the cause of much jollification and celebra-
tion. The pumping equipment consisted of
two Cornish beam engines and six boilers.
The inlet was a pipe made of boiler plate 50
inches in diameter, extending 300 feet from
shore and 400 feet west of the western
terminus of the old river-bed and into 12
feet of water. The distribution system in
1857 consisted of 13 miles of water-main
connections with meters in 1874 was 1.28
per cent of the total number of connections.
This percentage gradually increased, until
in 1901 it was 6.42 per cent. In 1902 the
policy of metering all connections was in-
augurated, so that by the end of the year
19.88 per cent of the services were metered.
This policy was steadily followed, and in
1909 practically 100 per cent of the entire
supply was measured through meters.
The New Facilities
The program for the future development
THE AMERICAN CITY
Expert Engineering Advice
on all Playground Installations
The Medart Plan and Engineering Department is constantly adding to its
50 years of accumulated experience by devising and planning playgrounds
so that the greatest good will follow through their use. Add to this an
honest effort to plan every installation, no matter what its size, so that the
maximum benefits are obtained at the minimum cost — and the result is a
service which under no circumstances you can afford to be without.
No Cost or Obligation Send for Catalog L
Medart Engineering Service is given
without cost or obligation of any kind
whatever. It is a service of which you
should avail yourself regardless of what
your playground problem may be.
Whether your plan is extensive or
limited, you will always find it
decidedly to your advantage to get
the full benefit of our experience.
Send for our Catalog L. It is perhaps
one of the most complete treatises avail-
able and is recognized everjrwhere as
a text book on modem playground
planning. When you send for it
please outline in brief just what
your problem is — you will have our
earnest and intelligent co-opera-
tion.
FRED MEDART MFG. CO.
Potomac and DeKalb Sts. St. Louis, Mo.
New York, 52 Vanderbilt Ave. San Francisco, Rialto Bldg.
Chicago, 326 W. Madison St.
MEDART
83
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
383
of the water-supply system to meet the
growth of the city includes the construction
of the new Fairmount pumping station and
the new Baldwin filtration plant. The latter
will utilize the present Fairmount reservoir
as a receiving basin. The raw water will
flow through the present East Side tunnel
and will be forced by the pumps at the Kirt-
land Street station through two 60-inch cast
iron pipe lines to the present reservoir at
Fairmount. This reservoir consists of two
basins with a combined capacity of 80,448,-
400 gallons. The water will then be pumped
from the reservoir to the mixing station of
the filter plant. A chemical house will be
built over the raw water conduits, and as
the water passes through the mixing flume
the chemical solution will be applied. There
will be four bins for the storage of chemicals,
three of which hold 146 tons each, the other
holding 71 tons. There will be six tanks
for dissolving the chemical and four tanks
for storing the chemical solution. Besides
the storage bins for chemical in the chemi-
cal house, there will be six bins hold-
ing 175 tons each in the chemical storage
house located on a railroad switch adjoining
the Fairmount pumping station. The chem-
ical storage house will be equipped with
crushers, elevators, conveyors and unloaders
for handling the chemicals as they are
shipped in cars to the plant.
The mixing flume consists of a short ex-
panding flume built on an incline with a fall
of 3 feet in 20, causing the water to flow
down the slope at a rate of 10 feet per
second. The fast-flowing water strikes the
pool with such force that there is produced
what is technically known as the "hydraulic
jump." It may be described as a miniature
Niagara Falls, consisting of a foaming and
seething torrent of water which passes
through the flume, intimately mixing a com-
paratively small volume of chemical solu-
tion with a large volume of the water to be
treated.
The mixed water enters the coagulation
basin and is kept in a quiescent condition
for a certain period by slow movement or
passage through the basins. During the
period in the settling or coagulation basins
about 75 per cent of the suspended matter
will be settled out of the water. The basins
will be four in number, of 8,250,000 gallons
each, of concrete with groined arch roof.
The administration building will be lo-
cated in the center of the filter building.
The first floor will consist of the offices of
the superintendent, assistant superintendent,
clerk and operators, and a room for visitors.
The second floor will consist of the store-
room, the machine shop and a large audi-
torium. The auditorium will be used in giv-
ing lectures on water purification and other
educational features. The third floor will
consist of drafting and record rooms, refer-
ence library, general chemical laboratory,
water chemical laboratory, bacteriological,
oil, coal and cement laboratory.
The clear water reservoir consists of two
basins of reinforced concrete construction
of the groined arch type. The storage ca-
pacity will be 130,000,000 gallons of water.
This reservoir is now in process of con-
struction.
The illustration on page 381 shows a
model of the suggested landscape architec-
tural treatment of the grounds of the new
Fairmount filtration plant. This model was
based on the recommendations of a group
of Cleveland architects, engineers and land-
scape architects acting in Concert for the
benefit of the city. The model prepared
from the plans is about 8 feet square and
gives an excellent idea of the appearance of
the grounds when completed.
The Bates Experimental Road in Illinois
During the week of March 27, by means of
a fleet of trucks, the Illinois Department of
Public Works and Buildings, Division of High-
ways, began the loading of the Bates experi-
mental road near Springfield, 111. This test
road was started in the summer of 1920 and
completed early in 1921. It is about two miles
in length and includes 63 sections. Each sec-
tion differs from the others in thickness, in mate-
rial, or in design affecting its carrying capacity.
It is expected that as the loads carried by the
trucks are increased, many, if not all, of the
sections will eventually be destroyed. The be-
havior of the various sections in supporting
truck loads is expected to give valuable in-
formation in the way of confirming or disprov-
ing theories that have been advanced as to the
load-supporting capacity of pavements of differ-
ent types and thicknesses. This experiment is
somewhat similar to the one being carried on by
the United States Bureau of Public Roads in
California.
THE AMERICAN CITY
F^ESIGNED for service, built for longest
^^^ service and proven as giving greatest satis-
faction in service, Pennsylvania Quality is the
accepted standard of lawn mow^ers wherever
large areas must be kept in perfect shape.
Write for **Pennsylvania TRIO Book"
Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works, Inc.
1615 North 23rd Street, Philadelphia
BllinillllllllllllUlllllllllllimiruilillimiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiii niniimiiMiiimiimiriiiiimtiininniiinrimiiminmnnniniiiiirnniiiniiiniimnriiiiininniiiiimiiiiiiiiiiimiriiipriiiiiiiiir
84 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
385
The City Planning Commission as a
Publicity Agent
By Lee R. Cooke
President, Idaho Chapter, American Association of Engineers
THE psychology of municipal politics,
for some unknown reason, too often
creates a feeling in the mind of the
taxpayer that the men to whom he has en-
trusted the conduct of municipal affairs,
once in office, can no longer be depended
upon to consider the public welfare in the
preparation of an improvement program, or
even in the routine conduct of municipal
affairs.
Western communities, at least, in which
planning commissions exist, quite generally
resent the restrictions which any city plan
is bound to impose upon certain interests.
These feelings, both of distrust and resent-
ment, are born of a lack of knowledge of
the aims and ideas underlying development
plans, and the overcoming of opposition is
quite largely a matter of education and
direction of public sentiment.
A common practise requires the municipal
authorities to refer any proposed municipal
improvement program to the planning com-
mission, for investigation and approval, pro-
vided it appeals to them as worthy of com-
mendation. Where it is the custom of the
planning commission to hold public discus-
sions on such proposed plans, the custom
can be made of benefit to both the municipal
authorities and the commission, as well as
to the public at large. Investigation by the
commission, made without prejudice, will
invariably bring out undeveloped phases of
the proposed programs, and the hearings
will serve the double purpose of offering a
means of publicity and of taking advantage
of ideas which may be presented. Both re-
garding the improvement itself, and the con-
ditions which will be created by the im-
provement, the hearing often offers the first
opportunity of getting the point of view of
the citizens at large.
The knowledge, brought out by these
hearings, that the planning commission
stands more or less as a representative of
the public, tends to create a confidence in
the w'ork of their organization. Approval
of a municipal improvement program by
such a body of representative men goes a
long way to create confidence in proposals
of the municipal authorities which they are
asking the public to support.
The city planning commission will in-
variably include within its personnel mem-
bers of the various organizations of the
community, and the individuals on the com-
mission can do effective publicity work in
quietly calling the attention of the organiza-
tions to which they belong, from time to
time, to the plans which are being presented
to the commission for their consideration
and to the ideas which the commission, on
its own initiative, is attempting to work out.
City authorities that are overlooking the
good which can be accomplished by a plan-
ning commission and the help which they
can receive from such a commission are
losing a big opportunity to lighten the
numerous difficulties of municipal adminis-
tration.
The Demand for Trained Administrators
Government is now playing a more impor-
tant part in our daily life than at any other
time in our national history. The functions
of government are broader, the work of ad-
ministration more complex. The success of
government in performing the increasingly
diversified services now required depends
upon the extent to which the day-to-day
work of government is entrusted to men and
women trained in public administration.
As a nation, we are on the threshold of a
new idea in government. The demand for
"more business in government" and the
spread of the city manager idea forecast
the general recognition of the place of ad-
ministration in government and the develop-
ment of a new profession — the trained pub-
lic administrator.
— National Institute of Public Adminis-
tion.
THE AMERICAN CITY
16 Distinct Features of the
Ideal Power Triplex Mower
A scientifically designed large power mower
for mowing the large areas of grass in city parks
1 — -The Idea] Triplex is one compact unit com-
prising power plant and cutting units — 15
minutes after you receive the machine you can
start cutting grass, as there are no extra parts
or attachments to be procured.
2^'We build the Ideal Triplex complete in oar
own plant — it should in no way be confused with
the type of assembled machines where some "of
the units were never intended for power mowing
purposes.
3 — ^We build our own cutting units — they are
designed especially for this mower, having
heavier blades and wheels and being equipped
with Timken Bearin.rj^s, which insures long and
satisfactorj' service under high si)eed conditions.
4 — Weight and traction are important factors on
a power-driven mower. The Ideal Power Unit
weighs but 1,600 pounds and the two traction
wheels are each 12 inches wide.
5 — The Ideal cuts clean and the extra traction
eliminates any possibility of torn or mutilated
turf; moreover, the outfit can be operated on
very soft, spongy soil.
6 — The Ideal can be successfully operated in
many places where other types of power ma-
chines and horse-drawn mowers cannot possibly
be used.
7 — The Ideal has the most simple control of any
large power mower built. The two control
levers are conveniently placed at the right and
left hand side of the operator so that with
natural, easy movements the machine can be
started, stopped, backed up and tunied around
in a very short radius.
8 — Because of this simple control, operator can
cut close to trees and shrubbery, leaving little
or nothing for hand trimming.
9 — Cutting Units are pushed ahead of the ma-
chine permitting the operator to see at all times
exactly what he is doing; thus eliminating the
danger of clogged blades being dragged over the
turf. This insures clean work and grass is not
packed down by the traction wheels.
10 — Cutting Units are so suspended that they
have sufficient flexibility to take care of any un-
even spots in the turf.
11 — The cutting units are easily elevated from
the ground by means of a convenient lever, so
located that operator does not have to move from
seat.
12 — The 4-cylinder power plant provides plenty
of power for all conditions encountered and will
negotiate steep grades without difficulty.
13- — Alemite pressure lubricating system is pro-
vided throughout.
14 — A roller can be attached and the grass cut
and sod rolled in one operation. It C3,n be
used for general hauling about the grounds
when required.
15-; — Most important is the fact that this Ideal
Triplex is built by power mower experts and
we are the oldest and largest builders of power
lawn mowers in the world — oldest merely be-
cause we were the first to see the practical side
of cutting grass by power — largest because the
quality and design of our machines has sold
more Ideal Power Mowers than all other makes
combined.
16 — Lastly, there is a nation-wide service back
of this Ideal Triplex and the complete machine
is fully guaranteed by one concern.
Through our extensive dealer organization
with representatives in all principal buying
centers, you are assured prompt, efficient service.
Write today for our special proposition to city
parks.
IDEAL POWER LAWN MOWER COMPANY
R. E. Olds, Chairman
400 Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan
World's Largest Builders of Power Lawn Mowers.
Chicago, Ii-l., 11 E. Harrison Street.
New York, N. Y., 270 West Street.
Boston, Mass., 52 N. Market Street.
Philadhlphia, Pa., 709 Arch Street.
Los Angeles, Cal., 222 N. Los Angeles St.
New Ori-eans, La., 130 Camp Street.
Pittsburgh.. Pa., 108 West Parkway.
Ideal Junior
Powei
A valuable machine
for trimming
cutting in
quarters.
Cleveland, Ohio, 1500 Lakeside Avenue.
Denver, Colo., 18th and Wazee Streets.
St. Louis, Mo., 412-414 N. 4th Street.
Minneapolis, Minn., 114 S. Third Street.
Cincinnati, Ohio, 228 E. Fourth Street.
Toronto, Canada, 17 Temperance Street.
Ideal Triplex
Power Mower
■P''5*.^'
r"^
85
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City,
38?
Street Traffic Signaling
Railroad Signaling Adopted for City Streets
THERE are approximately ten million
automobiles on the country roads and
in the streets of the cities of the United
States. The burden of this tremendous in-
crease in vehicular traffic is chiefly felt in
the cities where, in addition to the ever-
present problem of keeping the streets as
safe as possible, difficulties due to conges-
tion make it a very serious problem.
Leaving out the feature of safety and
dwelling entirely upon the problem of get-
ting the traffic by certain points produces a
problem analogous to that of railroad traffic.
Signaling on railroads was first devised for
the safeguarding of life and material. This
function of signaling is to-day so widely
recognized that present-day signaling is ar-
ranged not only to protect trains, but also
to expedite their movement; in fact, were
it not for signaling on railroads, it would
be impossible for many busy lines to handle
the traffic which they do to-day.
What signaling has done for railroads it
can do also for towns and cities. As an
example, we have Fifth Avenue in New
York, where a signal indication is simul-
taneously given to twenty-six blocks of
traffic, thereby allowing it to move in a
steady stream within a certain limit of time.
This method of giving priority to one direc-
tion of traffic, then stopping it and giving
priority to the other direction, has resulted
in a large increase in the number of vehicles
which can pass the given points.
These early attempts at traffic signaling
have naturally raised many questions as to
the best practices to pursue, and it is safe
to turn to the precedents set for us by the
railroads wherever their principles can be
applied to the control of traffic. Among the
major principles which can be applied are:
1. The same indication for "Proceed,"
"Stop" or "Caution" should be used, irre-
spective of whether the direction is north,
south, east or west, or whether the vehicle
is going forward or backward.
2. Whenever a "Proceed" indication is
given in one direction, "Stop" indications
should be given on all conflicting routes to
prevent accidents.
3. Signals should be clearly visible and
placed at fouling points, that is, at points
beyond which it is unsafe to go.
4. In case of failure of apparatus, the
"Stop" indication should be given unless the
operation of the signal is deliberately dis-
continued.
The foregoing can be applied to traffic sig-
nals with the exception that the location of
the traffic signal is a very important matter.
Obviously, the signals should not be placed
so as to lessen the roadway available to
traffic. The ideal location for a signal
would be at the intersection of the center-
lines of the crossing, but, as a rule, this is not
desirable because of the necessity for over-
head supports, wires, etc. The most prac-
tical location would appear to be at diagonal
corners; two signals at diagonal corners of
the intersection, with a signal suspended
over the curb and visible from both streets.
Such a signal would indicate in both direc-
tions and would be so constructed that it
could not give a "Proceed" indication to
both streets simultaneously.
Another feature which enters into any
extensive street signaling system is the
cost of operation. This cost includes not
only the salary of the traffic official operat-
ing the system, but, in addition, the cost of
electric power, if it is used, and the mainte-
nance of the apparatus. Systems have been
devised, automatic in their operation, which
may cover as large an area of the municipal-
ity as is desired, and which are also capable,
if desired, of taking the control of the sig-
nals at any location or locations away from
the central point and of operating them indi-
vidually by a traffic officer at those points.
Another element of cost, that is, the power
consumption, should be reduced to a mini-
mum by the use of efficient lenses which con-
centrate the light where required. It is de-
sirable to have as few lamps as possible to
control the intersections.
Street signaling will undoubtedly show a
tremendous development within the next
few years that will greatly reduce the num-
ber of accidents and the congestion, which
not only is bad to-day, but bids fair to be-
come worse from year to year without effi-
cient control of traffic.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Are Your Parks the
Beauty Spots They Might Be?
O
Coldwell maintains a
department for the
effective solution o f
just such problems
as yours, where those
who wish to spend the
zifisest may rest their
cares and he protected.
Why not consult us?
F all the things that make a city park worth while, the
lawns are not least important.
The Coldwell Model "M" Combination Roller and Motor
Lawn Mower, with an understanding of the aristocratic nature
of velvety-green and carpet-like grass-floors, offers a well
qualified, though not expensive, solution to lawns-keeping
difficulties.
Not expensive because, cutting and rolling a swath forty
inches in width. The Model "M" is capable of covering
twenty acres a day, at a consumption of fuel little above one-
half gallon per hour, and at an expenditure per day of the
labor of one man only for the above amount of work.
The Coldwell Model "M", successor to a long line of success-
ful forbears, is a marvel of automotive construction in its
simplicity and appearance, in its cutting capacity and mobility,
in its control and great strength —
And in its cost, such a rapid retriever of wasted effort that
many satisfied users, after comparative tests, have admitted its
ability to save the first cost in one season — leaving, if past
Coldwell records are to be believed, many, many seasons to go.
Getting back to your parks — are they the beauty spots they
might be? With Coldwell?
CwSWeiI Lawn Mower Co.
NEWBURGH. NY. US A
86 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
389
9t Avil^ MitMeAt you Xi^ 4/rww' tncit —
Courses Are Offered in
Public Administration
The National Institute of Public Admin-
istration at 261 Broadway, New York City,
has announced its courses for the year 1922-
23. The Institute was organized recently
to carry on and extend the work of the
Training School for Public Service of the
New York Bureau of Municipal Research.
In the last ten years over 450 students have
rceived instruction here, many of whom
have gone into positions with state and city
governments. The courses cover the entire
field of municipal administration.
Schools May Receive Help In
Nature Study
The National Association of Audubon
Societies has received $30,000 which is to
be used to aid teachers and pupils in the
study of wild birds. Children will be taught
to build bird boxes, feed birds in winter, to
learn the names of common birds in their
communities, and will be instructed in the
value of birds to mankind. Teachers who
form Junior Audubon Clubs may receive
free material to aid in their work of teach-
ing bird study. Already more than 1,700,-
000 children have been enrolled in these
clubs in the schools of the United States
and Canada, and the Association has on
hand material to supply 200,000 more chil-
dren during the next few months. Full in-
formation may be obtained by writing to T.
Gilbert Pearson, President of the National
Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New
York City.
Finger-Prints for Everybody
Have Been Suggested
William J. Burns, Chief of the Bureau
of Investigation of the Department of Jus-
tice, has suggested that finger-prints of
everybody, young and old, be taken and filed
for reference and identification. President
Harding has filed his as a beginning of the
collection. In certain South American cities
voluntary identification cards have been
tried. It is understood that the system has
been very successful, even when not obliga-
tory. Application for the cards was almost
unanimous, because it was readily recog-
nized that a person with nothing to conceal
about his identity need not hesitate. The
lack of a card, or the refusal to obtain one,
as in the case of a stranger seeking em-
ployment, would raise a natural suspicion.
Voting Machines Are Obligatory for
New York State Cities
Governor Miller has signed the bill which
makes obligatory the use of voting machines
in all the cities of New York State. While
many cities have been using them for years,
their use in the cities of this state has been
optional.
Drastic Penalties Check Paris
Motor Accidents
The Prefect of the Police of Paris has '
given orders that in the future any motor
vehicle which runs down a pedestrian or is
responsible for a serious collision shall be
seized and put under seal. If the driver is
found guilty, he is imprisoned and the car
is sold; if acquitted, he regains his car.
The plan is said to be very effective in re-
ducing the number of street accidents.
Milwaukee Has Created the Office
of City Real Estate Agent
Under the provisions of a law passed
last year by the state of Wisconsin, the city
of Milwaukee has created the office of Real
Estate Agent. A portion of the ordinance
defining the office is quoted herewith :
"There is hereby created the position of Real
Estate .\gent of the City Council and the Public
Land Commission, said agent to be appointed by the
Public Land Commission by a majority vote to per-
form such duties in relation to the purchase, sale and
exchange of real estate and negotiations leading up
to and concluding such transactions in real estate,
its appraisal, acquisition, purchase, transfer and sale
which such city may acquire, purchase, dispose of,
transfer or sell for its use or the use of its depart-
ments, bureaus or any part of said city or to be used
for streets, in excess condemnation, or as playgrounds,
squares or any other purpose of said city, and any
and all acts and duties in connection with said real
estate which may be required of said Board of Public
Land Commisssioners, or its assistants by the Com-
mon Council of said city, or by its Public Land Com-
mission.''
THE AMERICAN CITY
America's Par - Excellent
Power LfSL-wn Mo^^er
When you purchase a power lawn mower, look to its mechanical
features as you do in buying an automobile. This is particularly
true in park and cemetery work, where it requires sturdy qualities
to meet the long, hard grind.
The 4-Acre Power Mower is built with the mechanical perfection
and accuracy of a fine automobile, the stur-
diness of a tractor, yet extremely simple.
Here Are A Few Of Its Outstanding
Mechanical Advantages
Motor — 1 h. p. 2 cycle, 3 port, 2}4" bore by
23^" stroke, sight-feed oiler, specially designed
for mower work, air-cooled, speed 2K to 3M
miles per hour; few parts and requires little
attention.
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391
Public Works Programs and Engineers'
Salaries
Salaries Must Measure Up to Service Throughout the Country
THE situation which has existed
throughout the Middle West and to a
lesser degree in other parts of the
country for the past year has amounted to a
veritable persecution of public works pro-
grams and the engineering profession.
During the war the farmer was receiving
extremely satisfactory prices, and for a
time afterwards prices were good. There
was plenty of money in the country and it
was easy to borrow. The market for fine
cars and expensive farm machinery was
large. Then caftie the land boom. Farms
changed hands over and over, some of them
the same day, each change involving an in-
crement in the price. Then the price of
farm products broke, dropping sharply,
crossed the production line and kept falling.
Money not only became tight, but could not
be secured. Notes fell due and had to be
renewed. This condition was not new.
Old-timers have lived through it over and
over. It was a cause for grave concern,
but not for panic, nor did it bring one on.
The reactionary element is always with
us, even in the most prosperous times. It
fights the build'ng of schools, the installa-
tion of water and light systems and the de-
velopment of adequate highways. This
group was quick to take advantage of the
mental condition of the public. The leaders
went up and down the land preaching havoc
and calamity. Meetings were held in many
counties throughout the Middle West.
Some of these were gatherings of a digni-
fied nature for the thoughtful consideration
of public affairs. Others were conclaves of
carefully shepherded malcontents. Sets of
resolutions were adopted. These were
aimed at the road programs, but also in-
cluded other public activities, such as the
schools and the public health nurse. Peti-
tions were circulated asking the authorities
to stop all public work, dispense with engi-
neers, cut the school appropriations to the
bone, and so on.
The public works engineer found himself
in an unenviable situation because of these
conditions. Attention was focused in many
instances on the iniquitous salary he was
receiving. The fact that a year or two ago
he was drawing the same salary and riding
in the same old Ford in attend-ng to his
business, while the state at large was selling
corn at a dollar-eighty and buying expen-
sive automobiles, was never mentioned.
When one considers what the engineer
has done for cities, counties and entire
states throughout the length and breadth of
this country, due acknowledgment must be
rendered to him. The drainage engineer
made half of the Middle West and Western
States, the highway engineer is giving them
a modern system of highways, and yet in
many cases he is considered a pensioner.
The county engineer and his force are, in
the thought of the public, too often classed
with the inmates of the poor farm as depen-
dents of the county, although they are ren-
dering a sincere, invaluable public service.
The reliable engineer is a trained tech-
nical man, competent, faithful and giving
his best service. It is inexpedient to cut
his salary. The loss of the services of a
trained county engineer or state highway
engineer who kliows his county or state like
a book is disastrous to the continuity of pub-
lic work. It takes one or two years for an
engineer to thoroughly learn the needs of
his county or state. Few engineers can
afford slashed salaries or poor remuneration
for the sake of the honor in the work. They
will be attracted elsewhere by higher sala-
ries and work which will give them a fair
living. Several state highway departments
have already lost their chief engineers
through penurious budgets which made it
impossible to pay salaries commensurate
with the services of the men. In many in-
stances, entire county highway organiza-
t'ons have been wrecked because the small
salaries which the taxpayers would permit
could not hold the men from more advan-
tageous positions elsewhere.
THE AMERICAN CITY
DIRECT YOUR PLANT TRAFFIC
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88
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thk American City.
393
The City's Legal Rights and Duties
Information for City Attorneys and Other Municipal Officers, Summarizing
Important Court Decisions and Legislation
Conducted by A. L. H. Street, Attorney at Law
Under Ordinance, City May Lawfully Tax
Professional Men Who Maintain Office
in City
The California District Court of Appeals
finds no invalidity or inconsistency in a
city's be'ng authorized to levy an occupa-
tion tax on the right of an attorney or other
professional man to pursue his vocation
within the city limits, although the state
may have issued a license establishing his
general right to practice in the state.
In the case of Waldo S. Johnson, 190
Pacific Reporter, 852, he unsuccessfully con-
tested the validity of an ordinance of the
city of Maysville, Calif., imposing a tax of
$2.50 per month on "every person engaged
in business as a lawyer, maintaining an office
in said city." The Court remarked :
"The chief claim of the petitioner is that the
city has no power to license the business of a
lawyer. It is pointed out that a lawyer is li-
censed as such by the courts, that his license
is in the nature of a vested right, and that any
act of the Legislature curtailing this right
would impair the obligation of a contract.
Without conceding that these claims are well
founded, they are, nevertheless, inapplicable to
the case. It is true that a license cannot be im-
posed upon a lawyer, nor can his business be
regulated by ordinance. But the petitioner is
not charged with practicing law without a li-
cense, but with 'carrying on a trade, calling,
profession, or business' without first procuring a-
license. Sections i and 4 of the ordinance, when
read in connection with section 80, above quoted,
show clearly that the license is exacted for
'carrying on the business of a lawyer at a fixed
place of business.' The propriety of exacting
revenue from one who maintains an office and
carries on a business within a city is apparent.
Many expenditures by the city are rendered
necessary by reason of an office or other place
of business within its limits. . . . There ap-
pears to be no inherent difference between carry-
ing on the business of practicing law and carry-
ing on any other business or pursuit. It is not
questioned that the state may, in the exercise of
its sovereign powers, levy license taxes upon
merchants and manufacturers who maintain
places of business, and this, too, for the sole
purpose of raising revenue. A lawyer's office
makes certain demands upon the various fire.
police, street, and other functions of a city,
which differ from above classes only in quantity,
and not in quality. If the one should be re-
quired to assist in keeping up the revenues of
a city, no reason is apparent why the other
should not. Whether a license might be enacted
for carrying on a law business without maintain-
ing an office is a question that is not before the
court. We entertain no doubt that a state li-
cense issued to a lawyer authorizing him to
practice law is not a bar to the claim of city to
levy a license for maintaining an office in con-
nection with such practice. For many years the
state has licensed druggists, but it has not been
suggested that a druggist's license is the equiv-
alent of a license to run a drug store."
Motor-Cycle Policemen Not Subject to
Speed Regulations in Attempting to
Overtake Speeders, But Must Use Care
A decision of the Minnesota Supreme
Court illustrates the modern tendency of the
courts to regard the spirit of a law, rather
than its wording, in applying its provisions.
(Edberg v. Johnson, 184 Northwestern Re-
porter, 12.)
Defendant, a Duluth motor-cycle police-
man, was sued for damages for colliding
with plaintiff, a pedestrian, while attempting
to overtake a motorist who was violating the
speed limit fixed by the Minnesota Motor
Vehicle Act.
Plaintiff sought to charge defendant with
negligence conclusively on the ground that
he himself was driving his motor-cycle
faster than permitted by the Act. It was
conceded that the statute expressly ex-
empted "police patrol wagons" from the
speed limit, but denied that a motor-cycle
could be deemed to be a "patrol wagon."
It was argued that by limiting the exception
of vehicles from the act to patrol wagons,
ambulances, fire wagons, etc., the Legisla-
ture excluded motor-cycles. Disposing of
these contentions, the Supreme Court said :
"In Hubert v. Granzow, 131 Minn. 361, 155
N. W. 204, Ann. Gas. 1917D, 563, this Court
held that, as a general rule, regulations govern-
ing the rate of speed on public street's do not
apply to fire apparatus on the way to a fire.
THE AMERICAN CITY
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89
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
395
The same reasons apply with equaf force to
vehicles used by police officers. An officer so
engaged is performing a public duty. He can-
not successfully perform it unless he is accorded
privileges not possessed by private citizens. He
would be seriously hampered if statutory pro-
visions limiting the speed of motor vehicles ap-
plied to him while in pursuit of a fleeing
criminal. For reasons of public policy, at least
one court has felt free to hold that such pro-
visions have no application even though the
statute contained no exceptions in favor of
peace officers. State v. Gorham, tig Wash.
330, 188 Pac. 457, 9 A. L. R. 365. In another
jurisdiction, a contrary view was expressed.
Keevil v. Ponsford (Tex. Civ. App.) 173 S.
W. 518. And in still another it was held that
in case of military necessity a statute limiting
the speed of motor vehicles should be held in-
applicable. . . .
"The statute is not worded as explicitly as it
might' have been to express the intent the Legis-
lature undoubtedly had in mind. Strictly speak-
ing, a motor-cycle operated by a policeman
patrolling the streets is not a police patrol
wagon. If the letter of the statute rather than
its spirit is to control in its interpretation, the
municipal court was right and the district court
was wrong. The appliable rules of construc-
tion are too well known to justify more than a
mere reference to them. The intent of the Leg-
islature controls, though it seems contrary to
the letter of the statute, and a construction
should be avoided which would result in in-
convenience or absurdity. ...
"To secure the safety of the public is one of
the principal objects of the statute. A criminal,
seeking to get away from the scene of his
crime, commonly travels in an automobile
driven at a high rate of speed. There are reck-
less drivers of automobiles, who pay no atten-
tion to the speed laws. Both classes of offend-
ers must be overtaken by the officers of the
law, if they are to be placed under arrest. As
an aid to officers on patrol duty, no vehicle
more serviceable than the motor-cycle has as
yet been invented. Of course it is possible for
such officers to use automobiles, instead of
motor-cycles ; but their use would be equally
if not more dangerous to others if driven at a
high rate of speed.
"Whether the words 'police patrol wagons,*
as used in this statute, include motor-cycles,
may be open to argument. . . .
"Taking into consideration the objects sought
to be attained by the statute, the general use
of motor-cycles in patrolling streets and high-
ways when the statute was enacted, as well as
at the present time, and the evident purpose of
the Legislature to except from the operation
of the statute vehicles employed as instru-
mentalities of municipal fire and police depart-
ments, we hold that motor-cycles so employed
come within the exceptions made by the statute.
"We do not hold that an officer, when in pur-
suit of a lawbreaker, is under no obligation to
exercise a reasonable degree of care to avoid
injury to others who may be on the public roads
and streets. What we do hold is that, when so
engaged, he is not to be deemed negligent
merely because he fails to observe the require-
ments of the Motor Vehicle Act. His conduct
is to be examined and tested by another stand-
ard. He is required to observe the care which
a reasonably prudent man would exercise in the
discharge of official duties of a like nature
under like circumstancesr"
City Operating Public Utility Is Liable for
Assault by Superintendent Upon a Patron
Finding that defendant city's superintend-
ent of its water-works department committed
an inexcusable assault upon an inoffensive
Jewish patron who called to pay his bill,
the North Carolina Supreme Court decided
that the city must respond in damages, the
same as a private water-works corporation
would be bound to do under similar circum-
stances. (Munick v. Durham, 106 South-
eastern Reporter, 665.)
When plaintifif presented 50 pennies in
part payment of his bill, the superintendent
knocked them on the floor, calling plaintiff a
" Jew." This abuse was followed
by a beating, to which plaintiff offered
neither provocation nor resistance.
Suit brought by plaintiff against the city
to recover damages was ordered dismissed
by the trial court, on the ground that the
city could not be held responsible for the
superintendent's wrongful act. But this de-
cision was reversed by the Supreme Court,
which says, in part:
"There is no explanation of the conduct
of the superintendent, and the only provoca-
tion given which we can infer from the lan-
guage used by Bolton is the fact that the
plaintiff was a Jew. He made no other
charge.
"The ground upon which the nonsuit was
asked and allowed, as presented in this
court, is that the defendants and the city
of Durham are not responsible for the act of
its agent, Harvey Bolton, superintendent of
the water-works, or that at least in making
the assault he was not within the scope of
his authority, in that he had no instructions
from the defendants to commit such vio-
lence. At the time that the assault was
made by the said Harvey Bolton he was
acting in his capacity as agent. Had he
been acting for a water company under
private ownership, it could not be contended
that the corporation would not be responsi-
ble. He was there in the prosecution and
furtherance of the duties assigned to him
by the defendant municipality."
THE AMERICAN CITY
NEWPORT
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I (99.875 PURE IRON COPPER ALLOY) have been sold
i with no other exterior protection than a coat of asphalt
I rubber paint. Newport culverts are the most rust-resist-
I ing and strongest culverts on the market today. They are
I guaranteed to last longer under identical conditions than
I any other corrugated metal culvert pipes. They are made
I in full-round and half-round types, as illustrated, so that
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When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
April, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
397
Where There Is No Occasion for Its
Further Public Use, Property O-wned by
City May Be Sold
Upholding the validity of a sale and con-
veyance by a city to a private manufactur-
ing company of a portion of a court-house
site that had never been used for that or
any other public purpose, the Virginia Su-
preme Court of Appeals said in the recent
case of Head-Lipscomb-McCormick Co. v.
City of Bristol, 105 Southeastern Reporter,
500:
"While at common law a municipal corpora-
tion could, unless restrained by its charter, dis-
pose of its lands and other property just as
private individuals could, in this country it is
generally held that a municipal corporation has
no implied power to sell property which is de-
voted to a public use, but property of which
the public use has ceased, or which has never
been devoted to any public use, may be sold by
the municipality owing it, by virtue of its im-
plied power."
Discharge of Sewage in Stream Is an
Actionable Nuisance
Where a municipal corporation dis-
charges sewage into a river or creek, pollut-
ing the water of the stream, causing it to
become foul, and impregnated with noxious
and poisonous substances, rendering it unfit
for domestic or other uses, and thereby
creating and maintaining a nuisance, which
is detrimental to the health, comfort, and
repose of a lower riparian owner*, and
diminishes the value of his land, such mu-
nicipal corporation is liable for damages
arising from the maintenance of such
nuisance. (Oklahoma Supreme Court, City
of Cushing vs. Luke, 199 Pacific Reporter,
578.)
Under Its Charter, City of Savannah Held
to Have Power to Classify and Separately
Tax Certain Business Pursuits
The mayor and aldermen of Savannah,
under the city's charter, have authority to
make a reasonable classification of the gen-
eral business of selling automobiles, selling
or furnishing gasoline, or oil of any kind,
etc., and to levy a tax on each of such
classes. And where such a tax is levied,
and one person conducts several of such
businesses, he may be made liable to a tax
on each, although one branch of the business
may be conducted in a building, and the
other on the sidewalk in front of the same
building. (Georgia Supreme Court. Lewis
vs. Mayor and Aldermen of City of Savan-
nah, 107 Southeastern Reporter, 588.)
Premature Proceedings Contesting the Val-
idity of a Zoning Ordinance Dismissed
A proceeding in the courts to review the
validity of a zoning ordinance, on applica-
tion by a property owner who claims that
the marketability of his land is injuriously
affected will be dismissed as being prema-
ture, in the absence of a showing that he has
been prevented from erecting any building
intended for a prohibited use. The proper
procedure is to apply for mandamus to re-
quire issue of a building permit or to resist
conviction of violating the ordinance on
the ground of its invalidity. (New Jersey
Court of Errors and Appeals, Cliffside Park
Realty Co. vs. Borough of Cliffside Park,
114 Atlantic Reporter, 797.)
Municipality Liable for Damages Result ng
from Creating a Nuisance by Permit-
ting Overflow on Private Property
In the course of improving a highway the
authorities of the village of Southampton,
Long Island, removed sand from dunes on
a shore in such way that ocean water was
permitted to penetrate through the cut made
and overflow plantiff's lawn, thereby de-
stroying grass, trees, shrubs, etc.
Plaintiff sued the village authorities to
recover damages, and the Appellate Divi-
sion of the New York Supreme Court up-
holds the right of recovery. (Davies v.
Jagger, 188 New York Supplement, 789),
saying:
"The trial court has correctly held that the
present action may be maintained on the au-
thority of Carll V. Village of Northport, 11
App. Div. 120, 122, 42 N. Y. Supp. 576. That
the appellant, although a municipal corporation,
is not immune from legal responsibility for the
creation of a nuisance, is beyv^rid question. Her-
man V. City of Buffalo, 214 N. Y. 316, 318, 108
N. E. 451. The theory upon which the present
action is brought is nuisance. Respondent does
not claim damages by reason of a change in
grade of the highway, but rather because of
defendant's act in causing a cut or opening to
be made in the sand dunes, whereby salt water
was permitted to run over and upon her land.
It is true that the sand taken from the dunes
was used to raise the grade of certain high-
ways, although it also appears that a stone wall
was constructed across Halsey's Neck lane to
stop-gap the openings made in the sand dunes at
that point, with the object in view of prevent-
ing the salt water from undermining the road.
But it does not appear that any similar precau-
tion was taken or a barrier erected in the
place where the openings were made at the
foot of Cooper's Neck Lane, through which
the water came which destroyed plaintiff's
plants and shrubbery."
THE AMERICAN CITY
Goodyear All-Weather Tread Solid Tire
When conditions of load or road call for a
solid tire, think of Goodyear All-Weather
Tread Solids.
They wear longer because they are thicker
and their tough, gripping tread blocks pre-
vent spinning and constant slippage.
They remain resilient and springy, pro-
tecting engine and chassis from road shocks
and jars. Fuel, repairs and time are saved
by Goodyear All-Weather Tread Solid Tires.
Copyright 1922, by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Inc.
There are Goodyear All-Weather Tread
Solids in sizes ranging from 34 x 5 to 40 x 14.
For lighter and quicker hauling under differ-
ent conditions Goodyear makes other special
tires — Goodyear Cord Truck Tires and
Goodyear Cushion Tires.
The nearest Goodyear dealer or Goodyear
branch will assist you in equipping with the
correct tires for your needs.
Single Jacket
Underwriters fire Hose
The Underwriters label on Goodyear Single
Jacket Fire Hose and Goodyear Monterey
Chemical Hose, means that both will with-
stand a definite pressure per square inch and
that the latter will resist satisfactorily the
biting, corrosive action of chemicals. Good-
year's years of successful manufacturing ex-
perience has enabled the production of hose
on a par with all other Goodyear products—
hose which will render dependable and
economical service.
01
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
399
Municipal and Civic Publications
Prices do not include postage unless so stated
HANDBOOK OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Charles M. Fussett, Specialist in Municipal Gov-
ernment, University of Kansas ; former Mayor of
Spokane, Wash. Thomas Y. Crowell Company,
New York. 1922. VIlI + 192 pp. $1.50.
This book covers concisely the entire field of munic-
ipal government. Starting with the ancient city, it
traces modem institutions to their present forms.
Among the subjects discussed in detail are forms of
government, charters and home rule, elections and ap-
pointments, the duties of administrative officers and
their departments. The closing chapters are on munic-
ipal finance and the obligations of citizenship. The
author's Jong experience with municipal problems ena-
bles him to handle his subjects in a direct, practical
way. The volume includes a bibliography prepared by
the Research Division of the American City Bureau.
ASSETS OF THE IDEAL CITY
Charles M. Fassett, Thomas Y. Crowell Company,
New York. 1922. XV -|- 177 pp. $1.50
A clear, condensed summary of the various elements
of modern municipal life. There are brief discussions
of Biunicipal government, with chapters on streets,
utilities, transportation, health, recreation, educational
and correctional institutions, and other subjects. The
book is well adapted for use as a text-book for schools
or citizenship classes. There is a foreword by Harold
S. Buttenheim, editor of The American City.
MOTION PICTURES FOR COMMUNITY NEEDS
Gladys and Henry BoUman. Henry Holt and Com-
pany, New York. 1922. IX -f 298 pp. Illustrated.
$2.00 postpaid.
Both of the authors have long been associated with
the educational film business, and are thoroughly ac-
quainted with the subject. The book is practical, giving
the development of the educational film pictures, a dis-
cussion of the exhibitor's problems, many suggested
programs for various types of audience, and a large
amount of technical, mechanical and legal information.
HISTORY OF PUBLIC POOR RELIEF IN MASS-
ACHUSETTS— 1620 - 1920
Robert W. Kelso, A.B., LL.B., President of the
National Conference of Social Work. Houghtpn
Mifflin Company, Boston. 1922. 200 pp. ,$2.50.
A comprehensive account of poor relief in Massachu-
setts, tracing back to origins in England and in colonial
history. The concluding chapters describe the absorp-
tion of relief by the state, and the development of the
Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare, with spe-
cial attention to the Child Care and Child Placing Sys-
tem of the state.
PUBLIC OPINION
Walter Tjipmann. Harcourt. Brace and Company
New York. 1922. 427 pp. $2.75.
This book is the first attempt to survey in the lig^ht
of modern conditions the force of public opinion. It~is
not a moralistic judgment, but an investigation of such
things as the principles of censorship, propaganda, pub-
licity, electioneering, and news. It is the outgrowth of
ten years' study and experience in newspaper work,
politics, and war service.
NEW ERA CIVICS
John B. Howe, Litt. D. Iroquois Publishing Com-
pany, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y. 1922. X + 420 pp.
Illustrated.
A textbook for school use. It is divided into five
parts, Citizenship. The Nation, The State, The Local
Community, and "The Parties. At the end of each chap-
ter are suggested questions for teachers.
HYDRAULICS OF PIPE LINES
W. F. Durand. Professor of Mechanical Engineer-
ing, Stanford University, California. D. Van Nos-
trand Company, New York. 1921. XVI + 271 pp.
134 illustrations. Price $4.50.
This book gives in a reasonably small space a valu-
able discussion of the more important hydraulic prob-
lems connected with water and oil pipe lines and pipe
line flow. The treatise is almost entirely from the flow
standpoint. The six chapters cover elementary princi-
ples, surge, water ram or shock, stresses, materials,
joints, fittings, etc., and a discussion of oil pipe lines
or those intended for the carrying of other viscous fluids.
THE MODERN CITY AND ITS GOVERNMENT
William Parr Capes, Secretary, New York State
Conference of Mayors and Other City Officials:
Director, New York State Bureau of Municipal
Information. E. P. Dutton & Company, New York.
1922. XI -f 269 pp. Charts and diagrams. $5.
A thoroughgoing consideration of the fundamentals
of good municipal government. The duties both of the
official and of the citizen that chooses the official are
discussed. There are chapters on the common forms
of municipal government — the federal type, the com-
mission type, and the commission manager JForm. The
chapter on the control and management of city school
systems is timely. The concluding chapter is on ''The
Future Cost of City Government," showing the author's
belief that unless the people want the activities of
municipal government curtailed, there will be no mate-
rial decreases in the cost of municipal government.
NEW IDEALS IN THE PLANNING OF CITIES,
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
John Nolen, Town and City Planner. The Ameri-
can City Bureau, Tribune Building, New York. 139
pp. Illustrated. $1.00.
Originally prepared as a textbook, this volume pre-
sents a comprehensive survey of town and city planning.
It gives an outline of the local data needed as a basis
of the city plan, the elements of the plan, and the
methods of putting it into effect.
CITY PLANNING IN CHICAGO
"South Water Street Facts — Why the Improvement
Should Go Forward Without Delay." Published by the
Chicago City Plan Commission. 1922. 11 pp. Illustrated.
Discussion of the urgency of the double-decked thorough-
fares proposed for South Water Street. (Apply to
Chicago City Plan Commission, Hotel Sherman, Chicago,
111.).
TEXAS WATER-SUPPLIES
"Water Supply for Texas — Keeping It Pure," by
Wilson T. Davidson, M. D., Director of Public Health.
Dallas, Tex. Reprinted from Texas Municipalities, of
January, 1922. 6 pp. Illustrated. (Apply to author,
address above.)
NORTH DAKOTA ENGINEERS
"Proceedings of the North Dakota Society of Enjfi-
neers. Twelfth and Thirteenth Annual Meetings. 1921.
91 pp. 75 cents. (Apply to E. F. Chandler, Secretary-
Treasurer, University, North Dakota.)
MOTOR BUS LINES
"Fundamentals in the Operation of Motor Bus
Lines," by G. A. Green, General Manager, Fifth Avenue
Coach Company, New York, N. Y. Published by the
National Motor Truck Committee, National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce, 366 Madison Avenue, New York,
N. Y. 7 pp. (Apply to publishers.)
DRUG ADDICTION
"Narcotic Dnig Addiction," speech of the Hon.
Lester D. Volk of New York in the House of Represeuta-
tives, January 13, 1922. 16 pp. (Apply to author,
Washington, D. C.)
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SOCIAL WORK
Proceedings of the National Conference of Social
Work at the Forty-eighth Annual Session, held in Wis-
consin, June, 1921. Published by the University of
Chicago Press, Chicago, 111. (Apply to William H.
Parker, General Secretary of the Conference, 315 Ply-
mouth Court, Chicago, 111.)
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' ANNUITY AND BENEFIT
FUND
"An Act Relating to Municipal Employees' Annuity
and Benefit Fund, Chicago," with explanatory state-
ment and accompanying tables. 1921. 130 pp. Covers
the act in force in Chicago since July 1, 1921. (Apply
to The Municipal Employees' Annuity and Benefit
Fund, Room 1005, City Hall, Chicago, 111.)
STATE PARKS
"State Parks," by Harold A. Capam, landscape
architect. New York. 17 pp. Illustrated. Descriptions
of state parks in the United States. Published as a
Supplement to the National Municipal Review, Novem-
ber. 1921. (Apply to the National Municipal League,
261 Broadway, New York, N. Y.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
Cletrac Is Never Idle
CLETRAC will keep your streets clean as a whistle,
the year around. It is the ideal power for building
new roads and keeping old ones up to date. And its
sensible crawler-type construction allows Cletrac to
stay on the job in spite of bad weather and slippery footing.
If you haven't enough street cleaning and road work
in your town to keep Cletrac busy all year 'round, you
can easily make it pay for itself by renting it to contractors
for road building and excavation work. Or to industrial
concerns for heavy haulage jobs.
Let us send you actual money-saving facts and figures
and the names of municipalities in your vicinity that
are using Cletracs.
THE CLEVELAND TRACTOR COMPANY
Largest Producers of Tank-Type Tractors' in the World
19205 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio
92
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American Citv.
Apeil, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
401
EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF CONCEETE
"A Study of the Effect of Moisture upon the Expan-
sion and Contraction of Plain and Reinforced Concrete/'
by Torata Matsumoto. Published as Bulletin Ko. 126
Engineering Experiment Station, University of Illinois'
1921. 37 pp. Illustrated. 20 cents. (Apply to the Engi-
neering Experiment Station, University of Illinois, Ur-
bana. 111.)
NEW JERSEY ROADS
Paper on Koads, presented by C. E. F. Hetrick
:Mayor, Asbury Park, before the North Jersey Shore
league of Municipalities. Illustrated. (Apply to author )
NEW YORK STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
■•Work and Aims of Health Department," by F D
Beagle, Executive Clerk, State Department of Health,'
Albany, N. Y. Reprinted from the January-Februarv,
1922, State Service Magazine. 7 pp. (Apply to author,
addres.s above.)
TESTS FOR PURE WATER
••The Kejictions of CnUure Aledia," by George C.
Bunker, Physiologist to The Panama Canal, and Henry
Schuber, Chemist and Bacteriologist at Miraflores Puri-
fication Plant. Reprinted from the Journal of the
American Water Work.s Association, January, 1922. 53
pp. IllustrHted. Gives the results of the authors' ex-
perience in determining the hydrogen-ion concentration
of some of the commonly used media by means of color
standards. (Apply to George C. Bunker, Physiologist
to The Panama Canal, Ancon, Canal Zone ).
CITY PLANNING IN THE UNITED STATES
"A Review of City Planning in the United States.
1920-21," by Theodora Kimball, Librarian, School of
Landscape Architecture, Harvard University. Enlarged
from article in National Municipal Review, January,
1922. (Apply to author, Cambridge, Mass.)
THE POLICE POWER AND CITY PLANNING
"Enforcing an Official City Plan for Streets as a
Police Power Regulation." Published by the Na-
tional Conference on City Planning, as Bulletin No. 2,
Series 1922. Contains the decision in the case of
Town of Windsor, Conn., vs. Henry D. Whitney et al.,
that under a proper statute an official plan may be
adopted which private development must follow, for
which interference there is no compensation. (Apply
to Flavel Shurtlefl". Secretary, National Conference on
City Planning. 60 State Street. Boston, Mass.
CONDUCTING A MILK CAMPAIGN
"How to Have a Successful Milk Campaign," by the
Departments of Agricultural Journalism and Home
Economics of the University of Wisconsin. Published
by the Extension Service of the College of Agriculture,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., as Circular
No. 140, December, 1921. 32 pp. Illustrated. (Apply
to publishers.)
SURVEY OF ST. LOUIS, MO.
"St. Louis Social and Religious Survey," conducted
by the Church Federation of St. Louis, Mo., 1922. An
8-page folder. (Apply to The Committee on Social and
Religious Surveys, 111 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.)
SAFETY INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS
"Safety Education," a report read to the Cincinnati
Principals' Association, January, 1921, by F. E. Reszke,
Principal Whittier School, Cincinnati, Ohio. 10 gp!
(Apply to author, address above.)
THE EVOLUTION OF THE TJ. S. PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE
"The United States Public Health Service: Its Evolu-
tion and Organization. Reprint No. 661 from the
Public Health Reports, May 27, 1921. Published by
the United States Public Health Service, Treasury
Department, Washington, D. C. (Apply to publishers.)
NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y., ZONING ORDINANCE
Zoning Ordinance of the city of New Rochelle, N. Y.
16 pp. Map. (Apply to Jere Milleman, Chairman of
Board of Appeals on Zoning, 31 Faneuil Place, New
Rochelle, N. Y.)
THE RESOURCES OF THE SOUTHERN STATES
"Blue Book of Southern Progress," published by
the Manufacturers Record, Baltimore, Md. 1922. 72
pp. 50 cents. A brief industrial history of the South,
with statistical statements of the existing and potential
resources of the region. (Apply to publishers, address
above.)
FINANCES OF SCOTT COUNTY, IOWA
Financial Report of Scott County, Iowa, for the year
1920. Compiled by the County Auditor. (Apply to
Joseph Wagner, County Auditor, Davenport, Iowa.)
PROTECTION OF STATE- FORESTS
Forest Warden's Manual, by W. Darrow Clark, Chief
Forest Fire Warden 'of North Carolina. Published by
the Forestry Division, North Carolina Geological and
p:conomic Survey. 1922. 23 pp. (Apply to author.
Chapel Hill, N. C.)
WATER PUBLICATION
For copies of "Water Purification in Iowa," listed
in The American City for March, 1922, apply to
Jack J. Hinman, Jr., State University of Iowa, Iowa
City, Iowa.)
THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
"Suggestions for Studying the Chicago Public
Schools," prepared by the Board of Education for
the convenience of the members of the National Edu-
cation Association attending the meeting of the De-
partment of Superintendence. 1922. 40 pp. Illus-
trated. (Apply to Louis F. Wilk, Secretary, Board of
Education, Chicago, 111.)
Municipal Reports
Baltimore, Md. — The Ordinance of Estimates for the
yenr 1922. with detailed statements of the appropria-
tinrs for the maintenance of the government of the city
3f Baltimore. (Apply to Peter E. Tome, City Comp-
:roller. Baltimore, Md.)
Bellingham, Wash. — City Comptroller's Annual Re-
port. 1920. (Apply to Charles A. McLennan, City
[Comptroller, Bellingham, Wash.)
Boston, Mass. — Annual Report of the Assessing De-
partment for the year 1920. (Apply to Frederick H.
reinple. Secretary, Assessors of the City of Boston, City
Hall Annex, Boston, Mass.)
Chicago, 111. — Twenty-fourth Annual Report of the
Department of Gas and Electricity, 1920. (Apply fo
iVilliani G. Keith, Commissioner of Gas and Electricity,
[Jhicago, 111.
Clarksburg, W. Va. — Semi-pnnual Report for the six
months ending December 31, 1921. (Apply to Harrison
R. Otis, City Manager.)
Dayton, Ohio. — Annual Report of the Division of
Health, Department of Public Welfare, for the year
1921. (Apply to A. O. Peters, M. D., Commissioner of
Health.)
Erie, Pa. — Fifty-fourth Annual Report of the Com-
missioners of Water-works, for the year ending Decem-
her 31, 1920. (Apply to James S. Dunwoody, Sui)or-
intendent of Water-works.)
Greeley, Colo. — Annual Report of the Water Depart-
nent for the year ending December 31, 1921. (Apply
o Milton Seaman, Superintendent of Water, Greeley,
:olo.)
Jackson, Miss. — Quarterly Financial Statements for
rhe quarters ending September 30, 1921, and December
31, 1921. (Apply to A. W. Tobias, City Auditor.)
Kalamazoo, Mich. — Budget for the year 1922, as en-
acted by the City Commission, December 30, 1921.
(Ajjply to Harry H. Freeman, City Manager.)
Kalispell, Mont. — Eighth Annual Report of the Water
Department for the year ending December 31, 1921.
(Apply to W. H. Lawrence, Superintendent of Water
Department.)
Los Angeles, Calif. — Eleventh and Twelfth Annual
Reports of the Board of Public Utilities, for the years
ending June 30, 1920, and June 30. 1921, respectively.
(Apply to Robert E. Wirsching, President Board of
Public Utilities.)
Los Angeles, Calif. — Report of the Auditor for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1921. (Apply to John S.
Myers, City Auditor.)
New York, N. Y.— Report of the Commissioner of
Taxes and Assessments for the year ending March 31,
1921. (Apply to C. Rockland Tyng, Secretary, Com-
mission of Taxes and Assessments, New York, N. Y.)
Palo Alto, Calif. — Annual Report of the Health De-
partment for the year ending December 31, 1921.
(Apply to Louis Olsen, Health Officer.)
Saginaw, Mich. — Annual Report of the Department
of Light, Water and Sewers for 1921. (Apply to R. F.
Johnson, Commissioner of Light. Water and Sewers.)
St. Louis, Mo. — Annual Report of the Board of Com-
missioners of Tower Grove Park, for the year endini;
December 31, 1921. (Apply to C. E. Hutehings, Secre-
tary, Commissioners of Tower Grove Park, St. I-ouis,
Mo.)
Wilmington, Del. — Fifty-second Rep»rt of the Board
of Water Commissioners, for the fiscal year 1920-21.
(Apply to James I. Ford, President, Board of Water
Commissioners. )
Winston-Salem, N. C. — Annual Report of the Depart-
ment of Health for the year ending December 31, 1921.
(Apply to R. L. Carlton, M. D., Health Officer.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
CUT STREET CLEANING COSTS
SQUARELY IN HALF!
^M*'^: 'I'
The AUTOSWEEPER
The
AUTO-EDUCTOR
The Auto Sweeper for Streets
Works at twice the speed of horse-drawn
sweepers. One AUTOSWEEPER does the
work of two horse-drawn sweepers.
Sprays the street and sweeps it.
Placed near center of street, it is unequalled as
a "feeder" to a pick-up sweeper.
Circular No. AAA tells all about the AUTO-
SWEEPER.
A Pick-Up Sweeper
A sentence from a sample letter: —
"We have made 50% saving in street cleaning since
introducing the ELGIN, Aug. 20, 1918." Name
on request.
You'll find "The Eventual Method" in The
ELGIN : the machine that sprays the street, cleans
the gutter, sweeps 1 0 ft. of pavement, collects the
refuse and carts it away.
1 63 owners have 284 Elgin machines.
Circular No. A-48 describes The ELGIN.
Catch Basins Cleaned Quickly
During last September, Chicago's 7 AUTO-
EDUCTORS cleaned 2,809 catch basins at
$1.90 each.
In the same month, Chicago cleaned 1 , 1 65
catch basins by hand. These cost $4.41 each.
The AUTO-EDUCTOR saved $2.51 per
catch basin.
Without alteration, and with little additional equipment, the
AUTO-EDUCTOR becomes a flusher, sprinkler, tree-
sprayer, snow plow, ordinary truck, etc. Can be used 365
days a year, both day and night.
Circular No. A-50 tells how.
THE ELGIN LINE COMPRISES AMERICA'S LEADERS
ELGIN SALES CORPORATION
501 Fifth Avenue,
NEW YORK
U. S. A.
Old Colony Building,
CHICAGO
93
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
4«3
Methods, Materials and Appliances
News for City and County Engineers, City Managers, Water-Works Super-
intendents, City Controllers, Park Superintendents, Purchasing Agents, and
Others Interested in the Economical Construction and Efficient Operation of
Public Improvement Undertakings
Garbage Handling in Akron
The Division of Waste, Akron, Ohio, has
adapted a 15-ton motor tractor to the task of
hauhng garbage between the city and the stock-
feeding fa^m, 9 miles distant. At the start the
eno^ineers thought of using horses, but were
prJictically unanimous in their behef that this
would be both expensive and inefficient, so
motor trucks were considered. The engineers
felt that the purchase of a sufficient number of
motor trucks to handle the work would require
too large an initial outlay. Furthermore, in
house-to-house collection, they realized that
horse-drawn units would be much more eco-
nomical than large motor trucks.
The system as finally organrzed made use of a
15-ton ^Nlack tractor, made by the International
Motor Company, 25 Broadway, New York City,
to draw three trailers, each with a capacity of
three tons. Each trailer was to be hauled from
house to house by horses for the collection of
garbage, and then, fully loaded, to be covered
with tarpaulin and taken to a central point
where they would be formed into a train drawn
to the piggery by the tractors. After a few
trips it was found that the tractor could handle
more than three trailers without excessive
strain. Consequently, other trailers were added,
and soon the tractor was hauling six trailers on
each trip.
The trip from the city to the stock-feeding
farm consists of nine miles of well-paved but
hilly road with a number of long, steep grades,
one with an incline of approximately 9 per
cent. The tractor hauled the six trailers on
this trip in one hour and forty minutes. The
trailers are of the side-dump type with drop
frame, which can be unloaded at the piggery in
a very short time. The tractor does not carry
a load of garbage, but sufficient traction is ob-
tained by a number of weights equal to about
two tons. W. C. Rawson is Superintendent of
Garbage Disposal, and B. J. Hill, Purchasing
Agent for the city of Akron.
New Pumping Engine
for Newport, Ky.
The Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company, Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, recently received a contract for a
1,300-gallon auto pumping engine and for a
tractor to be attached to an aerial ladder truck
for Newport, Ky.
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A TRAILER TRAIN ON ITS WAY TO THE AKRON GARBAGE FARM
THE AMERICAN CITY
•rfv ■ - ■ -
mm.
Tractors
for power, speed, economy
Preparing streets for repaying, breaking up old pavements, making new
thoroughfares, all require an abundance of steady, dependable power.
Scarifiers, plows, drills, levelers, scrapers, graders, etc., do their best
work, and more of it, when propelled by good tractors. This is because
the tractor has the reserve power to keep the tool moving constantly
at proper speeds and with proper adjustments for maximum results.
Tractors like the BEST concentrate the pulling power of a large
number of animals within a small unit which is easy to manage, easy
to maneuver, and which has none of the weaknesses of the flesh.
Best Tractors are famous for stamina, power and dependability, and
their cost for up-keep and operation is small. That is why they are
being adopted more and more by municipal, county and state officials
for road and street making and maintenance.
Let us send you further details on the use of tractors for road and street
work. Write for catalogs, prices and names of our nearest dealers.
C. L. BEST TRACTOR CO.
SAN LEANDRO - CALIFORNIA
There are three models of Best Tractors — the "Sixty," the "Thirty"
and the "Cruiser" (60). All are factory-built — not assembled.
"Sixty"
"Thirty"
Cruiser
94
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amekican Citt.
Apr., 1922 METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
405
A ONE-MAK MOTOR MOWER FOR PARKS
A Small Motor Mower
of Large Capacity
To combine the extreme Hexibility of the
hand lawn-mower with the large cutting capac-
ity, rolling feature and other advantages and
conveniences of the motor mower, the Coldwell
Lawn Mower Company, Newburgh, N. Y., has
brought out the new Coldwell Model L motor
mower and roller, which cuts a 25-inch swath.
This mower is adapted particularly for large
lawns, parks, cemeteries and public grounds and
for fine cutting on tennis courts and bowling
greens. It is equipped with a Fuller & Johnson
motor and is claimed to fill the need for a prac-
tical motor-driven hand-controlled lawn-mower
with plenty of reserve power which will make
it possible to cut close up to and around trees,
shrubbery, walks and driveways, to operate effi-
ciently on the smaller areas, and at the same
time to be able to cut four to six acres per day
on the larger areas of lawn. The cutting knives,
which are positively controlled and operated by
power transmitted directly from the motor in-
dependently of the drive rofler, are an integral
part of the' machine and have been designed and
tested for their special function under power.
(D
Safe Steps for Public Build iDgs
Many municipal officials have had their
troubles in getting steps that are safe for the
public without sacrificing attractive-
ness and economy. In the Girls'
Trade School at Worcester, Mass.,
a $350,000 building, the architects
have made every step slip-proof and
at the same time practically wear-
proof, thus eliminating maintenance
costs. In accomplishing this end,
Alundum safety title, made by the
Norton Company, Worcester. Mass.,
has been used in combination with
iron and steel.
In laying standard Norton Alun-
dum safety stair tread tile, a bed of
mortar well anchored by steel an-
chors and composed of one part Port-
land cement and two parts clean, sharp sand, not
less than i inch in thickness, is applied over a
special cast iron tread depressed to receive the
tile. The tile is then soaked in clean water, and
before setting into place is drained only long
enough to allow the water to disappear from the
surface. With a mortar composed of one part
Portland cement and one part clean, sharp, fine
sifted sand, mixed to a consistency usually al-
lowed for ordinary lime mortar, the entire bot-
tom surface of the tile is then scantily buttered.
The edges of the tile are also buttered with the
same mortar. Then the tile is laid true to line
on the bed with a shoved joint of about 34-inch.
Excess mortar is trimmed off with a trowel,
and the tile tamped to a level surface, care being
taken not to smudge the surface of the tile. As
soon as the mortar has properly set, the joints
are rubbed and all cement cleaned from the sur-
face of the tile with a soft abrasive brick or a
piece of sandstone and water. Immediately after
the cleansing of the tile, it is thoroughly rinsed
with a strong stream of water, and is kept
sprinkled for a period of from two to six days.
New Cast Iron Pipe Office
The United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry
Company, Burlington, N. J., has announced the
opening of a new office at the Interstate Build-
ing, Kansas City, Mo., in charge of D. W.
Pratt, Sales Agent.
J^Af\DN^ hoqjon
CaA iRpn %AD ^^LUnPUn JAPtTT^I^JqpADjiLC
Ca/t iRpn A"GLt
JjttL Aficno;^' 0" l-O'Ctniti?!
WORKING SKETCH FOR LAYING SAFETY TREAD ON
STAIRS
THE AMERICAN CITY
Why Road Builders Prefer
Kentucky Rock Asphalt
Contractors and engineers who have laid
or supervised Kentucky Rock Asphalt pave-
ments prefer it to other hard surface types.
The reason for this is evident when the ad-
vantages of this natural asphalt mix is un-
derstood and verified by experience.
Kentucky Rock Asphalt is ready mixed
and ready to lay cold on any base adequate
to carry the traffic. It is shipped in open
top cars and may be unloaded and handled
by machinery at a considerable saving.
Kentucky Rock Asphalt is not susceptible
to damage from the weather. The material
may be ordered in at any time and stored
in the open at convenient sites along the
work, thereby eliminating costly delays.
iS«? J3¥? ia«?
No expensive equipment is required in
Kentucky Rock Asphalt construction. Shov-
els, rakes and a roller are all- the equipment
needed. There is no need of skilled or ex-
pert asphalt workmen.
Kentucky Rock Asphalt requires no spe-
cial binder course on curb. The material is
spread cold on the base; raked to proper
depth and rolled. The pavement may be
thrown open to traffic immediately.
.«e' is«? <i^
Kentucky Rock Asphalt has eliminated
the risk of surface failures or replacements.
Every contractor knows that in laying the
more common types of asphalts, he con-
stantly faces the risk due to human error in
mixing, heating or laying. Kentucky Rock
Asphalt is uniform, by laboratory test. Ex-
posure to the elements, even for a period of
years, does not affect it. Laid on a base
sufficient for the traffic, it always gives max-
imum results.
Foundation replacement is not difficult
even after the surface has been laid. The
rock asphalt may be cut away and, after the
base has been repaired, the asphalt may be
broken up and used again in restoring the
surface.
Surface irregularities may be corrected
without disturbing the pavement. If a
slight depression occurs in the finished job,
the surface may be roughened and brought
to proper grade by adding rock asphalt. The
patch, after a few days' traffic, will bond so
perfectly that it may not be detected.
The finished Kentucky Rock Asphalt sur-
face is equal in every respect and in many
ways superior to sheet asphalt. It is smooth,
noiseless, dustless and resilient. Kentucky
Rock Asphalt pavements do not crack, roll,
buckle or bleed even under the most severe
traffic and climatic conditions.
Kentucky Rock Asphalt has been recog-
nized in the standard specifications of ten
states. It has been approved for Federal
aid on such heavy traffic roads as the Dixie,
Jackson and Lincoln Highways and the Na-
tional Road.
a^ si^ ae
If you are a contractor, anxious to get
away from costly equipment and many un-
certainties of road and street construction,
or if you are an engineer eager to serve your
community by building the best pavement
at a reasonable cost, it will pay you to in-
vestigate Kentucky Rock Asphalt. Write
for Booklet D
Kentucky Rock Asphalt Company
INCORPORATED
711-718 Marion E. Taylor Building
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Apr., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
407
No Concrete House Connections
in Baltimore
On page 17 of the January, 1922, issue of
The American City, there appeared a plan
showing the Baltimore method of placing
double house connections for sewers under a
sidewalk, in the article, '-'The Laying of Con-
crete Pipe Sewers." We are in receipt of a
letter from A. E. Christhilf, Highways Engi-
neer, Sewer Division, Baltimore, Md., stating
that he feels that this caption may lead our
readers to the inference that concrete pipe is
being used for house sewers in Baltimore. No
concrete pipe has ever been used in Baltimore
for sanitary sewers. There are, however, some
storm-water drains carrying only non-polluted
waste that have been built of concrete pipe
ranging in size from 24 to 48 inches.
How to Travel to the I. A. F. E.
Convention
I'ire engineers, fire chiefs and others who ex-
pect to attend the annual convention of the
International Association of Fire Engineers in
San Francisco, August 9-18, should secure a
copy of the itinerary which has been prepared
by F. E. Bensen, Eureka Fire Hose Depart-
ment, U. S. Rubber Company, 27 Barclay Street,
New York City. This itinerary covers the
complete trip from New York, starting August
5, to the convention and return. As reserva-
tions are being made in the order of receipt,
those who would like to go on this interesting
trip should communicate with Mr. Bensen at
once.
A Meter Box for Southern Cities
The "Crescent" meter box illustrated here-
with has been developed by the Ford Meter Box
Company, 406 South Carroll Street, Wabash,
Ind., particularly for Southern cities. Exhaus-
tive studies were made of the requirements of
the Sewerage and Water Board of New Or-
leans, La., and this meter box was worked out to
fit conditions. The box is complete and entirely
self-contained, having within its base a stop and
waste cock, an expansion coupling, and a test
valve on the outlet side of the rrteter, all made
of high-grade bronze. In comparing the cost
of installing this meter box with that of install-
ing any other type, it is well to keep in mind that
with it the usual curb stop, curb box, meter con-
nections and test valve are eliminated. The
meter may be easily installed or removed with-
out the use of tools, joints being made by com-
pression only. Bronze inlet and outlet parts are
tapped regularly for ^-inch iron pipe, but
solder nipples may be used.
Where it may be desired to continue in use a
standard curb stop, already installed, a bronze
adapter may be substituted for the stop and
waste valve as regularly furnished. The main
body of the box is of cast iron, made into inner
and outer shells, threaded so that the depth of
the box may be adjusted to suit service lines
from 12 to 18 inches deep. The top of the box
is thus easily kept at grade.
A DISSECTED METER BOX
The top of the "Crescent" meter box is made
in two regular styles — loose, as illustrated, and
locking. The loose lids are provided with deep
webs, so that they cannot be jarred out of the
cover top. They may be lifted out by means of
a hand tool, which is supplied with the box.
The locking lid is simple and is operated by a
key, which becomes a lifting handle when the
lid is unlocked. The keyhole is unobstructed, so
that any dirt falling into it will pass straight
through and not jam the lock. At present, this
meter box is made for standard f^-inch meters
only, having meter spuds of i 1/16 inches ex-
ternal diameter.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Choose Your Street Flusher for What
It Can Do and What It Costs to Do It
WE know from reliable records that Tiffin Street
Flushers Jo MORE WORK and BETTER WORK
at a lower OPERATING EXPENSE than any other street
flushers.
We ask the opportunity of proving these claims to you.
Because we have been able to prove them to others, there
are, today, more Tiffin Flushers in successful operation
than any other make.
The TIFFIN WAGON COMPANY
TIFFIN, OHIO
Builders of Tiffin Motor Trucks {specializing in Municipal types), also
Tiffin Dump Wagons, Sanitary Carts, etc., etc.
FLUSHERS
9G
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Apr., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
409
Drinking Fountains
for Outdoor Use
Municipal authorities tiave
learned by severe rinancial
losses and bitter experiences
that it is ruinous to install
fountains designed for in-
door use alone along streets,
in parks, playgrounds and
other open places. They are
not usually built strong
enough to withstand public
wear and tear. Most such
fountains must be turned off
at the approach of cold
weather, and yet there are
many pleasant days in the
late fall and early spring
when drinking water in
public places is highly de-
sirable.
The Murdock Manufac-
turing and Supply Company,
Cincinnati, Ohio, makes an
anti-freezing drinking foun-
tain designed for all-year
service. This fountain does
not need to be turned off at
the approach of winter, nor
does it have to be dismantled or boxed up, as it
is built to stand the usual wear and tear on
public drinking fountains, with the exception of
unusual accidents and malicious abuse. While all
working parts of this fountain are buried in the
ground below the reach of frost, they are rea-
sonably accessible without digging up the main
fixture. Removing the pedal and two small
bolts permits all working parts, including the
valves, to be lifted out. Thus when re-washer-
ing or packing is required, it is only a few
moments' work to make the shift.
The accompanying illustration shows an anti-
freezing fountain with a memorial feature. This
was erected in Lytle Park, Cincinnati, by Dr.
Merrill Ricketts in memory of his son, who was
killed with the Marines in
France. The reverse side
of the granite rock has a
tablet imbedded in it with
the names of all Cincinnati
Marines who made the su-
preme sacrifice in France.
This furnishes a memorial
which performs a real ser-
vice to the public.
IT TAKES AN AGILE YOUNGSTER TO STICK TO THIS
A MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN IN CINCINNATI
A Mechanical Greased Pig
A new piece of playground apparatus that
challenges the physical abilities of almost any
red-blooded American youngster is shown in
the accompanying illustration. This barrel-of-
fun is a sort of greased pig affair which has
proved quite popular in the Southern States and
has been developed by the Hill-Standard Com-
pany, Anderson, Ind., for general playground
use.
The barrel runs freely in the center of a
horizontal pipe axle two feet above the ground.
This axle, ten feet in length, extends from the
center of the barrel head and is supported at the
extreme ends by uprights which are imbedded
in concrete. Being made entirely of pressed
steel, the barrel offers little chance for injury,
is weather-proof and always ready for use.
Many feats of skill may be performed upon
this, such as balancing with the body in all con-
ceivable positions, diving over, somersaults,
treadmill, and a number of other stunts.
Elgin Moves
Chicago Office
The Elgin Sales Cor-
poration has announced
that on March 31 it
moved its Chicago office
to 10 South La Salle
Street, Chicago, 111.
This company handles
the sales of Elgin Auto-
sweepers and pick-up
sweepers for street
cleaning and Auto-
Eductors for removing
lilth from catch-basins.
THE AMERICAN CITY
TRINIDAD
in Chicago
Madison Street, near
Wabash, Chicago.
Kesurfaced with
Trinidad Sheet
Asphalt in 1912. No
maintenance cost to
date.
Where quality remains
— price is forgotten
Twenty-five years and more of service — under terrific pound-
ing of traffic — is the record of Trinidad Lake Asphalt Streets in
all parts of the world.
And it's this wonderful endurance— AN ABSOLUTE
PROOF OF QUALITY— that makes Trinidad the lowest-cost
paving material on the market.
Many Trinidad paved streets have resisted traffic and the
elements for OVER THIRTY YEARS, at a maintenance cost
of less than a cent per yard per year. Think of it! No other
bituminous material has even approached this record.
Trinidad Lake Asphalt is a NATIVE bitumen — a product
created by nature and storm-beaten and sun-cured in the tropics
for ages. Neither torrid heat nor arctic cold affect its binding and
wear-resisting properties.
Noiseless — long-lasting — low maintenance — resilient — attract-
ive. These are the reasons Trinidad Lake Asphalt is "The
Standard Paving Material of the World."
Before paving new streets or repaving old ones, let us send
you illustrated folders describing this remarkable nature-made
product.
The Genasco Line
includes asphaltic
roofing, flooring,
paints and allied
products. Write for
descriptive matter.
New York
Chicago
Pittsburgh
THE BARBER ASPHALT
COM -RJ^TSi^^^
PHIUADEUPHIA
St. Louia
Kansaa City
Atlanta
San Francisco
TRINIDAD aJAJSlt
S7
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Apr., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
411
New Central Fire Alarm Office
for Shreveport, La.
At a regular meeting of the Commissioners
of the city of Shreveport, La., on February 28,
the bid of the Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph
Company, Newton Upper Falls, Mass., for a
new central fire alarm office to be installed in
the new central fire station was accepted, in-
cluding 50 new fire alarm boxes. C. F. Maulen,
of the Gamewell Fire Alarm Company's Dallas
office, spoke at length on the need of additional
boxes and oft'ered to install another 50 boxes,
making 100 in all, at a comparatively small
additional cost. The latter proposition will be
voted on at the next meeting.
A cardboard map was shown the members
of the Commission, on which were various
colored pins indicating the old boxes in red and
the 50 new locations in green. This demonstra-
tion convinced the Commission that another 50
boxes will be needed shortly. The Commission
also accepted the bid of the Gamewell Company
on a 27-box-and-flashlight police system. With
the 100 new fire alarm boxes and the 27 new
police boxes and flashlights the city will be
much better protected. It is felt that a number
of mistakes made in telephoning alarms to the
central office will be eliminated, thus making
quicker action possible.
Another fire station is to be added at the
corner of Line and Wilkinson Streets in the
heart of the new residential district. The plans
and specifications were drawn so that a hand-
some building will be erected, to cost about
$35,000. The new central fire station will be
located at the corner of Crockett and Common
Streets, will have five doors, a machine shop
in the rear, and an entrance on Common Street.
The fire alarm office will be on the second story,
fire-proof in every respect, and will be fur-
nished with Art Metal furniture. There will
be an 80-foot drill tower, with provisions for
drying hose, and for a large fire bell. The fire
^hell will be used only on second ^and third
alarms. This information was furnished The
Aaif.rican City through the courtesy of S. J.
Flores, Acting Chief, Shreveport, La., Fire De-
partment.
Steel Paving-Guards
for Roadways
It is a well-known fact that almost any
type of paving will ravel at the edges unless
properly protected. It will fray because
of lack of stability of the shoulder material.
This in turn permits the road to lose its correct
cross-section. Frost also causes fraying at the
edges, and inadequate drainage and heavy and
fast-moving traffic break down the edges of
brick, concrete and bituminous roads, which are
usually held in place only by earth or a cinder
shoulder compacted by a steam roller. _
When traffic was light and slow, this prob-
lem was not particularly important. With the
increase of traffic, rubble stones were placed
PAVING-GUARD ALONG EDGE OF A HEAVT-
TRUCKING THOROUGHFARE IN SOUTH-
WEST PHILADELPHIA
along the side, and later dressed granite blocks
and concrete were used as runners or headers.
But with the present heavy truck traffic none of
these hold up unless supported by some type of
steel paving-guard such as that made by the
W. S. Godwin Company, of Baltimore, Md.
This steel-armored edge bonds with the paving
and forms a permanent protection against ravel-
ing.
New Parks for Petersburg, Va.
Petersburg. Va., has initiated a park program
to develop some of the well-known Civil War
sites surrounding the city. George Burnap, park
and town planner, of Washington, D. C, has
been engaged to prepare plans for the various
portions of this system. One of the first units
to be developed is the tract of 450 acres in
which remain many of the Civil War entrench-
ments in a good state of preservation. This
area is to be dedicated to the memory of Gen-
eral Lee. East View Park, an attractive piece
of land, on the edge of a congested district, is
to be remodeled as a community center. Plans
have been completed and work is under con-
struction for a nine-hole golf course on the
grounds of the new country club, which adjoin
the Lee Memorial Park area and form a con-
tinuation of the park land of that vicinity.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Why Bridgeport is
Unpopular with Crooks
TEN Harley-Davidson police motorcycles are scooting about Bridgeport,
Conn., today — catching speeders, curbing reckless drivers and traffic
law violators.
In addition to paying the city a profit on this work, the Harley-Davidsons
give the citizens -a lot of extra police protection without cost to
the taxpayers. The very fact that mounted officers are liable to be here,
there and everywhere makes the city unhealthy for crooks and they look
elsewhere.
Over 800 American police and sheriff departments
are finding the Harley-Davidson a real money-
maker. It soon pays for itself and then earns the
department a good profit by the additional "busi-
ness" it brings in. And its durability and economy
(average, 50 miles for a dollar — gas, oil, tires and
all) are famous.
Ask your local dealer for
free demonstration of the
1922 Harley-Davidson and
the reduced prices. Write
us for illustrated literature
which shows how several
American cities use police
motorcycles. No obligation
to you.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.
MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
ll^orWs Champion Motorcycle
3
S
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Apr., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
413
MEDIUM-WEIGHT TRACTORS HANDLING FRESNOS IN GRADING
Tractors for City Parks
and Golf Courses
There are about 2,500 golf courses, including
both municipal and private courses, in the
United States, and every city of any size has
at least one park which is kept mowed and
attractive. An interesting case of the use of
medium-weight tractors in the construction of
golf courses is found at the Canterbury Golf
Club, of Cleveland, Ohio. In the construction
of this course not a single team of horses was
used, but seven "Cletracs," made by the Cleve-
land Tractor Company, Cleveland, furnished the
tractive power for all the work — pulling scrapers,
graders, ditchers, plows, etc., hauling materials,
excavating for traps, throwing up bunkers, level-
ing ofi putting greens and tees, and plowing and
fitting the grass seed beds for the fairways.
The contractor in charge of this work has been
using Cletracs for three years in various parts
of the country and has frequently used as many
as qo teams of horses on a single course. He
has found that one tractor will replace five
teams of horses throughout the year.
The Inverness Club of Toledo, Ohio, has a
i^o-acre course, on which horses were used al-
most exclusively until a Cletrac was purchased,
which mows the fairways and the rough, and
handles all the haulage and repair work. The
tractor used is equipped with smooth tracks that
do not injure the turf, and pulls a battery of
seven 30-inch roller lawn mowers on the fair-
ways, cutting a 16-foot swath and mowing the
160-acre course in two days. A special field
mower attachment on the tractor is used for
mowing the rough. The low-set construction
of the tractor and its large tractive surface
enable it to work on steep grades and hillsides
without danger of slipping or tipping. The 12-
horse-power draw-bar capacity and short turn-
ing radius have made it possible to use the ma-
chine for hauling wood, coal, gravel, cinders,
building material, etc., and for doing repairing
and rebuilding work on the course. Many cities
are using Cletracs in park work.
Membrane Waterproofing
for Large Reservoir
An interesting test of waterproofing mem-
brane was conducted recently on one of the
largest water basins in the South, the Kilpatrick
Hill Reservoir at Nashville, Tenn. After a
layer of gunite had been shot on the reservoir
walls, the waterproofing materials were applied
over a small section surrounded by a wooden
frame. Over this was applied another layer of
gunite concrete. From this section of water-
proofing and concrete a heavy weight was sus-
pended, but it failed to displace the waterproof-
ing materials, although the gunite on the walls
above the framework cracked slightly under the
strain.
The details of the method of conducting the
test were as follows : First, the section of the
reservoir wall was selected and gunite sprayed
over the surface. After the concrete had set, a
frame 12 x 12 x 3 inches was braced against the
wall, and inside of this the waterproofing mem-
brane was formed, as follows : first, a layer of
Genasco priming paint was applied, then alter-
nate layers of Genasco positive seal asphalt B
and positive seal burlap were placed, four of
the former and three of the latter forming the
complete membrane. On top of this membrane
manufactured by the Barber Asphalt Com-
pany, Land Title Building, Philadelphia, Pa.,
a slab of gunite averaging 40 pounds to the
square foot was sprayed and allowed to harden
for four days. A swinging platform was then
rigged, one end of the supporting bar being
suspended from the box points and the other
from uprights. The points of suspension were
five feet apart, and a load of six sacks of
cement, weighing 576 pounds, was placed at a
point one foot from the block. This arrange-
ment gave a direct downward pull of 460.8
pounds against the waterproofing fabric, but
despite this test the membrane held fast.
The waterproofing of the big reservoir was
carried out by Stewart Brothers Hardware
Company, of Memphis, Tenn.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Special Equipment for
Catch-Basin Cleaning
THE Otterson Auto-Educ-
tor is effecting marked
savings of time and
money in many municipalities
today. This apparatus is
mounted on a 5-ton Mack chas-
sis and consists of a large steel
tank, powerful centrifugal
pump, hose, connections, etc.
It is operated entirely by the
truck engine, and constitutes
the most efficient outfit made
for cleaning catch-
basins or corner inlets.
The efficiency of the
whole apparatus — truck
and eductor — makes
possible an immediate
saving of from 25% to ^
75% in the cost of doing such
work by obsolete methods. The
distinct combination of advan-
tages in the apparatus is its
flexibility, its speed of opera-
tion, coupled with the low op-
erating cost and long life of the
Mack chassis. Specifications
will be sent upon request.
Our latest '"^Municipal Equip-
ment Bulletin" contains de-
tailed descriptions of the most
comprehensive line of
municipal transport
apparatus available
today.
You should have a
copy. Simply drop us a
post-card requesting it.
INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, 25 Broadway, New York
Branches O'vned by this Company operate under the titles
of: "MACK MOTOR TRUCK COMPANY" and " MACK-
2STERNATIONAL MOTOR TRUCK CORPORATIOA."
h(t
Capacities: IV2 to 7/^ tons
PERFORM
Tractors to 15 tons
COUNTS"
99
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Apr., 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
415
Alvord, Burdick & Howson
Announcement has been made that the firm
of Alvord & Burdick will hereafter be known
as Alvord, Burdick & Howson, 8 South Dear-
born Street, Chicago, 111. Louis R. Howson,
whose name is now identified with the firm, has
been a member of the organization for the past
fifteen years as assistant, principal assistant,
and partner.
George L. Watson Moves
Offices
Colonel George L. Watson, C. E., has moved
his office from 16 West 41st Street " to 150
Nassau Street, New York City, at which latter
address he will continue his consulting engineer-
ing practice. Colonel Watson's experience cov-
ers a wide field in mining, tunnel, bridge, har-
bor improvement, pipe line and sewer work in
the United States, and extensive diversified ex-
perience in connection with the Engineering
Corps of the English troops and the A. E. F.
in Europe. He is a member of the Board of
Consulting Engineers of the New York State
Bridge and Tunnel Commission and the New
Jersey Interstate Bridge and Tunnel Commis-
sion.
In his new office, incorporated with those of
the George A. Johnson Company, Consulting
Engineers, Colonel Watson, in addition to serv-
ing his personal clientele, will collaborate in the
engineering work of the George A. Johnsori
Company.
Annual Meeting of Manufacturers
of Water Purifying Equipment
At the annual meeting of the Associated
Manufacturers of Water Purification Equip-
ment, George M. Hodkinson, American Water
Softener Company, Philadelphia, Pa., was
elected President, W. E. Titus, Refinite Com-
pany, Omaha, Nebr., Vice-President, and F. B.
Leopold, Pittsburgh Filter Manufacturing
Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., Secretary and Treas-
urer. General matters of interest to the manu-
facturers of various water-purifying apparatus
were discussed and committees appointed for
carrying on the work of standardization in
various departments. One matter of particular
interest to engineers and architects generally
was the adoption of a sta^idard specification for
pressure filters which will require the submis-
sion of bids upon a recognized standard basis,
instead of the haphazard method that has been
pursued in the past. These specifications will
appear in full in the May issue of The Ameri-
CAN City.
The Modern City
AND ITS GOVERNMENT. By WILLIAM PARR CAPES
Secretary, N. Y. State Conference of Mayors and Other City Officials; Director, N. Y.
State Bureau of Municipal Information; Co-Author of "Municipal Housecleaning."
The author's unusual opportunities for the thorough study and comparison of
various forms of city government enable him to produte an exceptionally
valuable book. He discusses the essentials of good government, the responsi-
bilities of citizenship, city charters, types of government, public schools, the
cost of government, etc.
The Boston Herald : "A comprehensive study of government policies and prob-
lems in our American cities, both East and West . . . invaluable to city
officials and to everyone, whether in city, town or village, who want to see the
community so organized and managed as to produce more comfort, better health
and better surroundings and conditions."
$5.00 Indexed and fully illustrated with graphs and diagrams.
E. P. DUTTON & CO., 681 Fifth Aveune, NEW YORK
THE AMERICAN CITY
A Great Truck Value
You will be greatly surprised to find how little more
it takes to buy a Packard Truck than to get just an ordi-
nary truck.
In many cases, the first cost of a Packard is actually
lower than that of others, and in all cases its final cost is
much lower.
Its certainty of performance, its economy of upkeep,
and its security as an investment, all combine to make the
Packard Truck at its present price the greatest value in the
motor truck market today.
It is the product of a company that is known for stability
and experience. Prompt service at the fairest of prices for
labor and parts is available on it everywhere, through
nation-wide Packard facilities.
In its daily operation, the Packard requires a minimum
of routine care, and it always returns a maximum of power-
ful, dependable service.
It is a thoroughbred in design, materials, and workman-
ship. Its quality is the rugged quality essential for long life,
freedom from trouble, and low-cost operation.
Have your Packard dealer quote you the figure at which
the Packard Truck is selling today. He is ready to advise
with you also on any special or body equipment you may
require for the economical handling and hauling of your
products.
In more than two hundred lines of business, Packard
Trucks are relied on today for better hauling at lower cost.
Packard Trucks range in capacity from 2 to 7'/2 tons,
and in price from $3,100 to $4,500, at Detroit
PACKARD
100
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
417
The Business of Water- Works
Management— Part I
By George A. Johnson
Consulting Engineer, New York City
IN the management of municipal business
no other essential element is so incom-
pletely understood by the taxpayer as is
the charge for water service. Water de-
partments often work from hand to mouth,
matching expenditures against appropria-
tions made by
budget committees
that all too fre-
quently fail to sense
ihe real needs of
those departments
and that always
have one alert eye
on the sum total of
the budget.
Innumerable ar-
ticles on the subject
of water-rates have
been prepared by
water - works engi-
neers. Most of them
have been written
around difficulties
experienced by pri-
vately owned water
companies in return-
ing from the busi-
ness a revenue satis-
factory to their
stockholders. There is no question that it
was formerly an up-hill job for private
utilities to get what they considered
equitable rates permitting them to render
competent service and at the same time ob-
This article avoids the more ab-
struse technical phrases which easily
enter into discussions of charges for
water service. The author realizes
the difficulties experienced by munici-
pally owned water departments in ob-
taining rates and appropriations suffi-
cient to permit entirely sat'sfactory
water service to be given at all times.
He explains the requirements involved
in this most essential public utility
ud shows how each individual tax-
payer should become an understand-
ing partner in the enterprise which
gives him, without unnecessary or
inequitable cost, constant, safe and
reliable service in the second of the
three chief essentials of human
existence.
tain a fair net return on their business.
Latterly public service commissions have
been instrumental in aiding private inter-
ests to get higher rates, but in the majority
of instances this result has been accom-
plished against the will of the taxpayer and
without the prosecu-
tion of intelligent
campaigns of public
education respecting
the necessity, fair-
ness and equity of
such procedures.
Many cases have
been dragged into
the courts which
could just as well
have been kept out
of them by ade-
quate, and at the
same time simple,
explanation of the
controlling phases of
the problem in-
volved, such as
could readily be
comprehended b y
the man who had to
stand the raise and
pay the bill, namely,
the humble taxpayer and consumer.
The proper management of a municipally
owned water-works system is a mere matter
of business, just as is the management of a
privately owned water-works system. To
4i8
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
render a public service costs money, and
to render it to the entire satisfaction of the
community costs more money. This service
must be paid for by every taxpayer, and the
points at issue resolve themselves into what
in the last analysis are simple considera-
tions, namely:
1. What is the character of the service
required, to give to the community an ade-
quate supply of w^ater, safe for primary pur-
poses, satisfactory for industrial uses, and
supplied under the pressures required by
local controlling conditions?
2. What is the cost of rendering such
service, giving due consideration not only
to the debt outstanding against the water-
Vi'orks system, but also to the cost of future
extensions and maintenance, and presup-
posing competent and economical manage-
ment in all departments?
With these essential bases established, the
solution of the problem is an elementary
consideration. There must be an equitable
balance established between demand and
supply. Service of a certain character is
required and costs so much money. Water-
rates must be adjusted so as to obtain the
necessary total revenue to meet those costs.
With the two cardinal points definitely
determined, it is just as improper for a com-
munity to run its self-owned water-works
system at a loss as it is to expect the in-
vestors in a privately owned water-works
system to forego the basic consideration of
a fair return from the enterprise in which
they have placed their money.
In the adjustment of water-rates to each
character of service the fundamental con-
siderations are equally simple. An inequit-
able burden cannot properly be placed upon
industrial establishments any more than it
is likely to be accepted without protest by
the consumers of small but quite constant
daily volumes of water. Every reasonable
consideration must be given to the manu-
facturer who constitutes the financial back-
bone of the community's prosperity; for.
with an unbalanced and abnormally high
water-rate, his costs of production are
thrown out of proportion, and he is then
placed under an unnecessary and unwar-
ranted handicap. This may force him to
develop a water-supply from a private
source, or to move his factory elsewhere.
All this means lost revenue to the com-
munity, not only in its water department,
but in the unemployment of its people.
Bases for Rate- Making
In establishing a scale of rates for water
service, consideration must first be given to
an estimate of the cost of production of that
service. Arriving at the total, and adding
to that a reasonable factor of safety, the
municipality takes its next step in adjusting
the charges for various classes of service
so as to give every consumer a fair deal.
The cost of rendering service may be
summed up from the following main items :
(a) Bonded indebtedness, represented by that
sum of money required annually to retire out-
standing bonds, and for interest on the existing
debt
(b) Annual overhead charges for administra-
tion, including rentals, taxes, insurance and
legal expenses ; salaries and wages of the force
required for operation and maintenance of the
system; and a suitable sum for supplies and
materials required for ordinary operation, main-
tenance, repairs and replacements
(c) Working capital or reserve fund
The first item is a definite and fixed
charge, which needs no explanation. The
second item requires, first, the presupposi-
tion that the administrative force is cut to
the minimum capable of rendering compe-
tent service. Taxes, rentals and insurance
charges are amenable to practically no
argument. Legal expenses ordinarily are
merely nominal. Salaries and wages are
governed by law or local regulations or cus-
toms. The practice of laying in a stock of
supplies and materials at annual intervals
makes for stability of the budget. This item
will vary from year to year, depending upon
prevailing prices and upon the predicted re-
quirements of the time, chiefly as regards
needed repairs and renewals which can be
competently predicted well in advance by
an efficient administrative and operating
staff. The working capital, or reserve, is
one made up of annual allotments toward
a fund of considerable size which will be
needed for relatively expensive replace-
ments or extensions at some time in the
future, and which can also be predicted
with reasonable accuracy. If no such
reservation is made, then when the neces-
sity of making such improvements comes,
it is the common custom to raise the neces-
sary money by special bond issue. This
made, the annual charge for interest on,
and retirement of, the new bonds becomes
a fixed charge to be added to the charge on
the old debt.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
419
The Pay-As- You-Go Policy
To function properly and with the least
possibility of friction with the community,
a water department can best take care of
the majority of new bond issues by predict-
ing future replacements and extensions well
in advance and laying aside annually
enough money to defray such extraordinary
expense when the time of need arrives.
Thus each generation will care for its own
requirements at its own expense, instead of
unpreparedly awaiting the inevitable hour
when it will be necessary to go to the tax-
payers for their voted approval of a new
bond issue to meet the cost of sadly needed
extensions and improvements for which the
coming generation must pay.
The present generation frequently pro-
tests against the necessity of paying for
improvements made by the preceding
generations who tried to anticipate the re-
quirements of their successors. It were far
better that each generation should care for
itself, and pay as it goes.
In the operation of such a plan of con-
tinuous financing, it is more than ever
necessary that by sound legal enactments
the surplus funds of the water department
shall be rendered inviolable except for their
first intended uses, namely, the anticipated
improvements in the water-works system
for which such funds are constantly being
built up. Furthermore, water departments
should be absolutely divorced from politics.
Men who have proved their competence by
actual service should not be subject to re-
moval for any other cause than unfaithful-
ness to their duties. Certainly, municipal
water departments should never be made the
chess-boards of political leaders, the happy
hunting-grounds of incompetent men who
have been faithful to their party, or a re-
pository for the representatives of potential
votes.
That the pay-as-you-go policy set forth
above will not meet with the approval of
many students of, and authorities on, water-
works financing, the author is perfectly well
aware, but the thought is advanced on the
ground that, once inaugurated at the ex-
pense, perhaps, of the living generation, the
burden thereafter is distributed just as
equitably as ever before. The present
generation thus cares for its own needs,
and at least the incipient requirements of
each future generation, without necessitat-
ing any further bond issues, except perhaps
for some manifestly important work that
could not well be anticipated in advance,
such as those occasioned by annexation of
new areas. The water department is made
a continuously self-supporting institution
that will not need to appeal to the taxpayers
for their approval of new projects of exten-
sion and betterment. To obtain the tax-
payers' support of such enterprises, ex-
tended campaigns of education are usually
required. It is necessary to convince the
voters that the improvements are really
needed, and that their consummation will
result in more economical management and
better service. Such facts are extremely
difficult to impress upon the minds of tax-
payers to the degree required in order to
obtain their affirmative votes.
Bond issues innumerable have failed for
this elementary reason. Worn-out, ineffi-
cient and costly-to-operate pumping ma-
chinery, mains of inadequate carrying
capacity, insufficient reserve storage, incom-
plete metering, and other deficiencies in
water-works systems have been kept in ser-
vice because the public would not vote the
necessary authority to raise by new bond
issues the required funds to correct them.
This has resulted in poor and uneconomical
service, and in increased fire hazard and in-
surance rates, and all because of the tax-
payers' lack of comprehension of the proper
needs of the water department. Very often,
indeed, the money wasted in a relatively
short period on account of the forced con-
tinuance of an inadequate and inefficient
system would easily have defrayed the cost
of the needed improvements, and the com-
munity would all the time ' have enjoyed
better service and adequate protection
against fire hazard. „■
Twenty years ago it was a herculean tasic
to impress the average taxpayer that puri-
fication of his surface water-supply was
needed for the conservation of his health
and comfort. To get him to agree to con-
tribute for himself and each member of his
family half a dollar or so each year to de-
fray the cost of such purification of the
water-supply of his community, was a hope-
less undertaking.
Editorial Note.— This article zvill be con-
tinued in the June issue of The American
City, covering classes of service, adjustment of
rates, and a business basis for water-works
management.
420
Making a Municipal Light and Water
Plant Pay
Low Electric and Water Rates Made Possible Through Efficient Management
By G. H. Cairns
City Manager, Gainesville, Fla.
THE municipal light and water plant
constructed in 1913 at Gainesville,
Fla., has consistently proved that a
publicly owned utility in a town of 5,000
can deliver good service to its patrons at a
very low rate and at the same time be a
source of revenue to the city.
At the time the plant was built and placed
in operation, the peak load was hardly more
and light plant, was given to the City
Manager.
As a revenue-producer, the plant has
shown up more favorably each year, so that
at present the margin of profit is consider-
able without in any way lowering the grade
of service to the consumers. The recent
savings have been made possible by co-
ordinating the several departments so that
EXTEEIOE or THE GAINESVILIiE, FLA., MUNICIPAL POWER-PLANT
than half of the capacity of the plant. The
demand for power has so increased, how-
ever, that the present equipment is 20 to 35
per cent overloaded and work is being
rushed to install a 500-kilowatt turbo-
generator. Additional pumping equipment
will also be installed shortly.
The operation of the plant, with that of
all other public utilities, was in the hands
of the Board of Public Works until June,
192 1, when the management of nearly all
the city departments, including the water
they function more efficiently and eliminate
unnecessary overhead expense.
In spite of the fact that Gainesville is one
of the smallest cities in Florida, it has about
the lowest rates quoted in the state and is
not supported by any supplementary funds
from reserve or taxation. With the growth
of the city and the extensive building since
the war period, the plant has been obliged
to make additions which in most cases would
have caused plants to borrow capital or
raise the rates. This plant, however, has
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
421
met all the requirements in the way of ex-
tensions in the face of the rise of fuel oil
from $1.17 to $1.72 per barrel, and has fur-
nished current for lighting purposes on a
sliding scale that averages less than 7 cents
per kilowatt hour. For power the average
rate is about 4 cents per kilowatt hour, and
the heating rate is 2j/^ cents per kilowatt
hour flat. The minimum charge in all cases
is $1 per month for electricity or for water.
In the case of water rates, an allowance of
24,000 gallons per quarter is made for the
minimum charge of $3. In the sale of water
to all types of services the rate drops to 10
cents per 1,000 gallons after 40,000 gallons
have been used in the three-months period.
Brick Pavement Reconstruction in
Meridian, Mississippi
By John C. Watts
City Engineer, Meridian, Miss.
LAST summer in Meridian, Miss., some
7,500 square yards of brick pavement
were relaid with brick which had
originally been laid on the same street 23
years before. During the 23 years the
bricks were in service they had been sub-
jected to severe traffic conditions. Twenty-
second Avenue, the street referred to, was
laid in the fall of 1898 under the direction
of the late Waldo G. Myers, then City En-
gineer. The bricks were laid with a 2-inch
sand cushion on a 6-inch slag cement base
of 1 :2 :5 mix. Sand filler was used in the
joints, and the contract price was $1.80 per
square yard.
For years this type of construction held
up without a flaw. The traffic could be
termed "heavy" from the start, but in later
years it became exceedingly heavy on this
particular thoroughfare. Gradually, be-
cause of the further compacting of the sand
cushion in some instances, and in others be-
cause of the wearing of the brick, which
obviously were laid before the modern
methods of testing brick were established,
depressions appeared in the surface.
It became evident in 1921 that steps
should be taken to improve the condition of
the surface and preserve the street. The
Fngineering Department of the city advised
A STREET REPAVED V/ITH OLD BRICK— INSET SHOWS CONDITION BEFORE RELAYING
422
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
reconstruction and suggested that the same
brick be relaid on a repaired base. Bonds
were voted by the city and specifications
prepared by the Street Department. After
bids had been received, the work was
awarded to the Southern Paving and Con-
struction Company of Chattanooga, Tenn.,
at 65 cents per square yard.
The bricks were taken up and stacked
along the curb line. The sand cushion was
re-raked, depressions filled in, compacted
and raked over, and then the entire surface
was thoroughly compacted. The bricks
were then relaid flat and rolled with a 3-ton
roller. The joints were filled with asphalt
filler at the rate of about 2 gallons of as-
phalt per square yard, according to the speci-
fications of the National Paving Brick Man-
ufacturers Association. This pavement as
relaid has been very satisfactory, giving an
even surface, and should last for at least
another 23 years.
A rather unusual accident occurred on
Twenty-second Avenue shortly after it was
paved, demonstrating the durability of a 3-
inch brick wearing surface laid with asphalt
filler on a gravel base. At the point re-
ferred to. Twenty-second Avenue runs
through the railroad yards and is subjected
to heavy trucking. One night heavily loaded
box cars were backed too vigorously against
the bumper beside the street. The cars
crashed over the sidewalk onto the avenue
and across to the opposite side of the street
with such force as to crush the sidewalk
and granite curbing on both sides. Neither
the 6-inch rolled gravel base nor the 3-inch
brick showed any ill effects of the tremen-
dous weight of the loaded cars except at the
point of greatest impact, where the wheels
dropped nearly a foot from the curb to the
pavement. A bare trace of the steel-flanged
wheels is noticeable the entire distance across
the pavement, and even this marking is
mainly due to the thin layer of asphalt filler
remaining on the surface of the bricks.
Census Bureau Revises City Finance Data
Revised figures just received from the
Census Bureau m.ake necessary the follow-
-Per Capita — ^
Receipts Surplus
ing corrections in the tables printed in the
April issue of The American City:
State and City Cost
Alabama
Mobile 19.25
Massacjtiisetts
Lawrence 36.31
New Bedford 51.59
New Jersey . . . .
Hoboken 79.22
Passaic 29.77
Perth Amboy 57.98
18.75
40.95
45.84
89.94
25.16
36.53
4.64
Deficit
Per Capita Debt Minus
Sinking Fund Assets
1920 1917 1914
Form of
Government
.50
50.45
50.21
56.19
5. '75
34.04
72.92
39.04
75.07
28.21
74.98
39.28
4.61
21.45
115.31
50.61
74.67
59.72
46.57
53.62
44.21
43.58
38.88
Commission
Commission
Council
Standard Specifications for Pressure
Water Filters
Specifications Adopted by Associated Manufacturers of Water Purifying
Equipment Are Recommended for Consideration
IN the standard specifications for pressure
water filters recently adopted by the
Associated Manufacturers of Water
Purifying Equipment, the rates of filtration
are based upon the "Report of Committee on
Recommended Standardization of Filters"
of the American Society of Mechanical En-
gineers, presented at its annual meeting,
December, 1916. This report fixes the rate
of filtration for potable water as follows:
"Whenever the water is to be used for do-
mestic purposes or to secure full bacterial puri-
fication, the capacity shall be based upon a rate
of filtration not to exceed 2 gallons per minute
per square foot of filtering area, and a coagu-
lant must be used."
A full report of the Committee is con-
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
423
tained in the Transactions of the A. S. M. E,
for 1917, pages 425-432.
Rates of filtration for various uses should
conform to the following schedule:
2 gallons per square foot per minute for all
supplies used for drinking, or for the
preparation of food products.
2 to 4 gallons per square foot per minute
when filtering a treated municipal supply
of approved bacterial purity.
2 to 4 gallons per square foot per minute for
swimming pools and for all industrial
uses.
2 to 5 gallons per square foot per minute as
conditions may warrant for double filtra-
tion, using sand followed by charcoal
where reduction of color, odor, taste, or
certain forms of iron is desired. This
method of filtration not to be applied for
bacterial purification.
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITY DATA FOR STEEL AND CAST IRON PRESSURE FILTERS-
SPECIFICATIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE ASSOCIATED MANUFACTURERS
OF WATER PURIFYING EQUIPMENT
Capacities per Min. for Rates of 2, S and 4 Gal. per Sq. Ft. per Mitk.
Min. Wash
2 Gals.
3 Gals.
Filters
Per
Per
Standard Sizes
Square
Square
Dia.
Area
Foot
Foot
12"
.785
1.57
2.35
14"
1.06
2.12
3.18
16"
1.39
2.78
4.17
20"
2.18
4.36
6.54
24"
3.14
6.28
9.42
SO"
4.90
9.8
14.7
36"
7.06
14.1
21.1
42"
9.62
19.2
28.8
48"
12.56
25.1
37.8
54"
16.90
31.8
47.7
60"
19.63
39.2
58.8
72"
28.27
56.5
84.8
84"
38.48
76.9
116.4
96"
50.27
100.5
150.8
L = overall length of filter, and area of bed is ca
Area of segments of the 2 dished heads == 9.2 sq. ft.
Area per lineal foot of bed in the cylinder = 7.42 sq. ft
Example: 8' x 16" filter area per head = 9.2 sq. ft.
Area in cylinder 14 x 7.42 = 103.9.
Total effective area = 113.1 sq. ft.
Horizontal Filters
8' x 10' L 68.5 137. 205.5
8' X 12' L 83.4 166.8 250.2
8' X 14' L 98.2 196.4 294.6
8' X 16' L 113.1 226.2 339.3
8' X 20' L 142.7 285.4 428.1
8' X 25' L 179.8 359.6 639.4
Construction of Steel Pressure Filters
Standard manholes 11 x 15 inches, or 10 x 16 inches.
Tensile strength of steel plate 55,000 lbs. to 65,000 lbs.
Heads dished to radius of diameter of tank
Hydrostatic test 60 per cent in excess of working pressure
Vertical Steel Filters
4 Gals.
,^Pipe Connections— \
Water at
Per
Inlet
Waste
12 Gals.
Square
Outlet
to
Per Sq. Ft
Foot
P. Wash
Sewer
Per Min.
3.04
Vi"
1"
9.42
4.24
1"
1%"
12.72
5.56
1"
1^"
16.68
8.72
1%"
1/2"
26.16
12.5
1^"
2"
87.
19.6
1J4"
2"
60.
28.2
2"
2y^"
84.
38.5
2"
2'/,"
116.
50.2
2J4"
3"
150.
63.6
254"
3"
190.
78.5
3"
4"
235.
113.1
4"
5"
339.
153.9
4"
5"
460.
201.1
5"
6"
600.
ted for :
surface of bed 18"
' above center
of shell.
'274 0
6"
8"
822.
333.6
6"
8"
1000.
392.8
6"
8"
1178.
452.4
8"
10"
1857.
570.8
8"
10"
1712.
719.2
8"
10"
2157.
Working
Pressure
Working
100 pounds
Pressure
Working
Pressure
'i.3 pounds
per
sq. in.
per sq. in.
125 pounds
per sq.
in.
, Shell ^
Min. Eff. Thick-
Head
Thick-
, Shell - ■
Head
Thick-
, Shell
Min. Eff.
Thick-
Head
Min. EfF.
Thick-
Thick-
Dia.
Joint
ness
ness
Joint
ness
ness
Joint
ness
ness
24"
50%
3/16"
H"
60%
3/16"
Va"
60%
Va"
5/16"
30"
50
3/16"
Va"
57
Va"
6/16"
50
5/16"
5/16"
36"
50
3/16"
Va"
57
Va"
6/16"
70
Va"
H"
42"
57
Ya"
5/16"
70
Va"
W
70
5/16"
7/16"
48"
57
'A"
5/16"
70
Va"
H"
70
5/16"
7/16"
54"
57
%"
5/16"
70
5/16"
7/16"
70
H"
54"
60"
57
Va"
W
70
5/16"
7/16"
67
7/16"
54"
72"
72
%"
W
69
W
V2"
66
V2"
9/16"
84"
70
5/16"
7/16"
66
V^"
9/16"
66
9/16"
11/16"
96"
69
M"
7/16"
68
Vi"
H"
68
H"
H"
Cast Iron Pressure Filters
To be gray iron casting having a tensile strength of approximately 20,000 pounds per square inch.
Hydrostatic test 50 per cent in excess of working pressure to be applied.
Heads dished to radius equal to diameter of shell may be modified with rib reinforcement to same
thickness as shells.
Variations of %" in these thicknesses of shells and heads and flanges to be permissible.
Filter , — 65-Pound Working Pressure — v
Head and
Dia. Shell Thickness Flange Thickness
12" H" ''A"
14" W %"
16" «" H"
aO" 11/16" 15/16"
24" 11/16" 15/16"
30" W 1"
36" 13/16" 1-1/16"
42" 18/18" 1-1/16"
48" H" 1-H"
100-Pound Working Pressure — \
Head and
Flange Thickness
Shell Thickness
H"
11/16"
11/16"
Va"
13/16"
H"
16/16"
1"
1-1/16"
16/16"
15/16"
1"
1-1/16"
15^"
1-8/16"
154"
1-6/16"
424
Water-Works Supply Men Help
Superintendents
Sales Interviews Highly Educational If Taken in Proper Spirit
AT the March meeting of the New
York Section of the American Water
Works Association, Beekman C.
Little, former President of the American
Water Works Association, and Superinten-
dent of the Rochester, N. Y., Water Works,
gave a most interesting and instructive talk
on the value of the water-works supply man
to the superintendent.
Mr. Little has found in his prolonged
dealings with the water-works supply men
that they often give much more than they
get in value received. Most, if not all, of
the well-known supply men have ideas and
ideals beyond the mere making of money
from their products. There are many in-
teresting examples of the results of research
and study by manufacturers of water-works
supplies. Among them may be noted the
preparation of a substitute for lead for
jointing cast iron water-mains; vast im-
provements in water-meters; the now well-
known fire line meters and improved fire
hydrants.
In addition to mentioning the value of
these products of manufacturers, Mr. Little
laid stress on the service organizations
whose help has meant much to water-works
superintendents. A typical example is the
company which cleans water-mains, thus
saving much money for various communi-
ties, besides preserving some of the pipes
and supply mains which otherwise would
have been abandoned or replaced. By its
work this company has bettered health sta-
tistics and prevented the destruction of con-
siderable property by fire. The idea and the
method followed in this work are the result
of considerable technical knowledge and
mechanical ingenuity. The superintendent
gets much more in results from contact with
these men than appears in the mere labor
of cleaning the mains.
The water-waste survey men are being
recognized as very necessary adjuncts to
water-supply systems. The older and larger
the system, the better and more valuable
the work they can and do accomplish.
Water-works superintendents should get
over the idea that it is only the poorly Con-
structed or inefficiently managed water plant
which can be bettered by sUch a survey.
Almost any sane-minded water-works su-
perintendent will admit that a properly con-
structed growing water system can lower
its consumption considerably by metering.
Even a good water-works system, loo per
cent metered, can be immeasurably im-
proved by a well-conducted water-waste
survey;
Water-wbrks sujlierihlehaehts are amazed
at the km&lint of waste discovered by these
surveys in plants efficiently managed. They
know how much water is being sent through
the system and from how much of this
revenue is derived. There is, of course, a
discrepancy. An estimate is made that a
great quantity is used in sprirlklitig aiid
washing down the many miles Of brick artd
asphalt streets and in flushing sewefs and
in street contract work. A considerable
percentage is allowed for public drinking
fountains and watering trdughsi A Certain
percentage is unmetered water Used in park
systems, and the under-registration of
meters is blamed for some of the other un-
accounted-for water. Hydrants and valves
are kept in good repair, and large and small
breaks are attended to as soon as they give
evidence of their presence, and so the
average water-works superintendent, until
recently, considered that other leaks, if any,
were unimportant. Mr. Little himself was
rather skeptical about a water-waste survey
in Rochester, N. Y., as that city is loo per
cent metered and its per capita consumption
only about 90 gallons daily, which is about
as low as the larger cities can hope to get
with the extravagant use of water prevalent
in these days.
In Rochester a contract was let for a
small section covering about one-eighth of
the system. This first contract resulted in
shutting ofif a waste of water of over 1,000,-
000 gallons per day, with other incidental
benefits, and the leaks and broken mains re-
paired would not have been discovered
otherwise except incidentally.
4^3
Planning the City's Lighting
By L. A. S. Wood
AN ornamental street lighting system
that affords adequate illumination at
night, and is inconspicuous in the
daytime, harmonizing closely with the gen-
eral scheme of arch tecture in the various
parts of the city, is a source of municipal
jjride. The beauty of a city's thoroughfares
is not apparent at night unless they are
properly illuminated.
Proper lighting requires that the intensity
of illumination be varied to meet the re-
quirements of the different sections of the
city. Streets and avenues in the business
districts, where the traffic is heavier, for in-
stance, require more light than those in the
residential d'stricts. The right amount of
illum'nation is as necessary for effective
street lighting as is the right method of
illum'nation.
Disregard of this principle is particularly
noticeable where large business concerns, or
groups of them, have at different times in-
stalled various ornamental street lighting
systems. Such an indiscriminate selection
results in illuminat'on of varying degrees
of intensity, and also in many different
styles of ornamental posts along the same
street and often on adjacent properties. In
order to avoid this haphazard scattering of
illumination throughout the city, electrical
engineers have turned their attent'on
toward design-ng uniform systems of orna-
mental street lighting.
The Single-Light Post
One of the best results of the adoption
of the present-day high-efficiency gas-filled
incandescent lamp has been the develop
ment of many artistic and harmonious de-
signs in ornamental posts using a single
high-power lamp. In the past, ornamental
post lighting has been accomplished by
means of cluster posts, using two, three,
four or five small lamps on one post. These
small lamps were inefficient and the system
was expensive because of the large amount
of energy required for their operation and
the high replacement cost of lamps and
glassware. Cluster posts have also the dis-
advantage of being only partly illuminated
at times because of lamps burning out. The
largest lamps, as used in the single-light
post, are much more efficient than those used
in the cluster post.
In addition to its many advantages from
an operating standpoint, the single-light
post is adm.ittedly superior in appearance to
the cluster post, adding to the beauty of
the street under both day and night con-
dit'ons. It relieves the street of the
crowded appearance resulting from too
many small lamps and gives an effect of
elegance, combined with illuminating effi-
ciency of the highest order.
The installation of a good lighting sys-
tem is something that demands considerable
thought and planning. Not alone the light-
ing system, but also the ornamental posts,
the kind and shape of glassware, and the
proper placing of the posts, must be given
careful study.
There are many streets and driveways
which are beautifully lighted at night but
which lose all of their pleasing appearance
by day. This may be explained by studying
the lamp-posts. It will be found that the
posts installed are huge and clumsy and
poorly located, and do not harmon-ze at ai!
with their surroundings; such posts, in fact,
mar the entire aspect of the street by day.
Different Requirements for Different
Sections
Different kinds of street lighting must,
of course, be installed in different sections
of the city. That which would be appro-
priate for the business section would not
necessarily be suitable for the residential
district or the driveways, and vice versa.
Generally speaking, city streets may be
divided into four classes according to the
intensity or amount of light required and
the type of equipment usually employed:
Main business streets
Minor business streets
Residence streets
Byways and outlying districts
Main and minor business streets are
usually brilliantly lighted with ornamental
posts spaced at intervals of 50 to 75 feet,
symmetrically arranged opposite each other
on either side of the street, the size of lamp.
426
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
A WELL-LIGHTED BUSINESS THOROUGHFARE
Spacing distance and mounting height be-
ing determined by the relative importance
of the streets.
In the residence districts, a staggered
arrangement is usually adopted for the
ornamental posts, with wider spacing and
smaller lamps, the main object being to
furnish enough light to see by. It must
be possible for pedestrians to make their
way about at night without inconvenience
or danger from accident or attack. The
outlying district or byways, where traffic
is light, may be illuminated with street-
hoods suspended from brackets, mast arms
or cables, as local conditions require.
Streethoods have been used to a great ex-
tent in the past without glassware and,
while the appearance of the bare lamp was
not objectionable, when the lamp used was
of the vacuum type, the glare from the
bare "gas-filled" lamp was very unpleas-
ant and often proved dangerous in its daz-
zling effect. Modern practice recommends
the use of diffusing or refracting glassware
with streethoods equipped with special type
"C" lamps to soften the glare or to direct
the light into the useful plane.
In many cities, there are some excep-
tionally wide streets or important boule-
vards, and these require special treatment.
Usually lamps of higher intensity than
those used in the main business sections
are used, and the mounting heights are in-
creased. This type of lighting is known as
"Super White Way" lighting, and single
and duplex posts, varying in height from
18 to 22 feet, have been designed to meet
these special requirements.
The desirability of using lamps of ade-
quate size cannot be too strongly stressed.
It is very poor economy, when designing
an ornamental street lighting installation,
to attempt to save on the maintenance cost
of the system by using small lamps. The
investment in posts, cable and equipment
is practically the same for all sizes of lamps,
and the increased maintenance cost of the
higher candle-power lamps is comparatively
small as compared with the increased
candle-power.
The ornamental lighting unit, or post
top, is generally designed so that a large
part of the light is directed to the surface
of the street or sidewalk, although there
should be enough light thrown in an up-
ward direction to illuminate the facades of
the buildings. When diffusing glassware
is used, the globe should be of sufficient
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
427
density to conceal the lamp filament and
soften the light without greatly reducing
the efhciency of the unit. The entire top
should be designed in such a manner as to
direct the maximum of useful light to the
plane of illumination and at the same time
present a distinctive and ornamental ap-
pearance.
All the foregoing recommendations
should be kept in mind by city lighting
planners if they are to get the highest
efficiency from their street lighting system
and also keep the cost of maintenance
down to the lowest figure. A well-
designed ornamental street lighting system
pays large dividends in the form of en-
hanced real estate values. It attracts the
favorable attention of visitors and adds to
the desirability of the city as a place in
which to live.
Iron-Removal Plant and New Pumping
Station at Hightstown, New Jersey
By Waldo S. Coulter
Consulting Engineer, New York City
ANEW pumping station, embodying
a closed-system iron-removal plant,
was recently placed in operation at
Hightstown, X. J. The iron-removal end
is of a type unusual in this country, as it dis-
poses altogether of aeration and double
pumping, the water being withdrawn from
a battery of wells by direct-suction draft
and forced into the system through pres-
sure filters by a single operation. The re-
moval of iron and free carbon dioxide is
effected by the injection of a dose of lime
into the main suction pipe. Reaction with
the free carbon dioxide and ferrous car-
bonate occurs, resulting in the production
of calcium carbonate and ferrous hydrate,
which are intercepted at the surface of the
sand in the filters. The hardness of the
water is increased ; in this case from a total
hardness of 25 to 35 p. p. m., calcium car-
bonate equivalent, to about 60 to 75 p. p. m.
The treated water is therefore what might
be termed a medium water.
The cost of lime at Hightstown amounts
to about ^-cent per thousand gallons. This
is for a raw water containing about 45
HIGHTSTOWN PUlvIPING STATION
WITH FILTER HOUSE IN
BACKGEOXTND
INTERIOR OF STATION FROM
ENTRANCE STAIRWAY
42.9
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
p. p. m. of free carbon dioxide and 5 parts
of iron.
To secure a direct-suction draft from
the battery of wells, and avoid the expense
of an air-lift system, the floor of the pump
house is depressed. The filters are installed
above the ground surface.
The Pumping Equipment
To keep down the cost and secure ma-
chinery light enough to operate without
special heavy foundations, centrifugal
pumps are used. One is direct-connected
to an electric motor by a flexible coupling,
for regular operation, and the other is simi-
larly connected to a 4-cylinder Van Blerck
engine, modified for kerosene. Special pro-
visions have been made to automatically in-
tercept and release air and gas in the main
suction and pump casings. These, with an
automatic primer, enable the centrifugals to
draft smoothly and reliably from the wells
through long suction pip'ng, and with a
suction lift.
Hydrated lime is measured and fed by a
dry-feed machine, mixed with an auto-
matically regulated supply of water in a
suction tank and drawn into the main suc-
tion by action of the tank. The station is
provided with a Venturi meter and in-
dicator-recorder, a recording pressure-gage
and other measuring devices. It has inside
fire protection and electric lighting and is
heated by stoves.
The capacity of the station is 720,000
gallons per day, and it is so designed that
this may be increased to 1,200,000 without
altering the building or piping. The con-
tract prices for the entire work, including
suction piping, connections and concrete
head-chambers at wells, etc., totalled $51,-
394. The contracts were awarded at the
peak of h'gh prices in September, 1920.
The general contractor was John R.
Proctor, Inc., of New York and Bayonne.
The filters and dry-feed machine were
supplied by the New York Continental
Jewell Filtration Company.
Typhoid Fever Mortality in 1920
THE Bureau of the Census has recently
announced the mortality rates for
typhoid fever in the registration area
for 1920. It is well known that the amount
of typhoid fever in a community is recog-
nized as one of the best indexes of the com-
munity's healthfulness and in addition is
a very important sanitary index. The
steadily decreasing mortality rate from
typhoid is therefore very gratifying. The
rate has decreased, in the registration
states, from 13.3 per 100,000 population in
191 6 to 7 in 1920 for the same states. In
1920 Massachusetts and Wisconsin shared
the honor of having the lowest rate, 2.5 per
100,000, and the highest, 22.4 per 100,000,
was found in South Carolina.
Of the eleven states showing rates by
color, the lowest rate for the white popula-
tion was 3.6 and the lowest for the colored
was 4.6, both for New York State, while
the highest rate for the white population
was 19.1 for Kentucky and 30.2 for the
colored in the same state.
The accompanying illustration shows how
chlorination can reduce typhoid fever.
AN
INTERESTING TYPHOID FEVER RECORD
FROM TEI^RE HAUTE
429
Developing a City Park by Reforesting
Charlotte, Michigan, Makes a Forest Plantation
By P. L. Buttrick
Assist lilt Professor of Forestry, Michigan Agricultural College
THE city of Charlotte, located in south
central Michigan, has in Bennett
Park one of the most beautiful for-
est parks in any small city of the Middle
West. The park was given to the city a
number of years ago by the public-spirited
citizen whose name it bears. It consists
largely of a rather heavily wooded tract of
maple, elm and oak, which except for the
addition of a few roads and trails has
fortunately been left in a natural condition.
Adjoining this park on two sides there
was a tract of about twenty acres of rather
sterile gravelly land, part of which was an
abandoned gravel-pit. It sloped towards a
stream flowing through the main park and
was topographically a part of the park.
Although this tract was the property of the
city and favorably located for park pur-
l)oses, it had never been incorporated in the
park or improved in any way.
In the spring of 1921 the matter of im-
provement of this tract and its addition to
the park was taken up by George Fenn,
who has since been elected Mayor of Char-
lotte, and a number of other interested
citizens. The committee requested the aid
of the Forestry Department of the Mich-
igan Agricultural College in preparing a
plan for improving this tract and adding it
to the park. The Department studied the
situation on the ground and proposed to
the city that since Bennett Park was pri-
marily a forest park, the addition should
be in keeping with it ; and stated that this
could best be accomplished by planting the
area to young trees and by laying out roads
in the addition to be continuous with those
CHARLOTTE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A FOREST LIKE THIS IN ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
Scene on the lands of the Michigan Agricultural College, showing trees planted in 1896
430
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
in the park. It was further proposed that
the larger portion of the plantation be made
of white pine, since this is a tree which
grows well on gravelly, sterile soil and
would succeed in the abandoned gravel-pit,
where most trees would not grow at all.
Furthermore, although the white pine is
Michigan's best known tree and intimately
connected with her history, it does not oc-
cur naturally in the region of Charlotte.
When planted there it grows well. A plan-
tation of white pine would therefore have
a historic value as well as a distinctly land-
scape value. Bordering the woodland of
the original park it was proposed to plant
native maples, oaks, etc., and in certain
portions of the new park to plant a small
grove of nut and ornamental trees. The
main plantation, howeverj was to be of
white pine.
A series of public meetings was held
and much public sentiment developed in
favor of the proposition. The town coun-
cil soon afterwards voted favorably upon
the proposition. It was decided that the
citizens should be called upon to assist in
planting the trees and that the forest
should be dedicated as a memorial to Char-
lotte's veterans of the World War.
The planting stock was supplied by the
•i. . Forestry Nursery of the Forestry Depart-
r^-ment of the Michigan Agricultural College,
; J this nursery being organized to supply for-
'"' ' est planting stock to citizens of the state
practically at cost.
Nearly 7,000 4-year-old white pine were
set out at a spacing of 6 by 6 feet. The
trees averaged 18 inches to 2 feet high.
The hardwoods occupied a smaller area and
^,^„-,)vere less numerous. Some 400 of the
latter were planted at irregular spacing.
f. A Profitable Undertaking
Since the plantation was set out by citi-
zens who volunteered their services, the
labor cost was greatly reduced. Their
work was directed at the start by a repre-
sentative of the Forestry Department of
the Agricultural College, as few of the citi-
zens were experienced in this class of work.
The pine plantation was cultivated during
.4 the summer, but the hardwoods did not re-
It quire any treatment. Despite the very seri-
ous drought of the early summer, the entire
plantation came through well. It will be
only three or four years before the pines
will be large enough to carpet the ground
and be a landscape asset to the park. In
ten years they will be saplings twenty or
more feet tall and will form a beautiful
young wood. In twenty-five years they
will be trees upwards of forty feet tall and
from six to ten inches in diameter, and
their value and beauty will continue to in-
crease for the next hundred years. The
illustration taken from an actual plantation
indicates what may be expected in the way
of growth.
There are thousands of abandoned
gravel-pits, sandy stretches and unutilized
corners of our parks which could to ad-
vantage be used for forest plantations.
They add to the landscape value of the
parks, and the ultimate value of the timber
will frequently make the operation finan-
cially profitable.
FIREMEN'S PRACTICE IN SANTIAGO, CHILE.
ON FETE DAT
This display of the gymnastic abilities of the firemen
of Santiago, Chile, reminds one of many of the old-
time volunteer firemen's exhibitions. Most Central
American cities are not backward in fire protection,
for tbey are equipping their fire departments with
American motor fire apparatus
431
Elevated Steel Tank Solves Portland
Water-Supply Problem
By C. J. Franklin
Hilton-Pike-Oakly Company, Portland, Ore.
THE city engineering officials of Port-
land, Ore., have given evidence of the
city's administrative wisdom by in-
stalling an elevated steel tank to insure an
adequate water-supply to outlying districts,
and at the same time equalize the pressure.
The city was confronted with the problem
of taking care of a rate of flow reaching
a peak load of 21,000,000 gallons at 8
o'clock in the evening during the summer
months, through two mains which nor-
mally furnish only 12,000,000 gallons a day.
After a thorough investigation F. M. Rand-
lett. Chief Engineer of the City Water De-
partment, and his assistant, B. S. Morrow,
decided to install a hemispherical-bottom
elevated steel tank of 1,000,000 gallons
capacity as the most economical, efficient,
and permanent solution. This decision re-
sulted in a saving to the city of $220,000 —
the difference between the cost of the tank
and the amount which would have been ex-
pended to secure the same results by pro-
viding additional mains.
The so-called Vernon system in Portland
supplies practically all that portion of the
city lying north of Fremont Street and east
of Nineteenth Street, and includes St.
Johns, University Park, Woodlawn, Ken-
ton, Overlook, and Vernon. Water for this
residence district is supplied from reser-
voirs I and 5 by cast iron mains, respec-
tively 24 inches and 30 inches in diameter
and approximately 30,000 feet in length.
During the heavy-draft period of the sum-
mer, the average daily demand for the Ver-
non system is only about 12,000,000 gallons,
but during the sprinkling hours in the even-
ing the demand is almost doubled, reaching
a rate of flow of 21,000,000 gallons a day.
The two mains can easily deliver water
at the site of the elevated steel tank at the
rate of 16,000,000 gallons a day, and the
additional amount of water required during
the peak period could be supplied in either
of two ways — by laying additional mains or
A 1,000,000-GALI.ON ELEVATED WATER-TANK
IN PORTLAND, ORE.
This tank is 50 feet in diameter, 40 feet bigta, 'witb
a hemispherical bottom, 25 feet high ; height of shell,
56 feet; plate thicknesses vary from 13/16- to 14-
Inch
432
THE AMERICAN CITY Vol. XXVI, No. 5
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by providing adequate storage to be turned
into the system during the peak demand. A
24-inch main capable of providing an addi-
tional eight million gallons for this district
would cost $330,000 at the very least, and
w^ould be required to function only for a
period not to exceed four hours a day dur-
ing three months of the year.
On the other hand, a million-gallon
elevated steel tank d'scharging into the dis-
tribution system during the excess peak de-
mand would meet all requirements and give
a certain amount of reserve water in the
district, to be supplied for fire protection
and domestic demand, and the tank and
foundation would cost only about $100,000.
The decision to use an elevated steel tank
•'nstead of laying an additional main to this
section appears wise in view of the fact
that the ultimate development of the further
limits of this section will require a large
main coming in by an entirely different
route, which would render any additional
line laid at this time of little vaJue.
The new elevated steel tank is controlled
by a two-way altitude valve which permits
the tank to fill in off-peak periods and to
discharge when the two district regulators
are full open and the pressure in the mains
has fallen to about 36 pounds. This condi-
tion will occur during the sprinkling hours
of the summer months only, or in case of
excessive draft, or on account of fire.
As the appearance of the tank structure
was of special importance, plans for an
ornamental masonry tower were drawn, and
specifications were written covering a tank
which could be surrounded by an inde-
pendent masonry wall at some later date.
After careful consideration had been given
to the different materials suitable for the
construction of the tank, steel was selected
on account of its absolute reliability, water-
tightness and reasonable cost. The specifica-
tions provided that the tank should have a
diameter of 50 feet, a maximum height of
no feet, and a minimum height to bottom
of 40 feet. Furthermore, all steel work
should be kept within a diameter of 54 feet,
which would allow a space of 2 feet be-
tween the tank shell and the masonry for
the purpose of inspection and painting. The
Chicago Bridge & Iron Works submitted
the successful design and was awarded the
contract for the steel work of the tank and
tower.
433
A Complete Modern Fire Alarm System
New Equipment at Birmingham, Ala., Gives Full Protection
THE new fire alarm system in Birming-
ham, Ala., put in service in January,
consists of 200 new fire alarm boxes
on the streets, 25 miles of underground
cable with a total wire length of 306 miles.
216 miles of overhead wire, and a complete
new central oflfice.
The central office with its recording and
transmitting apparatus is located on the
second floor at fire headquarters on Sixth
two, three or even more fires may be re-
ceived at the same time. On New Year's
Day twenty-nine box alarms were received.
The three hundred or more fire alarm
boxes are on thirty different circuits. The
twenty engine houses are on ten circuits.
All these circuits end at fire alarm head-
quarters. When a box is pulled, a red
flashlight on one of the boards in the cen-
tral office flashes out the signal, and it is
FIRE ALARM HEADQUARTERS, BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets.
Running out from here are the circuits
which go to the various boxes and also to
the twenty different stations scattered all
over the city.
The new fire alarm boxes are so arranged
that the chief or any of his assistants can
go to the nearest box, plug in a special tele-
phone set which is carried in the chief's
car, and talk directly to the operators at
fire headquarters or, if necessary, with any
of the engine houses. This permits him to
order any special apparatus to the fire
which may be necessary because of the
peculiar nature of the fire, or to give special
instructions for the disposition of certain
companies.
Two operators are always on duty at fire
alarm headquarters to handle signals. In a
city as large as Birmingham, signals for
also sounded on a tap bell. The signal can
be handled at headquarters in three differ-
ent ways — automatic, semi-automatic and
manual.
The central office apparatus can be ar-
ranged so that the box number is auto-
matically repeated over all the engine house
circuits, and every engine house in the city
will receive the alarm. Two big sixteen-
circuit automatic repeaters have been in-
stalled for this purpose. These are so ar-
ranged that if a second box number comes
in while another number is going out over
the repeater, there will be no confusion.
Inly such companies will respond to the
alarm as have been previously assigned to
that box.
The central office can also be operated
on a semi-automatic basis. Four rounds
of each box number are received at head-
434
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
quarters. When operating semi-automatic,
the first complete round stops at headquar-
ters, and then the signal can be thrown
over to the tapper repeaters and sent out
10 the engine houses.
When the alarms come tumbling in
in rapid succession, the office is operated
manually. The alarm is received and re-
corded on registers which punch holes in
a paper tape similar to that used on stock
tickers. One of the operators reads off the
number and then sets it up on the manual
transmitter. The number is checked, a
lever is pulled, and the alarm goes out to
the engine houses. The second operator at-
tends to all telephone alarms and keeps all
records of fire.
Alarms at Engine Houses
Three separate means are provided for
sending signals to the engine houses. A
register and sounder are mounted on the
desk in the engine house, where a man is
on duty and signals are received from the
central office. A loud-sounding gong is
connected over a separate circuit to wake
the men at night. When an alarm is re-
ceived which does not call out that particu-
lar company, the man on watch throws off
a switch to silence the gong. Telephone
facilities are provided to send out any com-
pany on the small fires and other still
alarms. The waker switch is used in these
cases to sound one blow on the gong to
arouse the men.
Accurate automatic records of all alarms
received and sent out are kept at head-
quarters. The box numbers are punched
out on the register tape and time stamps,
which record the day, hour and minute
and furnish a permanent record for refer-
ence in the future. These stamps auto-
matically take care of long months and
short months, and leap year day, and once
a century drop a day to keep in step with
the calendar.
Back of the central office room is a special
room for the storage battery cells which
supply the current. Eighteen hundred of
these cells, similar in principle to an auto-
mobile battery, are necessary to provide the*
energy to operate the system and furnish a
reserve source. Current is taken off the
lines of the Birmingham Railway Light and
Power Company and stored for future use.
Five ten-circuit storage-battery charging
boards are installed for efficient economical
handling.
The importance of the fire alarm system
requires that every possible protection be
thrown about the central office* apparatus to
guard against lightning or high-voltage cur-
rent. At the end of the room is a 46-cir-
cuit protector board equipped with' differ-
ent types of fuses and with a bell to call
attention when a fuse is blown out.
The new fire alarm boxes on the streets
are of the Peerless, non-interfering succes-
sive type. Ten or a dozen fire alarm boxes
are usually connected on the same circuit.
Frequently two different boxes will be
pulled at about the same time for the same
or different fires. If these boxes interfered
with each other, the alarm would be con-
fused and time lost. If one of these boxes
is operated while another box on the same
circuit is sending in its signal, the second
box will not interfere. At the end of each
round the second box will test the line to
discover if it is clear. When cleared, it
will send in its signal. In this way a num-
ber of boxes on the same circuit as the cen-
tral office equipment take care of receiving
simultaneous alarms from different circuits.
The Fire Alarm Bureau is under the
Supervision of Chief Sidney A. Middleton.
Robert I. Parham is the Superintendent of
Fire Alarms, and is responsible for the care
and operation of the fire alarm system —
the nerve center of the fire department. The
entire equipment was furnished by the
Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Company,
Newton Upper Falls, Mass.
A iire alarm bell is a gigantic cash register, and every time it rings it means
that someone has issued another paid-out ticket.
Get rid of that pile of rubbish to-day. Every rubbish pile is a potential con-
flagration.
435
Health Exposition in Circus Tents
timffimumri
By Herbert B. Larner, S. B.
Health Officer, Montclair, N. J.
THE proper education of the public in
matters pertaining to health is rec-
ognized as a problem of such extreme
difficulty and magnitude that it is not at all
surprising that unusual methods are some-
times adopted to arouse the interest of an
apathetic public. Whether health educa-
tion should be under the supervision of
boards of health or boards of education is
a mooted question, but there is very little
doubt that a solution highly satisfactory to
all concerned was arrived at in Montclair
when the Board of Health, the Board of
Education, the local Red Cross chapter, the
Y. M. C. A., and fifteen other agencies in-
terested in health work cooperated in the
successful staging of a Health Promotion
Week, which was somewhat unique in its
setting.
Its aim, of course, was to place before
the public by means of exhibits and demon-
strations information concerning the char-
acter and scope of the work done by the
various organizations participating, and by
means of lectures and motion pictures to
consider special health problems pertinent
to the occasion.
The problem of finding a suitable audi-
torium for lectures, having in conjunction
with it a hall for exhibits, was the first to
engage attention, and its unsatisfactory
solution forced us to a consideration of the
advisability of using circus tents. It was
believed that their use would attract a far
greater number of people than would be
the case if an auditorium and a hall were
utilized, the assumption being that the un-
usual spectacle of circus tents in town
would have a powerful attracting influence
on many people, who would attend the lec-
mere
tares and view the. exhibits out of
curiosity, if for no other reason.
That this belief was well founded is at-
tested by the fact that an estimated atten-
dance of 5,000 was recorded at the exhibit
tent, and approximately 1,500 people at-
tended the lectures, in spite of the fact
that the weather was not as satisfactory
as could be desired.
Reaching the Children
The large number of children who
visited the exhibits was particularly gratify-
ing, and, since it is quite generally agreed
that health education should begin during
the early school age, emphasizes the fact
that in arranging such exhibits particular
care should be taken that they be of such
character that their significance can be
readily grasped by young children. So far
as the older people were concerned, perhaps
the most striking thing about the exhibits
was the realization of the existence of such
a large number of organizations function-
ing in greater or lesser degrees as unofficial
health agencies. Each organization in its
exhibit strove to demonstrate the scope and
character of that branch of health work in
which it was particularly interested, and
there is little doubt that as a result of the
campaign a far more intelligent and sym-
pathetic understanding on the part of many
people toward the work of the various or-
ganizations will result.
The speakers included for the most part
men and women of national reputation in
public health work, and, while the atten-
dance at most of the lectures was satisfac-
tory, at a few the results were somewhat
disappointing. Particularly was this the
4.^6
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
THE SCHOOL EXHIBIT AT THE MONTCLAIR HEALTH WEEK
EXPOSITION
case with the lectures on social hygiene, but
whether this was on account of lack of pub-
licity in the proper places, or because of a
sat ated condition of the public mind due to
so much propaganda on venereal diseases
dur'ng the war period, is a queston.
A large number of motion picture films
were used "n connection with the program,
and we found that a picture would fre-
quently attract a large audience, wh'le a
speaker of national reputation would some-
times fail to draw the number of people
that he deserved. There can be no doubt
of the effectiveness and attractiveness of
motion p'ctures as a means of presenting
health matters to the public, but at the pres-
ent time probably 75 per cent of the health
pictures in existence are of little real value
as educational material and had better be
discarded in the best interests of the work.
By far the most encouraging feature of
the entire campaign was the great interest
shown by the school children. Each after-
noon, after school hours, hundreds of chil-
dren crowded the tents,
frequently in groups, with
adults to interpret the
various exhibits for them.
After all, it is the children
— the men and women of
to-morrow — who are the
logical candidates for
health education, and the
logical place for such in-
struction is in the public
school. When every pub-
lic school system conta'ns
a well-established depart-
ment of health education
directed by a competent
instructor, we shall then
have made a start that w-'ll
really amount to some-
thing.
In commenting on
Montclair's HeaUh Week
editorially, the Newark Star-Eagle said:
"Being on the slopes of the Orange moun-
tains and possessing a good water-supply and
an adequate sewerage system, Montclair scarcely
would be considered a municipality in need of
a health campaign. Nevertheless, the town has
just closed a Health Promotion Week, the prog-
ress of which aroused the interest of the resi-
dents.
"The significance of the eve:it in the suburbs
lies in the word 'promotion.' The campaign
was not primarily one to ward off the ravages
of a particular scourge or epidemic, but rather
was a general undertaking to improve the hy-
gienic conditions already good.
"As such, the observance of this week marked
a distinct advance over the usual short-sighted
policy of not discussing health problems until
the community is visited by a serious epidemic.
Moreover, this project in Montclair was not
concerned with the negative function of cur-
ing maladies, but with the positive purpose of
building up the body to withstand disease germs.
"It was the social aspect of the problem which
was emphasized in Montclair's Health Week,
and for that reason the event was important in
the annals of the town. Certain conditions must
obtain to give the impetus for good health un-
impeded room for development and fruition.
Montclair has done well to call attention to
these facts."
Law versus Education in Public Health
You cannot make a man moral nor clean by law ; you cannot do away with con-
tagious disease by law; you must secure cooperation by the individual, and this
is obtained only by enlightenment and appeal to common sense.
437
Production, Not Reconstruction, the
Order of the Day in Germany
Housing and Town Planning Notes of a Visit in October, 1921
By Stephen Child
Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects
EuiTORiAi. Note — In this article our readers will find some startling evidence of
the manner i'l which Germany is building vast domestic improvements and thousands of
houses, zvhich will give her an advantage in the industrial competition with her former
adversaries, who have been trying to conduct their post-war business on a more con-
servative financial basis.
DURING the summer of 1921 the writer
was agaiti iH Belgium Iti the interests
of the "International Clearittg^House
of Civic Information,"* Toward the close
of his visit he was invited to join a party
of Belgian municipal officials upon a "voy-
age de renseignement," this time into Ger-
many, supplementing visits of other years in
Hollandf and England.
The first stop was at Cologne, where,
across the square from the railroad station,
it will be remembered, is the great "Dom."
After viewing ruined Rheims, and with the
devastation of France and Belgium vividly
in mind, to see this cathedral unharmed and
to note the marked evidences of rapidly re-
turning productivity, if not genuine pros-
perity— the thoroughly up-to-date Rhine
water-front with its docks and quays all
busily employed, and its attractive tree-
lined embankments — made one feel the
startling contrast. There were many in the
party who were thoroughly pleased to see
the British flag flying from the roof of a
great hotel, and over the entrance the words,
"Headquarters British Army of the Rhine,"
and, as we toured the city later, to see many
"Tommies" in full war regalia — a con-
quered city in everything but evidences of
destruction.
In and about Cologne we visited twenty
dififerent housing projects, some of which
were of great size, and these house-building
activities were by no means the only con-
struction going on. At Cologne, at Diissel-
dorf and Essen, and in many places be-
tween, there was evidence of enormous con-
•Sce The American City, April, 1922, page 348.
tThe Holland trip was described in The Ame^icaij
CiTV for February, 1922, page 103.
structive effort — new or enlarged factories
of every sort, new public or qtfasi-public
buildings, new bridges, improveiticwfs in
highways and street railway construction!/
and, most particularly, in the steam rafl'
roads. The outstanding fact noted through-
out our Germany journey was that these
people were all feverishly at work, not re-
storing, but producing. We were told on re-
liable authority that there were not 50,000
idle men in all Germany, and that on the
pay-rolls of the Government-owned rail-
ways there were 600,000 more men than be-
fore the war, a statement not to be doubted
in view of what follows,
A few miles outside of Cologne, for ex-
ample, enormous new railroad facilities
were building, acres and acres of new
freight yards and shops. We noted the
grade crossings abolished at great cost.
Adjacent to all of this a new garden city,
Gremberger, is springing up. Plans under
way called for 3,000 new houses or lodgings,
over 700 of which were either finished or
well along toward completion. The archi-
tecture is heavy, not particularly German in
character, and quite uninteresting. Most
of the houses are in rows of from six to ten.
No dwellings are over two and one-half
stories, many are but one and one-half, but
some of the hotel and semi-public buildings
are three stories.
As to prices and rents, it is difficult, in
view of the fluctuations and fictitious values
of the mark, to convert these to an Ameri-
can basis. We learned, however, that these
six- and seven-room lodgings were to rent
at from 15,000 to 21,000 marks a .year.
With the mark then, October 16, 1921, at
three-fourths of one cent, this was from $10
438
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
to $12 a month. But they figured a mark
to be worth twice this, or more, which
would be a rental of from $20 to $30 a
month of our money. Furthermore, the
Government in one way or another ad-
vances three-fourths of the cost at 2 per
cent, details varying in different places,
sometimes as here through the state rail-
road, elsewhere through municipal or Gov-
ernment loans to cooperative and building
societies. Contrast with this, that in Bel-
gium the Government advances but one-
fifth to such societies, and at 5 per cent or
6 per cent.
Among these Cologne projects we saw
one then nearing completion, perhaps a hun-
dred really expensive homes, mostly single
houses of large size, eight to twelve rooms,
a few, however, in rows, all a very heavy,
ugly type of architecture, but all with the
most approved modern conveniences. All
had ample front and rear yards, and in most
cases faced either squares or broad parked
avenues. Evidently no expense had been
spared. Such dwellings in America would
cost not less than $25,000 each, and Ger-
many was building them for retired army
officers !
Ten or fifteen miles southwest of
Cologne is a more hilly region, in the midst
of which there are, near the surface, enor-
mous deposits of the so-called "brown coal"
(lignite), a poor-grade fuel, for which
there is a large demand. The material is
excavated by steam shovels or by hand, re-
moved by small trains to near-by works,
and pressed into oval briquettes about the
size of a large egg. About these "mines" a
number of villages have grown up, the dis-
\ ,V '■ '/ >' '
kK (V>
MtKT^/'''
iJB^tabj
f .^
W&^
?iL_ "^^
'jSk
J^l^t^
rjm
^%^^__ 1
IIIJ«1 ^
^^^^^Mwn^j
iM ? i ^'STilA
HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING AT DTTSSEL-
DORF— PORTION OF BOULEVARD SYSTEM
Note car-tracks on outer edge of central planting
strip
PORTION OF ONE OP THE MANY HOUSING
PROJECTS NEAR COLOGNE
This one was built during the Great War
trict being known as Bruhl. Here there
was also great housing activity, with about
1,000 houses or lodgings in process of con-
struction, to help stabilize the labor supply.
The situations for these homes were well
chosen, usually half a mile or more (but
within walking distance) from the mines,
some on sloping hillsides having a fine view
of the city and the Rhine Valley. All of our
party noted the intense industrial activity
evidenced by the many hundred factory
chimneys in this Cologne district, all send-
ing forth clouds of smoke.
Leaving Cologne next morning by auto
and crossing to the right bank of the Rhine,
we passed first through an older, uninterest-
ing, but intensively active, industrial center,
Mulheim, with many overcrowded, old-type
tenements, but with some new construction
on the outskirts; then on into a rich farm-
ing district, with every evidence of thrift
and productivity. Long hours of steady,
hard labor seemed to be expected every-
where in mine, factory and farm.
About half-way between Cologne and
Diisseldorf, in the center of a beautiful,
quite rugged and well-wooded country, is
the district of Bergisch-Gladbach, the Dal-
ton and Pittsfield of Germany, the center
of the fine paper-making industry. In 1895
one of the wealthy manufacturers built here
on the outskirts perhaps the first real gar-
den city, — certainly the first in Germany,
and in many respects the most interesting, —
called "Gronauerwald." Two Munich ar-
chitects were the designers of the town
and its first buildings, and it is certainly all
quite idyllic. Several hundred cottage
homes were built at the beginning of the
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
439
development, and little was done thereafter
for several years. But in October there was
considerable building activity at this place,
mostly houses in rows of from six to ten.
There, as elsewhere, the Government fur-
nished three-fourths of the amount neces-
sary, the remaining fourth being raised by
local interests. It is upon this one-fourth
only that rentals are based, a most uneco-
nomic basis.
From pretty Gronauerwald we motored
on in the afternoon again through prosper-
ous-appearing farms and frequent small
manufacturing centers, like Opladen, Den-
rath and Wiesdorp. These towns all seemed
characteristically well ordered and neat, the
various plants all extremely busy and no
idle men in evidence. The workmen's
homes, most of them detached cottages in
fair-sized lots, were of varied architecture
and, thanks to the generous interest of the
mill owners, all gave many evidences of
liberal expenditure and quite luxurious ap-
pointments, considering the character of the
occupants.
At Denrath a fine chateau near the town's
center, with beautiful grounds, gardens and
lake, all in the French style, once the prop-
erty of an old noble family now fallen upon
evil days and unable to' maintain it, had
passed into public ownership; the towns--
people had enough money to buy it, and it is
now a public park, the mansion a commu-
nity house.
Wiesdorp, just mentioned, is one of the
important centers of the German aniline dye
industry and is an especially prosperous-
looking community, with hundreds of mod-
ern houses, mostly in rows, and apparently
built during the war or since. Thus, while
Germany was destroying homes in Belgium
and France she was building them in her
own country.
Diisseldorf is a more attractive city than
Cologne, though not so large. It has a
beautiful Hofgarten and fine buildings, and
every evidence of prosperity. We were
driven about town, saw the attractive and
extremely well-appointed Rhine water-
front, much of it parked and lined with
tree-shaded promenades and boulevards,
the busy "Hafen" full of shipping, and on
the outskirts of the town the fine boulevard
system. Here we noted with pleasure many
evidences of French Army occupation.
We visited six or eight quite large new
housing schemes in various degrees of
progress and then went on by auto toward
MAEGABETENHOHE, THE MARKET-PLACE AND THE FOUNTAIN OF THE
THE SEEKER AFTER TREASURES
An inscription reads, "Seek them in noMe deeds"
'SCHATZGRABER.'
440
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
THE OAK AND THE VILLAGE FORUM AT GRONATJEKWALD GARDEN CITY, NEAR COLOGNE
Essen. This is a particularly attractive
country, quite hilly, and, for much of the
way, beautifully wooded. Again we passed
prosperous-looking farms and busy towns,
all of course quite undamaged by war.
A few miles beyond the little Socialist
colony of Freiheit, in the picturesque, nar-
row, steep-sided valley of the Ruhr, is Kett-
wig, where there are large and prosperous
woolen mills. Here, too, the workers were
building their own homes, during their slack
times and hours of leisure. By this method,
we were told, it takes them, as a rule, about
two years to build one of their small cot-
tages. An architect has been secured for
the cottage plans and for the supervision of
construction, taking as his fee one of the
small houses erected by the men from his
own plans. Here, too, they must employ
outside trades for part of the work. There
has been developed both here and at Frei-
heit a remarkable esprit de corps, which
has succeeded in overcoming many diffi-
culties.
The Krupp Colonies
Essen, famed as the home of the Krupps
and engines of war, lies also in the valley
of the Ruhr, and the town is spreading out
and up the hillsides of one of the minor
branches of this river in all directions. All
about on these hills are the shafts, works
and culm piles of great coal mines, but the
city is surprisingly clean. As we entered at
nightfall, coming over the hills from Wer-
den, the many chimneys of the enormous
Krupp works were belching forth smoke
and flame. Next morning, although we
were not permitted to enter the works, we
drove in and out of many streets and ways
lined with high walls and great mills, get-
ting a good idea of the extent of the enter-
prise, and we became well aware that de-
spite the war there was no lack of work
here. "What are they making here now?"
we asked, and the reply was: "Everything
— locomotives, agricultural implements,
sewing machines, typewriters, cameras and
their parts."
There is a fine railroad station, and,
near-by, excellent hotels. Not far away is
the usual "Stadtgarten" with its great as-
sembly hall, and near this an Art Museum.
All about are many pretentious homes, bu'lt
in the colossal, heavy type of architecture
so much favored in Germany before the
war. The great "Works" are not far away :
in fact, they sprawl all over the level area
of the lower town, with miles of railroad
tracks entering the gates and winding
about behind the walls and mills.
We were shown, first, the older tenement
houses. Some of the first, built about fifty
or sixty years ago, near the mills, are bar-
rack-like stone buildings four or five stories
high, blackened with smoke, each housing
ten or twelve families. There is quite an
open space about each structure, now
shaded with trees. We then went on to
the more pretentious, newer groups. Of
these, Alfredshof includes, besides hundred?
of row-houses, many large and imposing
apartment buildings. But more attractive,
and indeed more extensive, is the great
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
441
colony, "Margarethenhdhe," built some
years ago by the second Krupp on the oc-
casion of the marriage of his heir and
daughter, Margaret. Here are hundreds of
handsome homes for workmen, with many
parks and public gardens. The civic center
of the colony, called the "Markt," is paved
in pattern, bordered by booths for market-
day, and by shops, post office, public hall and
other quasi-public buildings.
By far the most beautiful of all the Krupp
colonies is Altenhof. Here is where em-
ployees who are incapacitated for further
work, either by age or accident, are given
a home for their declining years. The cen-
tral feature of this project is a very beauti-
ful valley park of perhaps fifty acres that
adjoins or merges into the Stadt Wald of
about five hundred acres. Through the
smaller park flows a pretty brook, and the
valley is laid out with skill and maintained
with the utmost care. Here are open lawns,
suitable paths, trees and shrubbery, but no
garden bedding. . On both sides are pic-
turesque, winding, tree-shaded, narrow
streets, bordered almost exclusively with
detached houses, some of the most attrac-
tive cottage architecture the writer has
ever seen anywhere. Each has an ample
lot with pretty front yard and well-kept
rear gardens. There are two chapels, — one
a gem, — a group of little stores and the post
office; all this for those having families.
Then there are particularly beautiful
groups of apartments, low structures two-
and a half stories high built about lovely
sheltered gardened courts. Some of these
are for single old men and others for single
old women, and near-by there is a splendidly
appointed hospital for the most decrepit and
those more seriously ill.
We were shown, also, several other large
housing projects in outlying parts of the
town, then in progress or nearing comple-
tion, and were told that, notwithstanding
the post-war decrease in the number of men
employed at the Works, there was even
then a serious housing shortage at Essen,
which they were strenuously endeavoring to
meet. We noted also a real shortage in
school accommodations. Many of the older
school yards were partly filled with tem-
porary school buildings. As we passed one
of these groups at the noon hour, the boys 12
or 14 years of age, about 50 of them, were
not at play, but drilling under the careful
flistruction of a young man, evidently a
former officer.
What Does It Mean?
Surely enough has been said of the im-
mense volume and variety of public and
quasi-public improvements and productive
activities then going on in Germany to
make even those who have not seen any of
it realize something of its magnitude and
import. One may readily understand, too,
some of the feelings of the members of our
party, Belgian municipal and housing offi-
cials, architects, and engineers, struggling
as they are at home against empty treas-
uries, cramped credits, high prices, criti-
cism of all sorts, and labor troubles. Many
times came the question, "How is it possible
for this nation to do all this?" Finally one
of our party, the able correspondent of Le
Soir, one of Brussels' leading newspapers,
frankly asked some such question of one of
the business men, who was showing us
about, and here is his reply: "We are not
troubling ourselves about the future. We
are spending money. We are piling up
debts ! What do we care !" This was the
apparent sentiment all through the part of
Germany that we visited, accompanied by
an inordinate desire to make at once, while
the opportunity was good, all possible in-
ternal improvements. To another of our
party, a member of the City Council of
Brussels, this reply was given: "We have
about 200 billion marks of debts. Why
should we not add thereto a new 100 billion,
especially when it is a question of dwell-
ings? The Allies will not be able to take
those away from us."
Note. — Some conclusions, the results of Mr. Child's
observations in regard to housing and town planning
during tlie past two years not only in Germany, but
m Belgium, Holland, France and England, will appear
in The American City next month.
Wanted: **Before and After" Views
If some eyesore in your city is to be turned into a beauty-spot, or some antiquated public
buildmg IS to be replaced by a modern one tlii.s summer, why not secure a photograph of
existing conditions before the work is started, and a view from the same point after the
improvement has been completed? Such photographs will be of historical value in your
own city, and an inspiration to other communities to do likewise. The American City will
be glad to publish occasional contrasting views of this kind.
442
Do Civil Service Rules Promote
Efficiency?
No
To THE EUITOR OF ThE AMERICAN CiTY :
My experience, covering 25 years in public life,
has convinced me that no city can conduct its
municipal business with the highest results and be
hampered with civil service rules, any more than a
private business establishment can make a success
under such handicaps.
We have found in Jamestown that often the best
applicant for policeman, fireman, lineman, etc., is
found at the bottom of the civil service list while an
inferior man is often found at the head of the list in
percentage. There is no such thing as ascertaining the
integrity or character of a man by any questionnaire
system. This was shown the other day when Thomas
Edison tried to get the best men for service in his
works by submitting seventy-seven catch questions
which even college graduates were unable to answer.
In the conduct of its many public utilities James-
town has often found itself greatly handicapped in not
being able to hire the best men or remove the in-
efficient because of the "red tape" imposed by civil
service regulations. As a matter of fact, any system
which makes retention in employment dependent upon
the mere vested right a place holder is supposed to
have in his job is not productive of that harmony,
loyalty and discipline which are essential in any or-
ganization where business results are sought.
The manager of any concern, whether it is public
or private, must be absolutely free to exercise his own
judgment and his own knowledge of human nature
in the selection of subordinates by practical, not theo-
retical, methods.
The result of forty years of civil service regula-
tions in this country has failed to bring about that
reform which civil service aimed to carry into effect.
And it is the experience of every city manager that
civil service rules are a hindrance rather than an aid
in securing meritorious service.
All this talk about the spoils system and the creation
of political machine rule, where the civil service rules
are not in effect, is all bosh, because where there is
an awakened public sentiment with absolutely fixed
responsibility arid adequate power vested in the gov-
erning authorities, there can be no danger of misrule
unless the people themselves want that kind of rule.
But, on the other hand, where the governing agency
is handicapped, inadequately paid and stripped of
proper authority and where there is no fixed responsi-
bility, we get bad government and inefficiency, which
is always the direct result of divided responsibility and
unbusinesslike methods. It is limited authority to do
things, that keeps big men out of office and leads to
"cheap politics."
During the war civil service broke down completely
because merit and results could not be obtained by
any system of theoretical examinations.^
There has never been a private business establish-
ment conducted successfully by any system of civil
service rules, and no city can run its affairs suc-
cessfully by any such rules. There may be special
branches of public service in the National Government
where clerical knowledge may be ascertained in a
measure by permitting the applicant to answer in his
own way questions pertaining to his qualifications be-
fore he is accepted in the service. But when the
applicant has answered correctly or explained^ satis-
factorily his knowledge of the duties pertaining to
the position for which he is an applicant, the ap-
pointing official should be free to select from any
natne on the eligible list, regardless of any percent-
age or whether the applicant is among the three
highest or three lowest on the list. When we make
civil service practical, it will be a success, and not
until then.
And when the American people eliminate partisan-
ship from municipal service in peace time, as they
eliminated partisanship from national service in war
time, they will pave the way for ideal government and
real democracy.
SAMUEL A. CARLSON,
Mayor, Jamestown, N. Y.
Yes
To THE Editor of The American City:
A categorical denial of Mayor Carlson's assertion
that the civil service system is a failure is hardly suffi-
cient. His experience, covering, as he says, 25 years
in public life, has led him to a conclusion which is
interesting in contrast to the opinions of many other
public officials in New York State of equally long ex-
perience. For example, Grover Cleveland, after he had
been Governor of New York, said:
"I am, if possible, more than ever convinced of the
incalculable benefits conferred by the civil_ service law,
not only in its effects upon the public service, but also,
what is even more important, in its effect in elevating
the tone of political life generally."
Charles E. Hughes, also, after having served as the
Chief Executive of New York State, said in speaking
of the civil service clause in the state constitution: _
". . . There is no clause in the constitution
which is of greater importance to the maintenance of
high standards of administration than that clause, the
full scope and meaning of which have not yet been
fully determined by the courts, but are destined to be
in time. . . . We have nothing more important in
relation to the administration of government than a
system — the best that has yet been devised — of secur-
ing men of the needed capacity by competitive ex-
aminations wherever such examinations are practicable.
I believe in that, I thoroughly endorse it, and I hope
to see it extended throughout the states of the Union."
The rules and regulations governing employment in
successful private corporations are analogous to _ the
civil service laws of states and cities, and while it is
not fair to compare private employment to employment
in the civil service, the principles underlying the two
systems are the same. However, to take persons from
eligible lists for civil service positions, without regard
to their relative standing on the list, would be fatal to
the merit system. The principal reason for the exis-
tence of our civil service laws is to counteract the con-
stant pressure of the spoils system. To select persons
from eligible lists regardless of _ relative fitness as
shown by competitive examination is nothing more nor
less than a pass examination system and is little better
than the spoils system in all its glory. The pass ex-
amination for the civil service, except for labor classes,
has, wherever tried, proved a miserable failure. Even
the present provision of many civil service laws for
the selection of one out of the first three on an eligible
list often gives opportunity for political influence to
control the appointment. We have had ample demon-
stration of this in the examinations conducted through-
out the country for the selection of postmasters. Here
politics seem to have controlled in the vast majority of
selections, and this is what might be expected in every
case where a mere pass examination is held.
I do not contend that the competitive examination
system is infallible. On the contrary, I am one of the
first to recognize the various points in which there is
room for improvement. However, until some better
means of selecting public servants is proposed, it
should, and will. I believe, be retained.
A return to the spoils system is inconceivable. The
spectacle we have had during the past two years of the
kind of men secured under the spoils system for pro-
hibition enforcement agents is enough to demonstrate
the futility of attempting to select public employees by
any other method yet devised than by up-to-date com-
petitive examination. -. ,,. hj-atjctt
H. W. MARSH,
Secretary. National Civil Service Reform League.
The Editors of The American City will welcome
expressions of opinion on the following questions:
1. Do civil service rules promote efficiency ?_
2. Within what city population limits are civil
service rules most effective?
3. To what extent do civil service rules help or
hamper a city manager?
4. How can civil service commissions help city
administrations?
443
A New Form of Expansion Joint for
Reinforced Concrete Pipes
By Walter C. Parmley
Cousulting Engineer, New York City
THE expanding use of reinforced con-
crete pipes for conduits, sewers and
pipe lines generally where a minimum
amount of leakage is demanded makes the
question of an economical and effective pipe
joint one of increasing importance. It has
been abundantly demonstrated that rein-
forced concrete pipes can be built to with-
stand pressures up to lOO feet of static
head, and examples of still greater pres-
sures can be cited.
The problem of leakage consists essen-
tially of two parts: first, the conditions
necessary to reduce leakage in the barrel
of the pipe to a minimum; and second, to
discover a form of joint between the differ-
ent pipe sections which will remain practi-
cally water-tight under all conditions in
actual service. Assuming that we have pipe
sections of sufficient strength and im-
perviousness, the following are some of the
essentials for a water-tight joint:
First — The joint must be simple and practi-
cal in design, so that it can be made water-tight
with reasonable certainty by ordinary laborers
available for the work. That is to say, the
different parts must have such relationship to
each other that the mortar, grout or material
used to seal the joint can be easily and
effectively placed, and all the inner cavities
completely filled with dense, impervious mate-
rial.
Second — The material of the joint must be
practically imperishable and unchanging in
physical constitution, and unaffected by contact
with water.
Third— A water-tight contact surface or
bridge must be effected between the mass of the
joint material and the ends of the pipe sections,
so that water cannot pass along this junction.
Fourth — The joint must have some form of
A CONCRETE PIPE JOINT WITH NEW FEATURES
444
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
provision to permit expansion and contraction
of the different pipe sections without danger of
breaking the water-tight contacts at the joints.
The variations between the maximum and mini-
mum temperatures to which a pipe line may be
subjected may easily exceed 100 degrees F.,
that is to say, the change in length due to
changes in temperature of a pipe line one mile
long may easily amount to 3^2 feet. Obviously,
this change must be taken up in numerous joints
and not accumulated in a few places only.
Where a pipe line is embedded in the earth,
unless these expansion and contraction joints
are numerous the body of the pipe will be
broken, so great becomes the resistance of the
earth against an end-slipping tendency of the
pipes.
Fifth — The joint must permit a certain
amount of shear effect or inequality of settle-
ment of the successive pipe sections without
breaking the water-tight character of the joint.
The serious effects of such weakness in con-
traction joints have been observed by the
writer where otherwise the joints were pre-
sumably effective.
The illustration shows a section of a new
form of flexible contraction joint which is
designed to fulfill the conditions above
enumerated. The pipe sections are essen-
tially of the bell-and-spigot type, but the
form of the spigot is modified so as to per-
mit the spigot to close up against the bot-
tom of the bell along the inside of the pipe.
The outside surface of the spigot at its base
and the inside surface of the bell near its
outer end are made to fit closely, and there
is thus left an inner blind groove for sub-
sequent filling with grout material, usually
pou'-cd through a grout hole left in the hell
of the pipe at the top, after the inside of
the joint has been pointed up with mortar.
This form of spigot-and-bell pipe has been
used on pressure pipes for some years, but
if no further feature is added, a contraction
or .settlement of the pipe line may cause the
joint to spring a leak. To prevent this diffi-
culty, it is now proposed to insert in the
bell end of the pipe section a ring of lead,
or copper sheet metal — preferably lead —
formed into a complete ring with soldered
ends and molded into the bell end of the
pipe. The peculiarity of this ring is that
it is .shaped so that there is a fold in the
metal extending around the entire circum-
ference of the ring. This roll or fold is
brought down close at the throat, and one
edge of the sheet metal ring is shaped so as
to conform to, and lie flat against, the up-
per surface of the cast iron base ring that
forms the bell end of the pipe.
The concrete can now be poured and the
pipe section completed so as to embed the
upper edge of the metal ring, and the con-
crete will not enter the folded portion of
the ring. After the pipe has hardened, the
edge of the ring which lies flat against the
inner surface of the bell is pulled out into
the position shown in the figure. This
edge later becomes embedded in the mortar
of the joint, as shown.
In the process of pulling the metal into
the position shown, the rounded part which
lies back in the body of the pipe is de-
tached and pulled loose from contact and
thus becomes free thereafter to come and
go within a self-ma<le circular pocket ex-
tending annularly c'lround the entire body
of the pipe. This is shown in the illustra-
tion.
If the inside of the bell is painted with
parafiine or asphalt, there will be little or
no adhesion between the grout of the joint
and the concrete of the bell end of the
pipe, and the lead ring becomes permanently
anchored in the joint material along one
edge and in the solid body of the pipe along
the opposite side of the contact surface be-
tween the two. The lead sheet is thus free
to come and go easily with contraction and
expansion movements without breaking the
continuous metal bridge across the joint.
To prevent the possibility of cleavage
along the contact surface between the spigot
and the grout filling of the joint, a hoop of
metal mesh may be molded in the spigot end
of the p-pe, projecting into the joint space
and anchored in the grout, as indicated.
To further facilitate the molding of the
pipe and prevent any possibility of gett'ng
grout into the fold in the metal ring when
the pipe is poured, a gasket ring can be
formed into this fold when it is rolled.
This gasket or rope of elastic mater'al
serves as a cushion against which the metal
can work. With the rolled rounded shape
of the metal, as shown, molded in the body
of the pipe at the bell end, it is obvious
that the two sections of pipe can be sepa-
rated a considerable distance without en-
dangering the continuity of the metal water-
stop that bridges the gap. By the avoidance
of any sharp crimps or folds of the metal,
all danger of the metal's cracking along
the line of the bend is prevented, and th«
metal can work back and forth an indefinite
number of times without danger of
cracking;.
May, 1922
I H t A M t K I L A .\ L I I Y
445
It is specially to he noted, particularly
if sheet lead is used, that shcarinj; ciTcct or
sidc-slippinj^ of the sections can he per-
mitted without danger of crackinj^ the metal
and so breaking the water-tightness of the
joint. By making a joint of such design
that it will accommodate a certain amount
of transverse displacement, it is believed
that additional safety is added to any joint
that provides only for expansion and con-
traction movements.
The form of joint shown is not limitc<l
to concrete pipes, but can be used to join
old and new work in walls, floors, etc. Full-
s'ze sections of such joints have been made
and may actually be separated by amounts
as great as a half-inch without endangering
the effectiveness of the metal water-stop.
County Engineers' Salaries and County
Road Expenditures
All Idaho ("ouiity Shows Striking Inconsistencies
IN its country-wide investigation of the
salaries of municipal and county officials.
The American City has come across
some instances of salaries which seem dis-
proportionately low for the character and
quality of the work performed. Unfortu-
nately, these low salaries are of quite fre-
quent occurrence.
In examining the annual report of a
county in Idaho, it is found that the maxi-
mum salary of the County Surveyor, who
does all of the engineering work for the
county, is $800 per year. It requires an act
of Legislature to raise this salary; conse-
quently it has not been changed in the last
ten years.
The 1919 Annual Report of this county
shows the sum of $74,285.35 expended on
county roads for that year. The total for
county bridges was $61,658.69, making a
total of $135,944.04 for the road and bridge
fund. The total expense of the Surveyor's
office during the same year was: salary,
$799.92; stationery and supplies, $53.16;
clerical assistance, $750; miscellaneous ex-
penses, $148.82; making a grand total of
$1,751.90. Attention is called particularly
to the salary as compared with the sum
spent for clerical assistance.
In the Annual Report of 1920 for the
same county, the money expended on county
roads was $103,788.36; on county bridges,
$23,207.82; making a total of $126,996.18
for roads and bridges. The County Sur-
veyor's expenses for the office for the same
year were : .salary, $889.92 ; stationery and
supplies, $30.34; clerical assistance, $900;
furniture, $.96; miscellaneous expenses,
$153.48, making a total of $1,974.70. It is
interesting to note that in this year the sum
for clerical assistance was actually a tew
cents more than the salary of the County
Surveyor, who is the engineer and execu-
tive.
A careful examination of these figures
shows that there is a rather sad discrepancy
in the proportion of salary to expenses in
the Surveyor's office, and since the Sur-
veyor does all of the engineering work for
the county, his salary is exceedingly small
in proportion to the money expended. The
total area of this county is about one mil-
lion acres, one-half of which is national
forest. Of the land outside of the forest,
50,000 acres are classified as grazing land,
and 250,000 acres are classified as suitable
for agricultural purposes. The county I'es
in the heart of the mountain district, .so
that all the surveying and the engineering
work pertaining to the location of roads and
their construction are quite expensive.
If the county were located in a prairie
country where surveying was simply a mat-
ter of running lines, the salary of $800 a
year might be adequate, but if the work
takes the engineering party into mountain-
ous districts and timber where locations are
difficult, added salary is justified.
Due consideration should be given to the
climate and topography of a county when
adjusting salaries for county surveyors and
engineers. The arduous labor and technical
matters connected with the surveying and
laying out of roads in mountainous districts
call for a compensation greater than for an
tngineer who simply has to run a com-
paratively easy line on level, rolling prairie
land.
446
A "Safety First" Bridge
County Assumes 85 Per Cent of Cost of Building New Concrete Arch Bridge
By C. M. Niles
THE use of speedy pleasure cars and
heavy motor trucks on improved
roads necessitates careful attention
to the safety of highway bridges and ap-
proaches. A fine improvement of this kind
has recently been completed near Rome,
N. Y., where the main east-and-west high-
way crosses Nine Mile Creek.
end. The highway was straightened and
widened, as was also the bed of the creek
above the bridge. It was necessary to build
a long concrete retaining wall to protect the
relocated highw^ay from the wash of the
stream.
The bridge was built by contract in quick
time. Each arch has a span of 60 feet and
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BUILDING THE NEW CONCRETE BRIDGE AT ROME, N. Y.
Position of old abutment shows how the alignment was changed to eliminate dangerous curves
At this point the stream was formerly
spanned by an obsolete iron bridge with
plank flooring. There was a sharp, dan-
gerous curve at each end of the bridge,
which was known to motorists as a death-
trap. Fully a score of automobile accidents
occurred here, several of them resulting
fatally. Strangely enough, after carrying
innumerable heavy loads, the old trusses
suddenly buckled while a light machine was
crossing the bridge, and the whole structure
collapsed into the creek.
The local highway authorities have
erected a modern two-span concrete arch
bridge to replace the fallen structure. The
alignment of the bridge was changed so as
to eliminate the dangerous curve at each
rises 12 feet above normal water-level. The
concrete is reinforced throughout with steel
bars of various sizes. The main arches are
over a foot thick. Each arch was moulded
in two equal longitudinal sections, the con-
crete being poured continuously from start
to finish of a section. The whole structure
is crowned with a panel parapet railing of
concrete.
The cost of the improvement was approx-
imately $25,000. This would ordinarily be
a town charge, but the town of Marcy has
a small assessed valuation and was unable
to bear the entire burden. So, to insure
the work's being done in the best possible
manner, the county of Oneida assumed 85
per cent of the expense.
447
porward ^tops
in
Municiiyal j\ffairs
Municipal Shops Reduce H. C. L.
Tiffin, Ohio. — By an active campaign
the administration of this city has been able
materially to reduce retail food prices, to
the great benefit of consumers.
The first step was to learn the facts.
These were obtained, in part, from the
Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates of
the United States Department of Agricul-
ture. It was learned that whereas the peak
price of live steers, good to choice, dropped
from 17.5 cents in 1919 to 8.88 cents in
October, 192 1, and that the price of these
same steers (live) dropped from 23.3 per
cent in 1919 to 16.44 per cent in October,
1921, the rise in per cent of the price of
wholesale beef over that of live steers was
from 133. 1 per cent in 1919 to 185. i per
cent in October, 1921. Meanwhile the per
cent of price of sirloin steak over that of
live steers rose from 238.3 per cent in 1919
to 421.2 per cent in October, 1921, and the
per cent of price of chuck roast over the
price of live steers rose in the same period
from 154.3 per cent to 224.1 per cent. Such
figures seemed to justify a thoroughgoing
probe of retail meat prices. This developed
the apparent existence of price-fixing agree-
ments among local butchers, and also the
fact that cows were being sold at steer beef
prices and that in some instances meat from
diseased cattle had been sold. At the con-
clusion of the probe, but without the neces-
sity of prosecution, retail meat prices in the
city of Tiffin dropped from 20 to 60 per
cent.
The question of bread prices was next
taken up. The enormous decline in flour
prices seemed to justify a demand for
cheaper bread. The bakers, however, re-
fused to sell a i6-ounce loaf for 7 cents
or a 24-ounce loaf for 10 cents. The ad-
ministration accordingly entered into an
agreement with an out-of-town concern for
a supply of bread costing 5 cents for a 16-
otmce loaf, which was sold at the fire sta-
THE CITIZENS OF TIFFIN, OHIO, BACK UP THEIR MAYOR'S CAMPAIGN FOR
liOWEB-PRICED BREAD
448
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
tions. The first day, 500 loaves were sold
in 45 minutes, with the demand unsatisfied.
Owing to pressure on the supplying com-
pany, this source was shut off after the first
day. Thereupon a new source was dis-
covered, which enabled the municipality to
supply bread, delivered at homes, for 10
cents the 24-ounce loaf. In less than three
weeks, a local bakery accepted the terms
originally proposed, and this has brought
the other bakers to time.
Milk had been selling at 12 cents the
quart, 2 cents higher than in some neigh-
boring towns. But the effectiveness of the
bread and meat campaigns persuaded the
dairies to drop their prices.
It will be noted that in these campaigns
there have been no prosecutions of any
sort. The weapon upon which the greatest
reliance has been placed has been publicity.
ADOLPH UNGE^,
Mayor. .
IfeaHh
Doparimenis
Every Week Is Clean-up Week
in This City
Madill, Okla. — This city has an ordi-
nance under which it has been very suc-
cessful in keeping cleaned up fifty-two
weeks in the year. The City Clerk is
charged with the duty of keeping the plan
effective.
The city employs a man at $150 per
month for himself, team and wagon. This
man makes daily rounds, visiting every
1 Sanitary Scr. No.
xr:
residence, business house, hotel, wagon-
yard, elevator and mill to collect rubbish
and trash and haul it to the dumping-
ground. Twice a month he visits the out-
door closets and hauls their contents away.
The cost of maintaining this service is
met by a series of fees, which are explained
in detail on the accompanying bill. The 20
per cent penalty insures prompt payment.
Responsibility for collections rests with the
City Clerk, who adds this to his other duties.
F. L. YARGER,
City Clerk.
Recreation
I Departments
N9 983 sAwiTAHY BILL i^M'^ii-hiji^s., Jn 0 If— 19a2,
■ llvaaMitM
PRICES FOR SANITARY WORK
Residence Without Pnvy 2 Jets
Residence With Pnvy* ■ 50cls
Boarding Houses. Hotels and Restaurants Without Pnvy ,. S 1.00
Boarding Houses. Hotels and Restaurants With Privy 2.00
Business Houses Without Privy SOcts
Business Houses With Privy I.OO
Wagon Yarxls. Gins. Elevators and Oil Mill Without Pnvy 1.00
Wagon Yards. Gins. Elevators and Oil Mill With Pnvy J.OO
ForExlraWork
20% Delinquent Fee t.
Vj Madlll, Oklahoma
To MADILLS^ITARY DEPARTMENT. Dr.
— ^ X)/ A-^WxAajL^O c
EVERYBODY GETS HIS SANITARY WORK DONE AND
PAYS FOR IT IN MADILL, OKLA.
Pick-and-Shovel Golf
SacramentOj Calif. — This city recently
bad a Pick and Shovel Day at the municipal
golf links, on the "Tom Sawyer" plan. No
one has asked who originated, and no one
desires credit for, the bright idea of getting
together lawyers, bank clerks, automobile
salesmen, life insurance agents, and others
to put in a day's hard labor in remodelling
the municipal golf links.
The plan worked admirably. A meeting
was called at the City Hall. At this meet-
ing it was determined that the work be done
by volunteers; that F. N. Evans, Superin-
tendent of Parks, together with the Greens'
Committee, figure out the changes to be
made on the links; that W. G. McMillan,
the State Purchasing Agent, secure from the
State Highway Commission 60 shovels, 10
wheelbarrows, 10 mattocks, 10 picks, and
10 tampers; and that C. S. Armstrong, of
the Western Pacific Railroad, get
-some water buckets and tin cups.
The hour set to begin the work
was 8:30 A. M. and most of the
"boys" were on the job. There
were one or two "flat tire" ex-
cuses, but for the most part the
golfers were on time. *
The work had been planned
and laid out at the links the day
previous, and squad captains had
been assigned to certain pieces of
work known as Job No. i. Job
No. 2, Job No. 3, etc.
If any one thinks that a
"bunch" of golfers cannot put a
c)&
BRING
THIS
.BILL
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
449
job over, he is mistaken. When the dinner ing purposes were retained as partitions.
bell rang, about two-thirds of the work out-
lined had been finished. At the club house
each golfer relished his platter o' beans,
coffee, bread, butter, and cake, and after a
short smoke took after the shovel again.
By 3 130 P. M. the work was completed, and
many golfers played over the course the
same day.
Fifty-two men and two women volun-
teered for service. Mrs. L. F. Sherwood
wielded a long-handled, round-pointed
shovel along with the men, while Mrs. F. H.
Webster acted as registrar, time-keeper and
water-boy.
It was estimated that $250 was saved to
the city. The golf course was changed to
suit the golfers. The workers are still talk-
ing about what a good time they had, and
that each has himself to blame if he gets
caught in a deep trap, or stopped by a high
bunker, for he himself was particeps crim-
inis to the job.
GEORGE SIM,
Superintendent of Recreation.
Something New in Polling Booths
Newark, Ohio. — This city has found a
new use for polling booths between elections.
They make fine bath-houses.
The most available swimming hole for
the people of Newark is about a mile from
the town, near the pumping station. Just
below the dam, however, there is a first rate
swimming place, but there were no suitable
bath-house accommodations anywhere in the
neighborhood. An attempt was made to
raise funds for the erection of a bath-house,
but it proved unsuccessful. Then the idea
was hit upon of rolling two portable election
booths to the site, building a little platform
between, and a stairway leading down to
the water's edge. The
booths are made of metal,
measuring about 10 by 18
feet, and mounted on
wheels, so that it is a
simple matter to transport
them to and from their
summer location. One of
the buildings is used for
men and boys, the other
for women and girls. The
former has no partitions,
but in the latter the
frames and canvas which
divide the booths for vot-
These booths were made by the Kelsey Pav-
ing and Construction Company of this city.
There is a fee of ten cents for the use of
the bath-house, and every patron is pro-
vided with a split basket in which to place
his clothes in charge of the caretaker. A
man is always in charge of the place, and the
fact that he saved a boy's life soon after
the booths were set up convinced people
that since this scheme involves supervision,
it is well worth while.
Manager, Newark
W. I. LEWIS,
Chamber of Commerce.
Park
Departments
Harrisburg's Municipal Bathing-
Beach
Harrisburg, Pa. — Situated along the
banks of the Susquehanna River, five miles
below the gap where it breaks through the
mountains and spreads out into a beautiful
valley, Harrisburg, Pa., has unusual water
facilities.
The water-front has been kept free from
any kind of buildings, giving an unob-
structed view of the river, dotted here and
there with low-lying islands; for the strip
of ground between Front Street and the ex-
treme edge of the bank, extending the en-
tire length of the town, is a city park, where
all can enjoy the beauty of the scenery and
the coolness of the breeze from the water.
Opposite the city is an island that for years
has been used for park purposes. Here are
baseball diamonds, running track and tennis
courts, and for some time past a bathing
A NEW USE rOUNP FOR POLUNG POOTHS, NEWAEK, OmO
450
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
HARRISBURG'S MUNICIPAL BATHINChBEACH
place has been maintained on the extreme
lower point. A small wooden building, con-
taining lockers, provided accommodations
for the bathers. At the upper end of the
city, along the river shore, another such
bath-house was located, but both of these
were inadequate and primitive.
At the election in November, 1918, in re-
sponse to the growing demand, the floating
of a loan for $40,000 was voted on, for the
erection of a concrete bath-house and the
establishment of a municipal bathing-beach.
On June 20, 1921, the building was com-
pleted and thrown open to the public.
This attractive-looking concrete bath-
house is equipped with dressing-rooms,
lockers, shower-baths, drinking-fountain,
telephone and electric light. One side is
set aside for men, and the other for women.
Outside, at either end of the building, are
stationary wringers for the bathers to use
in wringing out their suits, after dressing.
A board walk from the common ' central
door forms the runway to the water.
There is no charge for swimming privi-
leges, and swimming suits are supplied for
the bathers at a nominal fee, except to small
children, who may use them without charge.
A concession has been given for a refresh-
ment stand.
The surprise has come in the number of
people who frequent the beach. Thousands
come daily, and the bath-house from the first
was taxed to its capacity. Soon it became
necessary to erect auxiliary tents to take
care of the overflow. These in turn have
been filled.
Many problems have arisen in the ad-
ministration. The first serious one was the
discovery that different people were com-
plaining of lacerated feet. While the bed
of the river is rocky, it was soon found
that the cause came from pieces of glass.
Careless people buying bottles of "pop" had
broken the bottles and thrown the pieces
into the water. A restriction at the re-
freshment stand, that no bottles could be
removed from the stand, eliminated a great
percentage of the accidents. Playing ball
on the beach or in the water, while an
enjoyable sport, was also prohibited, as
many people were accidentally hit by the
balls, and in some cases painful injuries
were sustained. All this led to the estab-
lishment of a "first aid" tent where a
trained nursfe presides and gives treatment
to all who apply.
In additjon, life-guards watch over the
safety of the bathers, and a pulmotor has
been installed in the first-aid tent for the
resuscitation of people rescued from drown-
ing. Every care has been taken to safe-
guard the lives of the bathers.
As time passes and experience shows the
need, additional improvements will be made,
but even now the municipal beach is a
most popular venture.
EDWARD Z. GROSS,
Superintendent of Parks and Public Property.
St. Louis Public Library's
Municipal Exhibit «
St. Louis, Mo. — A comprehensive ex-
hibition of the methods and results of mod-
ern municipal work has been conceived and
carried out in St. Louis by Lucius H. Can-
non, Librarian of the Municipal Library.
This has been done with the active aid and
advice of Mayor Henry W. Kiel, who re-
quested, through President Edmund R. Kin-
sey of the Board of Public Service, that all
city departments should participate. The
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
451
exhibit was organized chiefly under the city
departments of public welfare, public util-
ities, streets and sewers, public safety, and
the President of the Board of Public Serv-
ice, the last named having in charge the
city's construction work.
On entering the delivery hall, the visitor
saw directly in front of him a large model
of the northeast corner of Forest Park,
showing the recommendations of the Divi-
sion of Bridges and Buildings of the De-
partment of the President for lowering the
grade of the two railroads that pass through
this portion of the park, and incidentally
abolishing important grade crossings on
Lindell and Union Boulevards. This model,
which was made originally as an exhibit for
a public hearing before the State Publid
Service Commission, attracted much atten-
tion. This department also showed photo-
graphs illustrating the construction of
streets, sewers, bridges and buildings. An
important feature was interesting material
concerning the municipal bridge, one of the
most noteworthy constructions of the kind
in the United States.
Under the Department of Public Welfare
were the exhibits of the Health Division, the
City Hospital, the Division of Parks and
Recreation, the City Sanitarium, and the
Municipal Nurses. Photographs properly
labelled and displayed on screens were
freely used.
The work of the City Hospital in occupa-
tional therapy was interestingly shown and
included several glass cases filled with ob-
jects made by patients. In connection with
the work of the Municipal Nurses there was
a display of infants' garments.
The exhibit of the Department of Public
Utilities comprised those of the Water Divi-
sion and the Lighting Division. The former
was very comprehensive and included an
entire model filter plant on a scale of 1/150,
with wash water tank and water meters ar-
ranged to show clearly the operation of the
machinery. The actual chemicals used in
the purification of the Mississippi River
water were shown in bottles, and the various
stages of purification were exhibited in
large glass jars. The Division also showed
an interesting set of wall maps and the ma-
chine for tapping water-mains while still
under pressure, obviating the necessity of
shutting off the water. The Lighting Divi-
sion showed both full-size and reduced
WATER DIVISION SECTION P|" THE ST. LOUIS PTJBLig LIB?,A5^Y'S MUNICIPAL EXHIBIT
452
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
models of the new electric light standards
recently installed by the city in the public
parks and on the boulevards.
The Department of Public Safety ex-
hibited photographs and schedules illustrat-
ing the work of its various divisions, includ-
ing that of fire and fire prevention, which
attracted perhaps more attention than any
other item in the exhibit. It showed a full-
size fire-alarm box and the exact mechan-
ism used in receiving and recording fire
signals at the engine houses. Demonstrators
on duty during a large part of the day
showed the workings of this and other ma-
chinery in the various exhibits to interested
visitors. The work of the City Plan Com-
mission, both already carried out and
planned for the future, was shown by pho-
tographs on screens.
The delivery hall was decorated during
the exhibit with potted plants furnished
from the greenhouses of the Division of
Parks and Recreation and constituted a
striking addition to the exhibit of this de-
partment.
The exhibition has already shown prac-
tical results. Although planned at first for
the month of October only, it was extended
to the close of the year — a period just three
times as long as that contemplated, as it was
evident that public interest required the
extension.
Interest in this exhibition has not been
confined to St. Louis. Several requests for
information regarding methods of organiza-
tion and display have been received from
other cities, and the prospects are that other
municipal exhibits of this type will be given
in the future and will render greatly needed
service in the cause of popular education.
WILLIAM E. ROLFE,
Associate to the President, Board of Public
Service.
10.
Our Community Chest
12.
Has substituted cooperation for competition in
doing the social work which must be done
each year in this city.
Has afforded a common platform upon which
everyone may stand, regardless of race, color,
creed or nationality.
Has demonstrated itself to be the logical "next
step" in the organization of our resources,
both in men and money, for social service.
Has vastly increased the number of those in-
terested in social work in and for Cincinnati.
Has increased the interest of the individual
giver in the work to the doing of which he
has contributed his money.
Has made evident to everyone the fact that
social work is an obligation of citizenship.
Has convinced the giving public that con-
sttuctive work is possible.
Has shown that the insuring of human welfare
is one big problem rather than a series of un-
related small ones to be solved as separate
things by unconoerted and uncoordinated
action.
Has saved the giver the annoyance of con-
tinual solicitation by an endless number of
individual collectors representing different
agencies and organizations.
Has lessened the cost of collecting the funds
which are absolutely necessary for carrying on/
the work being done by the 75 agencies which,
coordinated, compose the Community Chest.
?Ias supplied a workable instrument for the
examination of the needs of both the city and
the diflferent organizations.
Has given wise suggestion and hefpful assist-
ance to the different agencies.
IS.
19.
20.
21.
Has coordinated public and private agencies.
Has been the greatest single factor in the de-
velopment of social education in Cincinnati.
Has secured the enthusiastic support of prac-
tically every great philanthropic and civic
organization in this community.
Has given to Cincinnati a place of acknowl-
edged leadership among American cities in the
v/ise handling of its social problems.
Has made possible an increase in i^reventive
work rather than a mere enlargement of
ameliorative effort which must necessarily be
repeated year after pear.
Has resulted in a general bettering of methods
of work.
Has provided an accessible, reliable and com-
prehensive record of the handling of specific
cases by different agencies, thus making waste-
ful and harmful duplication of effort unneces-
sary.
Has made possible wise planning for the
future.
Has given an opportunity for a more eco-
nomical administration of individual agencies
through the establishment of a Central Pur-
chasing Bureau.
Has given a background of permanency to
social work here which insures its future
stability.
Has developed a sense of social obligations in
the entire community.
Has been one of the great unifying forces in
the life of the city.
— From the Bulletin of the Woman's City
Club, Cincinnati, Ohio.
453
Curing Concrete Roads with Calcium
Chloride
Interesting Results of Field Tests in Illinois
FIELD tests which were conducted dur-
ing the last year by the Illinois State
Division of Highways have developed
amazing results in the rapid curing of newly
laid concrete highways through the use of
calcium chloride. The field tests were pre-
ceded by extensive laboratory investiga-
tions, in which practically every conceiv-
able method was tried out. Between 450
and 500 specimens of concrete were made
was used is practically complete within the
first 24 hours, after which it does not aid
appreciably. The chemical is usually ap-
plied to the pavement from 8 to 16 hours
after the concrete is finished. Thus it is
not difficult to protect it from rainfall if
the weather looks threatening or to apply
a second lot if the first is washed off.
Tests of this method on roads under con-
struction were made during the last con-
A PORTION OF ROUTE 5, ILLINOIS STATE HIGHWAY, BUILT BY McCALL CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY, USING CALCIUM CHLORIDE FOR CURING
and tested. Throughout all the tests, those
specimens in which calcium chloride was
used showed the best results. The chemical
was applied in a number of different ways,
but the best results were obtained when the
specimens were sprinkled with granulated
calcium chloride at the rate of about 3
pounds per square yard of surface. This
method of curing gave higher strength in
14 days than the usual wet earth or pond-
ing method does at the end of 28 days.
The investigators felt that the strength
of the calcium chloride might be nullified
by heavy rains, which would wash this
readily soluble chemical from the pavement
and thus reduce its curing properties. Tests
were made in which the granular chemical
was washed off the specimen at the end of
12 hours. It was effectively shown that the
curing process in which calcium chloride
struction season. On one job of seven miles
of pavement the concrete was cured by cov-
ering the paving with about one inch of
earth and then sprinkling it with a strong
solution of calcium chloride. The solution
was applied so that the chemical was equal
to about four pounds of dry chemical per
square yard of surface. The earth cover-
ing held the solution on the road and pre-
vented the complete loss of the chemical in
case of rain. The solution to be used for
curing was placed in water barrels along
the road the day before the sections were
completed, and when applied was sprinkled
from an ordinary watering-can. Frequent
inspection showed that the earth remained
moist, proving conclusively that the pave-
ment was cured satisfactorily.
The granular calcium chloride method of
curing concrete has a number of decided
454
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
advantages over the use of wet earth, or
ponding, which has been used for a num-
ber of years. This method is economical,
as it costs less than 6 cents per square
yard of surface cured. There is consider-
able saving in labor, because no pipe line is
needed. Another distinct advantage is the
fact that the calcium chloride can be ap-
plied sooner after the completion of the
road than the wet earth or the ponding
method, thus making it possible to open
roads to traffic at an earlier date without
danger to the concrete.
Solutions of calcium chloride have also
been used in the water in the mixers during
cold weather, making it possible to work
the concrete readily and prevent freezing.
This method, while it does not protect the
concrete from exceedingly cold weather,
will materially lengthen the construction
season in the fall, reacting to the benefit of
highway department and contractors.
Safety During Road Construction
Methods of Handling Traffic and Arranging Detours
By A. R. Hirst
State Highway Engineer, Madison, Wis.
MANY accidents are caused by failure
to take proper precautions during
the construction of roadways. If the
road is to be kept open to travel during con-
struction, the safety and convenience of
the traveling public should be the para-
mount consideration. In too many instances
it is almost totally disregarded.
Roads under construction should be either
wholly closed to general traffic or kept open
under conditions which guarantee safe and
easy passage. If they are kept open, the
grading should be kept closely in hand. In
ordinary road work there is no great rea-
MAINTENANCE
WAY DETOUR
ON THIS IMPORTANT INTERSTATE HIGH-
WOULD SAVE TOURISTS TIME, MONET
AND TEMPER
son why there should be more than one mile
between the completed grading and the first
plowing ahead. In most cases, contractors
would be much ahead if, instead of spread-
ing their work over the whole length of
the contract and finishing nothing until the
last operation, they would keep the grading
operation well in hand and finish as they
go. They can start a slope-trimming and
finishing crew as soon as the roughing cut
has proceeded not more than a mile.
On many highway jobs the grade lifts are
too heavy. Drops of three or four feet at
the end of a fill are not uncommon. This is
contrary to most specifica-
tions, makes a poor road,
poorly compacted, and also
greatly inconveniences the
travel in going both up and
down the breast. Even where
the cut or fill is not com-
pleted, the road can be kept
reasonably smooth by operat-
ing a grader constantly over
it as the material is being cut
and filled.
The most striking difficul-
ties encountered in keeping
the roads open during con-
struction are caused by mak-
ing short detours around cul-
verts and bridges wherever
the alignment permits. It is
much better to build the
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
455
IN CONNECTICUT, BOADS ASE BUILT HALF AT A TIME,
AND TRAFFIC IS THEN SAVED A LONGEE TBIP OVEB AN
ALTERNATE BOUTB
bridge on a new site, even at the cost of a
few hundred dollars additional, and permit
the traffic to use the old bridge rather than a
temporary structure. In quite a number of
cases curves occur near bridges and it is
possible by a new alignment at that point to
buiii^ a new bridge and maintain the old
one during construction.
In the case of culverts, instead of detour-
ing the traffic across ditches and through
fields, which usually are impassable after
each rain, the engineer should build the cul-
verts in two sections. While it is slightly
more expensive to do this, the additional
cost is made up many times in savings to
the traffic. Experiments have been made
in Wisconsin with this
method during the last sea-
son. Plans and specifications
for 1922 call for the con-
struction of culverts in two
sections wherever the road
is to be kept open for traffic.
In some of the Eastern
States roads have been built
in halves and the traffic dis-
patched in a single direction
by a system of telephoning.
In traveling over sections of
highways so handled this
year, I was impressed that
for main line traffic this
method was unsatisfactory.
Unless there were positively
no detours available, the
money expended in dispatch-
ing and in the additional con-
struction under such condi-
tions could have been spent
in fitting temporary detours
for traffic, with more satis-
factory results. On Sundays
and legal holidays the traffic
conditions on such 'sections
must, indeed, have been seri-
ous.
Attention to Detours
If highways under con-
struction are to be absolutely
closed, careful attention
should be given to the de-
tour. If possible, the road
over which the detour is to
should be given the proper
attention the preceding year.
be carried
amount of
Nothing is more exasperating to the motor-
ist than to be detoured along a certain high-
way and to find it has been recently graded
to be ready for the detour and is itself as
impassable as the highway from which traf-
fic has been diverted. A little more care
and attention given in advance to detours
will pay heavy dividends in satisfaction to
the traveling public.
If opportunity exists, it is much better to
provide a detour for one line of traffic and
to use another highway for traffic going in
the opposite direction; if the roads selected
for detours are narrow, this method avoids
WHEN THE HALF-AT-A-TIME METHOD PERMITS ONLY
ONE LINE OF TBAFFIC, THIS IS REGULATED BY A TELE-
PHONE, IN MASSA.CHUSETTS
4.^6
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
many accidents and complications in meet-
ing and facilitates the passage of both lines
of traffic. Furthermore, the detour roads
are not quite so seriously damaged if the
traffic is halved. If there is any question
or reasonable doubt, a double detour should
be used.
Needless to say, detours should be marked
and well- maintained. Proper posting of de-
tours does not mean just pointing an arrow
at the first turn away from the road under
improvement ; it means a consistent series
of signs directing traffic adequately from
beginning to end of the detour. There is no
more helpless feeling than that which comes
to one lost on a supposed detour at midnight
with the rain descending and all the farmers
in the neighborhood gone to bed. If all en-
gineers and contractors had been caught in
such a predicament, as the writer has been,
much greater care would be used in the
selection, maintenance and marking of de-
tours.
A good many present-day highways must
be detoured when constructed. It is prac-
tically impossible to construct a concrete
road without detours. The same is true of
almost any other road except graveling and
grading jobs. The cost of detouring is a
very heavy charge on the traveling public.
Almost invariably detours are longer than
the road under construction. If the road
under construction carries heavy traffic, the
cost of traveling an extra mile on the de-
tour is very heavy. A detour three miles
longer than the main road, carrying a traf-
fic of 800 vehicles a day, means a daily
total extra travel of 2,400 miles, which even
at 10 cents a day is $240 per day. If the
road under construction is kept closed for
four months, the cost of detouring will be
$28,800, and unless the structure is of such
character as absolutely to preclude taking
traffic through, any reasonable expenditure
in keeping it open for traffic is fully justified.
Whether to detour or not is a matter of
special consideration for each particular set
of circumstances. Detours should certainly
be kept to the minimum both in number and
in length, and if necessarily used should be
made as safe as possible and as unmistak-
able as foresight can make them.
Acknowledgment. — Illustrations by courtesy of the
Portland Cement Association, Chicago, 111. ^
A Glimpse of South America's Largest City
VIADUCT OF SANTA THERESA, BIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
457
The Principles of City Planning
By Harland Bartholomew
City Plan Engineer, St. Louis, Mo.
CITY planning is that phase of
municipal activity which analyzes the
character and probable extent of the
city's growth, suggests certain physical
readjustments and provides for the co-
ordination of all future improvements. Un-
der proper and sympathetic administrative
agencies it would make possible the gradual
and economical development of an orderly,
well-arranged city, which would provide
good living conditions for all its citizens,
and would be everywhere wholesome and at-
tractive in appearance and free from those
physical defects that hamper commercial
and industrial activity.
City planning is essentially concerned
with the physical development of cities. It
has nothing to do with political or admin-
istrative policies. The city plan will largely
influence, for good or bad, the lives of its
people, so long as the city endures. It should
transcend all other considerations.
It is a well-recognized fact that modern
cities are lacking in unity of design, do not
easily promote the expansion of commerce
and industry, and have numerous residential
districts of doubtful value. The past few
years have produced a noteworthy public
realization of the deficiencies and mistakes
of city growth. Few cities are not now en-
gaged in attempting to correct the evils that
are the result of past neglect.
Those things which properly constitute
the city plan are six in number :
1. Street system
2. Transit system
3. Transportation (rail and water)
4. Public recreation
5. Zoning
6. Civic art
These are the physical elements which,
when properly planned and correlated, make
possible the creation of an attractive and
orderly working organism out of the
heterogeneous mass we now call the city.
In the development of a city plan whereby
the growth of a city may be controlled over
a period of fifty years or more, we are con-
fronted with the application of these six
factors, in
a. Areas now in whole or in part devel-
oped with streets, buildings, and cus-
tomary improvements, and
b. Areas as yet undeveloped and unimproved.
It is far more simple to plan for new
growth than to replart areas already devel-
oped. The cost of planning new areas is
small indeed. To replan areas already devel-
oped is often costly, and yet even the cost
of replanning is usually more than justified
in the greater degree of usefulness which
results. A new impetus is given to growth,
finding its reflection in increased local prop-
erty values, and greater public convenience.
The Street System
The street system is the fundamental ele-
ment of the city plan. It is the skeleton or
framework of the city structure. There are
three types of streets that every well-
planned city should have:
1. Main arterial thoroughfares
2. Secondary (cross-town) thoroughfares
3. Minor streets
The main arterial thoroughfares should
be of commodious width (100 feet or
greater), and provide continuous and direct
communication between the central business
district and all parts of the city. They may
be compared to the spokes of a wheel,
radiating in all directions from the hub.
In so far as these main arterial thorough-
fares are provided, just so far is com-
munication facilitated and the uniform ex-
pansion and growth of a city encouraged.
The secondary or cross-town thorough-
fares should be preferably 80 to 100 feet
wide, providing easy communication be-
tween outlying districts of the city. Where
the rectangular form of street platting has
been followed, as is the case in most cities,
these secondary cross-town thoroughfares
should be spaced approximately one-half
mile apart. When new growth occurs, they
should continue to provide the necessary
intradistrict communication, either by ex-
tending those which exist or are planned
in the built-up portions of the city, and in
addition assume the form of concentric
circles about the built-up city area, spaced
approximately one mile apart.
458
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
Minor streets are those which are used
chiefly for residential purposes. Their de-
sign and arrangement should be such as to
facilitate access, but not to provide for or
encourage anything but "local" traffic.
Widths of approximately 50 feet should be
satisfactory, supplemented by set-back lines
for all buildings. The platting of minor
residential streets should not be of the rec-
tangular type alone. Variation in topography
often justifies departure from the rec-
tangular method of platting, and where there
is no variation in topography, a slight de-
parture from the rectangular method often
affords relief from monotony of develop-
ment, and a greater degree of interest and
charm.
A fourth classification of street type
might be added, in what is sometimes called
the special service street, such as that serv-
ing industrial areas. The width, arrange-
ment, and design of special service streets
are dependent upon the service which they
are expected to perform.
Transit System
The provision of transit facilities involves
various types of carriers, including the
street car, the motor bus, the rapid transit
line, and the more modern facilities now
being developed, such as the trackless trol-
ley. The city plan is not concerned
primarily with questions of fare, methods
of operation, ownership, or volume of ser-
vice, except as these questions affect the
unified character of the system and its direct
relation to the distribution of population
and the physical arrangement of the city.
It is a generally accepted fact that the
operation of a system, whether privately or
publicly owned, is largely dependent upon
the street plan. An adequate system of
main arterial thoroughfares and secondary
cross-town thoroughfares will make possible
the plan of a satisfactory system of transit
facilities.
A unification of the transit facilities to be
provided upon the streets of the city is to
be desired and will be productive of best
results. With the exception of the largest
cities, the great volume of traffic is cared
^for by a system of street car lines. After
-..an adequate major street plan has been
-devised, attention should be given to the
rerouting of existing street car lines in (a)
the business district, and (b) the remain-
ing areas of the city, in order that more
direct and expeditious service can be pro-
vided. Combinations, rearrangements and
extensions of facilities, regardless of their
type, can then be planned to meet the needs
of a growing city. There will thus be
established a definite plan of procedure in
place of the more or less common make-
shift policies of temporary readjustments.
Transportation — Rail and Water
Steam railroad and water-borne traffic
are to be considered under the term trans-
portation. The problems of each city in
this phase of planning vary greatly in ac-
cordance with the size of the city and the
number of railroads and water routes estab-
lished. There are four classes of traffic
to be considered:
1. Passenger traffic
2. Through car-load business
3. Local car-load business
4. Local 1. c. I. (less than car-load) business
Only after a thorough study of the exist-
ing conditions in a city, its needs and prob-
able increased growth, can suggestions for
adequate planning be made so that new
facilities may fit into the general city plan.
There is a marked tendency toward
unification of transportation facilities with-
in cities. In so far as unification of service
can be provided, this should be done. There
are practical limitations upon the early ac-
complishment of unification of service,
such as the expense of wholesale readjust-
ments and undue interference with present
highly developed facilities, that necessitate
only the most gradual development of
unification of facilities.
Unification of passenger traffic facilities
has been more customary than for other
types of rail and water traffic. Union pas-
senger stations are to be found in many
cities and are desirable where practicable.
Where more than one station for passenger
traffic is found to be necessary, they should
be located carefully with respect to the
street arrangement, the business district,
and the center of population.
Where the freight facilities of a city be-
come congested or a hindrance to the move-
ment of street traffic or to the enlargement
of commercial and industrial areas, it will
usually prove desirable to locate freight
yards outside the developed areas of cities
and provide belt lines whereby through
freight may be routed around the city with-
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
459
PROPOSED CR05S 5ECT10N5 OF MAJORAND MINOP STREETS
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
CITY PLAN ENGINEER-
WACLAND BARTHOLOMEW
h^-4 1
ScjJc ftct
r^--'-'— JO- -jTBu.U.nc, I,
I'M
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION FOR MINOR 5TREE.T5
Hll-b-k-U
INITIAL DEVELOPMENT FINAL DEVELOPMENT
SIXTY-SIX FOOT STREET
INITIAL DEVELOPMENT FINAL DEVELOPMENT
EIGHTY FOOT STREET
"Hh"
'4- — 15 ' -T^ 17'-
-24 -L 17' -1 \b —1-6-
100'
INITIAL DEVELOPMENT
FINAL DEVELOPMENT
ONE HUNDRED FOOT STREET
f
STREETS IN EVOLUTION
How Wise planning may reserve for later public use space not yet actually required for roadway
460
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
out entering it and congesting local
terminals.
The location, capacity and arrangement
of classification yards should be such as to
facilitate early delivery from road move-
ment of local car-load freight to industries
and to team tracks. Team track facilities
should be properly located and of sufficient
size to be somewhat in advance of the needs
of the community. Similarly, the facilities
essential to the early collection of local out-
bound car-load freight should be such as to
insure early delivery for road haul. This
implies reduction to a minimum of rehan-
dling and consequent loss of time and un-
warranted cost. As cities increase in size,
the volume of local 1. c. 1. traffic usually in-
creases correspondingly, while the com-
plications of handling 1. c. 1. freight increase
in greater ratio. There is need, therefore,
of studying not merely the facilities at hand,
but the methods of handling. The relation
between the city plan and freight move-
ments is best illustrated by the fact that an
improper method of handling may produce
an unwarranted number of vehicles upon
the streets, while improper locations of
freight houses may necessitate hauling of
freight through congested retail centers,
with which the freight traffic has nothing in
common.
Public Recreation
It is only within the past fifty years that
the courts have come generally to recog-
nize the necessity for the expenditure of
public funds for recreation facilities. So
long as we allow people to congest and over-
crowd sections of the city, it becomes neces-
sary to provide forms of recreation which
people demand but are unable to provide
within and about their homes. The several
types of public recreation facilities which
cities should provide in varying degree ac-
cording to their size and density of popula-
tion are:
a. Community centers
b. Children's playgrounds
c. Neighborhood parks
d. Recreation fields
e. Large parks
f. Boulevards and outlying parks or reserva-
tions
It is not to be supposed that a city could
provide all the recreation facilities that
might be created or desired. It is particu-
larly important, therefore, that the city's
expenditures for public recreation facilities
of various types should be so distributed
that the maximum amount of service will
be provided for the greatest number of
people.
The community center is a well-recog-
nized public recreation agency which also
offers splendid opportunities for educational
work, Americanization, a forum for the dis-
cussion of public affairs, and the like. Prop-
erly designed school buildings are the best
community centers, particularly since com-
munity center activities are greatest in
out-of-school hours. Hence the provision
of community service is largely a matter
of organization and administration rather
than of city planning, for it is presumed that
school buildings will have been located in
accordance with the distribution of school
children and hence quite properly fit into
the general city planning program.
The first important consideration in de-
vising a system of children's playgrounds is
that of selecting sites within congested dis-
tricts and within easy reach of large num-
bers of small children. A study of distribu-
tion of school children, density of popula-
tion, and juvenile delinquency throughout
the city will readily suggest the location of
children's playgrounds.
Neighborhood parks are needed in all resi-
dential districts and should be more
numerous where population is dense. A
study of present and prospective population
density and of available park areas will
readily suggest where neighborhood parks
should be provided.
Large parks and recreation fields are one
of the most highly prized assets of cities.
Many cities possess such areas, although
their acquisition has more often been the re-
sult of chance gifts or opportune purchase
rather than of conscious effort to provide
facilities within easy access for all citizens.
All cities should have large parks so lo-
cated that persons in all parts of the city
may find one or more of them easily ac-
cessible. Often land unsuited for residential
or industrial development and reasonable
in price will make splendid park area, en-
hance the character and value of surround-
ing property and provide the play facilities
so essential to city life.
Once a careful plan for the development
of various public recreational grounds has
been determined, its gradual execution
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
461
should be a matter of fixed policy. In addi-
tion to the areas provided within, or ad-
jacent to, the built-up city area, there should
be an efifort to secure areas in outlying
territory while they are still cheap, un-
spoiled, and in advance of the city's growth.
A system of boulevards connecting large
parks within developed city areas and ex-
tending to the larger outlying parks or
reservations, and perhaps having connec-
tion with the central business district, will
not merely insure the development of a
unified recreation system, but will be re-
flected in a better character of residential
development, increased and stabilized land
values, and hence increased taxable returns.
Zoning
After the four important elements of the
city plan, namely, streets, transit, trans-
portation and public recreation, have been
determined and the physical structure of
the city thus planned, it becomes a matter
of evident reasonableness to regulate prop-
erty use in all parts of the city in accord-
ance with these several elements. The
major streets may, for parts of their lengths
at least, quite naturally be expected to be-
come commercial streets. Areas provided
with railroad facilities should be encour-
aged to develop for industrial purposes.
Areas now occupied, or expected to be oc-
cupied, for residential purposes, having '
streets planned in accordance with resi-
dential needs and supplied with recreation
facilities, should most certainly be given
the protection essential to their permanency
of development through exclusion of indus-
trial or commercial intrusions.
A zoning ordinance will give stability and
character, as well as encouragement, to the
proper development of the city. A zoning
ordinance provides three kinds of regula-
tions, which affect (f) the uses of property
and buildings; (2) the heights of buildings;
and (3) the size and arrangement of build-
ings upon lots and open spaces about such
buildings, A zoning ordinance will encour-
age like types of structures within districts
to be determined in accordance with their
most natural fitness. Zoning ordinances
recognize prevailing types of development
and are not retroactive in their provisions.
Existing buildings and uses of property
are permitted to continue, but new build-
ings must be built in locations set aside for
them, sufficiently large and otherwise suited
for full and free expansion.
Civic Art
Unfortunately, city planning work has
often been erroneously considered as the
municipal activity concerned merely with
the superficial beautification or enhance-
ment of the city's appearance. . From the
foregoing explanation of the basic prin-
ciples of a city plan, it is believed that the
economic and social considerations involved
are seen to be essentially fundamental.
Once the several elements of the city plan
heretofore described have been carefully
planned and gradually executed there will
result greater uniformity of development
and a more balanced type of growth, which,
in itself, will constitute one of the funda-
mentals of good design — the adaptation of
' form to function. To be sure, there are
certain considerations that should receive
special attention, such as the grouping of
public buildings at strategic locations, the
regulation of poles and wires, certain regu-
lations of signs and billboards, a careful
system of street tree planting, and numerous
other similar activities that will add greatly
to the city's appearance when properly
done.
Acknowledgment. — From the First Annual Report,
City Planning Commission, Memphis, Tcnn.
Reduced Rates for San Francisco Convention of
Fire Cliiefs
The various railroads over which fire chiefs will travel from the East and
Middle West to attend the International Convention of Fire Chiefs to be held
in San Francisco next August have given new rates for convention and tourist
travel, effective from May 15 to August 31, 1922. This should materially increase
the number of fire chiefs from the East and Middle West who will attend
this convention.
a62
BONDING
Municipal Finance
ACCOUNTING
TAXATION
Wisconsin's Progress in Uniform
Municipal Accounting
THE importance of improved methods
of accounting for municipalities was
recognized in Wisconsin in 1909,
when the Legislature by joint resolution
directed the Tax Commission to investigate
municipal finances. It was evident from
this investigation that municipal accounts
were kept in such a manner as to preclude
the possibility of comparing results. In
consequence, the Tax Commission recom-
mended, and the Legislature enacted, Chap-
ter 523, Laws of 191 1. This statute enu-
merated specifically the duties of the Com-
mission in regard to the collection of sta-
tistics and the formulation of a uniform
system of municipal accounts. It is in ac-
cordance with this statute that the munici-
pal accounting department of the Tax
Commission was established and is now
operating. This section provides that the
Tax Commission shall :
(i) Inquire into the system of accounting of
public funds in use in towns, villages,
cities and counties.
(2) Devise, prescribe, and at the request of
any town, village, city or county in-
stall, a system of accounts which
shall be as nearly uniform as prac-
ticable.
(3) Audit the books of the town, village, city
or county officers upon the request of
the town or village board, city coun-
cil, or county board, or upon its own
motion.
Under authority conferred by the statute
quoted above, a uniform system of accounts
has been designed and accountants have
been employed to make installations and
audits. The system prescribed is complete
enough to fulfill all accounting needs of the
municipality and at the same time is com-
paratively simple to understand and to
operate. The accounts are especially de-
signed to meet the requirements of the
financial reports required by law and con-
form to the classification approved by rec-
ognized authorities on municipal account-
ing. Up to the present time sixty-one cities
and forty-seven counties have voluntarily
adopted the system.
In addition to the installation service, one
hundred and fifty audits have been made
upon request of Wisconsin municipalities.
In many cities and counties audits have
been made annually for several years. For
the most part, the requests have come from
city councils or county boards as the case
may be, but in some instances where officials
have refused to authorize examinations for
the reason that their own conduct would be
subject to review, audits have been under-
taken upon the petition of interested tax-
payers.
In addition to disclosing irregularities re-
sulting from ignorance of the law, the au-
dits completed by this department have
brought to light actual cash shortages in ex-
cess of $100,000 resulting from wilful intent
upon the part of officials to misappropriate
public funds. The discovery of the short-
age usually resulted in the conviction of the
official and the recovery of the amount mis-
appropriated. In many instances where dis-
crepancies were found, the general laxity
of the governing bodies was in part re-
sponsible for the default by making it pos-
sible for dishonest officials to cover up
manipulations extending over a period of
years. In some cases officers were not held
to a proper accounting during their entire
tenure of office, and in others the systems of
accounting in use were such as to encour-
age them to acts of misconduct. In both of'
these matters it is entirely within the prov-
ince of the town or village board, city coun-
cil, or county board to correct the situation
by authorizing an audit by this department
or by requesting the installation of the state
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
463
uniform system of municipal accounts.
We believe that state supervision of mu-
nicipal finances has worked to the distinct
advantage of Wisconsin municipalities. In
the first place, competent auditing and ac-
counting service is made available at actual
cost. The accountants engaged exclusively
in this work have become specialists and are
thoroughly conversant with municipal pro-
cedure. Few, if any, private or commercial
accountants in the state have handled suffi-
cient municipal work to become as thor-
oughly qualified in this work as have repre-
sentatives of the municipal accounting de-
partment. In the second place, it is now
well established that the many problems
peculiar to municipal accounting preclude
the possibility of success except under au-
thorized central direction. Without super-
vision there would be no adequate degree of
uniformity. Then, too, municipal officials
are constantly changing and some agency
must be available from which the new offi-
cials can receive assistance relative to ac-
counting matters. An effective follow-up
policy, so essential in municipal installa-
tions, is a feature of the work and is pos-
CHART SHOWING WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES
AND COUNTIES OPERATING UNDER THE UNI-
FORM SYSTEM OF MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTING
sible only through the direction of a state
agency.
Acknowledgment. — From a reprint of Bulletin No.
10, October, 1921, issued by the Municipal Statistics-
Department of the Wisconsin Tax Commission.
The Bill-Board Blight
BILL-BOARDS have been treated in
many ways in various pamphlets, but
there is a personal side to the relation
of the bill-board to the community which
has not yet received due attention. Accord-
ingly, the Municipal Art Society of New
York has thought it worth while to issue
another bulletin dealing with outdoor ad-
vertising and taking up the subject from
the citizens' point of view. The purpose,
as the Society frankly states, is to suggest
to every citizen that neither political ex-
perience nor legal knowledge is required
for a protest to public officials who are re-
sponsible for preventing any invasion of
the general rights of the public and for pro-
tecting civic improvements.
The outdoor advertiser affects us all when
he inconsiderately plants a bill-board in
such a way as to detract from the beauty of
a public park, a fine public building, or a
noted thoroughfare. The Municipal Art
Society and those cooperating with it take
pains to state in their bulletin that they are
in no way hostile to legitimate advertising,
which is universally acknowledged to .be
one of the great sources of progress in
civilization. But they maintain that those
advertisers who use public places as their
background have failed to grasp the rights
of the public in such places, and have failed
to sense the growing irritation and hostility
of a very large part of the public towards
the unnecessary entrance of bill-board ad-
vertising where it does not belong. They
hold that outdoor advertising should be
limited to those buildings in which the busi-
ness advertised is actually carried on, and
that when a building standing on a corner
of a famous or beautiful street is plastered
with advertisements, there are two parties
who have been injured : first, the tenants
of such buildings, who suffer from the loss
of dignity which the building inevitably in-
curs; and, second, the public, who do not
wish to be compelled to gaze at such atten-
tion-compelling signs. When bill-board ad-
vertisers hire space on a famous street like
HI AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
rm Avenue, Ne«J°* oppojite^a^great
public '"'"*"»J;fthev'rent spaee opposite
Library, or when tney buildings m
the public parks =">'! ?"" t^ey show a
hundreds oi o^^f^^^J ^'^Jty which
contempt for the very ,,,3 jt so
their fellow """"'^"^^'e Their conduct
much labor and expense.
most certainly ,r<^^^"^ ^btjut
i„g i„ c,v,c pr.de and ^^^^ ^^
but emphasizes the taci ^^,
deserve the P=''"";'f Jl„d the communit
desires to make h,s home and t ._^ ^^._^,
::fi:e%rMSU society puts
bluntly as follows:
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
465
"What is the use of erecting, at the public's
expense, public buildings of great beauty, if
their effects can be lessened by the act of an
individual who seems to consider a great city as
merely a background for his private interests?
What is the use of producing a picture of
natural loveliness, such as a beautiful park, and
then allowing its borders to be defaced by the
kind of advertiser who regards the charm and
beauty of a public park as merely a setting for
his own selfish business interests? Why should
merchants be allowed to spread their advertise-
ments of food and drink and tobacco and tires
and clothing over the walls of dwellings where
their intrusive statements stare people in the
face in their very homes?"
Public officials are unanimous in their
testimony as to the insanitary condition
which frequently surrounds bill-boards.
Street cleaning commissioners state that
bill-boards attached to railings cause rub-
bish to accumulate in front of buildings,
that vacant lots surrounded by fences bear-
ing bill-board advertising are gathering-
places for paper and rubbish, and that the
work of street cleaning departments is
greatly increased because of the trash that
collects around bill-boards. Police officials
likewise report that bill-board structures in
many cases offer a screen for lawless and
criminal practices.
The bill-board as a highway hazard is dis-
cussed in the report of the Motor Vehicle
Commissioner for Connecticut for 1921,
which states that 348 accidents occurred
during the year in Connecticut at places
where there were huge advertising signs
giving the history of adjacent towns.
Motorists driving along had their attention
distracted by the sign, and while their eyes
were off the roadway other cafs came up
and collisions occurred.
The bill-board blight is not a question of
sentiment alone. It involves the health and
safety of the citizens as well as their es-
thetic views. The latter have their proper
place. They are not by any means the only
phase of the problem. Promoting public
health by city-wide cleanliness, preventing
crime and highway accidents, and preserv-
ing the value of public parks and buildings
are duties which devolve upon city and
county officials. In so far as unwisely
placed or carelessly maintained bill-boards
interfere with the full discharge of these
duties, they constitute a real problem to
which public officials sooner or later must
give serious attention.
PAY IN AND DAT OUT THE DWELLERS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ARE FACED WITH THE
WEAKY MONOTONY OF THESE SIGNS
466
A Southern Deep -Well Water-Supply
With Seven Wells in Use and Eighteen in Reserve, Montgomery, Alabama,
Is Amply Protected Against Shortage
By H. A. Washington
City Engineer
THE deep-well water-supply of Mont-
gomery, Ala., was purchased from
the Capitol City Water Works by the
city for $600,000 in 1898. The present
total bonded indebtedness of the water de-
partment is $975,000, while the total value
of the plant is $1,966,800.19.
The water-works have been particularly
fortunate in being able to operate from 1898
to date with the same rates that were
charged in 1898. The highest domestic
rate per 1,000 gallons is. 15 cents, with 10
cents the commercial rate per 1,000 gallons
and a minimum annual charge of $12.
There are 9,593 services, of which 8,191
are metered, making the city 85.38 per cent
metered. The average daily consumption
is 4,500,000 gallons, or about 104 gallons
per capita, the population being 43,464.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SAMPLE
FROM GENERAL SUPPLY
Sodium chloride 1.3398
Sodium carbonate 8.7905
Potassium sulphate 0.2053
Potassium carbonate 1.4807
Calcium carbonate 0.5898
Magnesium carbonate 0.2679
Iron and aluminum oxides 0.2436
Volatile and organic matter 0.7640
Total solids : 0.9280
14.6096-
The water, an analysis of which is given
below, is neither filtered nor sterilized, as
it has been found of uniform quality at all
times and no softening has been considered
necessary :
The seven deep wells which are used
throughout the year are in water-bearing
sand strata varying in depth from 200 to
600 feet. Water is pumped from the seven
wells by Layne & Bowler deep-well rotary
pumps direct-connected with vertical mo-
tors. The seven units, which have a total
daily output of 6,320,000 gallons, discharge
into five underground storage reservoirs
with a combined capacity of 3,373,000
gallons.
Water is pumped into the mains by two
high-pressure Allis-Chalmers centrifugal
pumps. Two stand-pipes, having a com-
bined capacity of 1,075,000 gallons, are used
to equalize the pressure in the mains. There
are 131.94 miles of cast iron main, varying
from 4 inches to 26 inches in diameter. For
purposes of control there are 1,036 gate-
valves, and 685 fire hydrants have been put
in.
In addition to the plant already de-
GENERAL VIEW OF THE MONTGOMERY, ALA., WATER-WORKS
The three small white buildings house three of the seven wells and turbine pumps. The large brick
building in the background is the old station, housing the emergency steam pump and the air com-
pressors connected with the emergency air-lift plant. Four of the five storage reservoirs also may be seen
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
467
scribed, the city holds in reserve for emer-
gency purposes a steam-driven air-lift plant
and an electrically-driven air-lift plant, each
of vi'hich is capable of delivering about
4,000,000 gallons daily from eighteen wells.
which are separate and distinct from the
seven in daily use. In addition, the city
operates a plant for pumping and filtering
river water, which is sold to the railroads
at a rate lower than the domestic rate.
Laying Cast Iron Feeder Mains
in New Orleans
By Thomas F. Wolfe
Secretary, The Cast Iron Pipe Publicity Bureau
UNUSUAL soil conditions in New
Orleans make the installation of un-
derground pipes a much bigger prob-
lem than usual. The soil in parts of the
city is a very tenacious clay full of roots
and stumps of what was formerly a swamp.
While the roots and stumps constitute a
serious problem in excavation 'work, the
greatest difficulty lies in the fact that the
excavated material cannot be tossed from
a shovel. When the excavation is made by
hand, each shovelful of dirt must be passed
from one man to another from the bottom
of the trench to the spoil bank. Not only
must this be done, but, between shovelsful,
each shovel must be dipped in a bucket of
water in order to make any progress at all.
When work was started on laying the
43.31-inch (i.i meter) cast iron pipe, the
excavation was done by hand, but it soon
became evident that the use of machinery
TYPICAL PIPE-LAYINa CONDITIONS IN NEW ORLEANS
was advisable, so a clam-shell bucket oper-
ated by an Industrial Works crane was put
into service with excellent results. Even
when a bucket of this kind was used, the
tenacity of the clay gave some trouble, un-
til the expedient of keeping a stream of
water playing constantly on the bucket was
adopted.
The plasticity of the soil made it neces-
sary to use tight sheeting, even though the
ditch of the trench was only about 10 feet.
Lackawanna steel sheet piling in 16- and
24-foot lengths was used for sheeting, the
longer piles serving as a support for the
12- by 12-inch timbers which carried the
track for the crane. The accompanying
illustration shows the manner of sheeting
the ditch and supporting the crane. The
sheeting is driven by a pile driver equipped
with a steam hammer and pulled by a sec-
ond driver which follows the pipe-laying
gang. The crane, following close
upon the forward driver, exca-
vates the ditch and immediately
lays the pipe before moving for-
ward. The ditch is then back-
filled and the crane moved for-
ward to excavate for the next
length. The stumps and roots are
seen in the illustration.
The soil conditions also make
repairs to the mains a very ex-
pensive operation, but, fortu-
nately, the work which is done
by the Sewerage and Water
Board is very carefully super-
S" Mtn vised, so that little trouble de-
fj|fll| velops. The entire water dis-
nUM tribution system of New Orleans
(||||J consists of Class "B" cast iron
}mc111| pipe, ranging in size from 4-inch
to 48-inch.
468
Motors for Police and Fire Departments
THE MOTOR-CTCUB POLICE OF MACON, GA., MOUNTED ON THEIB HAEIJIT-D AVID SON
lOACHINES
THIS PIEBCE-AEBOW POLICE PATROL HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER 160,000 MILES IN THE
SERVICE OF THE MILWAUEEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
469
ONE or THE MOTOR PUMPERS THAT HELPED CHECK CHICAGO'S GREAT FIRE
ON MARCH 15, 1922
This Mack Pumper is equipped with Morand cushion wheels
WHITE COMBINATION HOSE AND CHEMICAL FIRE TRUCK IN SERVICE IN DENVER, COLO.
470
The Logical Application of a City Plan
in Kokomo, Indiana
By Charles L. Sellers
City Civil Engineer, Kokomo, Ind.
THE city of Kokomo has just wit-
nessed the completion of a big devel-
opment project that has been carried
out in logical city planning order. In 1920
Gerhart Brothers, a local realty develop-
ment syndicate, purchased a tract of some
46 acres at the western edge of the city,
in the direct path of projection of several
of the best residential streets, and developed
it in a manner that should serve as a model
in such enterprises. It has been named
"Forest Park."
The plan was to create a highly re-
stricted, exclusive residential section, ap-
pealing to people of means and refinement.
It was decreed that no reasonable expense
was to be spared, and the entire project
was carefully thought out in advance. First,
Louis S. Cole, of Chicago, a landscape
architect and city planner, was secured to
take general charge of the development.
After a topographical survey, a design was
submitted that not only took advantage of
the natural contour of the allotment, but
preserved almost every tree in a beautiful
grove of maples, elms and beeches which
dotted about one-fourth of the tract. Then
the plat — of utmost importance, this — was
carefully fitted to the older part of the
city in regard to arterial streets.
Installing the Utilities
The plat was submitted to the city and ac-
cepted through its engineering department
and Board of Public Works. Then the ac-
tual development began. The first thing un-
dertaken was the construction of an ade-
quate, carefully planned sewer system of re-
inforced concrete, large enough and deep
enough to meet all possible future needs".
The main sewer at a point three-quarters of
a mile from the outlet is 6 feet in diameter,
leaving the subdivision at the opposite side
with a 54-inch tile. The system was so
planned that it crossed streets and came '
under pavements in a few instances only.
It was completed in the spring of 1921,
At this juncture the Kokomo Water
Works Company installed a complete water
system, using 8-inch, 6-inch and 2-inch
mains in sequence, and cross-tying the
mains in such manner as to provide perfect
circulation throughout. Service laterals
were installed to each lot in the subdivision,
and lead pipes were used in all cases where
streets were crossed or where the laterals
A STREET INTEBSECTION AT FOREST PARK, KOKOMO, IND.
Note the fine trees and the sidewalk built around one of them
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
471
ToULiTTPARK
KOKOMO-]>lDIA/lA
J J5E VE LOPBXl * fOK. iSAl. t D Y
1 0i8.H».E.T.DEOTHERlJ
LAYOUT OF FOREST PARK, SHOWING USE OF CURVING STREETS AND TRIANGULAR PARKS
Note the setback lines throughout the development.
would be covered with pavements.
The streets were designed to allow a 13-
foot parkway between sidewalk and curb,
and it is through this parkway that the
water-mains were laid, in order that the
pavements need not be disturbed should pipe-
line repairs become necessary. The park-
way plan is this : the water-mains are 3
feet from the curb; English elms 6 inches
in diameter were planted "at intervals of 50
feet midway between water-main and side-
walk, locating the tree 5 feet from the main,
5 feet from the sidewalk and 8 feet from
the curb, as it was the desire to shade the
sidewalk rather than the roadway.
With sewer laterals and water-mains
established, the gas company then installed
all mains in the easements at the rear of
the lot lines, service being provided for
every lot. There are no alleys. Domestic,
light and power service poles also were
placed in these easements, and electric ser-
vice is brought into the home underground
by means of lead cables.
Not until all this was done, not until gas,
water and electric services were installed,
and the sewer system completed, did the
street improvement begin. This improve-
ment included streets, curbs, parkways,
decorative parks and street lighting, all in
accordance with plans made by the archi-
tect in charge. The streets, or drives, con-
sist of a bituminous asphaltic concrete pave-
ment upon a water-bound macadam base.
Boulevard traffic only is permitted. While
the main drives conform to arterial streets,
the general layout is one of sweeping curves,
in order not only to enhance the natural
beauty of the tract, but to give every home
in the subdivision an attractive vista.
Parks occur at frequent intervals and are
made possible by the general plan of the
47^
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. $
roadways. All the parks are triangular and
have been carefully landscaped. Hydrants
are provided for all of them, that frequent
watering may be done. In the center of
the largest park plumbing and drainage
have been installed for a fountain. The
present plan is to make this fountain a
memorial to one of the city's pioneers. It
will be shaded by Norway maples, and in
each of the three corners of the park stands
a Wythe elm, a sentry at the crossways.
The sidewalks are composed of 5-foot
slabs of concrete, 4 inches in thickness, laid
directly on a rolled clay foundation, with
a ^-inch fall to the street. The sidewalks
are underdrained with 4-inch red agricul-
tural tile, which is connected at frequent
intervals with another red tile drain under
the curb, the whole system draining t©
catch-basins, making a complete system of
rapid drainage for sidewalk and pavement.
The curb is of special design, saucer-
shaped, and having a greater water-carry-
ing capacity than the old-style gutter. It
does away with the harsh lines of the old-
fashioned design, and adds to the safety of
motorists. It was found that with curbs
of this design narrower roadways could be
used to advantage ; the curb, which is actu-
ally a part of the drive, is sloped so gently
that it becomes one with the roadway.
The Street Lighting
Street lighting standards of handsome de-
sign have been spaced on both sides of all
drives at intervals of 75 feet. These are
constructed of reinforced concrete with
granitoid surfaces. The reinforcement con-
sists of four twisted iron rods, anchoring
to concrete foundations 3 feet deep and 2
feet square. The lighting itself is by charm-
ing English lanterns, rich and beautifully
quaint, finished in verd de gris antique.
The lanterns are 36 inches from the bottom
to the top of all ornamentation, and 18
inches in diameter, of special design adopted
for Forest Park. Underground cables to
the standards are of solid copper in a leaden
sheath, the whole protected by spirally
wound steel tape. The lighting system is
on two circuits, controlled by automatic
electrical time switches, providing complete
illumination from dusk until midnight, and
partial illumination from midnight until
dawn.
Considerable interest has been manifested
by engineers in the state of Indiana, and
in the Middle West generally, concerning
the work in Forest Park. It is a plan that
will mean not only greater beauty, but actu-
ally much greater efificiency at very much
lower ultimate cost.
On the Calendar of Conventions
May 15-19. — Philadei phia. Pa.
American Water Works Association. Annual con-
vention. Secretary, J. M. Diven, 153 West 71st
Street, New York, N. Y.
May 15-19. — Atlantic City, N. J.
National Electric Light Association. Annual con-
vention. Executive Manager, M. H. Aylesworth, 29
West S9th Street, New York, N. Y.
May 15-21. — Washington, D. C.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States. An-
nual meeting. Secretary, D. A. Skinner, Mills Build-
ing, Washington, D. C.
May 17-18. — Waxahachie, Tex.
_ League of Texas Municipalities. Annual conven-
tion. Secretary, Frank M. Stewart, Bureau of Exten-
sion, University of Texas, Austin, Tex.
May 22-23. — Plainview, Tex.
West Te.ras Chamber of Commerce. Annual con-
vention. Manager, Porter A. WTialey, Stamford, Tex.
Juke 5-7. — Springfield, Mass.
Motional Conference on City Planning. Annual
conference. Secretary, Flavel Shurtleff, 60 State
Street, Boston, Mass.
June 5.9. — Los Angeles, Calif.
Lnternational Association of Rotary Clubs. Annual
meeting. Secretary, Chesley R. Perry, 910 South
Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 111.
June 6-7. — Antigo, Wis.
Wisconsin Association of Commercial Secretaries.
Annual meeting. Secretary, D. A. Caldwell, Chamber
of Commerce, Wausau, Wis.
June C-8. — Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Conference of Mayors and Other City Officials of
the State of New York. Annual convention. Secre-
tary, William P. Capes, 25 Washington Avenue, .Al-
bany, N. Y.
June 9-10. — Swampscott, Mass.
New England Association of Commercial Executives.
Annual meeting. Secretary, Price Gaines, Chamber of
Commerce, Keene, N. H.
June 19-24. — San Francisco, Calif.
International Association of Chiefs of Police. An-
nual convention. Secretary, George Black, Chief of
Police, Wilmington, Del.
June 20-23. — Colorado Springs, Colo.
National Association of Comptrollers and Account-
ing Officers. Annual convention. Secretary, Mark M.
Foote, Comptroller's Office, Chicago, 111.
June 21-22. — Crookston, Minn.
League of Minnesota Municipalities. Annual con-
version. Executive Secretary, Morris B. Lambie, The
Municipal Reference Bureau, University of Minne-
sota, Minneapolis, Minn.
June 21.22. — Stroudsburg, Pa.
Association of Pennsylvania Boroughs. Annual
convention. Secretary, J. Herman Knisely, Capitol
Building, Harrisburg, Pa.
August 15-18. — San Francisco, Calif.
International Association of Fire Engineers. Annual
meeting. Secretary, James J. Mulcahey, City Hall,
Yonkers, N. Y.
September 12-15. — New Bedford, Mass.
Ne^v England Water Works Association. Annual
convention. Secretary, Frank J. Gifford, 715 Tremont
Temple, Boston, Mass.
October 9_1^. — Cleveland, Ohio.
American Society for Municipal Improvements.
Annual convention. Secretary, Charles Carroll Brown,
P. O. Box 234. St. Petersburg, Fla.
473
(Sharffef (^
f=d frs/ ^ f=f f=y f=/
Chamber's Eagineer Saves City
Money in Paving Work
New Orleans, La. — The Board of Di-
rectors of the New Orleans Association of
Commerce early in 1919 appointed a com-
mittee to call on the Mayor and urge the
paving of the necessary arteries in the sec-
tion bounded by the river and Camp, Canal
and Thalia Streets. The Mayor informed
the committee that the city could do nothing
at that time because of the depleted condi-
tion of the treasury. The committee there-
fore recommended to the Board that the
project be temporarily abandoned.
The Members' Council of the Association
of Commerce, however, appointed a com-
mittee to go directly to the
property owners in the
wholesale district and ob-
tain signatures to a peti-
tion. The committee then
made a thorough study of
the city's finances, with
the result that a plan was
devised whereby the
money needed to cover the
city's proportion of the
paving cost could be fur-
nished. The petition and
the plan for financing
were presented to the four
city commissioners, who
agreed to undertake the
work.
The project has never
been permitted to lag and
is now actually completed.
At the very beginning, the
Association of Commerce
formed a committee
known as the Business
Men's Paving Committee,
consisting of interested
wholesalers. This com-
mittee has held regular
weekly meetings to discuss
the progress being made.
A unique feature of these meetings was
that they were attended by one of the most
competent engineers in the city, who was re-
tained by the Association of Commerce to
give the committee expert advice and to see
that the paving contractor lived up to his
specifications in the quaHty of material used
and the methods employed in doing the
work. A spirit of cooperation with the city
officials has prevailed throughout the com-
mittee's activities, and the weekly meetings
are oftentimes attended by the City En-
gineer and the Commissioner of Public
Property, who come to confer on various
steps to be taken.
POTDRAS STEEET, NEW OBLEANS, IN PROCESS OP REPAIR
Tbese beavy granite blocks were relaid as a base for tbe new pavement
POTDRAS STREET COMPLETED
474
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No.
City officials and business men generally
agree that the Association of Commerce has
saved the city and property owners several
thousands of dollars by this rather unusual
method of lending organized assistance in
successfully completing a big paving pro-
ject.
CHARLES E. WHITE,
Publicity Department, New Orleans Association
of Commerce.
A Chamber of Commerce Fuel
Yard
Sharon, Pa. — The Chamber of Com-
merce of Sharon during the winter has de-
veloped a practical scheme for furnishing
fuel to citizens in distress from unemploy-
ment. Early in the fall, the Chamber an-
ticipated the need of being able to furnish
fuel to those out of work. Through the
cooperation of the railroads five car-loads
of old ties were shipped to Sharon and
placed in what is known as the Chamber of
Commerce Fuel Yard.
Up to January 21, wood had been deliv-
ered to 84 families. At that time it was
found necessary to send a letter to the
membership requesting donations to the
Fuel Fund, to furnish coal for needy fami-
lies. The letter met with a splendid re-
sponse. The request had been for money
to buy 200 tons of coal. In a few days
enough money had been received to buy 300
tons. In the month following this request
over 200 loads of fuel were delivered to
citizens who otherwise would have suffered.
The Chamber was obliged to enter upon
this form of relief work to support" the
existing charitable organizations, whose
funds have been insufficient to meet the
extraordinary demands of the current
winter.
p. A. JONES,
Executive Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
Rome's Rest Room
Rome, N. Y. — The Rome Chamber of
Commerce is proud of the public rest room.
It is used by hundreds of men and women,
for it stands at the terminus of seven bus
lines, some of them giving hourly service
to towns eighteen or twenty miles away.
The room is very handsomely furnished.
There were definite reasons for spending
extra sums in making the place attractive.
It scares away the loafer who might be
looking for a "hangout." One look tells
him that it is no place for him qr his kind.
THE UNUSUALLY ATTRACTIVE FURNISHINGS
IN ROME'S REST ROOM SCARE AWAY THE
LOAFER
The furnishings are also intended to
emphasize the rest room idea, and to prevent
the place from degenerating into a mere
autobus waiting-room.
The room has been supported by vol-
untary contributions from Rome merchants.
The concession for the selling of tobacco,
papers, etc., pays for the superintendence.
The concession is operated by a man and
his wife, the man being on duty morning
and evening, and his wife in the afternoon.
A free checking service is maintained.
Here tourists or shoppers can check pack-
ages or luggage. Purchases can also be
checked at any store in town, and later
called for at the rest room, if so desired.
E. D. BEVITT,
Secretary, Rome Chamber of Commerce.
Knoxville Board Installs Street
Signs
Knoxville, Tenn. — The street signs
purchased by the Knoxville Board of Com-
merce have just been installed. The accom-
panying photograph shows W. J. Savage,
President of the Board of Commerce, plac-
ing a set of the new signs on the Hotel
Farragut. At the bottom of the ladder is
Postmaster W. P. Chandler, Chairman of
the Board of Commerce Street Signs Com-
mittee, Mayor E. W. Neal, and J. T. Badg-
ley. Manager of the Board of Commerce.
Street signs for the more than 1,200
Knoxville street intersections were pur-
chased by the Board of Commerce with a
special fund raised by the Street Signs
Committee. The signs were put up by the
city. In the business district they were
placed on the buildings, as shown in this
picture. In the residential sections the
signs were screwed to strong, oak boards
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
475
which were nailed se-
curely to telegraph or trol-
ley poles.
The Street Signs Com-
mittee of the Board of
Commerce was composed
of men who, for various
reasons, saw the urgent
need for new street signs.
The first step was to pre-
pare a list of street inter-
sections, so that the com-
mittee could know the ex-
act sum it would need to
raise. A list of firms and
individuals who would
profit most by the erection
of new signs was then
compiled and divided be-
tween the several groups
of the committee. Funds
were solicited not merely
on a civic basis, but also
as a business proposition.
The committee called the
attention of firms with
large delivery services to
the fact that they were
losing time and money
every day because many
of the streets could not be
found by their delivery
boys. This appeal was
very effective, and the
necessary fund was
quickly raised, in amounts
ranging from $5 to $100.
Knoxville's growth has
been rather rapid, with
the result that several
communities which ten
years ago were separate
suburban sections are now
a part of our solid city.
Each community has its
own street names, which made a duplication
of names in Greater Knoxville.
The Street Signs Committee is using the
ordering of new street signs as an occasion
for renaming streets whose names are con-
fusing. Signs for those streets will not be
ordered until the City Commissioners offi-
cially determine the correct names. The
Board of Commerce committee feels that
this elimination of conflicting street names
is as important as was the erection of the
THE PRESIDENT
STREET SIGNS
COMMERCE, AND
THE MANAGER, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE OF THE KNOXVITJ.F. BOARD OF
THE MAYOR, LOOK LIKE A PRETTY EFFICIENT
SIGN-POSTING CREW
new signs, indispensable as they were.
The committee also wrote to the occu-
pants of every home or business house in
Knoxville which was not numbered or was
incorrectly numbered, urging that correct
numbers be put on their houses. This did
not bring a unanimous response, of course,
but did result in the correction of a large
majority of the mistakes.
CARLOS C. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Manager, Knoxville Board of Com-
nierce.
476
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
Quick Work in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, Calif. — When Santa Rosa
awoke, on the morning of November 16, to
f5nd her 485 high school pupils "homeless,"
the high school building having been com-
pletely destroyed by fire, the Directors of the
Chamber of Commerce immediately called
a meeting with the Board of Education,
and without parley made a survey of the
most strategic location for rebuilding the
school. Long before the embers of the old
school had ceased to smoulder, the Cham-
ber of Commerce had an option on sixty-
five acres of property at the north city lim-
its, which it later purchased and is holding
in trust for the new high school district.
This district has been created by combining
the city with twenty-five adjacent common
school districts, and embodies about one-
third of the county's population. Private
interests were sacrificed, real estate commis-
sions were waived, and leases cancelled, and
there was one of the finest manifestations
of community spirit that have ever been
recorded in northern California. The result
will be a half-million-dollar school project
within a few years, making Sonoma County
a leader in educational advantages.
The new school property adjoins the
Luther Burbank Creation Garden, which
comprises thirty acres and was purchased
jointly by the city of Santa Rosa and the
Chamber of Commerce. Last September it
was officially dedicated to the memory of the
world-known scientist, Luther Burbank. It
is planned to have Mr. Burbank participate
in planting there specimens of his horticul-
tural and agricultural creations and im-
provements, and at some future date to
build in the gardens a large community
auditorium. Both the Garden and the new
school site are located on the Redwood
Highway.
Santa Rosa's plan of work for the coming
year involves a movement for the city man-
ager form of government; a campaign for
new grammar school buildings, in addition
to the new high school ; an effort to equalize
both city and county taxes; a resumption
of the old pre-war custom of holding an an-
nual Rose Carnival, beginning in May of
this year; and decided improvement in city
beautification, street paving and lighting.
JAMES G. STAFFORD.
Secretary, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce.
Transforming a Dump into a
Playground
GuELPH, Ont. — Thanks to the enterprise
of the Chamber of Commerce, the city of
Guelph has rid itself of an unsightly dump
and acquired in its place an attractive play-
ground for its children.
WHAT THE GUELPH CLEAN-XJP COMMITTEE
FOUND
During a spring clean-up campaign, Mrs.
C. R. Crowe, Chairman of the Clean-Up
Committee, reported the conditions on a
triangular piece of ground in the part of
the city known as Brooklyn, and suggested
that the Clean-Up Committee convert it into
a modern children's playground. The Cham-
ber of Commerce got back of the plan, and
man^ of its members joined with the Com-
mittee personally in clearing up the brush-
wood. The unsanitary and unsightly drains
at the foot of the property were properly
piped, and the area was filled in with earth
brought from other parts of the city where
the municipality was making excavations.
Then on top was placed a layer of cinders,
and the whole place was rolled and put
into shape. Playground equipment was in-
AFTEB THE CHAMBER TACKUBD THE DUMP
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
m
stalled, including a box chair swing, a slide
and a circular swing.
The Chamber has further plans for mak-
ing the playground more park-like. Peren-
nials have been planted in the corners of the
park, and the willow trees that fringe the
river's edge will be removed, to give a better
view.
H. WESTOBY,
Secretary, Guelph Chamber of Commerce.
Oregon Town Builds 8,000-Foot
Sea-Wall
Seaside, Ore. — Under the leadership of
the Seaside Breakwater Association, a busi-
ness men's organization of this city, a great
concrete sea-wall has been built, at a cost
of about $150,000. This sum was raised by
a bond issue. The wall is 8,000 feet long,
with a 14-foot promenade.
Even before this development was com-
pleted. Seaside was the principal ocean
resort on the coast of Oregon, and was
visited annually by thousands of people. It
is located on the Clatsop Beach branch of
the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway,
18 miles south of Astoria and 118 miles
from Portland. The Clatsop Beach branch
is one of the few rail lines touching the
Pacific coast of Oregon. This advantage of
transportation, the natural excellence of the
beach, and the construction development
carried out at Seaside have combined to
place this region among the leading Pacific
resorts.
The original plans called for a promenade
built of asphaltic concrete 4 inches thick,
but this was later changed to a concrete
walk 4 inches thick and of the usual side-
walk construction. A turn-around bay for
automobiles was built at the foot of the
main business street. This
bay may be seen in the
distance in the accom
panying illustration. Con-
sidering the fact that the
permanent population of
Seaside is only a few
thousand, this achieve-
ment shows remarkable
enterprise on the part of
the townspeople who un-
dertook the development.
O. C. IIAGMEIER, M. D.
President, Seaside Breakwater
New Auditorium Will Seat Three-
Fifths of Town's Population
Plainview, Tex. — The total population
of Plainview at present is less than 5,000;
the municipal auditorium, on which work
is rapidly progressing, will seat 3,000. It is
believed that it is the largest auditorium to
be found in any city of its size in the world.
The town sent seventeen men to represent
it at the last Convention of the West Texas
Chamber of Commerce, a commercial or-
ganization with a paid-up membership of
nearly 7,000. When the question of the loca-
tion of the 1922 convention came up, Plain-
view bid for it. The Convention immediately
asked the Plainview delegation if they had
a building large enough to hold a gathering
of 3,000 to 4,000 delegates. The answer im-
mediately came back, "No, but we will build
you one." And the Convention took them
up.
Plainview immediately set to work to
back up its promise. A bond issue was car-
ried by an overwhelming vote, and the work
is now going forward.
In the main auditorium there is a stage
36 feet in depth, with an opening of 60 feet,
a scenery loft and the necessary dressing-
rooms. In the front of the building and
on each side of the main entrance are two
large rooms, one set apart for the Public
Library and the other for the Chamber of
Commerce. The arrangements for heating
and ventilation are of the latest designs,
and all modern conveniences are provided.
The building is located on the main business
street, sufficient ground having been pur-
chased to allow parking on each side of the
building.
Association.
NEW CONCKETE PROMENADE AND SEA-WAIJ., SEASIDE, ORE.
478
THE AMERICAN CITY Vol. XXVI, No. 5
AECHITEOT'S SKETCH OF NEW MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, PLAINVIEW, TEXAS
A building seating 3,000 persons in a town of 5,000
The date set for the next Convention of
the West Texas Chamber of Commerce is
May 22. On that day Plainview is planning
to entertain a gathering equal to its entire
population.
R. P. SMVTH,
City Engineer.
A Prize-Winning Easter Egg
Hunt
MuNCiE, Ind. — The second annual Easter
egg hunt in Muncie was held on Saturday,
April 22, in McCuUough Park, by the
Dynamo Club of the Muncie Chamber of
Commerce, which is composed of no of the
young men of the city. All the children of
Delaware County from the ages of 3 to 12
years were invited to participate in this
event. About four thousand people took
part.
Five acres of McCullough Park were re-
served for the hiding of the eggs. Out of
this space a section of approximately 600
square feet was reserved for the little tots
from three to five years of age. There were
1,500 eggs hidden in the grounds reserved
for that purpose. Out of that number, 1,250
bore prizes offered by the business men of
Muncie. Each prize-bearing egg had a
sticker pasted on it with a number corre-
sponding with the number of a prize.
The children were gathered in a section
directly across from the territory where the
eggs were hidden. At the ringing of a bell
by Mayor Quick, all the children rushed
across to the hunting-grounds. When a child
found an tgg bearing a number, he went to
the prize booth, which was in charge of the
Dynamo Club members, and got an order
for the prize which bore the number corre-
sponding to the number on the egg. No
child could receive orders for more than one
prize at a time but, after having received a
prize, could go back and hunt for more eggs.
Because quite a number of the children
usually stray away from their parents, the
Dynamo Club had a booth to which all the
lost children were brought and where any
parent could claim his or her child. This
booth was in charge of the Boy Scouts,
Girl Reserves and Dynamo Club members.
This hunt has proved to be a great suc-
cess in the way of affording pleasure to
thousands of people, of creating community
spirit, and bringing into direct contact the
city and country people of Delaware
County.
E. H. HYMAN,
Manager, Chamber of Commerce and Commercial
Club.
There were 508 less fires and 122 less false alarms in Detroit in 1921 than in
1920. Also, the fire loss in this city was approximately $1,000,000 less.
479
Municipal Water Rates— Part III
^A Thorough Analysis of Present Rates and Rate-Making
By E. E. Bankson, D. E. Davis and C. A. Firle^ *
A Proposed Method for Distribution
of the Burden
THE usual assumptions underlying the
construction of rates are that the total
revenue to be derived may be divided
into three broad classifications which
roughly correspond to the costs. These are
the consumer costs, demand costs, and out-
put costs. The consumer costs are taken as
those costs (actually derived from a study
of the company's books) which cover the
reading of meters and billing of charges,
bookkeeping costs, stationery, and those
costs which have no reference to the quan-
tity of water used by the consumer, but
which are practically the same for each
consumer regardless of size.
The demand charge in bulk is assumed to
cover such costs as have to do with the pos-
sible peak load demands on the plant, such
as fires or sudden large momentary uses of
water. Since the investment in nearly all
elements of the plant, including the distribu-
tion system, is necessarily much greater, in
order to care for peak loads, than would be
true for uniform, non-fluctuating loads, it
has usually been assumed that all charges
connected with the investment, such as in-
terest charges, are included in this category.
A portion of the time of certain executive
officers is also thought of as being properly
chargeable to this account. Having de-
termined the bulk figure, the distribution to
the individual consumers is usually effected
by finding the total "capacity" of the in-
dividual consumers on the assumption that
the area of the service lines or meters sup-
plying the property is a fair measure of the
demand which the consumer may make upon
the system. When this individual capacity
charge is found, it is usually combined with
the "consumer charge" in order to form a
"service charge" usually based on the size
of meter. In practise the strict application
of the theory is usually considerably modi-
• E. E. Bankson, of The J. N. Chester Engineers,
Pittsburgh, Pa.; D. E. Davis, of The J. N. Chester
Engineers, Pittsburgh, Pa.; C. A. Finley, Managing
Engineer, Bureau of \\ater, City of Pittsburgh.
fied by the introduction of a more or less
arbitrary diversity factor.
The "output charge" covers such costs
as fuel, labor of station employees, chemi-
cals, etc., and varies strictly with the
quantity of waf^r pumped. The larger the
pumpage, the lower this cost.
There is little dispute as to the fact thai
these three general classes of costs do
apply in a water-works plant, and the only
divergence of opinion will arise as to their
derivation and constitution, and their equit-
able distribution into a rate schedule, when
once determined. It is in the desire to
stimulate further discussion of this problem
and in the hope that ultimately a more-or-
less standardized method of procedure may
be derived and agreed upon, that this dis-
cussion has been undertaken.
"When the foregoing premises are exam-
ined, little objection can be suggested to the
methods employed in arriving at or in dis-
tributing the "consumer charge" or the
"output charge," but when the "demand
charge" is similarly examined some of the
present methods appear open to question on
both counts. It may as well be conceded at
this point that no hard and fast rule may
be employed in the making of the final rate,
and that considerations other than those
dictated by pure theory must oftentimes be
consulted in arriving at the final determina-
tion. The making of a rate involves judg-
ments of a judicial character, and questions
of expediency often modify the rate de-
rived from a disinterested study of the con-
ditions at the plant. However, in the build-
ing of the rate it will probably be conceded
that reasonable assumptions corresponding
as closely as possible to the known condi-
tions of the plant should be employed. There
are several premises in the methods used in
deriving and distributing the "demand
charge" which appear to the writers not to
correspond with the ordinary observable
conditions of plant operation.
What are these conditions wihich are
common to all plants and are a matter of
every-day acceptance in their operation?
THE AMERICAN CITY
Concrete Pavement, fVatervliet, N. Y.
Hard-n-tyte Road Treatment used.
Make concrete roads
stand the grind
■even under this kind of traffic!
For over twenty years the Gei
ChemicalCompanyhasbeenatthe
front of chemical research and m
facture in this country. Hard-n
is the latest contribution of its sp!e
staff of chemists. It is the succe
result of long search for a concrete f
ener that really hardens the surfao
materially increases its life. It en
engineers and contractors to de
a quality of concrete work far ii
vance of anything that has been
sible heretofore.
tyte
ndid
It isn't a question of this year
or next. It's a matter of how the
job will look five or ten years from
now. Take this road'we're on right
now. Go over it in a couple of
years. Go over it again in five
years. Check up what I say about
the Hard-n-tyte Road Treatment.
See ^or yourself what it does to
make a concrete road stand up and
give service.
And after all is said and done,
the grind of every day traffic isn't
a starter to the tests the General
Chemical Company engineers gave
the Hard-n-tyte Road Treatment
before they ever recommended it
to highway engineers.
Hard-n-tyte comes to the job in
crystal form. These crystals a
dissolved in water as needed ar
the solution flushed over the su
face of the concrete — commpn lab
does it quickly and cheaply. Tl
fluorides and silicates formed a
absolutely insoluble in water, u
affected by weather and extreme
ddrable under the grind of traflfi
Hard-n-tyte forms a flint hard su
face that will wear for years lil
mosaic.
We shall be glad to help y(
increase the life of either old
new concrete. Drop us a post ca
asking for the details.
General Chemical Company
40 Rector Street
New York Cit
77
—makes concrete roads wear longer
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
481
As to the physical aspects, they are essen-
tially these : The plant at a given time fur-
nishes an average daily quantity of water
which remains fairly constant from year to
year. There is, however, a very wide varia-
tion in the consumption during any one day,
the minimum being at night, and the max-
imum usually about 10:00 A. M. There is
also a seasonable variation; the summer de-
mands and the winter peaks usually exceed
considerably the average consumption.
Finally, each plant recognizes the possibility
of a set of circumstances which may put a
very heavy demand on the plant for a brief
period, and in addition to these considera-
tions, there is always the possibility that
the plant may be called upon to supply
water for a heavy conflagration.
On the back-of-the-counter side of the
water-works office there is another factor
which can be counted upon with the same
degree of certainty as the average annual
consumption. This is the assurance, built
up during a long association with the con-
ditions of water-works practice, that the
consumers can be depended upon to continue
their use of water, and consequently that
the money will come over the counter in a
fairly uniform stream from year to year, the
growth of the population being taken into
consideration.
These are well understood characteristics
which are common to the personalities of
all plants, but in the casting of many rates
these conditions have not had an oppor-
tunity to reflect themselves, having been re-
placed by theoretical assumptions which do
not correspond with the facts.
The justification for the service charge as
advanced by its advocates starts with the
idea that the utility must meet certain fixed
and administrative charges whether water
is delivered to the consumers or not. It is
implied, therefore, that there should be a
certain stated charge made against each
consumer over and above the charge for
water, and that this should apply whether
any water is used or not. This idea seems
to be entirely reasonable when properly
applied, because there are certain invest-
ment charges applicable against the con-
sumer's specific installation for which the
utility should receive adequate return in the
rates secured from him, and which conceiva-
bly a charge against consumption alone
would not always cover. However, the
strict application of the usual theory would
build up such a large service charge as to
make this portion of the consumer's bill the
largest item in the case of the majority of
consumers. This would be true because in
the ordinary case most of the fixed charges
are thrown into this item. After the fire
protection charge to the city (which is
chargeable against this item) is taken out,
the amount still levied upon the consumer is
high.
The fallacy in this premise — or so it ap-
pears to the writers — lies in the assumption
that the whole of the fixed charges should be
placed in the demand classification. This
idea neglects the obvious fact that the plant
is constructed not only for a large demand
but primarily for day-to-day service to con-
sumers. Furthermore, the habits of the
consumers are fairly well established and
quite constant. The assumption that they
as a body will suddenly cease to use water,
is strictly opposed to the facts; the revenue,
however the rate is formed, has the habit
of coming into the office with due regularity.
All that the utility can reasonably expect
is that a sufficient charge in the form of a
service rate be assessed against the con-
sumer to cover the legitimate costs of in-
vestment assessable against him, so that if
for some reason, such as absence on vaca-
tions, his consumption becomes abnormally
low, there will still be enough revenue de-
rived to carry his account.
To point out other apparent defects in the
present theory and to suggest possible reme-
dies, it will be necessary to enter into a dis-
cussion of some of the details of rate-mak-
ing. Admitting that the element of judg-
ment must enter into the determination of
the form of the rate finally adopted, it cer-
tainly will be desirable to fix limits within
which this function may operate. In order
to fix the lower limit, it will be convenient
to inquire as to what would be the minimum
investment required for supplying the water
to consumers.
It is obvious that the absolute minimum
investment would be the one in that plant
which would be required to work regularly,
uniformly and continuously for 24 hours per
day, 365 days per year, delivering the total
required quantity, but uniformly, and not
as at present — as demanded. Sucji a condi-
tion might be conceived if each consumer
were thought of as having a storage tank
which would equalize all of his fluctuations
and into which the utility would deliver
THE AMERICAN CITY
The "Caterpillar's"* field
of usefulness is by no
means limited to the
lighter jobs. There is a
"Caterpillar"* of size and
capacity for every power
need. On farm or ranch,
in the mining, oil and
lumber industries, for
snow removal and other
civic work — wherever
power and endurance are
at a premium, the "Cat-
erpillar"* has no r eal
competitor.
HOLT
PEORIA^ ILL.
STOCKTON. CALIF.
Reduciflg The Cost of Public Works
Whether used in grading, scarifying, ditching or
maintaining streets and roads, removing snow, or
hauling refuse disposal trains, the power and endur=
ance of the "Caterpillar"* Tractor enables it to do the
most work for the least money. Akron, Ohio, Bureau
of Public Works, after comparing the performance
of "Caterpillars"* and teams on street grading, found
the "Caterpillar"* method far more economical.
Denison, Texas, did more grading in the first six
months it owned a "Caterpillar"* than was done in
six years with teams. New York, Minneapolis, Rich-
mond, Va., and many other progressive cities and
towns now use "Caterpillar"* power to reduce the
cost of public works. Upon request we will arrange
to show motion pictures of "Caterpillars"* in munic-
ipal work.
*There is but one ** Cater pillar"— Holt builds it
THE HOLT MFG. CO., /nc, PEORIA, ILL,
Branches and service stations all over the world
Eastern Division: SO Church St., New York
2429 Farnam St., Omaha, Nebr. 305 Merchants Bank Bldg.,
417 Washington Ave. N., Indianapolis, Ind.
Minneapolis, Minn. 2045-47 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
5th and Court Sts., Des Moines, la. Holt Company of Texas, Dallas, Tex.
Canadian Holt Co., Ltd., Montreal, P. Q.
78
When writing to Advertisers please mention Thk Amkkican City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
483
water at a uniform rate. Obviously, the
plant investment for this arrangement would
be much less than for the plants actually
erected, and this condition would extend
from the pumps to the filters, buildings and
distribution system and would include some
reduction even in the size of the consumer's
meter and sometimes his service line. This
would be the absolute minimum for a plant
which would render average day-to-day
service, and it is our belief that at least this
much of the investment (and probably
more) will be required for ordinary service.
The utility could not get along with less.
If this be granted, and if it is also con-
ceded that the principal reason for the ex-
istence of the plant at all is the servmg of
the daily needs of the consumer, it would
seem that this much at least of the fixed
charges on the plant investment is charge-
able directly aganst the consumption, since
in such a plant the summation of all con-
sumptions (or total annual consumption)
when divided into the total fixed charges
would represent the price per unit which,
when applied to the consumption of each
consumer, would fix the proportion of the
whole cost which he should bear. This
charge, then, is strictly proportional to the
actual average consumption. Contrary to
the usual practice, it would then seem that
this cost should be made a part of the out-
put charge, which is made on the basis of
actual consumption of water.
A good example of a minimum plant as
regards the water-supply element in plant
investment would be a gravity supply with a
reservoir large enough to supply all defi-
ciencies in stream flow. Any hourly or day-
to-day fluctuations in load would afifect such
a large reserve not at all ; the same reservoir
would be required whether the consumptions
were uniform or fluctuating, and the fixed
charges against a storage reservoir would
therefore appear entirely in the output
charge.
Having now allocated into "output
charge" certain elements of cost which in
the past have been considered as applicable
to "demand" and have been made up into
the "service charge," there remain certain
costs which admittedly should be included
under the "demand" heading. A suggested
method of dealing with these costs will now
be discussed.
The method proposed is that of splitting
up the plant investment into various <:ate-
gories representing like service, such as
pumping station and accessories, filtration
plant, reservoirs, carrying mains, gridiron
distribution system, and services and meters.
This having been accomplished, the next
step involves a study of the probable rela-
tion between the normal use and the max-
imum demand on each element. This may
best be illustrated by example.
An examination of the pumpage record
of the plant is made and the average daily
pumpage determined, as is also the max-
imum hour's pumpage at any time during
the year. If a record of pumpage during a
heavy fire can be found, this is also re-
corded, or else the maximum pumpage pos-
sibilities of the plant are used. Assume
that the results are as follows:
Average daily pumpage rate. ... i mil. gals.
Maximum hourly pumpage rate 2 mil. gals.
Fire rate 2^/2 mil. gals.
Then for convenience the investment costs
would be broken up
2-5
to output charge,
2-1 2.5-2
to demand charge and to hre
2.5 2.5
protection service. A little consideration of
the activities of the average water-works
plant will indicate that there may be and
usually is a wide variation between the de-
mands of the various elements of the plani.
These will also vary with the size of the
plant; the larger the plant, the smaller the
variation. The greatest fluctuations will
occur the nearer the consumer is ap-
proached, and the diversity factor or iron-
ing-out effect becomes more pronounced the
nearer to the source of supply.
It is practically impossible and really un-
necessary to determine the actual demand of
each consumer, but it will be sufficiently ac-
curate to consider the different classes of
consumers based on the sizes of their
meters. As a measure of the demands of
various consumers we have employed the
study of this subject as made by the com-
mittee on meter rates for the New England
Water Works Association which appears
in the December issue of the 1916 Journal.
The entire fixed charge on all meters is
first allocated to the various groups of
meters, and the amount to output and to
demand is fixed by reference to the relation
between average use and maximum demand.
It is assumed for convenience that the in-
THE AMERICAN CITY
Built specially for
Road Maintenance Work
by the
Founders
of the
Tractor
Industry
A city is known by its streets
Maintained Streets Create Trade
Mud Streets Destroy It
A QUALITY TRACTOR with 21 years of successful experience back of it means
something to you.
Nearly two decades ago the grading for the Great Railroads of the West was done
largely by the OLD RELIABLE HART PARR SIXTIES. Hart Parr tractors
have built thousands of miles of highways. Over three hundred of them are
owned by communities in Iowa alone.
The road building and maintaining experience of those 20 years, together with
the specialized experience gained by building thousands of farm tractors, is all
incorporated in the
HART-PARR SPECIAL ROAD TRACTOR
This tractor is built for the long, hard pull — it is simple, extremely accessible
and does not need an expert to service and operate it.
Sixteen years ago Hart Parr Company brought out the first kerosene burning
tractors. We build only kerosene burning tractors today and guarantee them
to burn it successfully, thus cutting down your operating expense.
This special road maintenance tractor is built to stand the severe test of road
work — the hardest of all tractor operations.
HART-PARR COMPANY
510 Lawler Street
Charles City, Iowa
POWERFUL STURDY KEROSENE TRACTORS
FOUNDERS OF TRACTOR INDUSTRY
POWER
Endurance
Good Traction
Simplicity
Continuous
Operation
Long Life
Satisfaction
Catalogue and record
of performance will be
mailed to interested
parties on request.
19
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amekican City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
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THE AMERICAN CITY
WAUKEGAN,
ILLINOIS, is the
first city in the State of
Illinois to employ this
wonderful French de-
sign, created by the
General Electric Com-
pany, and manuufac-
tured by the King
Manufacturing Com-
pany, to light their
streets.
King Manufacturing Co.
53 West Jackson Blvd.
CHICAGO ILLINOIS
Kj^^
White Way PosTS^
so
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
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f PROTECT THE 1
1 PUBUC HEALTH |
£ Modern thought 3
z; demands that safe- £
^ guards surround the 3
£ public— in all munici- ~
3 pal parks, schools and 3
r buildings. ■=!
3 And these safe- ^
z. guards must be practi- €
z cally"fool-proof"— and r
E built to stand continu- r
z. ous service. £
1 Mueller I
1 SANtTARY 1
3 DRINKING 1=
1 FOUNTAINS 1
3 meet all these require- £
£ ments. They are abso- £
3 lutely sanitary and 3
£ pr-ctically indestruct- £
r ibl2.They comply with £
z. the various sanitary f-
r laws. -£
E No. E-3632 here 3
r shewn is one of many 2-
r Mue:lle:r models— -E
£ ecch made to meet -
r seme specific need — ■£
E and all fully warranted. -E
£ "Write for descriptions -E
- and prices. "^
1 H.MUELLERMFG.CO.. f
3 Decatur. Illinois 3
r PHONE BELL 153 £
£ 'Water, Plumbing and Gas Brass ~
— Goods and Tools ~
— New York City, San Francisco, ~
£ 145 W. 30th St. 635 Mission St. .T
— Phone Phone —
r Watkin8 5397 Sutter 3577 £
— Sarnia, Ontario, Canada ~
~ Mueller ^!etal» To.. Port Huron, Mich., ~
— Mak. r« of "Red Tip" Brass Rodi Brass and ~
— Copper Tublngi Fornlnsn and Castincs in —
— Bris-i. Bronze and Aliimlnum:DleCastini;s ^
tl in White Metnland Alumlnumi also Screw ^
^ Machined Products. —
r r
?i lil.l.lpl.l.l.l.l.l.l.l.l.M.lililililr
llllllll
81
V^en writing to Advertisers pl?ase mefition fg? Ame|iican City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
489
vestment in an "average" meter and in the
actual meter in use (which is large enough
to supply the maximum demand) will be
proportional to the demands in each case.
The cost of repairs to meters probably bears
a close relationship to the investment in
meters, and this cost is distributed between
the classes of meters in proportion to the
investment.
A fair basis for distributing the costs of
the gridiron system is next sought. It is
believed that the fairest basis is that found
by assigning the costs directly on the basis
of the total number of consumers. A more
or less arbitrary distinction must be made
between carrying mains and gridiron sys-
tem, the former representing in this dis-
cussion the large arteries emanating from
the plant, which carry water out to distant
districts and to which the smaller mains
connect to distribute the water to the con-
sumers themselves.
The size of the gridiron lines is largely
dictated by friction loss considerations, it
being necessary for the lines to be large
enough to furnish fire streams without un-
due pressure loss. The mileage in these
mains has little reference to actual or rela-
tive consumptions, but they are made neces-
sary by the fact that the population lives in
homes that are scattered over a wide area,
and by whose properties water lines must be
laid in order to render service. The in-
vestment in these lines varies more nearly
with the population than with consumption,
as such, and it seems fair then to consider
that the investment in gridiron system is
the same for each consumer. That it proba-
bly does not vary with consumption directly,
might be seen if it were assumed that in a
given plant one large industrial consumer,
located near the plant, used as much water
as all the remaining population, yet this
fact would make little difference in the
mileage of mains; they would be required in
any event in order to supply the remaining
consumers. Any increase in consumers in-
volving building up of new territory would
require proportionally greater mileage.
In the distribution of this burden the fire
protection charge would ordinarily take the
largest share of the cost, and the distribu-
tion of the remaining costs between "output"
and "demand" would be made with refer-
ence to actually observed demands on vari-
ous parts of the system where records were
available. The further distribution as be-
tween individual classes of consumers
would have to be a question of judgment,
but the limits would probably be fairly well
defined. The tabulation on the preceding
pages, in which a complete example is
worked out, will explain the method in
greater detail. The ratios for each division,
having been obtained by observation of
actual conditions for this plant, are dis-
tributed to the different classes of consum-
ers by methods similar to that for meters.
The consumptions of the various classes
of consumers are probably the best basis
upon which to distribute the fixed charges
on carrying mains, after a figure has been
arrived at for charge to fire protection. In
a majority of cities the consumption, both
large and small, may be distributed at vari-
ous, widely scattered locations throughout
the city. The carrying mains must be large
enough to supply these maximum collective
demands or consumptions.
Since the quantity of water to be deliv-
ered at various controlling areas, not neces-
sarily influenced by distance alone, is the
basis for the design of the carrying mains,
it would appear that the money that went
into its construction would bear a closer
relation to the consumption than to any
other feature. The ratio between the aver-
age daily use and the maximum demand be-
comes less as the source of supply is ap-
proached, and the ratios in the carrying
mains are less than in the gridiron.
The consumption basis for the distribu-
tion of costs has been used in each of the
remaining classes of service, with the ex-
ception of "consumer costs," where such
items as bookkeeping, billing, reading
meters, etc., has been distributed directly in
proportion to the total number of consum-
ers, and the result carried into the sum
which later forms the "service charge."
Having assembled the "demand" and
"output" charges for all consumers on the
same sized meters, the average output charge
is found by dividing the total output costs
by the total annual consumption for that
class, and the "service charge" by dividing
the corresponding sum by the total number
of consumers in that class.
THE AMERICAN CITY
No highway engineer or road official
should be without a copy of our latest
manual, "Road maintenance with
Tarvia." Write our nearest office.
The Future of a Community often lies
in the Road Commissioner's hands—
Although the Road Commissioner
never "heads the ticket" on Election
Day, there are few public officials
charged with duties more vital to the
public welfare.
Good roads are indispensable to the
progress and happiness of every commu-
nity. With good roads, getting to town
is made a matter of minutes — not miles;
business flourishes, hauling costs decrease,
property values rise, children enjoy the
benefit of a central graded school, com-
munity and social life is broadened an ^
made more enjoyable. The future hold %
forth great promise.
Throughout the country our engineers
have demonstrated to thousands of pub-
lic-spirited road officials the great saving
resulting from a definite policy of Tarvia
construction and maintenance.
This popular road material is
unequalled for building new roads, for
resurfacing worn-out macadam, for re-
pairing and maintaining improved roads
of every type. Special grades are made
for specific uses.
Tarvia roads are an indispensable part
of every Good Roads Program. They are
comparatively low in first cost, and are so
much more economical over a term of
years that the saving makes a more ex-
tensive road program possible.
If you want smooth, dustless, mudless
roads in your community 365 days in the
year, write to our nearest office for free
copy of our illustrated "General Tarvia
Catalog." You'll find it interesting.
For Road Construction
Ropair and Maintenance
Special Service Department
This company has a corps of trained engineers
and chemists who have given years of study
to modern road problems. The advice of
these men may be had for the aslcing by
anyone interested. If you will write to the
nearest office regarding road problems and
conditions in your vicinity, the matter
will be given prompt attention.
New York
PhOaddphU
udelph
NmOrituu BiimmiC.!
raona Alkola Duluth Mdwaukee
Yo4incatown ToUtlo Coluoibui Richmond
Biftimorc Omah* JaduoDviile Houston
THE BARRETT COMPANY. Limited: Montie.1
, St. Loiu
Company Kis:;^"
88
When writing to AdvertisTs please mention The American City.
491
Boiler Cleaners for Municipal
Power-Plants*
By W. F. Schaphorst, M. E.
IN a previous article the writer has stated
that the principal losses in municipal
steam power-plants occur in the boiler
room. It is easier to save money in the
boiler room than in the engine room. Vol-
umes are written about engines, and thou-
sands of dollars in premiums have been
paid for engines that will develop a given
horse-power and save perhaps 5 per cent of
the steam ordinarily consumed. Yet, out
in the boiler room, and because of sheer
neglect, it is costing much more than it
should to generate that same steam. At-
tendants in the boiler room should always
be on g^ard to prevent heat losses up the
"waste-basket of the power-plant" — the
chimney, as that is where most of the lost
heat goes.
Among his other duties the boiler atten-
dant (which means the fireman in the smaller
municipal plants) must see to it that the
boiler heating surfaces are always kept
clean inside and outside. Cleanliness is es-
sential in attaining high efficiency and
capacity. Boilers must be taken out of ser-
vice regularly to be repaired and cleaned.
The two principal offenders that will cause
huge losses unless kept off the heating sur-
faces constantly are scale and soot.
Scale Removal
It is authentically reported that in a series
of 120 tests by the Illinois Central Rail-
road II per cent greater mileage was ob-
tained from locomotives during the month
after freeing the boilers from scale than
was obtained during the three months
previous to cleaning. This is equivalent to
a saving of 11 per cent of the fuel. In
similar tests by other concerns, savings
range all the way from 8 per cent to 16
per cent. In a series of tests performed by
Professor Schmidt of the University of Illi-
nois on locomotive tubes covered with scale
in thicknesses varying from zero up to
1/9-inch, it was found that heat losses vary
from zero at zero thickness to 16 per cent
Copyright, 1922, by W. F. Schaphorst.
at a thickness of 1/9-inch. After a thick
scale is once formed, added thickness does
not make much difference. The important
point is — take all of the scale off and take
it off frequently.
Periodical scale removal is desirable for
other reasons besides economy. Scale is
often directly responsible for the overheat-
ing and burning out of boiler tubes when
operating at heavy loads. At light loads a
given thickness of scale may be harmless,
the heat being transmitted without trouble.
When the boilers are forced, however, the
temperature of the boiler shell naturally in-
creases, often to such an extent that the
scale adjacent to the shell becomes dry.
When dry, scale is a more effective heat in-
sulator than when wet, and as a result there
is grave danger of overheating and burn-
ing the shell or tubes. It is not uncommon
in plants where the scale menace is lightly
regarded to retube boilers completely every
two or three years. With proper care, tubes
should last nearly as long as the boiler it-
self. It is cheaper to clean old tubes than
to buy new ones.
There are thousands of engineers and
owners of plants throughout the United
States who are still ignorant of the scale
problem — who do not even know that their
boiler tubes are coated with scale. One
m.anufacturer writes: "In 75 per cent of
the reports to us the officials or engineers
claim that they have no scale or are using
water which does not produce scale. Yet it
is a well-known fact that artesian well
water is highly impregnated with scale-mak-
ing properties. In other words, because the
water is clear and safe for drinking pur-
poses and shows no muddy deposit, they
seem to think that it is free from scale
properties. There are thousands of plants
where no attention whatever Is paid to
scale, yet every little while they find it
necessary to retube their boilers and they
simply put that down to wear and tear."
Rain-water, snow-water and distilled water
are about the only waters thai do not pro-
duce a serious amount of scale in boilers.
THE AMERICAN CITY
MPLLOWS PU N
Lic^hii nq
Standards
\V7EST ALLIS, WISC, has recently put in service
an ornamental street lighting installation in which
the standards are made strong enough to support the trol-
ley wires. This and other types of Hollowspun reinforced
concrete lighting standards are described in Catalog
Supplement No. 9.
MASSEY CONCRETE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
PEOPLES GAS BUILDING
CHICAGO
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
493
A VIBBATORY SCALE REMOVER OPERATING IN A WATER TUBE BOILER
Some Doubtful Cures
Boiler compounds for the treatment of
scale are too frequently used in boilers.
Compounds often seem to serve the purpose,
but they are unreliable. One can never be
certain that all of the scale is loosened, or
treated, because of the naturally varying
thickness of scale throughout the boiler.
The first cost of compounds is usually high,
and in addition there is the cost of damage
done to the boiler in one w^ay or another.
Many compounds contain acids, such as
muriatic, tannic, or acetic, and all these
acids attack iron. Professor Marks says in
his Mechanical Engineers' Handbook :
"General corrosion * * * is also caused
by the action of certain boiler feed-water
compounds containing tannic acid, sulphate
of copper, etc. * * * Great caution
should be exercised in the use of such
materials in boiler practice." H compounds
are to be used at all, a good rule to follow
is to avoid all secret compounds. They are
liable to be bad enough even when the chem-
ical composition is known. Even soda ash,
very frequently used and recommended.
may be the cause of corrosion, and there is
no question that it often causes foaming
troubles.
Graphite is also commonly recommended
and used for keeping the scale off the heat-
ing surface of boilers. The method is to
first remove the scale thoroughly and then
apply graphite to the heating surface. It
is claimed that scale will not adhere read-
ily to the graphite. Then, as long as the
boilers are in use, graphite is injected into
the boiler so that it will mix with the scale
and make it soft and easily crumbled.
Preparations using graphite as a base and
operating similarly are also on the market.
While graphite and kindred preparations do
not attack or harm the boiler metal, with-
out the use of mechanical tools the engineer
can never be positive that these substances
are working effectively. Further, the con-
tinual injection of graphite into a boiler
and its collective adherence to the shell and
tubes may of itself eventually become a
menace.
Kerosene and crude oil are also pet
"cures" used by some engineers to over-
Cov'tesy W. P. Pierce Co^npony
VIBRATORY SCALE REMOVER OPERATING IN A FIRE TUBE BOILER
THE AMERICAN CITY
TRAFFIC
POLICE APPROVE
Mushroom Traffic Light— Milwaukee Type
has met with the approval of the official judges of the
International Traffic Officers Association, who gave
the above award of merit for the unqualified suprem-
acy of this traffic guide. This traffic light stands only
8 inches high, is made of cast steel and is equipped
with a dual lighting system. When lighted it is a
bright spot on the road without glare and, although
not large, is big enough to be noticed and respected.
These traffic guides are suitable for installation at
street crossings on any traffic streets and boulevards,
ELECTRICAL & SPECIALTY SUPPLY CO.
317 So. Jefferson
Street,
Peoria,
Illinois
84
When writing to AdTcrtiser* please mca^po Tbk Auekican City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
495
come scale troubles. These oils are injected
directly into the boiler, and in certain cases
they are apparently beneficial. Their use
should be discouraged, however, because
the lighter oils will always distil off, and
thick, gum-like greases are left behind,
which adhere to the heating surfaces and
are, according to some authorities, more ef-
fective in retarding heat transfer than is
the scale itself. In extreme cases the grease
settles to the bottom of the boiler, where
it combines with the scale and mud and in-
sulates against heat transfer so effectively
that bags or blisters are formed in the boiler
shell. Oil and grease should be kept out
of boilers just as carefully as scale is kept
out. The only thing the fire can do is to
heat the boiler shell, making it very hot —
sometimes red-hot. If the boiler is under
pressure when the shell is red-hot, it is quite
natural that the shell should bulge, or
"bag," as it -is usually called, at the place
where it is hottest. Bagging is bad, for it
may be the forerunner of a disastrous boiler
explosion. Foaming is also sometimes
caused by oils because of the minerals they
contain. The minerals are liable to be con-
verted into a soapy substance if the feed
water is alkaline — also conducive to ex-
plosions.
In the United States and Europe, low
water is the most common cause of boiler
explosions, but carelessness of attendance is
also largely responsible. Sometimes ex-
perts cannot decide whether an explosion
was due to low water or to carelessness, but
they all agree that oil and grease are about
as much of a boiler menace as is scale and
all three should be kept out. They all
cause explosions.
It should be borne in mind that after
grease once gets into the boiler water it is
very difficult to extract. About the only
way in which it can be removed perfectly
is to distil the water, leaving the grease
residue. This method, of course, would be
too expensive, and so we must resort to
modern mechanical filtering devices. With
these devices, when steam first leaves the
engine it is whirled through a separator,
where most of the grease is extracted by
means of centrifugal force and the striking
of the grease particles against the separator
walls. Then the steam is condensed, and
the condensate is forced by pumps through
filters of some kind or other, which remove
most of the remaining grease The cleansed
water then reenters the boiler. To be sure,
every trace of oil is not removed. The
writer knows of no manufacturer who will
guarantee to remove every bit of grease
and oil year in and year out. There are
successful systems on the market, though,
that cleanse the water to the extent that it
is no longer harmful.
Steam turbines have an important ad-
vantage over steam engines in the matter
of condensate cleanliness, for the exhaust
from turbines is always clean and free from
oil. In turbines oil does not commingle
with the steam, because lubrication is not
required; the blades and other internal
parts in the turbine do not rub against other
metallic parts — there is no metallic friction.
Even though compounds, graphite, kero-
sene, etc., assist in loosenmg the scale, the
scale still remains in the boiler. To remove
this scale, frequent blowing out of hot
boiler water is necessary, and hot boiler
water is expensive. Even then, all of the
scale is not removed. These scale-remov-
ing materials, when doing their best, are
therefore only partially effective.
Meehanical Scale Removal
In former years, before the invention
of mechanical cleaners, it was necessary
to chip out boiler scale by hand, with a
hammer and chisel — a very expensive pro-
cess. As a result, boilers were not cleaned
often enough. To-day we have power-
driven cleaners operated by steam or com-
pressed air, which do the work quickly, in-
expensively, and thoroughly.
There are two types of mechanical clean-
ers on the market — one rotary and the
other vibratory — from which the municipal
authority will doubtless make his selection
when the time comes to purchase a scale
remover. The rotary cleaner contains a
number of sharp cutters resembling grind-
stone dressers, which rotate rapidly on the
end of a shaft and are thrust against the
scale by centrifugal force. These cutters
virtually bore their way through the tubes.
The rotary cleaner is used a great deal
and, although not always thorough, it is
far superior to the hand method. If the
scale is extremely hard, it is difficult to get
it all out with the rotary type of cleaner,
hut the soft, spongy top layer can be easily
removed. One more or l?ss serious objec-.
THE AMERICAN CITY
^ *^
Tr~ii-^:
Playground Apparatus that is SAFE
Above we show a pipe coupling — a most commonplace detail of construction.
But observe that it is designed and built so that it is practically unbreakable.
This detail only serves to illustrate the principle upon which all MED ART ap-
paratus is built. It must be so— the lives of children may depend on the
strength of the apparatus.
Considered in this Ught, it must be seen that MEDART apparatus cannot
be sold on a price basis. But it is sold on an economy basis — ^thorough
construction for the sake of safety and long life of the apparatus go hand in
hand. In buying playground apparatus, divide the cost by the years of service
it will give, and MEDART apparatus will be your choice.
Medart Service
Medart Engineering Service is given
freely witliout cost or obligation or
thought toward immediate gain.
Whether your plans are extensive or
limited you will find it to your advan-
tage to avail yourself of the experience
we have gained during fifty years'
playground planning and building.
Send for Catalog "M"
Catalog *'L" is undoubtedly one of
the most complete treatises available
on playgrounds and playground plan-
ning. It is really a text book. When
you send for it please outline in brief
just what your problem is — you will
have our earnest and intelligent co-
operation.
FRED MEDART MFG. CO.
Potomac and DeKalb Sts. St. Louis, Mo.
Nevir York, 52 Vanderbilt Ave. San Francisco, Rialto BIdg.
Chicago, 326 W. Madison St.
MEDART
85
When, wrltiPSf t° Ai^Y^rtiscfs i^lease mention The American ClTV,
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
497
tion to the turbine type
of cleaner is the rapid-
ity of wear of the cut-
ter heads and the high
cost of replacements.
The vibratory
method is usually more
thorough, as it does not
leave a thin, hard layer
next to the metal. The
vibrator will usually
remove more scale
from tubes that have
just been turbined.
Wear on the vibrator
is insignificant, and
this type is therefore
more durable; the up-
keep cost is less.
The vibratory
cleaner should not
strike the tube too hard,
but provision should be
made for absorbing the
shock. This type of
cleaner is usually op-
erated on the principle
of the steam engine and
is driven either by
compressed air or by
steam at varying pres-
sures. The pressure to
be used depends upon
the character of work to be done. The
vibrator is moved back and forth at rates
from 3,500 to 10,000 times per
This rapid tapping of the vibrator
corresponding vibrations in the
elastic steel tube, which alternately elon-
gates and flattens, in section. Scale is
not elastic and cannot bend and vibrate in
unison with the steel tube, hence it is
quickly loosened. Ten to thirty tubes may
be cleaned per hour, depending upon the
character and thickness of the scale. This
principle of cleaning may be successfully
applied to cleaning all kinds of water-tube
boilers, straight or curved tubes, condenser
tubes, evaporator tubes, and superheater
tubes.
The vibratory cleaner has another ad-
vantage when applied to water-tube boilers,
in that while removing scale from the in-
side of the tube it simultaneously shakes
the soot off the outside. This is particu-
Courtesy Vulcan Soot Cleaner Company
MECHANICAL SOOT CLEANER APPLIED TO HORIZONTAL WATER
TUBE BOILER
larly valuable
ingly hard.
where the soot is exceed-
rangmg
minute.
sets up
Soot Removal
In addition to the removal of scale,, the
other arch enemy of high efficiency — soot —
must also be constantly removed. It is
about the best heat insulator known. The
insulating value of soot is five times greater
than that of asbestos.
The principal reason why soot is so un-
economical is that it gets in between tjie
fire or hot gases and the boiler shell or flue.
That is the very position in which there
should be no insulating medium at all, be-
cause that is where an insulator can cre-
ate the greatest fuel loss. It has been
shown in carefully conducted tests that an
insulator between water and metal is not so
effective as between gas and metal. Hence,
a given thickness of soot on the outside
causes far greater loss than an equal thick-
THE AMERICAN CITY
^^nnOVNCiilG
=THE HOTEL FINflMClMQ C9/APflNy=
HARVEY J. HILL and ARNAUD C. MARTS
offer a thoroughly tested financial organization applying in the hotel
field the same effective and dignified methods by which they have raised
The erection of a modern hotel is the next essential step
in the progress of scores of American cities. It is a
modern condition of progress and prosperity.
The Hotel Financing Company is prepared to give service
anywhere in the United States and Canada. Each con-
tract accepted by the Company will be given the personal
direction of Mr. Hill or Mr. Marts. THEIR RECORD
GUARANTEES SUCCESS.
For information address
THE HOTEL FIMrthCmQ ZQtAPaXVJ
==ONE MflPiJQN /ivieiiv;e-new vork
Until January 1st, 1922,
Messrs. Hill and Marts were
Managing Partners in the
firm of Ward, Hill, Pierce
and Wells, nationally recog-
nized as the originators and
leaders in the field of raising
finances by organized volun-
teer community effort.
They retired from this firm
to organize the Hotel Fi-
nancing Company. Their
entrance into the hotel field
puts the very best experi-
ence and ability at the com-
mand of Chambers of Com-
merce and other community
organizations planning new
hotels.
Reduce Your Grass
Cutting Costs
Many park superintendents have greatly re-
duced the cost of cutting their grass by motor-
izing their lawn mowing equipment. It is
quite significant that practically all of these
parks have standardized on Ideal Power
Lawn Mowers.
The line of Ideal Powet mowing equipment
is designed to meet every grass cutting re-
quirement. For larger areas we build the
Ideal Triplex and for smaller lawns we malce
two smaller models. Caring for your lawn
the "Ideal" way shows a big saving over Ideal Triplex
hand mowers or horse drawn mowers. Power Mower
For complete details address
Ideal Power Lawn Mower Company
B. E. OLDS, Chairman
400 Kalamazoo St.j, Lansing, Mich.
CHICAGO
11 E. Harrison St.
Ideal Junior
Powei Mower
'T-^^i.-
rf"C-^»i3iSaPii>
■-•^
Power
Lawn Mowers
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
499
ness of scale inside a boiler. Soot shuts
off heat at the very source. It does not per-
mit the heat to even touch the metal of the
boiler.
Soot is not only a creator of inefficiency,
but at the same time a reducer of boiler
capacity. By keeping soot off boiler and
flue surfaces, a boiler can be "forced" with
better effect than where soot is permitted
to accumulate. This can easily be proved
by taking temperature readings of the flue
gases. Tests have proved time and again
that where soot is consistently cleaned off
in a thorough manner, the average flue gas
temperature is materially reduced. Boiler
efficiency can be estimated with surprising
accuracy by merely taking the flue gas
temperature.
Relationship of Soot and Scale
Not many engineers realize or give
thought to the fact that there is a relation-
ship between soot and scale. One is a sort
of complement of the other. Where one
of them is to be found, the other is more
or less lacking. For example, engineers
sometimes wonder why it is that thicker
scale is to be found on boiler tubes close
to the outside wall than close to the inside
wall. The reason, which is easily explained,
emphasizes the importance of thorough
mechanical boiler cleaning in preference
to cleaning by hand.
It is plain to anyone that the tube that
absorbs the most heat will evaporate the
most water, and therefore will leave the
most scale to cling to and impair the heat-
transmitting qualities of the tube; hence
the thicker scale on one side of the tube
bank than on the other. On examining
these boilers it is invariably found that by
the hand method the soot is blown off the
tubes through the dusting doors at the sides
of the setting. A hand lance thrust through
the dusting doors does not clean the far side
of the boiler. Instead of cleaning the tubes
on the far side, it blows the soot from the
near side over onto the tubes farther away
and makes matters worse there than before.
In some cases it has been found that tubes
have been packed completely full of soot
and they might just as well not have been
in the boiler at all.
By using mechanical cleaners rather than
the hand lance, an average saving of about
5 per cent of the annual fuel bill is effected.
One reason for this is that with mechanical
cleaners it is possible to remove the soot
three or four times every day.
In too many municipal plants the old
hand lance method of cleaning is still used.
The hand method is inferior in many ways
and should not be continued. Take, for in-
stance, the matter of velocity of steam. It
is practically impossible for the hand lance
to give a sufficiently high steam velocity,
because of the great internal friction of
the lance and the connecting steam hose.
High velocity is essential for thorough
cleaning.
In practice it has been found that
high-velocity steam jets will often clean
tubes without even touching them, because
of their "injector action." They set up
high-velocity air or furnace-gas currents.
These currents of gas scrub the boiler tubes
and clean off the soot.
Hand cleaning is undesirable also because
the boiler must be opened while cleaning,
permitting cold air to rush in and cool the
boiler-heating surfaces. Some types of
boilers cannot be cleaned by hand at all
while in operation, but must first be shut
ddwn. To shut down a boiler is expensive.
How can we tell when a boiler needs
cleaning, internally, externally, or both?
By keeping a weather eye on the chimney
gas temperature. The lower the tempera-
ture, the better. High temperatures should
not be permitted. Just as soon as a certain
high temperature is reached, that is the time
when the boiler should be cleaned.
One engineer made it a practice to clean
his tubes as soon as the chimney tempera-
ture reached 550 degrees. He found that
by so doing he cleaned the tubes an average
of three times in 24 hours, so he decided
to make it a rule to clean the boilers every
8 hours, regardless of chimney tempera-
ture. Another engineer, under different
conditions, found that it was best to clean
his boilers at a temperature of 575 degrees.
He very likely had a dirtier coal, because
the temperature rose quickly again and he
found that on an average he had to clean
his tubes four times per day of 24 hours.
Taxpayers who hinder rather than help public improvement are human stumps
in the road to better things.
THE AMERICAN CITY
A Time-Tested Unit for a
Component Part of the Successful Whole
As the survivor of the fittest, the individual
Imperial Mower represents the sturdiest of all
hand mower types, but in combination of five
such successful 20-inch units. The Imperial
Gang Mower represents an efficient lawn
maintenance equipment extraordinary.
For, designed with a view to light utility —
or light tractor-propulsion. The Imperial Gang
offers an exceedingly flexible mower of great
promise for speedy completion of lawn-trim-
ming tasks. The immaculate condition of its
9 1 -inch swath "after using," and the low cost
of the needed day-after-day use of a gang
mower of Imperial capabilities, have in every
way created for it a place "in the sun."
Park officials, interested in lawns-keeping, are
invited to consult our experience as applied to
their wishes— and purses.
COLDWELL LAWN MOWER CO., Newbur^h, N. Y., U.S.A.
Lawn Mowers
The record of long years of service back
of Pennsylvania quality assures the ut-
most in operative satisfaction under any
and all conditions,
very part of every mower is made with that care
and accuracy which has been the foundation stone
of Pennsylvania prestige from the very start.
Designed for longest service they are the most economical
lawn mowers you can buy. Their having self-sharpen-
ing, crucible, tool steel blades,, is but one reason out of
many for the preference of men who know what a good
lawn mower should be.
W^rite for "Pennsylvania TRIO Book"
Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works, Inc.
1615 North 23rd Street, Philadelphia
17 When writing to Advertisers please mention The Auekican City.
PennsylTaiua TRIO ; a
tUn* and labor sayer for
golf course, parks, large
estates 86 in. swath.
501
iQcreasing the Flow from Drilled Wells
Methods Used in Shooting Oil Wells Now Applied to Deep-Well Water-Supplies
WHERE blasting is possible in the
outlying districts of a city or in
• readily defined well fields, the use
of dynamite cartridges in increasing the
flow from drilled wells has become quite
common practice. A very careful study
must be made of the quantity of water in
the earth or rocks surrounding the bore hole,
the character of the formation, and the
rainfall. Most of these data may be secured
from the United States Geological Survey
and the Weather Bureau. Firing the blast
at the bottom of a well in sand or gravel
has practically no effect on the flow of the
well, for after the explosion the sand or
gravel simply settles back into its original
place in the porous mass. If gunk in water-
bearing rock, the well may draw only from
the particular pores and crevices which it
intersects. By shattering a larger area
with a heavy charge, the sectional area as
a whole is increased and radiating fissures
created through which the water may flow
from a considerable area.
In shooting a drilled well, the explosive
/ \-ByiZ.J5' OR
L J HAMDLE
^m^
■ '^DTN- AMITE
^ CARTRIDGES
ZirsTE
FIG. Z
■OPEN
riG. 1
should be placed at the
maximum water - bearing
area to secure the best ef-
fects. A quick, powerful
explosive and a heavy
charge should be used.
Either solidified nitro-
glycerin or 60 per cent
straight dynamite is the
best, providing the column
of water which may be
standing in the well is not
over 200 feet high. The
exact size of the charge is
governed by the depth of
the well, the nature of the
rock to be blasted and the
proximity of buildings. For a well 100
feet deep, an efficient and safe charge
would be from 100 to 200 pounds of solid-
ified nitroglycerin or from 150 to 300
pounds of 60 per cent straight dynamite.
For each additional hundred feet, this load-
ing could be increased by about 100 pounds.
The cartridges are packed in a cylindrical
shell from 3 to 5 feet in length, made from
tin or galvanized iron brought out to a point
at the lower end, as shown in Figure i, to
prevent it from catching in its descent down
the hole. If there is standing water in the
hole, an opening should be made in the
lower end of the shell so that the water may
pass through and equalize the pressure on
the explosives. When the shell is loaded,
the bail is placed over a special hook, shown
in Figure 2, on the end of a stout line, and
the shell is slowly lowered down the hole.
Then the hook is freed and drawn up.
In exploding the charge, either a jack-
squib, as shown in Figure 3, or an electric
squib, as shown in Figure 4, may be used.
The jack-squib consists of galvanized pipe
about 2 inches in diameter and 36 inches in
length, pointed at the lower end, which is
filled as follows: Sand is poured into the
pipe to a depth of about 6 inches, a cartridge
of 60 per cent straight dynamite primed-
with two No. 8 blasting caps and two fuses'
is seated on the sand, and more sand is
poured in until it fills the space around the
cartridge and covers it to within 4 inches
THE AMERICAN CITY
Protection for Municipal Property
^ Forty years ago the Page organization originated the manufacture
of woven wire fence, now used on thousands of farms throughout the
country. The valuable experience in manufacturing and fabricating
wire products thus gained has enabled the company to produce the
Page-Protection (wire link) Fence, without equal today in its general
excellence and durability. Every process of manufacture from the
open-hearth furnace to the finished product is supervised by the Page
Steel & Wire Company in its own
mills.
^ Page-Protection is necessary for
lighting plants, pumping stations, stor-
age yards, parks, watersheds, etc.
There is a Page-Protection Fence
representative near you. Wire us and
we will have him get in touch with
you.
PAGE STEEL & WIRE CO.
Pag e-Protection
Fence is also
made of rust-
resisting Armco
Ingot Iron
(99.84*% pure).
District Sales Offices
New York
Pittsburgh
PAGE PROTECTION FENCE
88
_ W^cn vyritfjijf tP Advertisers please mention The Amiricak Cjty.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
503
'TA^
^rcjjE
■'^•^SAND
BLA3TIN'G
CAF^
.PRIMER
CARTEIDOE
FIG 3
from the top of the
pipe. This remain-
ing space is then
filled with thick tar.
As soon as the squib
is prepared, both
fuses are lighted,
two being used in
case one should fail.
The squib is dropped
into the hole, point
down. The length
of the fuse should be
so calculated that it
will explode about
the time it strikes
the charge and so
detonate it.
The electric squib
is similar in con-
struction to the
jack-squib, but
shorter and larger
in diameter, with a
less sharply pointed
end. It is usually
about 5 inches in diameter and 20 inches
long. It is filled to a depth of about 6
inches with sand, and then a priming
charge consisting of one to two car-
tridges of 60 per cent straight dynamite is
placed in the sand, one of the cartridges be-
ing previously primed with a No. 8 sub-
marine electric blasting cap. To the wires
of this cap, at a point which will come well
within the squib shell, are spliced No. 14-
gage copper wires long enough to reach to
the bottom of the hole, and the splices are
well taped. The remaining space is filled
with sand topped with a layer of tar. This
squib is carefully lowered by the wires until
it rests upon the charge, and is then fired by
means of an electric blasting machine.
If the well has struck water, there will
probably be some standing water in the hole.
Every foot of water in the hole exerts a
pressure of 43.4 pounds per square inch.
Consequently, a column of water 100 feet
high over a charge of explosives exerts a
pressure of 43.4 pounds on every square
inch of the area of the charge. It is this
pressure that makes it necessary to protect
the detonator from moisture by placing it in
the sand-filled and tar-sealed metal shell.
As the pressure may tend to force out the
nitroglycerin from the cartridges, it is im-
portant to fire the shot as quickly as possible
after loading. All preliminary precautions,
such as removing objects within danger and
notifying people, should be completed before
the explosive is lowered into the hole, so
that no time need be lost thereafter.
Most drilled wells contain a casing
throughout a part or the whole of their
depth. Exploding a heavy charge at the
bottom of the well is likely to damage this
casing, either blowing it out in fragments
which may do harm if allowed to fly into the
air, or causing it to collapse within the bore
hole, or splitting it longitudinally along the
seam. To prevent the casing from flying
into the air, it is well to build a heavy grill-
work over the mouth of the hole. This
should be securely anchored to the ground.
It is hardly possible to prevent splitting the
casing, but this is not necessarily a serious
result, for a casing that is merely split can
easily be pulled out and replaced.
If the casing collapses, however, it is
more difiicult to remove. In a well 300 or
400 feet deep there is less likelihood that the
casing will be blown out or split than in a
shallower well, but there is danger of col-
lapse whatever the depth of the well. To
prevent the casing from collapsing, the hole
should be either full of water to the top or
empty of water for 50 feet below the bottom
of the casing. This last would mean that
the hole was cased through only a part of
its length and the explosive charge seated at
least 50 feet below the casing.
^M GAUGE
:>AND
ELECTRIC
BLASTING CAP
DYMAMITE
CARTRIDGES
FIG. 4-
THE AMERICAN CITY
t aci
i.ett* °°„ni 008*' "
Riveted ^-"^CULYERTS
illlllillillllllililli!ll!illilllillililillilillliii8i!i#ll!iiii!'flllli
By using IMPERIAL Riv-
eted Corrugated Culverts this
real estate development com-
pany has made a big saving
in drainage costs. Besides,
work has been speeded up
25%. IMPERIALS are
easy to handle and install.
Made of Toncan Metal, they
endure !
Write for folder M-78.
The QiNTON Culvert^Silo (s><
CANrON,OHIO.U.S.A.
A Fine Iron
Fence Like This-
There is no need to wait longer for the Enterprise Iron
Fencing you've been needing. The cost of iron is back
around a pre-war level and we can now quote you the lowest
price in years. Buy now! Send for new Enterprise catalog,
quotations, and our free blue-print offer. Write today.
ENTERPRISE IRON WORKS
2462 Yandes Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
1913
WW
mi
1418
»19
\V2D
1921
1922
i
i
1
k
m
'^
k-^
v — ^
k
:,PRE WAR LEVEL
■
Ir
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9i
Free Blue Print.
Free blue-print ehow-
ing Enterprise Fenc-
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catalog and quotation
today.
EMEIFMSE
FENCING
Cost of Iron Back to 1913
Buy Now for Less.
Protect and beautify
Schools, Hospitals,
Parks, Estates, Pub-
lic Buildings, Ceme-
teries, Asylums. Low-
est cost in years.
8»
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
505
The City's Legal Rights and Duties
Information for City Attorneys and Other Municipal Officers, Summarizing
Important Court Decisions and Legislation
Conducted by A. L. H. Street, Attorney at Law
Has a City the Right to Engage in the
Sale of Foodstuffs?
THE decision of the Missouri Supreme
Court in the case of State ex rel. Kan-
sas City V. Orear, 210 Southwestern
Reporter, 392, seems to be the latest reported
decision of a court of last resort having
a bearing on this subject; that case having
been decided March 15, 1919. And the re-
port of that case has the earmarks of re-
ferring to all previous precedents.
The view of the Missouri Supreme Court,
which appears to be supported by the weight
of judicial authority in other jurisdictions,
may be thus summed up : A city may not
engage in the sale of commodities unless
authorized by its charter. And the legisla-
ture cannot confer charter authority unless
the constitution of the state clearly permits
it. Any exception to this rule must rest on
a compelling necessity of the inhabitants of
the city.
Holding that Kansas City was not em-
powered to establish a municipal ice plant,
without modification of its charter and the
Missouri constitution, the Court said, in
part:
"Ice has but recently been elevated — granting
for argument's sake the promotion — to a place
among the necessities of life. . . . But be
this as it may, it is yet certainly no greater a
necessity to the human race than are food and
clothing. If a city should undertake, absent
compelling necessity at least, to establish and
operate grocery stores and clothing 'emporiums,'
no one would hesitate to say that no power
exists in the municipality to use public money,
or the proceeds of public taxation, for such
purposes. Such things may be given away by
the city to paupers and to the temporarily un-
fortunate, but the city cannot enter into the
business of selling such articles to all inhabi-
tants of such city who may desire to buy. If
the cities, towns and villages of the state deem
that their entry into private business in com-
petition with individuals now engaged in such
business is a matter of public expediency, then
the initial effort to this end must be an amend-
ment to the constitution; and following such an
amendment, the passage of an act changing the
common law, which, even without the aid of
the constitutional inhibition, forbids the levying
and collecting of taxes for any private purpose
or business. . . . If the situation were one
of continuing or perennial necessity, a city
might well have the power under the general
welfare clause of its charter to take such steps
as would be requisite to supply the compelling
need for any such necessity of life so long as
such condition existed."
We note that at the recently adjourned
session of the Connecticut Legislature
authority was enacted for the establishment
of municipal ice plants; thereby ind'cating
an understanding in that state that special
charter authority is a prerequisite, as de-
clared by the Missouri Court.
Previous court decisions bearing on the
subject are reviewed in the opinion of the
Missouri Court. It is noted that the
Georgia Supreme Court upheld the right of
a city to establish an ice plant (68 S. E.
472, 31 L. R. A. (N. S.) 116, 20 Ann. Cas.
199, 134 Ga. 560), but it was observed that
the Georgia Court merely decided that such
use of the public funds did not impinge upon
the constitutional guaranty of "protection to
person and property" and against depriva-
tion of property without due process of
law. It seems that the Georgia case was not
considered, the Missouri Court holds, in the
light of necessity for constitutional author-
ity before public funds can be used in such
enterprises. But it is conceded that in a
later opinion the Georgia Court sustained
the right of another municipality to estab-
lish an ice plant on the broad authority of
the general welfare clause of its charter
(147 Ga. 581, 94 S. E. 1022, Ann. Cas. 1918,
THE AMERICAN CITY
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll^^
TUCKY
AS STRONG AS
THE ROAD ITSELF
Made of the Strongest Iron Procurable
and in Corrugated Form
Newport Culverts will last as long as the road itself and
hold up all of the burdens of modern. traffic. These cul-
verts are made of 99.875 per cent PURE IRON COPPER
ALLOY, with copper content not less than 25 per cent.
In addition, each square foot of exposed surface carries
not less than 2 ounces of spelter.
These are the reasons that Newport Culverts endure the
ravages of time and rough usage for decades.
Let us further explain why we thoroughly believe that there
is no better culvert. Send us your name and address and we
will gladly forward our interesting illustrated literature
showing Newport Culverts in use.
NEWPORT CULVERT COMPANY
542 West Tenth Street, Newport, Kentucky
00
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
507
907). On the other hand, it is noted that
in an earlier case (loi Ga. 588, 29 S. E. 42)
the same Court denied the right of the city
of Waycross to engage in the plumbing
business, as an incident to operating a
water-works system.
Mention is made of the holding by the
Maine Supreme Judicial Court that the
Legislature might authorize mun'c'palities
to establish fuel-yards, (iii Me. 486, 90
Atl. 318, L. R. A. (N. S.) 1 143, Ann. Cas.
1916C, 734.) But there is also citation to
the Louisiana case where it was decided by
the Supreme Court that the Legislature
could not validly empower a city to estab-
lish an ice plant, in the face of a consttu-
tional provision limiting the taxing power
of municipalities to private purposes.
Other cited cases include the decision of
the Ohio Supreme Court that the city of
Toledo could not use public money to oper-
ate a moving picture show (88 Ohio St. 71,
102 N. E. 670, 48 L. R. A. (N. S.) 720. Ann.
Cas. 1914D, 949), and the decision of the
Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals that a
city could not maintain a stone quarry with-
out charter authority — not as a mere in-
cident of keeping its streets in repair. (113
Va. 199, 73 S. E. 571, 38 L. R. A. (N. S.)
281.) Reference is also made to the fol-
lowing ob.servations made by the Massachu-
setts Supreme Judicial Court on a question
as to whether the Legislature might validly
empower cities and towns to buy and sell
fuel:
"Cities and towns now have ample power to
provide in any reasonable way for paupers,
whether it be by furnishing out-of-door re-
lief, or by support in almshouses, and whether
their need of relief is permanent or caused by a
temporary condition. It is equally true that the
second of these consequences does not justify
taxation of those who do not have occasion to
buy coal for the benefit of those who do. The
use of the money of taxpayers for such a pur-
pose would not be a public use, but a use for
the special pecuniary benefit of those who hap-
pen to be affected bv the state of the coal mar-
ket." (182 Mass. 609, 66 N. E. 26, 60 L. R. A.
594.)
The Missouri Court also cites other cases
bearing on the "discussion from the point of
view that municipal corporations may not
engage in private business, or use public
money in business ventures heretofore
deemed to be private." The decision was
not unanimous, however, one of the judges
— Mr. Justice Woodson — taking the posi-
t'on that the police power of cities to pro-
vide for the public health of their inhabi-
tants was sufficient to justify establishment
of ice plants. Unfortunately, his opinion is
deprived of considerable force through the
circumstances that it cites no judicial prec-
edent in support of itself.
An editorial note at pages 104, 105, An-
notated Cases, 1918B, summarizes the con-
clusions of adjudicated cases as follows:
"First, it is beyond the power of a municipal
corporation to engage in the sale of commod-
ities which are and can be easily conducted by
private business concerns in competition with
one another, and which can be sufficiently regu-
lated thereby."
"Second, the sale of fuel falls within the class
of commodities mentioned, and there is no ne-
cessity why cities and towns should undertake
this form of business any more than many
others which have always been conducted by
private enterprises."
"Third, in regard to 'a condition in which
the supply of fuel would be so small, and the
difficulty of obtaining it so great, that persons
desiring to purchase it would be unable to sup-
ply themselves through private enterprises, it is
conceivable that agencies of government might
be able to obtain fuel when citizens generally
could not.' Under such circumstances, the mu-
nicipality may constitute itself an agent for the
relief of the community."
The Danger to the Privileged Party of a
Cancellation Option in a Contract
That arbitrary power to determine a con-
tract on short notice may afifect its validity
and prevent recovery for a breach of it, is
shown by the opinion of the Georgia Su-
preme Court in the case of City of Atlanta
vs. National Surety Co., 106 Southeastern
Reporter, 179.
Plaintifif city entered into an agreement
with a coal company for a supply of fuel
during a period of twelve months. Defen-
dant became surety for performance of the
agreement. Plaintifif sued for claimed
breach on the part of the coal company, but
the suit was successfully defended on the
ground that there was no mutually binding
contract. This defense was based on a
clause in the agreement giving the city au-
thorities power arbitrarily to terminate the
contract on 48 hours' notice. Applying the
fundamental rule of law that mutuality of
obligation to carry out a contract is an es-
.sential to its validity, the Court says :
"If, independently of the part of the contract
quoted, the city agreed to take the coal which
the contractor by its bid offered to supply in re-
THE AMERICAN CITY
Steam Mains
i n tunnel a t
St. Paul,
Minn., 110 ft.
underground.
' ' A d s c o Com
munity Heating
being installed ii
West Chester, Pj
Remove Heating Plant Fires from Your Building!
J — — , —Use Community Heating
Residence of J. M. G.
Brown, Morgantown,
W. Va. Adsco Heating.
Reduce insurance premiums. Do away with coal dust, ashes an
fire-tending in each separate building.
Heat groups of buildings from one central supply of steam. Pip
the steam through underground mains and pay according to tJ
amount used as metered; the same as gas, water, or electricil;
Have dependable heat 24 hours a day positively controlled by a
Adsco Regulator and Adsco Graduated Radiator Valves.
This is the ideal method of heating buildings. During the pa
forty years we have designed and installed Adsco Communit
Heating Systems for more than 400 towns, institutions, industrii
plemts, groups of residences, also groups of city office building
Write for complete data regarding cost, operation and profit
/s (here exhaust sleam being wasted by any plant in your neigh
borhood?
Ask for Bulletin No. 20-AC on "Adsco Community Heating.
Bulletin No. 1 58- AC describes "Adsco Heating," the one valv
system, for individual buildings. Name of your architect appre
ciated. Architects, engineers and heating dealers should writ
also for Bullerin No. 159-AC.
American District Steam ToMPAm
30 Church St.,
NEW YORK
NWJTH TONAW.VNDA.N.Y
Offices :
First National Bank Bldg.,
CHICAGO
Hoge Bldg.
SEATTLE
ADSCO HEATING
91
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
509
sponse to the city's advertisement for bids, that
portion of the contract just quoted left it en-
tirely optional with the city to take or refuse
to take the coal. A contract for the purchase
of goods to be delivered in lots throughout a
period of 12 months, which gives the purchaser
the right at any time to serve notice upon the
party contracting to deliver the goods to sus-
pend deliveries, and stipulates that upon giving
this notice to suspend deliveries the purchaser
will be 'at liberty to refuse to accept' any
further deliveries after 48 hours from the date
of such written notice, is not a contract binding
upon the purchaser. If the purchaser can at
pleasure cancel an agreement to purchase, he
has incurred no obligation; and to render a
contract mutual, the obligation must be upon
both parties."
City May Demolish or Remove Unlaw-
fully Constructed Buildings
That municipal authorities may, on notice,
lawfully and constitutionally demolish or
remove wooden buildings erected in viola-
tion of the city's charter and ordinances
within the fire limits of a city, is decided by
the United States Supreme Court in the
San Francisco case of Maguire vs. Reardon^
41 Supreme Court Reporter, 255.
Ordinance Providing for Removal of
Limited Quantities of Ashes from Resi-
dential Buildings Held Not Unjustly Dis-
criminatory
An ordinance adopted in Baltimore re-
quires the street cleaning department to "re-
move all ashes from dwelling houses, apart-
ment houses and tenement houses, not ex-
ceeding fifteen bushels per week from
each, etc." The validity of this measure
was disputed in the recent case of Mayor
and City Council of Baltimore v. Hampton
Court Co., 113 Atlantic Reporter, 850. Up-
holding the ordinance as against objection
that it was unjustly discriminatory against
apartment houses producing more than fif-
teen bushels of ashes a week, the Maryland
Court of Appeals says:
The argument in support of the charge of
discrimination seems to be based on the theory
that the removal of ashes by the city is under-
taken as a matter of favor to householders, and
on that theory it is contended that either all or
none should be removed at public expense, be-
cause the work is paid for out of a common
fund contributed by taxpayers, and therefore
it is unjust to limit the number of bushels of
ashes removed from a large apartment house,
on which heavy taxes are paid, to that removed
from a private dwelling, bearing a much lighter
burden of taxation. It is also argued that if
60 families elect to live in one house large
enough to accommodate them, it is unreasona-
ble to deny them the right to have all their
ashes removed at public expense, while their
neighbors who do not live in apartment houses,
or in houses large enough to produce more than
fifteen bushels of ashes, are relieved of the ex-
pense and trouble of providing for the removal
of any part of such refuse.
"The answer to both these arguments is that
the partial removal of ashes by the city, as pro-
vided for in this ordinance, is not undertaken
primarily as a matter of favor to individuals
or to serve their convenience. If it were, the
man who used gas or electricity instead of coal
or wood might justly complain that he was
being taxed to help pay for services rendered
by the city to his neighbor who used ash-pro-
ducing fuel ; and the family living at a hotel
might insist that it was being discriminated
against.
"As a practical proposition, however, the total
amount paid annually by the appellees for the
removal of ashes, as shown by the record, is too
small when considered in relation to the number
of families occupying the apartment to be re-
flected in the rents paid by the tenants, and it is
not believed they are substantially interested in
the controversy.
"The only justification for the use of public
money at all in an enterprise of this sort is
that it serves a public purpose. It is necessary
that ashes be removed from time to time to
protect the public from the nuisance which their
accumulation would occasion, not to the house-
holders as such, but to the public generally
using the streets of the city. How this shall
be done is for the municipal authorities, and
not for the courts, to determine.
"It does not seem to be any more reasonable
to require owners of large apartment houses
to provide for the removal of their ashes in
excess of the amount produced by the owner of
large dwellings, than to require hotels, factories
and department stores producing large quanti-
ties, to remove the same, as we said in Mayor
and City Council of Baltimore v. Hampton
Court Co. et al., supra, they could be compelled
to do."
Requiring Removal of Street Car Tracks
on Franchise Expiration
The United States Supreme Court has re-
affirmed the rule of law that "where a street
railway company, operating in the streets
of the city under a franchise granted for a
definite period, has enjoyed the full term of
the grant, the municipality may, upon fail-
ure of renewal of the grant, require the
company within a reasonable time to re-
move its tracks and other property from the
streets, without impairing any contractual
obligations protected by the Federal Con-
stitution or depriving the street railway
company of its property without due proc-
ess of law." Detroit United Railway vs.
City of Detroit, 41 Supreme Court Reporter,
285.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
nurtherw
Pomps *
**MORE GALLONS PER HORSE POWER"
Rotary Pumps Need Piston Rings
Piston rings (in fact, if not in form) are as necessary in a rotary
pump as in a gasoline engine. Without them, the hfe of either the
pump or the engine is very short.
The Northern Rotary is equipped with piston rings (packing strips)
in the end of each rotor tooth which seal the contact between the
rotor (piston) and the cylinder. Without this contact any rotary
pump has low efficiency, will not draft water readily and may fail
entirely, at the time you need it most.
Wear is automatically adjusted in the Northern so
that this contact is maintained constantly for years.
The Reo Northern triple
combination shown at
the left passed the
twelve hour Underwrit-
ers standard pumping
test at 300 gallons capac-
ity with a perfect score.
The Twelve Hour Underwriters Test
How Made And Why
The Reo-Northern shown above de-
livered 308 gallons at 124 pounds
pressure for six hours, 159 gallons per
minute at 210 pounds pressure for
three hours, and 125 gallons per min-
ute at 225 pounds pressure for three
hours. Throttle was not wide open.
Tests made drafting water.
These tests are made to protect the
purchasers of fire trucks against un-
reliable and over-rated pumpers, and
to establish the value of a type. All
future machines of the same make
and type will be approved by pass-
ing a three hour test.
Write for Booklet on Rotary Pumps. Worth Thousands of Dollars.
IT'S FREE.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. U.S.A.
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
5"
Municipal and Civic Publications
Prices do not include postage unless so stated
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH — A TEXT
AND REFERENCE BOOK FOR PHYSICIANS,
MEDICAL STUDENTS AND HEALTH WORKERS.
VOLUME I, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
By Victor C. Vaughan, M.D., Emeritus Professor of
Hygiene, University of Micliigan; Henry F.
Vaughan, Dr.P.H., Commissioner of Healtii, De-
troit; and George T. Palmer, Dr.P.H., Epidemiolo-
gist, Department of Health, Detroit, Mich. C. V.
Mosby Company, St. Louis, Mo. 1922. 688 pp.
Diagrani.s and tables. $9.
This is the first of a series of volumes on epidemiol-
ogy which will undoubtedly be the standard works of
this nature for years to come. This first volume covers
the entire field of respiratory infections and is based on
the broad experience of the author and his collaborators.
Professor Victor C. Vaughan says, ' 'In my opinion, the
present-day medical man, including the epidemiologist,
is not as fully conversant as he should be with the his-
tory of epidemic diseases." A complete knowledge of
epidemiology is a prime requisite of the health officer
and his departmental assistants, particularly in times
when terrible epidemics or pandemics are taking the
lives of many valuable citizens. This three-volume work
should be a guide to health officers in fighting future
epidemics. The second and third volumes cover the
following subjects: Volume II, Alimentary Infections,
Percutaneous Infections, Venereal Infections, Local In-
fections; Volume III, Public Health, State Medicine, etc.
A HISTORY OF SOCIAL THOUGHT
Emory S. Bogardus, Ph.D., Head of the Depart-
ment of Sociology and Social Work, University
of Southern California. University of Southern
California Press, Los Angeles, Calif. 1922. 510
pp. $3.50 postpaid.
This is a history of all the schools of social thought,
from the earliest times, with sketches of the ideas of
the classic period, of the middle ages, the ideas of
Malthus, Comte and Marx. Such chapters as those on
eugenics and psycho-sociology and the sociology of
modern Christianity bring the subject down to the
present
EVERYDAY CIVICS
Charles Edgar Finch, Director of Junior High
. School Grades and Citizenship, Rochester, N. Y.
I American Book Company, New York. 1921. VIII
4- 326 pp. Illustrated. $1.20.
A text-book for elementary schools, for use either
alone or as a supplement to a course in American his-
tory. The various features of city, state and Federal
Government are simply and clearly presented in a way
easily grasped by students.
STANDARDS FOR AMERICAN CITIES
"Attainable Standards in Municipal Programs."
Prepared by Howard W. Odum, Ph.D., Professor of
Sociology, University of North Carolina. Published
as University of North Carolina Extension Bulletin,
Vol. I, No. 7. 1921. 130 pp. Illustrated. 60 cents.
A partial report of the First Regional Conference of
Town and County Administration, held at Chapel Hill,
N. C, September, 1921. (Apply to University Exten-
sion Division, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
N. C.
ESTABLISHMENT AND REGULATION OF OPEN
AIR MARKETS
"Suggestions for an Ordinance to Establish, Locate,
Regulate and Maintain a Public Farmers' Market and
for Other Purposes." Pul)lished as Service and Regu-
latory Announcements (Markets) No. 69, Bureau of
Markets and Crop Estimates. 14 pp. 1921. (Apply
to Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, United
States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.)
ZONING IN AKRON, O.
"The Tentative Zoning Plan for Akron." Published
by the City Planning Commission, Akron, O. October,
1921. Maps and illustrations. This report explains
the purpose of zoning in general and the tentative plans
for Akron in particular. (Apply to E. A. Zeisloft,
Chief Engineer and Secretary, City PFanning Commis-
sion, Akron, 0.)
TOWN THEORY AND PRACTICE
Edited by C. B. Purdom, author of "The Garden
City." Benn Brothers, Ltd., 8 Bouverie Street
London, W. C. 4. 1921. 139 pp. Illustrated. 5
shillings.
This volume is a compilation of papers on various
phases of the town planning and garden city movement.
Its contributors are W. R. Lethaby, late Professor of
Design, Royal College of Art; G. L. Pepler, Past Presi-
dent, Town Planning Institute; Sir Theodore Chambers.
Chairman, Welwyn Garden City; R. L. Reiss, Chairman
Executive Committee, Garden Cities and Town Planning
Association; and Raymond Unwin, author of "Town
Planning in Practice."
THE FEDERAL SERVICE
Lewis Mayers, Ph.D., Member of Staff, Institute
for Government Research, New York. D. Appleton
and Company, New York. 1922. XV + 607
pp. $5.
This is one of the publications of the Institute for
Government Research, and is a study of the system of
personnel administration of the United States Govern-
ment. It includes a study of the elimination of politics
from the civil service, the problems of selection and
recruitment, classification, maintenance of efficiency,
working conditions, and the organization of Personnel
Administration. Many of the conclusions drawn from
this study of the Federal Government are of practical
application to the problems of municipalities.
AN UNUSUAL MUNICIPAL REPORT
"Detroit's Government, A Short Story of the Ser-
vices Rendered During the Year 1921, to the People of
the City of Detroit by their City (Jovernment." Pub-
lished by the Council and Mayor of Detroit, February.
1922. 77 pp. The facts usually given in a municipal
report presented in an interesting and readable manner.
Edited by Henry Steffens, Jr., City Comptroller. Apply
to the Detroit Bureau of Governmental Research, Inc.,
100 Griswold Street, Detroit, Mich.)
CITY PLANNING IN WATERTOWN, MASS.
"Report on the Proposed Location for Town Hall,
Together with Other Changes Suggested in Watertown
Square." Prei)arcd for the Planning Board of Water-
town, Mass., by John Nolen and Philip W. Foster of
Cambridge, Mass. 1921. 14 pp. Map. (Apply to
John Nolen, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.)
GAS MASKS FOR FIRE FIGHTING
"Gas Masks for Gases Met in Fire Fighting," by
Arno C. Fieldner, Sidney H. Katz and Selwyne P.
Kinney. Published by the Bureau of Mines, Depart-
ment of the Interior, as Technical Paper 248. 1921.
61 pp. Illustrated. 25 cents. This pamphlet includes
discussions of the types of gases likely to be en-
encountered by firemen, and the types of masks and
breathing apparatus in use. (Apply to the Superin-
tendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington, D. C.)
IOWA STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT
Eleventh Annual Report of the Iowa State Fire Mar-
shal for the year 1921. (Apply to J. A. Tracy, State
Fire Marshal, Des Moines, la.)
CHILD HEALTH IN NEW YORK CITY
"Infant Mortality in New York City, by Ernst Chris-
topher Meyer, Ph. D., Director of Surveys and Exhibits,
Tho Rockefeller Foundation, International Health
Board, New York City. 1921, 135 pp. Charts. A
study of the results accomplished by infant-life-saving
agencies, 1855-1920. (Apply to author, at the Rocke-
feller Foundation, 61 Broadway, New York, N. Y.)
SOUND-PROOF CONSTRUCTION
"Sound-Proof Partitions," by F. R. Watson, Pro-
fessor of Experimental Physics, University of Illinois.
Published as Bulletin No. 127, Engineering Experiment
Station, University of Illinois, Urbana, 111. 1922. 85
pp. Illustrated. 45 cents. An investigation of the
accoustic properties of various building materials, with
practical application. (Apply to publishers, address
above.)
THE AMERICAN CITY
In many ways Goodyear Cord Tires as-
sist coonoiny in track operation. Thtar
booyant cndiioniqg lowers maintenance
costSyjttst as diar nagged sucngtlisaYes
drei^ncwals OTcr iinusiaDy long periods.
TIk tong^, sharp-edged Uods of die AD-
Weatker Tread insure dependable trac-
tion at aD times. Tlie unusually strong
construction of Goodyear Cord Tires
enables tkem to equal and iiequcndi
exceed tie nuleages of sofid tires. For
every sort of kau&ig, tkcie are Goodyear
TrudL Tires that will ^ve rmnomiral
and satisfactory scrrice: Go(»dyear
Cords, Goodyear Cuslucnsy or Goodyear
Sofids with plain or AU-Weatker TieaKL
CkR.
uitvs't*^ I>iB«j"Zr&Hi
any
THE AMERICAN CITY
Officers Baker, Ryan and
Smith, zvith their Harley-
Davidsons, "keep law and
order" at a profit for
Sacramento County, Cal.
Two New Records Set by Sacramento
County Traffic Squad
In 12 months, Sacramento County, California, received
$9,508.50 in fines resulting from arrests made by the three
Harley-Davidson-mounted officers of the County Traffic
Squad. And Officer Tom Ryan (shown in the center) rode
his 1 92 1 Harley-Davidson 2 1 ,000 miles at a cost for re-
pairs and tires of only $12.40 per month.
No wonder over 800 cities and counties are using Harley-
Davidsons for police work ! No extra cost for the taxpayers.
Fewer crooks in the vicinity. Less speeding and reckless
driving. Increased revenue for the police department. And
vsath all, the most mobile, "ready-for-any-emergency" kind
of police protection a community can have — protection which
citizens and business houses appreciate.
As}i your local dealer for free demonstralion of the 1922
Harle\f-Davidson. The reduced prices will surprise j)ou, too.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY
MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
''XOorWs Champion Jvtotorcycle
CITY officials and those
interested in police de-
partment efficiency should
have our new book, "Motor-
cycles for Police and Sundry
Purposes." Write on your
letterhead for your compli-
mentary copy, and see
how other cities are using
motorcycles to increase
police efficiency.
n
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amekican City.
515
Methods, Materials and Appliances
News for City and County Engineers, City Managers, Water-Works Super-
intendents, City Controllers, Park Superintendents, Purchasing Agents, and
Others Interested in the Economical Construction and Efficient Operation of
Public Improvement Undertakings
Road Graders and Rollers
Owing to the demand for smaller size ma-
chines than the regulation one-man "Road-
Razer" made by the Avery Company, Peoria,
111., this company has brought out a small size
machine for narrow roads and streets. The
width of the original Road Razer from drive
wheel to drive wheel is 93 inches. It has a
three-section blade 12 feet 6 inches long and
cuts a 9-foot 6-inch swath. The new model
Road Razer is 70 inches wide, has a three-
section blade 10 feet 3 inches long, and cuts a
7- foot swath.
For service on gravel, crushed stone, and oiled
streets and roads, the regulation machine has
been equipped with rubber block tired wheels.
This equipment has been used quite successfully
in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, where there are
a great many gravel and crushed stone roads.
F. E. Burt, Superintendent of Streets of Flint,
Mich., reports that with the rubber-tired equip-
ment he has found the machine much more
satisfactory for city work, where at times it is
necessary to drive over asphalt paving to get to
a job; the rubber-tired wheels make it possible
to do this without cutting the pavement with
the lugs.
The Avery Company has also brought out re-
cently a Track-Runner tractor which has con-
siderable value in the city and county fields.
There is one track-runner on each side, each
about 6 feet over-all. The tractor weighs about
5,000 pounds complete and can turn practically
in its own length.
In addition to the track-runner machine men-
tioned above, there is a new 12-20 Avery trac-
tor with direct wheel drive and spur gear trans-
mission. The horse-power draw-bar rating is
12 and 20 on the belt. It is run by a 4-cylinder
engine with 4!S^-inch bore and 6-inch stroke
operating normally at 800-950 r.p.m. The en-
gine, complete with all equipment, weighs 1,250
pounds. The driving wheels of the built-up
type are 52 inches in diameter, with 14-inch
face. The turning radius of the machine is 9
feet.
Avery road tractors may be furnished with a
road roller attachment, which hooks under the
front end of the tractor in place of the front
wheel. It is entirely different from any other
type of road roller which this company has
VABIOUS ADAPTATIONS OF A TRACTOR UNIT
1. A small-size "Road Razer" for narrow roads and streets. 2. A regulation-size machine equipped with
rubber block tired wheels for running over gravel and other similar roads. 3. A track-runner tractor
that insures good traction. 4. A tractor with direct wheel drive. 5. An Avery road tractor with road-
roller attachment
THE AMERICAN CITY
Good roads all year round
Through the simple addition of Water Tank, Pressure Pump, Spraying
Attachment and lighter broom, the FOX ROTARY SNOW BROOM
has been successfully converted into a Street Sweeper that will clean
perfectly at the rate of 12 miles per hour.
The possession of this machine assures to Municipalities the certainty
of clean streets in both winter and summer.
Get detailed information from us and reports from Cities now operating
this remarkable machine all year 'round.
Fox Rotary Snow Broom Co.
Two Lombardy Street, Newark, N. J.
gg When writing to AdTettisers please mention The Amekican City.
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
517
used and makes it quite easy for road officials
to roll the roads with the same machine which
they use in building them. It has the same
wheel base as the Avery tractor with the front
wheel. The tractor will turn around as short
with the roller as with the axle. The turntable
is mounted on ball bearings, having 75 one-inch
hard steel balls which carry the roller. This
machine makes it possible for road builders to
roll and pack a road as they grade it. The
tractor with the roller is 9 feet wide and has
an average pressure of 175 pounds to the square
inch. This road roller attachment can easily be
removed in less than an hour and the wheels put
back on the machine for use in hauling and
other road jobs.
Well Screens to Protect Pumps
Well screens of two types — all-brass, and pipe
base — are manufactured by Edward E. Johnson,
Inc., St. Paul, Minn., for use in connection with
driven wells ending in sand or gravel, to pre-
vent the entrance of sand into the pumping
system.
The all-brass screen is a cylinder made up of
the coils of a single strip of brass of special
section, the successive coils of which interlock.
The brass strip is so shaped that a narrow slit
occurs on the outer face of the cylinder between
BRASS WELL
SCREEN
BRASS PIPE
BASE WELL
SCREEN
successive coils. The water passes through the
slit into an interior annular space, the sides of
which diverge sharply from the slit to prevent
clogging. The inside or supporting wall is re-
inforced by brass rods soldered continuously to
the inside wall. The screens are made in sec-
tions from 2 to 18 feet in length, for setting in
pipe from 2 to 16 inches in diameter, and with
inlet slots .006 to .06 inch in width. They
are adapted for setting in wells by pulling back
the casing, washing down or bailing, but not
for driving.
The pipe base well screen is designed par-
ticularly for conditions which require the driv-
ing of the screen ahead of the casing. It con-
sists of an iron pipe, perforated and threaded,
the perforated section being covered with a con-
tinuous spiral wrapping of Johnson's jacket rib-
bon soldered to the pipe and having upon it in
open spiral a tinned solder strip wound in the
opposite direction for reinforcing. The jacket
ribbon is made up of parallel strands of tri-
angular brass wire soldered crosswise at regu-
lar intervals to maintain the slot openings.
These screens are made in sizes to fit in wells
from 2 to 18 inches in diameter. The screen
can be removed, cleaned and replaced, or a new
screen surface applied at the well.
Lighting the Ideal Section
of the Lincoln Highway
The necessity for lighting main highways in
the open country so impressed the Technical
Committee of Highway Engineers and othei
experts who determined the specifications for
the Ideal Section of the Lincoln Highway Asso-
ciation that the problem of ideal illumination
was given to the illuminating engineers of the
General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.,
headed by W. D'Arcy Ryan, for solution.
The most advanced type of highway lighting
unit that this company has developed will be
installed on the Ideal Section this summer. It
is simple in design and economical in regard to
installation cost and operation as well as main-
tenance. It embodies a new principle for col-
lecting the light rays and casting them on the
roadway instead of on the vacant fields ad-
jacent to the highways. This is accomplished
by a nest of reflectors, a series of three, one
within another. These reflectors serve to col-
lect the light which would be reflected upward
and outward over the adjoining field and to
cast it on the surface of the road, at the same
time preventing the possibility of glare, the
danger and annoyance of which are realized by
the motorist. The bracket holding the lamp and
the nested reflectors is to be affixed to an orna-
mental concrete pole 35 feet high. The bracket
is adjustable in both horizontal and vertical
positions, permitting the illumination of hill-
sides and curves in the road.
One of these units will be installed every 250
feet along the edge of the paving, alternate
lighting standards being on opposite sides of
the road. All power wires for lighting will be
underground, and the lights will be controlled by
an automatic oil time switch, which can be ad-
THE AMERICAN CITY
mm
i
gtgiig^^i' ir- 'r
Tractors
for power, speed, economy
Preparing streets for repaving. breaking up old pavements, making new
thoroughfares, all require an abundance of steady, dependable power.
Scarifiers, plows, drills, levelers, scrapers, graders, etc., do their best
work, and more of it, when propelled by good tractors. This is because
the tractor has the reserve power to keep the tool moving constantly
at proper speeds and with proper adjustments for maximum results.
Tractors like the BEST concentrate the pulling power of a large
number of animals within a small unit which is easy to manage, easy
to maneuver, and which has none of the weaknesses of the flesh.
Best Tractors are famous for stamina, power and dependability, and
their cost for up-keep and operation is small. That is why they are
being adopted more and more by municipal, county and state officials
for road and street making and maintenance.
Let us send you further details on the use of tractors for road and street
work. Write for catalogs, prices and names of our nearest dealers.
C.L.BEST TRACTOR CO.
SAN LEANDRO - CALIFORNIA
There are three models of Best Tractors — the "Sixty," the" Thirty"
and the "Cruiser" {60). Alt are factory-built — not assembled.
-A
"Sixty"
"Thirty"
"Cruiser"
97 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
519
LIGHTING A ROAD WITHOUT LIGHTING THE
FIELDS
justed to turn them on and off at any deter-
mined hour in the evening and the morning.
The cost per unit per year is figured at
$23.50, and as there are twenty Hghting stand-
ards with their units per mile, the cost of light-
ing the roadway per mile for the necessary
hours each night will be only $465, including
maintenance and current. This figures to about
25 cents per foot of roadway per year, which is
low considering the benefits to be derived, in-
cluding accident prevention, increased night
traffic, thereby relieving day congestion, de-
creased running time, increased road capacity,
additional comfort and pleasure for those driv-
ing at night, through relief of eye-strain and the
elimination of the necessity of switching dim-
mers on and off when passing other vehicles.
The subsidiary benefits of rural highway
lighting must be considered also. Power lines
required for rural illumination bring electricity
to the farm, increase real estate values, tend to
the extension of city building out along the
roadways, and discourage automobile hold-ups.
Fire Sprinkler Systems for Low
Water Pressure Cities
Low city water pressure has been one of the
greatest drawbacks to the more general use of
automatic sprinkler systems. Especially has this
been so in the greatest congested value districts
in the world. In New York, Chicago, Phila-
delphia and Detroit, city water pressure is in-
adequate to supply sprinkler system in even
moderately high buildings. In cities and towns
having low water pressure, there are millions of
dollars' worth of combustible business values
which have been denied the many benefits of
sprinkler protection because of inadequate city
water pressure, for two reasons : the impossi-
bility of introducing low-cost single-source
sprinkler systems supplied only by city water;
and the impracticability of tank-supplied sys-
tems, on account of high first cost, due to the
expense of tanks and building alterations, and
on account of structural weaknesses in the
buildings themselves, rendering them incapable
of supporting tanks even after extensive altera-
tions.
These factors have combined to make it ex-
ceedingly difficult to eliminate frequently recur-
ring individual fires and the danger of sweeping
conflagrations in many great congested value dis-
tricts. The solution of this problem demanded
the creation of high water pressure without the
use of tanks, and the assurance that whatever
pressure was created would be at least as cer-
tain as the average city water pressure. Fur-
ther, it was necessary to provide unlimited vol-
ume of water under the neces.sary pressure.
The Grinnell Company, Providence, R. I., has
developed an improved booster pump sprinkler
system to solve these difficulties. In this system
an automatic electric pump is utilized to build
up any required pressure and maintain it. The
AN AUTOMATIC ELECTKICALLY-DRIVEN BOOSTER FIRE PUMP
A. The pump. B. Low-pressure supply pipe. C. High-pressure discharge line D
Supply-p?essSre gage. H Electric motor. I. Combined manual and automatic starter
panel J. Cabinet for starter panel. K. Automatic regulator for pump O. Jef valve^
P Pipe from test valve wasting to sewer. Q. Relry on control board for closing test
valve. R. Valves for attaching hosft S. Circuit breakers
THE AMERICAN CITY
Forty-one years of life
under traffic in Washington
The Genasco Line
includes asphaltic
roofing, flooring,
paints and allied
protective products.
Write for descriptive
matter.
Laid in 1881 — before the "gasoline buggy" was even heard of —
when the women of Washington wore bustles — and good for many
years to come!
That's the remarkable history of the Trinidad paving on 12th St.,
N. W., N to O Sts., Washington, D. C. — one of the capitol's many
splendid Trinidad streets. For the past years the maintenance cost
on this street has been only .0177 cents per square yard per year.
And it's just such unbeatable records — established under the most
severe conditions of traffic and weather— that have made Trinidad
Lake Asphalt "The Standard Paving Material of the World."
Trinidad Lake Asphalt is a product of the Ages. Centuries of
exposure to the rigors of tropic weather have but seasoned and tough-
ened it for long-lasting service on modern highways.
Before repaving that old street or paving a new, let us tell you more
about this wonderful material. Write for illustrated folders.
New York
Chicago
Pittsburgh
THE BARBER ASPHALT
PHIL.ADEI.PM1A
St. Louia
Kansaf City
Atlanta
San Francisco
TRINIDAD
LAKE
ASPHALT
08
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
I
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
521
idea of a booster pump is not
new, but certain features have
been developed distinguishing
this pump from the ordinary
automatic equipment
In its elements the new sys-
tem is practically the same as
any single-source sprinkler
system supplied by city water,
except that the whole pump
unit is cut into the system be-
tween the city connection and
the main riser. The capacity
of the pump is determined by
the size, construction and con-
tents hazard of the building to
be protected. The pump takes
suction direct from the city
water-mains and builds up the
pressure in the sprinkler system to the required
amount. It then stops working, but whenever
the built-up pressure falls appreciably, the pump
automatically starts and works until the^ full
pressure is restored. In the case of fire with a
consequent opening of sprinkler heads and re-
duction of pressure, the pump continues to oper-
ate and maintain adequate pressure on the
sprinklers up to its full capacity.
BUILDING ROADS IN NORTH CAROUNA
chisels and other implements used for road con-
struction and maintenance, these tractors have
made many good records. One illustration
shown herewith gives a good idea of their use
in hauling a long line of wide-wheeled trailers
loaded with gravel for a highway job. The
other depicts one of these machines hauling a
blade grader on a road job in North Carolina,
easily piling up the dirt from the ditch onto the
crown of the road.
Tractors in Road Building
The tractor is fast taking the place of animal
power in road building and road maintenance
work. It has proved a big time-saver, not to
mention the fact that a tractor can be operated
continuously without a rest, with less help, and
over ground conditions impossible to negotiate
with animal power.
The special advantages claimed for the Best
Tracklayer tractor, made by the C. L. Best
Tractor Company, San Leandro, Calif., are that
it has dependable flexible power, giving the road
building contractor, the highway engineer and
the supervisor the assurance that the tractor
will handle the job at hand without trouble.
These tractors are built for heavy-duty service,
which necessitates the use of good materials.
They are built compactly, are easy to handle
and have sufficient reserve power to respond to
unusual demands. In the handling of elevating
graders, scarifiers, levellers, graders, plows.
HATJLINa GRAVEL TO HIGHWAY JOB
A Self-propelled Tree Sprayer
With spring here, city foresters and ento-
mologists are turning to getting spring spraying
done on all trees that are threatened with moths
and other parasites. The Field Force Pump
Company, Elmira, N. Y., manufacturer of the
"Ospraymo" line of spraying equipment, makes
a self-propelled machine of high power with
auto truck drive, for municipal departments.
This machine is also used by the Bureau of
Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
The complete tank and pumps are mounted on
a 3j/2-ton truck. The engine has ample power
to drive the truck and operates the pump at 600
pounds working pressure. It is equipped with a
roller-chain drive direct from the main line
shaft of the truck engine to the pump. The
pump drive is equipped with a jaw clutch con-
trolled from the driver's seat and is of the
triplex plunger type, having cylinders of 3^-
inch bore and 4-inch stroke, with 50 gallons per
minute capacity at 600 pounds
pressure. The tank holds 400
gallons, is made of clear white
pine or cypress, and is fast-
ened to the frame by four
steel rods passing through the
sills and upward through the
top ledge of the tank, which
has a filling hole of ample size
with hinged cover. The pump
and gearing are protected by
oiled duck side-curtains, form-
ing a tight housing.
The contents of the tank
are thoroughly mixed by an
agitator driven directly from
the pump by a chain belt.
The steel shaft and long
THE AMERICAN CITY
WHY
TIFFIN FLUSHERS
Superb Construction, Superior Design,
Specialized Quality Units, Unity of Service
ECONOMY, EFFICIENCY, DURABILITY, SANITATION
Ask users about Tiffin Flushers and Tiffin Service.
Write us for catalog and engineering detail.
THE TIFFIN WAGON COMPANY, TIFFIN, OHIO
"THE BEST BY EVERY TEST"
72 New Contracts for 1,478,333 Square Yards of
Warrenite-Bitulithic Pavement Since January 1
Because Because Because
Warrenite-Bitulithic can Warrenite-Bitulithic has Warrenite-Bitulithic has
be laid over any suit- i • i i i ,
able existing base and ^^'!T ^iven the most been adopted as a
will give dependable satisfactory kind of serv- standard construction
service for longer ^^^ under the severest in over 550 cities
periods than other use and the hardest throughout the United
types of paving. climatic conditions. States and Canada.
Our expert supervision and laboratory service insures quality and service without equal.
Let us send you oar booklet about Warrenite-Bitulithic.
WARREN BROTHERS COMPANY
Executive Offices: Bowdoin Square, Boston, Mass.
District Offices:
Utica, N. Y. New Orleans, La. Toronto, Ont. Washington, D. C.
New York, N. Y. St. Louis, Mo. Winnipeg, Man. Minneapolis, Minn.
Portland, Oregon. Chicago, 111. Memphis, Tenn. San Francisco, Cal.
Vancouver, B. C. Phoenix, Ariz. Los Angeles, Cal.
99 When' writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
523
A HIGH-PEESSURE SPRAYER FOR PROTECTING TREES FROM THE RAVAGES OF MOTHS
AND OTHER INSECTS
paddles extend the entire length of the tank.
The poison-mixing tank is of galvanized iron
16 inches in diameter by 18 inches deep, mounted
between the pump and the liquid tank and hav-
ing the mixing paddles driven from the agitator
shaft, so that the mixing is thorough and con-
tinuous. Two hydraulic pressure gages, regis-
tering 1,000 pounds, and two safety release
valves are included, so that the liquid may flow
back into the large solution tank when the noz-
zles on delivery lines are closed. Running
boards are placed on both sides of the machine,
and a stout railing of gas pipe on top of the
tank affords protection and safety for the crew.
These machines are built from specifications
furnished by the United States Department of
Agriculture and are carefully built and worked
out for spraying large, tall trees in forests or
parks for protection from the gypsy moth, elm
leaf beetle, tussock moth and other pests of
woods and farms.
Municipal Development
Engineer
Jacob L. Crane, Jr., has opened an office at
1002 Wrigley Building, 400 North Michigan
Avenue, Chicago, 111., for the practice of mu-
nicipal engineering and town planning. Mr.
Crane has been engaged in this work for some
years and spent six months in 192 1 collecting
city planning data in Europe. He is technical
advisor on zoning and city planning in Chicago
for the Chicago Real Estate Board.
A New Meter Yoke
The P'ord Meter Box Company, 406 South
Carroll Street, Wabash, Ind., has recently
brought out a new meter-holding yoke to be
used in connection with meter boxes. This
"Meter Grip" is designed to meet the demand
for a cheap and effective meter-holding yoke.
The yoke is designed to be sold at a lower
price than regular yokes, but is made of the
best material, selected to stand years of use in
damp locations. It is made for meters of ^-
and ^-inch sizes and may be used with meter-
box covers of any type, either single or double
lid. The yoke is made plain or with a stop
valve on the inlet end, and either plain or with
a test valve on the outlet end. Valve-ended
types are supplied with bronze-lined stops, and
where these are used, the usual curb stop and
curb box may be dispensed with.
A COMPLETE UNIT— BOX, YOKE AND DIETER
THE AMERICAN CITY
The Truth About Drinking Fountains
UNSAFE
No. 1. Vertical stream
which permits saliva and waste
water from the drinker's
mouth to fall back to source of
supply. No longer consid-
ered sanitary.
UNSAFE
No. 2. Modification of ver-
tical stream. This slight angle
is little if any improvement
over No. 1.
IMPRACTICAL
No. 3. More sanitary if
properly used. However,
stream is hose-like with no
definite drinking point. Dif-
ficult to drink from.
THE PERFECT DRINKING FOUNTAIN STREAM
is produced by the famous PURITAN Cantonment "2-stream pro-
jector" illustrated in connection with our Puritan 605 Fountain.
This stream producing device was designed for, approved and adopted
by the Government during the
war. Now recognized as superior
by the largest interests
schools in the country.
and
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES
Practical drinking stream!
Automatic stream control —
Stream is never too high. Never
too low.
CANTONMENT
Write for illustrated literature
Puritan No. 605 Vitreous China Wall
Fountain
THE HALSEY W. TAYLOR CO. - Warren, Ohio
100
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Auerican City.
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
535
A New Highway Maintenance
Truck
The Board of Supervisors of Kern County,
Calif., has been using for some time a Fageol
highway maintenance truck made by the Fageol
Motors Company, Oakland, Calif. This truck
was purchased immediately after the demonstra-
tion test given at the concrete highway test
track, Pittsburg, Calif. Stanley Abel, chair-
man of the Kern County Supervisors, stated that
in one day's operation of this truck 27 patches
were made on the highway, and after charging
off the very liberal depreciation with full operat-
ing expenses, the cost of doing this with the
maintenance truck showed a saying of ^7 as
compared with the cost of the same amount of
work done by the usual method. It is expected
that this truck will pay for itself within the first
year's operation.
The Fageol highway maintenance truck con-
sists of a heavy-duty motor truck equipped with
an air compressor with a capacity of 80 cubic
feet per minute with air receiver and 200 feet
of i-inch air hose and connections. There are
combination material bins having a capacity of
1,000 pounds of cement, i cubic yard of sand, 2
cubic yards of gravel or rock, all gravity oper-
ated and controlled by hand-operated gates to the
mixing apron. The water-tank has a capacity of
150 gallons, and discharge is effected by gravity
or pressure. The rotary concrete mixer is
driven by an auxiliary shaft from the transmis-
sion. The centrifugal pump has a self-priming
device and suction hose for filling the water-
tank from wells, rivers, and other sources. It
has a draw-bar attachment for hauling trailers,
and a power-driven niggerhead winch for ser-
vice when needed. A tar or road oil heating
tank with gas burners is included, having a
capacity of 50 gallons and equipped with a
siphon nozzle for spraying bituminous material
under pressure with hose. A large pneumatic
jack-hammer with assorted chisels, tampers, etc.,
a pneumatic post-hole digger and hose, are also
provided. .
There is an extension side-arm or boom placed
at the side of the truck, which is used in haul-
ing a large grading plow with drag or grader
when necessary. Additional equipment includes
a steel wheelbarrow, one 10- ton jack and
bracket, 200 feet of i-inch manila rope, 25 feet
of tow chain, steel stencils for lettering high-
ways, three shovels, two picks, one large sledge,
two crowbars, ten red lanterns, ten "At Work"
signs and ten red flags.
The truck is thus fully equipped for repair-
ing ruptures or breaks in reinforced or plain
concrete, macadam or various bituminous types
of streets, as well as erecting fences, assisting
in the construction or repair of steel, wooden or
concrete bridges and culverts, beveling, grad-
ing, and other maintenance jobs on highways,
stenciling traffic or ordinance signs, chipping
out cracks on concrete highways and sealing
with hot bituminous material under pressure,
cuitting asphalt paving with the pneumatic
chisel or jack-hammer, spraying trees and shrub-
bery in parks with fungicide, and putting out
fires along highways. With suction hose and
centrifugal pump it can be used to good advan-
tage in pumping out caissons, etc.
THE ROAD MAINTENANCE TRUCK WITH ALL EQUIPMENT SHOWN
THE AMERICAN CITY
PROTECTION
A Standard System of
Protective Service Meter Switches
WK-54
Switch
equipped
porcelain
bus-
connector
block.
WK-54
Switch
eciuipped
with
bus-
connector
straps.
The line of Westinghouse Type WK-54 service
meter switches represents a standard system of
entrance switches. These switches were de-
signed to meet Central Station demands. Also
they afford protection to the service and watt-
hour meters by preventing interference or tam-
pering by anyone not authorized to care for
them. Testing of the meters can be done with
dispatch and without interfering with the con-
sumer's use of his installations.
The terminal chamber of the meter and all the
wiring is enclosed in a metallic enclosure under
one cover. The switch is operated from the
outside, so that it is unnecessary to disturb the
seal on the box or open the cover to operate the
switch.
There is ample space in the box for wiring.
Removable knockouts (U sides) are provided in
each side of the box to permit the use of wiring
troughs for banking meters.
The ends of the box are made to receive all
makes of end walls or meter trims for this type
of equipment.
A grounding connection is placed inside each
box.
Furnished in capacities of 30, 60 and 100
amperes.
Type WK-S4 Service Motor Switches are fully described in Catalogue 12- A
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company
Krantz Works, 160 Seventh St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
W^tinghouse
101
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
527
A 120-H. P. ST. MARYS FUEL OIL ENGINE INSTALLATION IN AUBURN, NEBR.
A New-Principle Diesel
Oil Engine
A Diesel engine without the usual air com-
pressor piping, air receivers and needle valves,
has quite recently been placed on the market
by the St. Marys Oil Engine Company, St.
Charles, Mo. The fuel for this engine is not
^atomized by means of compressed air, as in most
' Diesel types, but by partial explosion in the cup.
The cost of production claimed by the manu-
facturer is from 20 to 30 per cent less than
that of the standard type of fuel oil engines.
This is caused by discarding the high-pressure
compressor with its piping and receivers, the
fuel pump with piping and needle valves, and
the expense of erecting these parts.
In operating a 60-horse-power St. Marys en-
gine for 300 lo-hour days, approximating one
year, the total cost for fuel at 5 cents per gal-
lon is about $660.30. An interesting installation
of these engines is found in the municipal
power-plant at Grafton, 111., where two 30-
horse-power St. Marys engines are running
two 2,300-volt, 371/2-kw. generators. The night
load requires the two engines to furnish the
rctjuired current. No difficulty has been ex-
perienced, according to statements of the offi-
cials, in starting the engines, and in five
minutes they have been able to handle the full
load, using about 2 gallons of fuel oil to the
engine per hour when operating at full load.
Blackstead Joins Dayton-Dowd
The Dayton-Dowd Company, Quincy, 111.,
has recently announced that A. t. BiacKstead
has joined its engineering staff in the manufac-
ture of centrifugal pumps and fire pumps. Mr.
Blackstead was formerly Chief Engineer of
the Camden Iron Works, and prior to that,
Hydraulic Engineer with the Henry R. Worth-
ington Company, of New York. He has just
returned from Europe, where he spent six
months studying conditions and investigating re-
cent developments in hydraulic engineering.
Whitten Opens Cleveland Office
Robert Whitten has announced that he has
opened offices at 4614 Prospect Avenue, Cleve-
land, Ohio, for the professional practice of city
planning and city zoning. He will undertake
commissions from municipalities and civic or-
ganizations for the preparation of comprehen-
sive city plans and their special features, such
as zoning plans and ordinances, major street
or thoroughfare plans, traffic regulations and
ordinances, park and boulevard plans, building
line, bill-board and smoke prevention ordinances,
and regulations for the approval of plats of
land subdivisions.
Pennsylvania State Contract
for Culverts
The Canton Culvert & Silo Company, Canton,
Ohio, manufacturers of Acme nestable and Im-
perial riveted corrugated metal culverts, have
been awarded the contract for supplying the
Pennsylvania State Highway Department's re-
quirements for corrugated metal culverts for
this season, as last. The contract approximates
42,000 feet of corrugated culverts.
Central Foundry Moves Up-Town
The Central Foundry Company, manufac-
turers of Universal cast iron pipe, formerly lo-
cated at 90 West Street, New York City, have
moved up-town to 41 East 42d Street.
THE AMERICAN CITY
W^Vdo
they?
Placing a 12" 45-ft. JOHNSON
Well screen in the well.
Brass
There is a free sample waiting for
every interested person who wants to
know why Johnson Brass Well Screens
have them all beat for capacity. If
you are one of these persons tell us
and we will see that you get yours.
When you plan your well have the
screen with the continuous inlet slot
where you can look at it. You will
see one-half more active intake area
and a real honest completely undercut
intake slot.
The sample shows in a way which can-
not be disputed just why the Johnson
is the most valuable well screen. Send
for it now.
Edward E. Johnson, Inc.
St. Paul, Minn.
GENUINE
PHILADELPHIA
LAWIV IVIOWERS
ff
Style "GRAHAM" aU steel.
Style "A" all steel.
Practically Indestructible.
LARGEST MAKERS OF HIGH GRADE
LAWN MOWERS IN THE WORLD,
and more people have bought and are buying,
using and recommending the GENUINE
"PHILADELPHIA" Lawn Mowers than any
other make.
The famous Vanadium Crucible Steel Blades and
the Bearings bored to rifle barrel accuracy, are
features that have made the name "PHILADEL-
PHIA" worth remembering when buying Lawn
Mowers.
So great is the demand we are compelled to make
"PHILADELPHIA" Mowers in
18 Styles HAND, 4 Styles HORSE, 3 Styles MOTOR
ALL HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE TO BUILD
A MOWER FOR EVERY PURPOSE
Send for catalog NOW.
If your hardware dealer or seedman cannot supply you, send to us direct.
The Philadelphia Lawn Mower Company
31ST AND CHESTNUT STS., PHILADELPHIA, U. S. A.
102
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
529
Tubular Steel Lamp Standards Hotel Financing
There has been much talk about the danger
of shattering street lighting standards by trucks
or automobiles which are intentionally steered
over the curb line to prevent
collision with other vehicles or
pedestrians. To overcome
these objections the Electric
Railway Equipment Company,
Cincinnati. Ohio, has brought
out the Safety First standard
which is illustrated herewith.
This standard is claimed to be
practically unbreakable, as the
shafts are made from open-
hearth, lap-welded steel tubes,
having a tensile strength of over
50,000 pounds per square inch
and assembled with a patented
"wire lock" joint. The stand-
ard illustrated is equipped with
a General Electric Form 8
Novalux top and measures 10
feet 6 inches from the ground
line to the center of the light
source. The base is 13 inches
in diameter and the shaft 4J/2
and 354 inches in diameter.
New Central Station
for Amory, Miss.
A bond issue of $90,000 has
been authorized to finance a new
complete light, water and power
plant in Amory, Miss. The new
power-plant machinery will con-
sist of one 3-cylinder, 175-b.h.p.
engine, and one 4-cylinder, 225-
b.h.p. engine, both q£ the ver-
tical 4-cycle Fulton Diesel type
made by the Fulton Iron Works
Company, St. Louis, Mo. The
smaller engine will be direct-
connected to a i46-kv.-amp.,
117-kilowatt, 8 P.F., 2,300-volt,
60-cycle, 3-phase, alternating-
current generator with belted
exciter. The larger engine will
be direct-connected to a 187^^-
kv.-amp. generator of the same
type with belted exciter. A
well-lighted brick and concrete
building of ample size is to be
erected for the new machinery,
and space will be provided for
a future third Diesel engine.
It is interesting to note that
although Amory is nearer to the
coal fields than to the oil fields,
it was shown by F. G. Proutt,
of Memphis, Tenn., city con-
sulting engineer, that with
Diesel engines the net income
on the light, water and power
system would be more per dollar invested than
with any other type of equipment.
A Lighting
Standard
Difficult
to Shatter
The modern hotel is becoming more and more
not only a community social center, but the
symbol of the type of hospitality the com-
munity extends to the traveler. The present is
by no means a stay-at-home generation. Im-
proved highways carry an increasing number
of travelers over the country, making hotels a
distinct asset to a municipality. As travel has
increased, there has been a growing tendency
to classify cities upon the basis of their hotels.
The public, as a result of its journeying, has
come to realize the truth of Samuel Johnson's
observation that "there is nothing which has
been conceived by man by which so much happi-
ness is provided as by a good tavern or inn."
Community financing in connection with hotel
promotion is coming rapidly to the front as an
accepted procedure. An increasing number of
cities and towns are taking pains to protect
their good names by establishing a community
interest in the hotels that represent them. In
this connection the announcement that Harvey
J. Hill and Arnaud C. Marts have retired from
the firm of Ward, Hill, Pierce and Wells, and
formed the Hotel Financing Company, i Madi-
son Avenue, New York City, in order to devote
themselves to the work of financing hotels upon
the basis of community participation.
The modern hotel is a force for democracy
whose importance and influence few of us fully
realize. A list of the events scheduled at many
of our hotels in wide-awake communities in-
dicates the great range of their local service.
Practically every sort of organization, from a
chamber of commerce to a literary society,
makes the hotel its regular meeting-place. In
addition, the modern hotel is the scene of in-
numerable social functions. Whatever may be
the limitations imposed on the modern flat-
dweller by the housing problem, the hotel offers
to all members of the community alike op-
portunities and accommodations for sociability
appreciated by the individual, as well as neces-
sary to folks in the mass. The hotel has made
it possible to overcome many social difficulties
that would otherwise be insurmountable.
This is only one phase of the service rendered
by hotels from the community point of view.
It would be quite enough to stimulate com-
munity interest in the hotel were there no other
basis for it. But the hotel is the right hand
that each community extends to welcome the
stranger within its gates. It is possible for a
poor hotel to undo in five minutes all that the
community boosters have accomplished in the
space of a year. Community-promoted hotels
are now recognized institutions, and conserva-
tive, dependable methods of financing them are
a distinct contribution to community welfare.
General Chemical Moves Office
The General Chemical Company, manufac-
turers of Hard-n-Tyte, a chemical for produc-
ing stronger concrete, have moved their offices
from, the Broad Exchange Building, New York
City, to 40 Rector Street.
THE AMERICAN CITY
A reduced section of the New York City Mosaic
Map showing Columbus Circle district.
The Fairchild Aerial
MOSAIC MAP
— a new big factor in
city development plans
A Mosaic Survey is made by taking
and assembling a series of overlapping
vertical aerial photographs, resulting
in a complete map, perfect in detail
and mosaic in character.
The City of Newark, N. J.,
has recently contracted for a
Fairchild Aerial Mosaic Survey
because copies of the map will
prove an invaluable aid to:
1. City Plan Board
2. City Engineer
3. Tax Assessor
4. Schools
5. Police and Fire Department
6. Building Department
7. Bureau of Information
8. Civic Organizations
DO THIS TODAY— Write for large
gravure reproduction of New York
Mosaic Survey — and one of the
sectional photographs used in making
this map. Sent FREE to any inter-
ested official.
FAIRCHILD
AERIAL- CAMERA- CORPORATIOiNi
136 West 59!^'i St.. New'^tSrk
Position Wanted as
CITY MANAGER, CITY ENGINEER,
OR CHIEF ENGINEER
Engineer of long and varied executive ex-
perience wishes position as City Manager or
City Engineer, or as Chief Engineer or Supt.
of municipal department or private corpora-
tion. 14 years executive head and chief
engineer of large department in city of over
500,000 and of an Industrial and Power Co.
12 years' practice as consulting civil, hydrau-
lic, sanitary, and power engineer. Address
Box 89, The American City, Tribune Bldg.,
New York City.
REGISTERED ENGINEER
(Michigan)
Well qualified in municipal engineering,
wishes new location. Five years' intensive
experience in water works, sewerage, sewage
disposal and the preparation of plans, draw-
ings, specifications, and estimates for pave-
ments, side walk, bridges, surveys, and the
preparation of contracts.
Box 90, The American City, Tribune
Bldg., New York City.
Wanted
Applications for City Manager
by the
City of Onaway,
Mich.
WILL B. GREGG,
City Clerk.
CITY MANAGER
OR CHAMBER SECRETARY
AVAILABLE
A high grade, public spirited man,
32 years old, university graduate,
widely experienced in newspaper,
publicity and organization work, is
available for city manager or chamber
of commerce work. Box 88, care
American City, Tribune Bldg., New
York.
lOS
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
May, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
531
A Tapping Machine for
Water- Mains
The tapping machine illustrated herewith is
the invention of Walter S. Payne, who for a
number of years was a Superintendent of
Water-Works and has been for a long time in
the business of manufacturing water-works sup-
plies. This new Eclipse tapping machine is
made by the Hays Manufacturing Company,
Erie, Pa. It is claimed that this machine has
reduced the process of tapping water-mains un-
der pressure to its simplest form, as there are
no valves or pet-cocks to get out of order, and
no revolving heads to get sprung or joints to
leak. The pressure or strain of the feed screw
pulls directly on the chain, thereby relieving the
machine of undue strain. The machines are
made of bronze metal with saddles of malleable
iron.
In using this machine, the corporation cock is
screwed into the mandrel or bushing by means of
a spanner wrench which goes with each ma-
chine for this purpose. Then by means of a
handle the crane is swung around over the open-
ing in the bottom of the machine, and the man-
drel is screwed firmly into the crane by means
of the wrench. The crane, with the mandrel
and cock in it, is then swung around into the
recess, and the handle is folded up to prevent
the crane from swinging back. Following this,
the combined tap and drill is put into the ma-
chine. The saddle, with a gasket under it, is put
onto the main, and with another gasket in the
saddle the machine is set onto the saddle. The
tightening bolts are unscrewed far enough out
of the clevis and harp to give room for taking
up all slack in the chain. The ends of the chain
are passed through the harps and then the chain
is tightened by means of a wrench applied to
the tightening bolt. These bolts have a right-
hand thread at one end and a left-hand thread
at the other, so that they tighten up rapidly.
A MACHINE FOR TAPPING WATER-MAINS
When this is done, the ratchet is put on the
drill, and the feeder yoke is swung into position.
Then the feeder screw is tightened until there
is the proper pressure on the drills. After the
hole is drilled and tapped, the tap is drawn up
into the machine as far as possible through the
stufifing box. The handle is then opened and the
crane swung around so that the cock and
mandrel come immediately under the tap and
drill. Then the operator pushes down on the
tap and drill and screws it into the mandrel until
it is tight, continuing until it unscrews the man-
drel out of the crane. When it is thus released,
the cock is pushed down into the opening in the
main and screwed in by means of the tap, using
a ratchet to turn it in. The chain is then
loosened and the machine taken off, a wrench is
put onto the cock, screwing it into the main
securely, and then the tap and mandrel are un-
screwed from the cock.
Kelly-Springfield Changes
Sales Policy
The Kelly- Springfield Tire Company has re-
cently consolidated its general offices in the new
building at 250 West 57th Street, New York
City. The New York Branch has been re-
moved to the company's warehouse at 553 West
57th Street, New York City, which is equivalent
to giving up the branch altogether, since it has
no display rooms, sales counters or any of the
other appurtenances of the usual tire store.
The company has discontinued all retail sales
in order to protect dealers.
The company intends to establish warehouses
in various centers of distribution where rail-
road facilities are best suited to give prompt
service to its dealers. In places where it now
maintains branches, these will be supplanted by
offices, which in many cases will be in the ware-
houses themselves.
Benham Engineering Company
Webster L. Benham has announced that un-
der the firm name of Benham Engineering
Company, Consulting Engineers, 215 Gumbel
Building, Kansas City, Mo., he has taken over
all contracts of Benham & MuUergren and
will continue to act as a consulting engineer on
water-works, sewers and sewage disposal, elec-
tric light and power plants, street paving and
valuations. A. L. MuUergren retires from the
firm and will engage in private practice, special-
izing in electric light and power plant engineer-
ing and public utilities, with his office at 555
Gates Building, Kansas City, Mo.
New Pumper for Nashville, Tenn.
We acknowledge an error appearing on page
204 of the April, 1922, issue of The American
City, where a notice was given of a 1,300-
gallon Ahrens-Fox auto pumping engine deliv-
ered to Newport, Ky. This should have read
Nashville, Tenn. The tractor lor the aerial
truck was delivered to Newport, Ky.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Find the Solution to
YOUR SWEEPING
PROBLEMS
in this Catalog
Other cities are saving time,
labor and money by using Austin
Motor Sweepers and are enjoy-
ing cleaner streets to boot.
You might just as well be
doing it too.
Write for Special Motor
Sweeper Catalog G today.
THE AUSTIN -WESTERN ROAD
MACHINERY CO.
CHICAGO
Branches in Twenty-three Cities
"Everything from a drag scraper to a road roller"
Do You
Want Prices
on
Anything?
READERS of The Amer-
ican City desiring to
secure catalogues or
price lists on any sort of ma-
chinery equipment or supplies
for municipal or county work
are invited to state their wishes
to the Catalog and Price List
Department, The American
City, Tribune Building, New
York. One letter to us will
secure you the information
you desire free of all charge,
and at a considerable saving
of time and correspondence.
104
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
533
Planning for an Urban Population of
Thirty-Seven Millions
Sage Foundation Announces Regional Planning Study Covering Three Hundred
Communities in New York Area
AFAR-REACHING project to make
the metropolitan district around New
York City a more livable community
has been undertaken on the initiative of
the Russell Sage Foundation. The enter-
prise entails a comprehensive regional plan
embracing the entire area from Bridgeport
to West Point,
thence to Princeton
and on down the
Jersey coast, includ-
ing all of Long
Island, Three states
and 300 cities,
towns and villages
are thus involved —
the most densely
populated domain
on the hemisphere.
To this end the
Trustees of the
Foundation have
named a committee
of direction for The
Plan of New York
and Its Environs
consisting of Charles
D. Norton, chairman ; Robert W. DeForest,
Frederick A. Delano, John M, Glenn,
Dwight W. Morrow, and Frank L. Polk,
with Frederick P. Keppel as secretary, and
Flavel Shurtleff, assistant secretary. An-
nouncement of the appointment of the com-
mittee was made on May 10 at a meeting of
architects, engineers, artists, city planners
Draw all the lines you please for
states and counties, but a city is a
growth, responding to the inherent
atoms that make it up, apart from
political or governmental considera-
tions. The force from which that
growth comes is the force of individ-
ual enterprise, desire, movement — the
desire for a living, desire for wealth,
comfort, society, acting in the hearts
and minds of a vast number of units.
That is the great force of life and
modern civilization, and that is the
thing that government cannot imitate,
— Elihu Root, May 10, 1922,
and community workers held in the Engi-
neering Societies Building, at which Elihu
Root, Herbert Hoover, Miss Lilian Wald,
of the Henry Street Settlement, and Briga-
dier General Carty, of the New York Tele-
phone Company, were speakers.
The Sage Foundation, which by the terms
of its deed of gift
must devote a con-
siderable part of its
income to the im-
provement of New
York and its vicin-
ity, will support the
committee financial-
ly during its pre-
liminary studies. It
is the plan of the
committee, however,
to democratize the
movement and in-
vite the aid and co-
operation of all in-
dividuals or bodies
whose aims lie in
the same direction.
Already such citi-
zens as Herbert Hoover, Charles E. Hughes,
William Howard Taft and Elihu Root have
been consulted and have given the project
their endorsement and active assistance.
It Lights the Imagination
The first impression produced by the plan
will undoubtedly be the extraordinary scope
534
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
of the undertaking, and many will ask why
such an extensive territory was selected.
The answer, drawn from experience every-
where, is that no limited or timid plan could
achieve the expected and necessary results.
The smaller cities around New York are
affected by it in many ways. Yonkers
cannot properly analyze its own traffic con-
gestion. White Plains its housing problem,
Passaic its sewage problem, or Stamford
its paving program
without recognizing
the existence of the
problems created by
the whole metropoli-
tan district. Little
plans interest little
groups and are lost
before they can
make themselves
felt. It is necessary
to light the imagina-
tion of all who live
in, by, or around
New York, to make
them think as a
unit, before success
is in sight.
The late Daniel
Burnham, greatest
of city planners in
our generation, said :
"Make no little
plans ; they have no
magic to stir men's
blood and probably
themselves will not
be realized. Make
big plans, aim high in
hope and work, re-
membering that a
noble, logical diagram
once recorded will
never die, but long
after we are gone will be a living thing, assert-
ing itself with ever-growing insistency."
With such an end in view, involving as
it does the legal and physical barriers of
three states and 300 communities, there is
obviously no body or commission, federal,
state or local, which could ever attack the
problem in any effective way. At the
present time, and during the preliminary
inquiry which has been under way for a
year, emphasis is not laid on solutions or
remedies, but on the problem itself.
Into the already congested area of New
York every day pour millions of workers
from outlying points and additional thou-
The enormous losses in human
happiness and in money which have
resulted from lack of city plans which
take into account the conditions of
modern life, need little proof. The
lack of adequate open spaces, of play-
grounds and parks, the congestion of
streets, the misery of tenement life
and its repercussions upon each new
generation, are an untold charge
aga-nst our American life. Our cities
do not produce their full contribution
to the sinews of American life and
national character. The moral and
social issues can only be solved by a
new conception of city building.
The vision of the region around
New York as a well-planned location
of millions of happy homes and a
better working center of millions of
men and women, grasps the imagina-
tion. A definite plan for its accom-
plishment may be only an ideal. But
a people without ideals degenerates
— one with practical ideals is already
upon the road to attain them.
— Herbert Hoover, May 10, 1922
sands of visitors from all over the United
States. New York's mad and illogical
development, forced on it to a certain extent
by prosperity, has resulted in such abnor-
malities as a mile or so of East Side shelter-
ing two millions of people, with thirty-two
square miles of wilderness across the Hud-
son only six miles away.
A Wise Expenditure
Of course, the
cost of solving such
a problem will be
very great, but ex-
perience everywhere
has demonstrated
that the cost of not
solving it has been,
and will continue to
be, much greater,
for, if the figures of
the engineers are
not too conserva-
tive, the district will
have a population
of over 37,000,000
by the year 2000.
The point is, that
the money for im-
provements will be
spent anyhow,
whether there is a
comprehensive plan
of guidance or not.
If, however, there
is no plan, civic im-
provements are un-
dertaken belatedly
or at haphazard and
at intervals have to
be replaced, reor-
ganized to meet de-
velopments not provided for, or expensively
modified in one or another of a hundred
ways. Funds expended unnecessarily and
without due cons'deration would provide
for the realization of a sound plan for any
city within a decade.
The method of approach which the com-
mittee selected as best calculated to yield
sound results is a quadruple survey. Its
four phases, each in charge of the best
procurable experts, are :
1. Economic and industrial
2. Physical
3. Legal
4. Social and living conditions
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
535
Nrw tbnK AND Environs
showing
RELATIVE DENSITIES OF POPULATIO,
U S CENSUS Of 1920
SC«L€
pUT5\Dt OF
N.V: Cirr IN N.Y STATE
POP -721.249
EW JERSEY ^
Pop.2,3^6,85>^CONNECTlCUT
POP.- £30.706
RELATIVE DENSITIES OF POPULATION IN THE NEW YORK DISTRICT
Both the physical and legal surveys are
under way, and the former is well advanced.
This has been pursued under the direction
of. Nelson P. Lewis, for years Chief En-
gineer of the Board of Estimate and Ap-
portionment, former President of the
American Society for Municipal Improve-
ments, and now Vice-Pres'dent of the
American Society of Civil Engineers.
The pljysical survey deals with the rail
facilities of the port ; the closely related
questions of shipping facilities, with all the
])resent congestion of freight ; the main
highway system of the entire area, includ-
ing the bridges over, and tunnels under, the
water barriers ; the park and recreational
facilities; the location of public and semi-
public buildings with due respect to natural
civic centers ; and an investigation of the
possibility of decentralization^ — establishing
industries outside of existing congested
areas, with provision for the suitable hous-
ing of employees in such industries.
The legal survey, dealing with intricate
questions of state and civic jurisdiction,
t'dal lands, zoning, excess condemnation
and the like, is under the direction of
Edward M. Bassett, Counsel of the New
York Zoning Committee, with Charles E.
Hughes as one of a committee of advisors..
536
THE AMERICAN CITY
It is expected that the economic and
social surveys will be begun shortly. Their
main object will be the same as that of the
other two — to lay down an approach to-
ward solving the civic and communal
problems of the average man, to give him
better, cleaner and more beautiful sur-
roundings, and to develop his neighbor-
hood interest into a regional view-point.
As to remedies for existing conditions
which admittedly require treatment on an
heroic scale, the committee is at present
reticent. The first consideration is to
establish the facts with a thoroughness that
precludes dispute.
In all likelihood, the solution or solutions
will not spring from a single mind nor be
entrusted to an individual, as has been the
case with many American and European
city plans. More probably the Plan of New
York and Its Environs will be the work of
a team of architects, engineers and artists,
each preeminent in his particular field.
The principles on which the committee
must proceed, however, already appear. In
the very nature of things, and by reason of
the physical conformation of New York
and its environs, one of the chief problems
will be that of the water-front and the miles
and miles of shore lines which serve the
many cities in the district. In matters of
traffic and transit, of course, emphasis will
be laid on diffusion as against concentra-
tion, upon extinction of barriers, and ease
of access from one district to another.
Focal points must be duplicated rather than
enlarged beyond the possibility of accommo-
dation, and there must be a coordination
of development throughout the zone.
The committee is in no sense a self-
centered organization relentlessly com-
mitted to its own ideas. It is acutely aware
that only by united effort and by the fullest
cooperation on the part of all concerned —
which means the whole population of the
region and the official civic units which
represent it — can such a plan be prepared
and carried into effect.
Why Women Are in Politics
The Opinion of Lady Astor, M. P., as Indicated in Her Address Given at the
Town Hall, New York City, April 19
^^T^THY are we in politics? What
\A/ is it all about? Something much
bigger than ourselves. Scho-
penhauer was wrong in nearly everything
he wrote about women — and he wrote a lot
— but was right in one thing. He said, in
speaking of women, 'The race is to her more
than the individual,' and I believe that it is
true.
"I feel somehow we do care about the
race as a whole. Our very natures make us
take a forward vision. There is no reason
why women should look back. Mercifully,
we have no political past. We have all the
mistakes of sex legislation with its appalling
failures to guide us. We should know what
to avoid. It is no use blaming the men.
We made them what they are, and now it is
up to us to try to make ourselves — the
makers of men — a little more responsible.
"Personally, I feel that every woman
should take an active part in local govern-
ment. I don't mean by that that every
woman should go in for a political career.
That, of course, is absurd; but you can take
an active part in local government without
going in for a political career. You can be
certain when casting your vote you are
casting it for what seems nearest right —
for what seems more likely to help the ma-
jority and not bolster up an organized
minority.
"There is a lot to be done in local poli-
tics, and it is a fine apprenticeship to cen-
tral government; it is very practical, and I
think that, although practical, it is too near
to be attractive. The things that are far
away are more apt to catch our eye than the
ones which are just under our noses. Then,
too, they are less disagreeable.
"Let the men see that we desire a better,
a safer and a cleaner world for our children
and their children and that we realize that
only by doing our bit, by facing unclean
things with cleanliness, by facing wrongs
with right, by going fearlessly into all
things that may be disagreeable, we will
somehow make it a little better world.
537
Flat Rates Caused Water Waste
Lawton, Okla., Reduces Cost of Operation of Water- Works and Cuts Water
Waste by Gradual Compulsory Metering
By Gilbert S. Fraser
Superintendent of Water Department, Lawton, Okla.
THE Lawton Water Department repre-
sents the largest single investment in
the city and is considered one of the
best water-supplies in the state of Okla-
homa. It has a valuation of $1,096,468
and an indebtedness of $904,393. Its dis-
tribution system includes 87 miles of cast
iron mains, ranging in size from 24 to 2
dition to another 16-inch main. Both to-
gether can deliver to Lawton 6 million gal-
lons daily.
At the lake there is a modern rapid sand
filtration plant of 5,000,000 gallons daily
capacity, built at an initial cost of $158,-
000. The plant was installed by the In-
ternational Filter Company. There are two
THE LAWTON, OKLA., FILTER PLANT AND STORAGE TANKS
inches in diameter. The present source of
supply is in the Wichita Mountains, where
at a cost of $149,762.67 a 60-foot dam was
constructed across Medicine Creek near
Lake Lawtonka, the present reservoir, 14
miles from the city. The dam is 52^ feet
wide at the base, 18 feet through the cen-
tral section, 10 feet wide at the top, and 375
feet in length, which gives a basin capacity
of 9 billion gallons of water, covering 1,408
acres at an average depth of 18 feet.
Two water-mains provide ample facilities
for bringing the water to the city and to
Fort Sill, the United States military reserva-
tion located near-by. A 24-inch main has
a capacity of 12 million gallons at Fort
Sill, and a reduced main coming into Law-
ton a capacity of 3 million gallons, in ad-
clear-water tanks of 200,000-gallon capacity
each, two raw-water tanks of the same size,
ten filter-beds of 5,000-gallon capacity each,
and four 300-gallon alum tanks. Two Van
Blerck gas motors provide the power to
operate the plant and wash the filters. The
sand-beds are washed every eight hours
with two Lea-Courtenay 2,700-gallon-per-
minute pumps. The water is sent to the
filter by gravity pressure, and from the filter
to the city by the same means, giving be-
tween 75 and 80 pounds pressure at the
City Hall, fourteen miles away, with no
]Himping whatever. The plant has a Besse-
mer oil engine of 185 horse-power and three
Allis-Chalmers pumps of 1,500-gallon-per-
mnute capacity each, with which to force
the water from the lake to the filtration
538
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
LAKE LAWTONKA, LAWTGN'S NINE-EILLION-GALLON V/ATER-SUPPLT RESERVOIR
plant, should the water at the dam ever
drop as low as the lo-foot level — which is
very improbable, inasmuch as it has been
estimated that the lake impounds a three-
year supply of water if no rain falls dur-
ing that period. Electric lighting facilities
are supplied by a 6-horse-power gas engine,
a Watson 250-volt. direct-current generator,
one alternating-current generator, and one
electric induction motor, type C.S., 40
horse-power and 220 volts. Two million
eight hundred thousand gallons represents
the average daily amount of water filtered.
In the winter the only chemical treatment
the water receives is alum. In the summer
the lake is treated in sections with copper
sulphate to kill off the blue-green algae
which abound during the hot months;
liquid chlorine is also used. All water is
subjected to laboratory analysis according
to the Standard Metho<ls of Water Analy-
sis, American Public Health Association.
During the fiscal year 1921, 1,134,400,-
000 gallons were filtered and delivered to
Fort Sill and Lawton at an average cost
of $0.0906 per thousand gallons. The total
operating cost for this period was $35,-
263.58; of this amount $14,108.58 was
chargeable to the filtrat'on plant, which was
at that time under Government control.
The depreciation cost for the same period,
figured on the basis of 2 per cent on the
distribution system, i per cent on the grav-
ity flow lines, 2 per cent on the dam, 10 per
cent on the chlorinating and laboratory
equipment, and 10 per cent on the filtration
plant, amounts to $23,536.06. Interest on
the outstanding bonds and indebtedness was
$44,016.29. The entire cost to the city for
nterest, operation and depreciation was
$102,815.93, and the total receipts for this
period were $61,530.38, indicating that the
department operated at a loss of $41,285.65.
Losses Caused by Water Waste
On August I, 1921, the city abolished the
commission form of government and em-
ployed a city manager and a new superin-
tendent of the Water Department. A
careful study of the water-works showed
that the major portion of the deficit was
chargeable to water waste. There were
only seventeen meters in operation in the
city, and the average daily per capita con-
sumption was 291 gallons with no factories
in operation. All residences and most of
the business houses were using all the water
they desired at a flat rate of but $1 per
month. Considerable public sentiment was
found bitterly in opposition to the use of
meters. In spite of this, meters are being
installed in the business section of the city
and are already bringing about increased
revenue and pressure.
Under the present supervision the oper-
ating costs of the Department for the fiscal
JUNF, 1922
THE -AMERICAN CITY
539
year ending June 30, 1922, will be $16,-
585.26, depreciation costs $23,536.06, and
interest cost $45,939.69. The entire cost of
the Department to the city will be $86,-
060.97. Ori the present basis, the revenue
from water will be $71,605.92, the revenue
from pasture rental, hay cut on the water-
shed, and fishing and hunting permits. $6,-
196.43, making a total revenue obtainable of
$77,802.35 In addition to this, the Depart-
ment supplied water to the public schools,
city parks, municipal swimming pools, In-
dian hospital, Indian school, city buildings.
fire hydrants, street cleaning, and sewer
flushing in an amount aggregating $4,123.
This brings the total earning power of the
Water Department for the year up to $81,-
925.35, indicating that the Department will
operate at a loss of $4,135.62 this year as
comi^ared with the loss of $41,285.65 of
last year. With the improvement made
ihis year, it would be no prophecy to state
that the Department, next year, will not
only meet all of its exjjenses, but will ac-
tually produce revenue to be paid into the
city treasury.
Schools Lead Fight Against Mosquitoes
in Bonham
By L. H. Rather
Superintendent of Schools, Bonham, Tex.
PAINFULLY aware of the discomfort
and illness caused by the swarms of
mosquitoes that regularly infested
Bonham during summer and fall, and desir-
ous of rendering real civic service, the pupils
of the biology class in the High School de-
cided in the spring of 1921 to secure in-
formation that would be useful in waging
war against the winged pests. It was
agreed that the data should be gathered
solely by the pupils, under the supervision
of their instructor, and that the tabulation
of the results of the investigation should be
considered a part of the regular laboratory
work of the biology class.
The investigation, or "Mosquito Cam-
pa'gn." as it was popularly called, had as
its objects the discovery of all breeding-
places of mosquitoes, the noting of all de-
fective screens, the locat"ng of houses
without screens of any kind, the tabulation
of the results gained, and the dissemination
of the information among the inhabitants
of the city. Accordingly, Bonham was
d'vided into districts, and certain members
of the biology class were set the task of
investigating thoroughly the districts as-
signed them. In order that the work might
be done with d"spatch, the various groups
of pupils left the High School building each
day and devoted the time customarily em-
ployed in carrying on experiments in the
laboratory to making excursions to the dis-
tricts assigned them for investigation. In-
structions were given each group of pupils
to report on the following points at the end
of each daily excursion:
1. Premises having stagnant pools of water,
garbage piles, or other breeding-places of
mosquitoes
2. Pools, discarded cans, old barrels, and
the like, in which mosquito larvae were found
and which needed an application of oil
3. Homes or business houses having de-
fective screens or without screens entirely
The results of the investigation were
startling. When the work, which required
about one hour per day for ten days, was
completed, it was discovered that the prem-
ises of more than 1,800 homes and business
houses had been examined. The number
of places where stagnant water needed
drainage was 51. Mosquito larvae were
found in 25 pools of water, and 51 pools
and rain barrels needed an application of
oil. Weeds, mainly on vacant lots, serving
as harbors for mosquitoes, needed to be cut
in 159 places; and 247 piles of garbage were
marked as worthy of removal. Finally, 425
homes were discovered with defective
screens or with no screens at all.
Spots Where Action Was Needed
To make the information gained by the
investigation easily accessible and of practi-
cal value to all the inhabitants of the city,
H map of Bonham was prepared by the boys
540
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
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A PORTION OF THE BONHAM MOSQUITO MAP
Figures in circles show block numbers. Other figures indicate kinds of violation as follows: 1. Stag-
nant water needing drainage. 2. Pools in which mosquito larvae were found. 3. Homes having
defective or no screens. 4. Pools or rain-barrels needing application of oil. 6. Garbage cans needing
removal. 6. Weeds mainly on vacant lots serving as harbors for mosquitoes
in the mechanical drawing department of
the High School. The map showed the
exact location of every block, house, street,
brook, etc., in the city. Moreover, detailed
information, indicating every mosquito
breeding-place, every house without screens,
and every home with defective screens, was
marked in colored ink on the map, so that
any person who desired to do so might
learn precisely what sort of campaign
against mosquitoes should be waged in his
neighborhood. Blue-prints of the map were
then made and placed in the various school
buildings, in the City Hall, and in down-
town newspaper offices.
The information having been made easily
accessible, it became necessary to acquaint
the people of the community with its practi-
cal value if the findings of the investiga-
tion were to be put to use. Therefore, ex-
planatory articles, calculated to interest the
citizens and urging them to action, were
published in the local newspapers. Civic
organizations were also persuaded to lend
their cooperation. Better than all else, the
school children throughout the city were
furnished with data concerning their homes
and the immediate vicinity and urged to aid
in carrying on a relentless campaign to
exterminate the mosquito.
The success of the campaign was assured
at the outset. The expense involved was
so slight that it was not even to be con-
sidered. The very novelty of the venture
made it easy to secure the whole-souled
cooperation of every school child in the
city. Moreover, the practical value of the
information gained appealed to the editors
of the newspapers and to all civic organiza-
tions, persuading them to lend their in-
fluence in urging the citizens to action
against their common enemy. As a conse-
quence, undisturbed sleep on hot summer
nights was made possible and the number
of cases of fever resulting from mosquito
bites was reduced materially. In fact, the
Mosquito Campaign was such a success that
it is to be an annual aflfair.
S4i
Atlanta Adopts Zoning
By Robert Whitten
City Planner, Cleveland, Ohio
THE Atlanta Plan Commission started
its work with the selection of a con-
sultant in May, 1921. It was decided
that the first step in a comprehensive plan-
ning program should be the preparation and
adoption of a zoning plan and an ordinance.
This determination was partly based on the
fact that limited finances made it impossible
to carry forward simultaneously all parts
of a complete city planning program. It was
believed that for a limited expenditure of
money there was no investment from which
the returns would be so great as from a
zoning ordinance. It
was felt, too, that the
educational work in con-
nection with the zoning
and the record of prac-
tical achievement se-
cured would greatly fa-
cilitate the carrying
through of the other
parts of the comprehen-
sive planning program.
Atlanta, in common
with all other munici-
palities of Georgia, was
without zoning powers.
The Legislature meets
in July of each year, and
in 1921 a zoning act, ap-
plying solely to Atlanta,
was drafted and intro-
duced, becoming . effec-
tive in August. This
act, besides giving com-
prehensive zoning pow-
ers, provides for a board
of zoning appeals and
permits a court review
of any decision of such
board. This gave the
Commission a sound
foundation for its zon-
ing work.
In November a tenta-
tive draft of a zoning
plan was submitted to
the Commission. Early
in January, 1922, a plan and proposed
ordinance were approved by the Com-
mission and transmitted to the Council.
Five thousand copies of the zoning maps
and of an attractive report describing the
zoning and the reasons therefor were
printed and distributed. The Council, after
giving 30 days' notice, as required in the
enabling act, began hearings before its
Ordinance Committee. These hearings were
continued from time to time and covered
a period of six weeks. On March 31 the
Ordinance Committee, by a vote of 4 to i,
THIS CAETOON FROM THE ATLANTA JOtJRNAIi OF MARCH 30,
1922, PEOVED TO BE A "KNOCK-OUT"
542
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
FUTURE ATLANTA-WHAT SHALL IT BE?
yovjM
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VilTHOUT A PLAM OR SORVCV, —
Most arms a»i> less, aio Fobm^tau.
And dr£ss all Ibpsey-TUBM£V .'
VyHiLe THIS FA(R.-R)v«w HAS clearlV hap.
Some Plaaj iaj hbr. Foft/v\AncK.(
HEd LVTHE Y0UAK5 FORM FOB. CHAR^^ *«•««£
15 WMED THRooartour "we /^riTcw
THIS CARTOON APPEARED THE DAY THE ORDINANCE CAIME UP
FOR FINAL ACTION
approved the zoning ordinance, and on
April TO it was adopted by the Council by
a vote of 24 to 3. Mayor Key signed it the
following day.
The ordinance was bitterly opposed by a
few who considered it a gross invasion of
property rights. The real estate board sup-
ported it strongly and it
had the approval of the
Chamber of Commerce
and of the various neigh-
borhood clubs. Its consti-
tutionality was vigorously
assailed, but this was ef-
fectively offset by a writ-
ten opinion from City At-
torney Mayson holding
that zoning as a whole is
legal and that, while there
are arguments on both
sides, zoning, being in the
line of progress, must
eventually receive the
sanction of the courts.
The most effective part
of the educational cam-
paign to offset the original
indifference or opposition
of the public was carried
on through the daily
press. For a period of
about six weeks the news
columns and the editorial
pages gave most efficient
and liberal support. The
cartoonists, too, helped
immensely in putting the
zoning across.
Atlanta is the first
southern city to adopt
a comprehensive zoning
plan. Partly because zoning is new in
the South, the classifications and regula-
tions contained in the Atlanta ordinance
as finally revised for the Ordinance Com-
mittee were made as simple and brief as
possible, and yet retained the essentials of
a complete zoning plan. .
Saving ia Property Values by Chicago Zone Plan
That a saving of approximately $1,000,-
000,000 in property values will be made
within the next generation as a result of
the zoning plan now being prepared in.
Chicago was estimated by Charles Bostrum,
chairman of the Chicago Zoning Commis-
sion, at a meeting of the American Civic
Association in that city.
j^Edward H. Bennett, director of zoning
work in Chicago, explained how the saving
will be made. "What we are trying to do
is to create conditions favorable to indus-
trial enterprise, to the protection of busi-
ness, and the improvement of working
conditions," he said. ''This necessarily
takes time. But it is well worth it. Zoning,
we believe, will save approximately
$1,000,000,000 by preventing property de-
preciation and in increasing property values
within a thirty-year period, including ten
years back. and twenty years ahead."
— Toledo City Journal.
543
MRS. ABBT HOWE FOREST
V }idrr",vood & Underzi.'ood, N. Y.
DR. AMY KAUKONEN
MRS. A. K. GAULT
What Are Women Mayors Doing?
By Mildred Adams
WHAT are the fifteen women mayors
in America thinking of? Why did
they run for office? What will they
do now that they are in? Will they be city
governors, city managers, or city politicians?
Will there be any difference between their
regime and that of the generations of men
who have held the same office ?
The towns they are governing range in
size from Rochester, Ohio, to which the
census credits 145 residents, to St. Peter,
Minn., which has 4,335. They are bounded
on the east by Brewton, Ga., and on the
west by Langley, Wash., which is another
way of saying that there are women mayors
scattered all over these United States, from
one coast to the other.
How Were They Elected ?
For people who believe that city govern-
ment should not be a matter of politics, but
rather a matter of businesslike administra-
tion, there is great encouragement in the
fact that none of the women mayors seem
to have run for the sake of politics. In one
or two cases they were put into office
whether they would or not. Mrs. A. K.
Gault of St. Peter was appointed by the
City Council, all of whom were men, after
the elected mayor had refused to qualify.
Mrs. Abbie Howe Forest of Thayer, Kans.,
writes that she and five other women were
made candidates for city offices without
their knowledge or consent, and were elected
over two other tickets. She is Mayor,
Mrs. Hattie Brewster is Police Judge, and
all the members of the Council are women.
Part of Mrs. Forest's letter gives the clue
to a situation which frequently exists in
small towns, and which forecasts more
women in elected city offices. She says, "I
might say here that our election was due
to the fact that in small towns men best
fitted for public office often refuse to serve
on the plea that they would 'hurt their busi-
ness.' We had no business to hurt." Mrs.
Grace Miller is Mayor of Jackson, Wyo.,
and with her is an entire council of women.
They made no campaign for election, but
they did criticise the existing government,
and in the opinion of a Wyoming resident,
the men "passed the buck by nominating
them." The success of their regime is in-
dicated by the fact that they have all been
reelected, and that Miss Pearl Williams,
town marshal, has resigned because the
town is so quiet it doesn't need a marshal
any more !
What these women and their sister mayors
have already accomplished forms the only
reliable index of the kind of thing they may
be expected to do. And it is merely an in-
dication, not a rule or a limit. There seem
to be two main lines of accomplishment — a
physical city-cleaning, and a moral clean-
up. Some mayors lay stress on one, some
544
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
on the other, and some of them are engaged
in both.
Municipal Housel^eeping
Mrs. Miller and her sister officers of
Jackson began their city house-cleaning by
clearing Jackson's water-supply. Pure at
the source, it ran through the town in an
open ditch, gathering en route much beside
clean city water. The women have substi-
tuted an adequate piping system from the
spring, and have thereby improved not only
Jackson's health, but also its streets. They
have also paid off the mortgage on the
cemetery, built adequate roads, and estab-
lished a city park.
The "petticoat government" of Thayer,
Kans., also has been concerning itself with
parks, cemetery and roads, in the manner
of good engineers.
Mrs. A. K. Gault has been a moral
cleaner. The outstanding feature of her
first year as Mayor of St. Peter, Minn., has
been the enforcement of prohibition and the
licensing of soft drink parlors. Both feats
aroused very bitter opposition.
No one of these mayors has received as
much publicity as Dr. Amy Kaukonen of
Fairport, Ohio. Situated on the shore of
Lake Erie, Fairport did a thriving business
in illegal liquors. It was easy to land them
from Canada, and not much harder to
spread them throughout the country with
Fairport as a distributing center. Enter
Dr. Kaukonen, age twenty-three, youngest
graduate of the Women's Medical College
of Pennsylvania. Her medical work
brought her into sad familiarity with the
effects of bootleg whiskey, and she deter-
mined to banish it from Fairport. Her
duties as Mayor included the appointing of
a Chief of Police, a Board of Health, and
a chemist. Realizing the importance of
these offices in her anti-bootleg campaign,
she appointed to all of them someone she
could trust implicitly, namely, herself. So
now she arrests bootleggers because she is
Chief of Police; she analyses their product
because she is an expert chemist; and she
pronounces against them in her capacity as
Board of Health. The bootlegging ring
finds Fairport very difficult these days.
With all this, Dr. Kaukonen has time to
spare for the licensing of soft drink par-
lors, the conviction of gamblers, and the
inspection of dance halls.
Mrs. Mary McFadden, eighty-year-old
Mayor of Magnetic Springs, Ohio, has
started a bond-raising campaign for a
larger town hall and better fire-fighting ap-
paratus. She has also insisted that boot-
legging and gambling be stopped, that pool-
places be closed or minors excluded from
them, and that the curfew ordinance be en-
forced. Her third innovation is a charac-
teristic and delightful human commentary —
she has inaugurated a hot lunch as an in-
ducement for a full council meeting.
Miss Stena Scorp, Mayor of Salina,
Utah, has not been in office long enough to
have definite accomplishments to her credit,
but her program is interesting. She plans
to abolish unnecessary laws, revise others,
enforce those which remain, and, in addi-
tion, improve the recreational facilities for
young people.
The other women who are "mayoring"
American cities are: Mrs. Ida Sparks
Clark, who is enforcing prohibition and
carrying out policies of wise economy in
Cokato, Minn.; Mrs. Mayme Ousley, who
accepted the office of Mayor of St. James,
Mo., only because it offered such oppor-
tunities for service to her city; Mrs. Mary
Peterson, of Red Cloud, Neb.; Mrs. Ella
Jacobsen, of Waterloo, Neb., whose name
was written in by electors when her hus-
band was a candidate; Miss Helen B. Coe,
of Langley, Wash.; Mrs. W. H. Beall, of
Brewton, Ga. ; and Mrs. Estella Tripp, of
Rochester, Ohio; and Mrs. Ethel Stoner,
just elected Mayor of Cokeville, Wyo.
Iowa has two women mayors, one in Ran-
dal ia, and the other in Lehigh.
Physical and moral house-cleaning and
housekeeping — these are the things women
mayors are thinking about and are doing.
Men think of roads and water and build-
ings and budgets in terms of engineering.
Women translate them into terms of mu-
nicipal housekeeping. A good housekeeper
has well-built, orderly paths; her water-
supply is clean, adequate, and conveniently
piped; her house is well made, comfortable,
and well kept; she spends and saves on a
budget. She goes a step farther — and here
is where housekeeping is broader than en-
gineering. She is deeply interested in edu-
cating children. She knows how vitally im-
portant it is to have them surrounded with
the right kind of environment. Therefore,
she translates those abstractions into con-
crete terms, and enters the realm of moral
housekeeping.
545
A Million-Dollar Firecracker
A Warning to Municipal Fire Prevention Bureaus
JUST as a reminder that the Fourth of
July will soon be here again, we call
your attention to the disaster which came
to Marysville, Calif., last year as the re-
sult of a pre-Fourth celebration.
Shortly after 2 o'clock on the Saturday
afternoon preceding the Fourth, two small
boys were experimenting with some of their
Fourth of July purchases behind a livery
their streams effective. Burning shingles
and flaring leaves from the palm trees
spread the blaze rapidly, and with such a
handicap the firemen were almost helpless.
The burned district consisted of 12 blocks,
a total of 78 buildings being destroyed at a
loss of $800,000. To fight this fire, four
2V2-inch lines were laid from a 1,000-gal'
Ion American-LaFrance pumper, two lines
,^^9**'*^:'^
Property Removed from Burning Home
Remains of the Bailroaci Trestle
stable. One of them threw a lighted fire-
cracker on the roof, and at once the
tinder-dry shingles were afire. An alarm
was immediately telephoned in, but by the
time the department arrived a thirty-mile
gale had fanned the wooden building into
a furnace so hot that it was impossible for
the firemen to get close enough to make
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The Junior Pumper on Duty
A Steamer Doing Valiant Service
from a LaFrance Junior pump, and two
lines from a steamer. The two gasoline
pumpers worked at capacity for four and
three hours, respectively, and were then
returned to their quarters and placed in
service. The steamer was kept in opera-
tion for 16 hours wetting down the ruins.
Pre-Fourth celebrations and careless use
546
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
of firecrackers and of fireworks on the even-
ing of the Fourth have caused millions of
dollars' worth of damage in years gone by.
An adequate campaign should be .started at
once by local fire department officials to
carry the message of warning to every
school and every home in each city. This
should be followed by a newspaper cam-
paign the latter part of June, in order to
emphasize the lesson when it is most
needed and place the city in the "No Fires
from the Fourth" list.
An Electrolysis Investigation on a
36-Inch Steel Force Main
Clever Detective Work Locates Source of Power Leak on Akron Water-Main
THE recent investigation of the causes
of electrolysis on the 36-inch steel
force main leading from the Earlville
pumping station to the reservoir in the city
of Akron, a distance of about eleven miles,
was covered in an interesting manner by
Victor B. Philips, of Cleveland, Ohio, in
his paper read before the New England
Water Works Association. The map on
page 547 shows this main, as well as
the location of the electric railway tracks,
substations, gas-mains, steam railroad
tracks, and the principal c'ty water-main
connection into the force main. Rather
serious corrosion of the main had been dis-
covered immediately west of the town of
Tallmadge and at no other place. It will
be noted that this point is more than three
miles from the nearest electric railway
tracks. It is also at considerable distance
from either of the large gas-mams that
might possibly have been contributing
factors.
The town of Tallmadge comprises only
a few houses, and there is nothing in the
town in the way of underground struc-
tures or electric currents that might have
had some effect on the force main. In a
word, the corrosion was found at perhaps
the one po'nt on the main where it might
least have been expected. For these rea-
sons it was not at all apparent at the out-
set that the corrosion was due to electric
railway current, and it was necessary to
consider carefully all possible causes other
than railway stray current. The case is
distinctly unique, and the questions con-
sidered and the procedure followed in
diagnosing the cause of corrosion and pro-
vidng for its correction are therefore of
more than ordinary interest. In studying
the case, the following causes of corrosion
were investigated:
(a) Railway current
(b) Soil corrosion
(c) Small local galvanic currents
Rail^vay Current
Preliminary tests upon the force main
showed that current was flowing away from
Akron in the direction of Tallmadge to the
extent of about 20 amperes at the time of
the railway peak load. It was also found
that there was some slight flow of current
from Kent toward Tallmadge, although this
current frequently reversed direction.
Potential readings were taken between the
force mains and all metallic structures
crossing it, namely, two gas-mains and sev-
eral railroad crossings. These voltage
drops were found to be small, about one
volt or less, and apparently independent of
the railway load and the majgnitude of cur-
rent on the main. It was therefore con-
cluded that these structures had no bear-
ing on the case.
In order to determine the potentials
caus'ng the flow of current on the force
main, voltage measurements were taken for
24 hours between the several railway sub-
station negative busses and the force main
at Tallmadge and at the Akron end. By
means of these voltage readings it was
po:^sible to locate the point of minimum
negative potential and thus to establish the
path of the current. A study of these read-
ings showed that the negative bus at the
Gorge substation was the most negative
point in the area under consideration. This
served to indicate that the current which
was apparently leaving the force main near
Tallmadge was returning to the Gorge sub-
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
547
station. This fact, however, in itself could
not be considered as conclusive evidence,
inasmuch as it appeared unlikely that there
was sufficient voltage difference to cause
this current to. flow directly across country
for a distance of more than three miles.
In order to get a direct indication of
the flow of current from the force main
into the earth in the locality of the corro-
sion, a 24-hour record was taken of the
millivolt drop between two non-polarizable
electrodes buried in the ground about 18
inches apart and at right angles to the axis
of the main, with one of the electrodes very
close to, but not touching, the main. The
characteristic peaks and valleys of the
curves plotted from this record showing the
voltage drop between the water-main at
Tallmadge and the Gorge substat'on nega-
tive bus were regularly coincident, the only
exception being between i A. M. and 2
A. M., when the High Street substat'on
negative bus became temporarily the most
negative point on the system. At this time
the flow of current in the earth near the
force main reversed, as might reasonably
have been expecte<l. This information
showed quite conclusively that there was a
flow of current off the force main in the
Tallmadge area and that this flow was a
function of the potential drop from the
force main to the Gorge substation negative
bus.
A study of the geology and topography of
the country between Tallmadge and the
Gorge substation disclosed the fact that
there was an almost continuous low-resist-
ance path, due to creek beds and wet ground.
The current was simply following this path.
Having established the fact that there
was a measurable flow of current off the
force main in Tallmadge directly across
country from the Gorge substation, it wis
then necessary to determine the reason fcr
the current's tak'ng this long, roundabout,
and comparatively high-resistance path. At
least one contributing cause was found to
have been the rather long stretch of poorly
bonded track between the High Street sub-
station and the Gorge substation. Thus, a
certain part of the power originating in tiie
Gorge substation positive feeders had to find
its way back to the Gorge substation negative
bus by another path than the high-resist-
ance rail circuit. This increment of current
then followed the tracks of the railway sys-
tem into the High Street substation and
thence through a bonded connection into
the city water system and into the steel
force main. It should be pointed out that
the route followed by the railway, as well
as the city of Akron force main, is all on
high, well-drained and consequently dry
ground, so that there were no low-resist-
ance ground paths by which this current
might have taken a shorter route to tho
Gorge substation.
With the above information, it became
a simple matter to eliminate the flow of
current on the force main. This was done
by thoroughly bonding the tracks, especially
in the locality mentioned above, and by run-
ning out a negative feeder from the Gorge
substation in the direction of High Street.
This feeder was not tied to the tracks for
a distance of 3,000 feet, although the con-
nection between the Gorge negative bus
and the track at the substation was retained.
In this way a part of the return circuit drop
was transferred to the negative feeders,
with the result that the potential of the
tracks was raised considerably. These
mitigative measures served two purposes,
namely, to provide a metallic return circuit
of high conductivity and to reduce the po-
tential drop between the force main at Tall-
madge and the Gorge substation.
548
High Lights on American Water Works
Convention
Unusual Interest Shown in Papers and Exhibits by Large Number of Delegates
THE American Water Works Associa-
tion held its annual convention in
Philadelphia May 15-19, with head-
quarters at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel.
This convention will remain notable in the
eyes of all who attended, because of the un-
usual interest manifested in all its activities.
Although the meetings were not called to
order at the times specified, they were very
well attended and productive of much val-
uable discussion. Both during the sessions
and at other times the exhibits of the water-
works manufacturers were thronged with
interested superintendents and engineers.
The spirit of the delegates showed itself in
close examination and inquiry rather than
in the cursory glance which bespeaks lack
of interest.
Notable among the papers of Tuesday,
May 16, were very valuable discussions of
fire prevention and fire protection in rela-
tion to public water-supplies, by Frank C.
Jordan of the Indianapolis Water Company,
and the extemporaneous address on the
Hetch Hetchy water-supply, in place of M.
M. O'Shaughnessy's paper. This talk gave
unusual force to the contention that con-
vention papers should be read in abstract,
leaving the details for publication in the
Journal. The paper, "Underground Leak-
age and Its Relation to Mains and Ser-
vices," by Thomas F. Wolfe, Secretary,
Cast Iron Pipe Publicity Bureau, read at
the evening session which was arranged
for by the Water Works Manufacturers
Association, gave many interesting facts
and figures on the value of cast iron mains
as service lines. Mr. Wolfe decried the
present system of listing leaks as so much
per mile of main or per inch of joint with-
out a statement as to whether it includes
service line leaks or not. Experience has
shown that most leaks occur in services.
In the Wednesday forenoon session, the
paper, "Problems in the Reforestation of
Watersheds," by George R. Taylor, Scran-
ton, Pa., was particularly well received.
The paper, as well as the lantern slides,
proved very instructive and produced con-
siderable discussion of reforestation.
In spite of the raw wind and rain, which
chilled those on the upper deck of the boat
provided by the Water Works Manufac-
turers Association for the Wednesday after-
noon trip on the Delaware River, there was
a large attendance. Great interest was
shown in the various shipbuilding yards
and the Chester water-works.
Superintendents' Day on Thursday
brought out a number of papers of great
value and an unusually large attendance of
superintendents. The Chemical and Bac-
teriological Section thoroughly enjoyed its
lengthy discussions of hydrogen ion concen-
tration, but little of practical value to the
plant chemist or the superintendent seemed
to come out of the discussion.
The Executive Committee presented the
names of three cities which had asked for
the 1923 Convention of the American Water
Works Association, namely, Detroit, Mich.,
San Francisco, Calif., and Omaha, Nebr.
San Francisco withdrew from the race in
favor of Detroit, asking, however, that it be
remembered for the 1924 meeting. By an
overwhelming majority, the delegates and
manufacturers chose Detroit and its prof-
fered hospitality for the 1923 Convention.
The following officers were elected:
President, W. F. Kramer, Chief Engineer,
Water Works Company, Lexington, Ky. j
Vice-President, George W. Fuller, Consult-
ing Engineer, New York City; Treasurer,
William W. Brush, Deputy Chief Engineer,
Department of Water Supply, Gas and
Electricity, New York City; Trustee for
District i, George W. Batchelder, Water
Commissioner, Worcester, Mass. ; Trustee
for District 4, Joseph W. Films, Consulting
Engineer, Cleveland, Ohio.
The Water Works Manufacturers Asso-
ciation elected the following officers:
President, Edgar J. Buttenheim, The
American City; Vice-President, Charles R.
Wood, R. D. Wood & Company, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; Secretary. John A. Kienle,
Mathieson Alkali Works, Inc., New York
City ; Treasurer, Dennis O'Brien, A. P.
Smith Manufacturing Company, East
Orange, N. J.
549
Budget Making and the Citizens' Interest
By Lionel Weil
Chairman, Finance Committee, Goldsboro, N. C.
IN order that the various administrations
of the cities and towns throughout the
country may attain their fullest meas-
ure of success, three important factors are
necessary — good men, good laws, and a
continuing interest by the people.
The value of public interest is not only
important, but, to a large extent, deter-
mines whether we shall have good men and
good laws. An indifferent electorate in-
variably begets a mediocre administration.
The best results have always come when
the people are keenly aroused to a proper
appreciation of our civic problems.
In the range of municipal problems, there
is no event more important, nor one that
should engage public attention to a greater
degree, than a consideration of the budget.
What the Budget Is and What It Does
Simply stated, the city budget is the
financial plan and guide for the yearly con-
duct of its business. It embodies the de-
tailed estimate of expense and revenue nec-
essary for the proper operation of its gov-
ernment, systematically arranged according
to its various departments, with a compara-
tive statement of the previous year's trans-
actions. It enables the city to determine
accurately its financial program and shape
its policies a year in advance, thereby giv-
ing the public a deeper insight and a better
understanding of what services are planned
and what financial burdens they are ex-
pected to share.
Experience has shown, by thus planning
ahead and taking into consideration the
various requirements of each department
according to its relative importance, that
money has not only been saved, but that a
higher standard of service has been secured.
As a proper safeguard and good business,
therefore, the budget becomes of equal im-
portance to the small town and the larger
city.
Who Should Prepare the Budget ?
The first step necessary to the prepara-
tion of a successful budget is executive
authority. In the city manager form of
government, this duty naturally falls on
the city manager, assisted by the chief
financial officer. In the commission form,
and the federal plan of government, where
the commission or the mayor appoints all
department heads, who are directly respon-
sible to the commission or the mayor, it
should be their duty to secure the proper
estimates from the various departments. In
towns or cities where government by com-
mittees continues to flourish and such cen-
tralization does not exist, it is desirable that
the mayor or the municipal executive call
together the various representatives of the
several departments, lay before them the
city's current revenues, and ascertain what
the requirements for their respective de-
partments would be for the current year.
Here, by a committee of the whole, the
public need could be correlated and the ab-
solute necessities approved.
The entire estimates, with supporting
data, could thus be prepared for presenta-
tion to the board of aldermen or council.
The preparation of the budget estimates,
outside the council itself, and their final
approval or disapproval would place the
responsibility of government where it ac-
tually belongs.
Determining Relative Values
In the making of a budget, one of the
real problems is to ascertain the relative
amounts needed for the departments.
Since the fundamental prerequisite to the
existence of society in any form is the pres-
ervation of law and order and the protec-
tion of life and property, it would seem that
the first care of the city would be adequate
provision for public safety. This would
include the work of the police, fire, and pub-
lic health departments and they should
therefore be the first to be put on an ade-
quate basis. The necessary condition to
accomplish this end would be the provision
of such public improvements as the above —
lighted streets, water and sewerage, and
the machinery for fire-fighting.
After these elemental needs are taken
care of, the undertaking of most corise-
550
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
quence is public education, since popular
government is dependent for its continuance
on an educated citizenship. In view of the
fact that our city schools are taken care of,
in most of our communities, by a separate
and distinct corporation, this subject will
not constitute part of the present discus-
sion. In this connection, however, the sup-
port and encouragement of the municipality
should be given to its public library.
Next in order come the numerous and
various activities of social welfare, relief
of the poor, places of recreation, and play-
ground facilities.
F.xpenditures
It is a prevailing practice for a city to
first estimate the essential expenditures for
the year and then provide revenue for
meeting them. The expenditures of the
average municipality may be reasonably
classified under the following departments:
(i) Administration; (2) Police; (3) Fire;
(4) Health and SanHation; (5) Streets;
(6) Sewerage; (7) Water; (8) Lighting;
(9) Education — Schools and Library; (10)
Parks and Playgrounds; (11) General Ex-
pense and Contingencies; (12) Sinking
Fund and Interest.
In order that any change in the assets of
the city may be properly reflected in its
financial statement and that the actual op-
erating expenses may be known, it is neces-
sary to separate the expenditures of these
various departments into two classifica-
tions, Expense and Capital Outlay. Ex-
pense comprises all items of expenditure
necessarily incurred for current administra-
tion. Capital Outlay comprises expenditures
of every character made from the general
fund which increase the assets of the cor-
poration, popularly called "permanent im-
provements."
Sources of Revenue
For clearness and convenience, revenue
is divided into two classifications: (i) rev-
enue for the general fund, which includes
current revenue; and (2) revenue for the
sinking fund, which includes revenue for
interest and the payment of the principal
of bonds at maturity. The principal
sources of revenue for the general funds
are the taxes on real estate and personal
property, including poll taxes, special li-
censes and fees, water rentals, electric light
receipts, and costs from the City Recorder's
or Mayor's Court.
Appropriation Ordinance
In order to make effective the various
proposals in the budget, an appropriation
ordinance should be drafted and passed by
the council. The budget then becomes op-
erative as the administration's guide for
the current year. To insure its effective-
ness and to make it thoroughly binding,
every contract for the purchase of supplies,
material and equ'pment should become
valid only when the city auditor or comp-
troller certifies that funds are available
and the contract is signed by the chief ex-
ecutive officer under authority of the gov-
erning body. Further, no expenditures for
salary and labor should be made by the
chief executive officer until the city auditor
certifies that funds are available. A
monthly balance sheet should be presented
to the council so that a proper check as to
its operations can be had and, at all times,
the unexpended balance may be shown in
each department.
Some Basic Charter Provisions
A few of the more important provisions
of the North Carolina Finance Act and the
Model City Charter are submitted as a sug-
gested guide for budget procedure:
The fiscal year of the city shall be from
June I to May 31, or from September i to
August 31, inclusive; and not earlier than one
month before, nor later than one month after,
the beginning of each fiscal year, the chief
executive of the municipality shall prepare and
submit to the council an annual budget for the
ensuing fiscal year based upon detailed esti-
mates furnished by the several departments
and other divisions of the city government, ac-
cording to a classification as nearly uniform as
possible. The budget shall present the follow-
ing information:
(a) An itemized statement of the appropria-
tions recommended by the chief executive of
the municipality for current expenses and for
permanent improvements for each department
and each division thereof for the ensuing fiscal
year, with comparative statements, in parallel
columns, of the appropriations and expenditures
for the current and next preceding fiscal year,
and the increases or decreases in the appropria-
tions recommended.
(b) An itemized statement of the taxes re-
quired and of the estimated revenues of the
city for all other sources for the ensuing fiscal
year, with comparative statements, in parallel
columns, of the taxes and other revenues for
the current and next preceding fiscal year, and
of the increases or decreases estimated or pro-
posed.
(c) A statement of the financial condition
of the municipality.
(d) A copy of the budget shall be filed in
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
551
tlic office of the city clerk for public inspection
not later than ten days before its adoption by
the governing body, and a public hearing shall
be given thereon by the governing body before
the adoption of the budget, notice of which
hearing shall be published.
(e) Such other information as may be re-
quired by the city council. Such budgets, when
adopted by the council, cannot be changed ex-
cept at a regular meeting, and upon a two-
thirds vote of the whole council.
The foregoing sections relating to budget
procedure are in accordance with the best
modern thought and practice on the sul)ject,
but no instrument, however well conceived
and executed, can be thoroughly successful
unless it is understood and approved by an
enl'ghtened public.
Reaching the Public
The budget can, and should, be one of the
chief means of arousing public interest and
extending public knowledge. Figures are
cold facts to the majority of people — ordi-
narily, they are as dry as dust. Every
legitimate efifort, therefore, should be made
to present the proposed appropriations, with
their supporting data, so as to attract the
average citizen by a joint appeal to his
common sense and imagination, first gain-
itig his understanding and then securing
his confidence. Copies of the proposed
budget should be printed in circular form
and distributed. Subdivided circles, graph-
ically showing the relative expenditures and
the comparative percentages for each de-
partment, also sources of revenue, their
amounts and the comparative percentages of
these sources, will secure a greater clear-
ness and better understanding.
The budget should also be printed in
story form for the local newspapers, show-
ing, by departments, what additional ser-
vice can be accomplished by each appro-
priation. A suggested caption might be :
"What It Costs to Run City Hall— Here
Are the Figures to Show Just What Your
Money Does."
The following items will serve as a help-
ful illustration — Under "Health and Sani-
tation" :
"This year's budget contains $10,000 increase
for the eradication of the mosquito. It is con-
fidently predicted that, with the disappearance
of the mosquito, malaria will be arrested and
the health and economic efficiency of 500 indi-
viduals will be restored, and that they will be
returned to their usual avocations."
Total EsTiMATto Revcnuc
Taxabli. YtAB 1920
N\
Funding
BON03 \
\
•35.00
0.00
■ uT^tS ANO
■VCIrsctLLANtOUS Rtvl
ROPtsTr Tax \
^^^■34,225.00
•I2S.4 4I S«
\
Water ^**s,,^^^^
, DtPARTMCNT .
\ •41.730.00 /^
Grand Total '303.528.98
Total Estimated Expenditures
^ay 1.1920 TO MayOI.1921
Grand Total /Appropriation •003.528.98
Health "and Sanitation Departmcnt
Approp«iationM»t l.l920.roMAy 31.1921 '36.30500
Distribution of Estimated Cxpcnditurcs
For 13 Months
552
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
Under "Motorization of the Fire De-
partment" :
"The proposed purchase of a motor truck
for $6,500 not only improves the efficiency of
our Fire Department in enabhng it to extin-
guish fires in their incipiency, but will secure
5 per cent reduction in our insurance rates, and
in two years our citizens will save enough to
offset the original cost of this truck!"
And, finally, under the headline, "Service
vs. Cost," the following argument might be
justified in any well-governed and rapidly
developing municipality :
These various improvements have necessarily
been added with an increase in the tax rate.
But if one can in any way interpret the desire
of the average citizen, we believe he would be
unwilling to revert to the old condition, poor
service and low taxes. A low tax rate, accom-
panied by very little resulting benefit, is seldom
appreciated.
The following thought should illustrate this
idea : The recollection of a low price for a
cheap article is soon forgotten, but the poor
service it has rendered is long remembered.
Our conception of city government is rapidly
undergoing a change. In bygone years, the
prevailing policy of some administrations has
been to see how cheaply the government could
be administered. The standard of living has
so greatly changed that the luxuries of yester-
day have become the necessities of to-day. So
our people have come to give first consideration
to the character of service and efficiency ren-
dered rather than low-cost operations.
The budget, outlining the city's plan of
action for the entire year, carries with it a
most vital message. An earnest endeavor
should therefore be made to secure the full-
est publicity in its consideration. The pub-
lic should be invited to participate in a full
discussion of its provisions at a meeting of
the council called for this purpose, to the
end that when the budget is finally adopted
the administration will have the sympa-
thetic understanding and the harmonious
cooperation of an interested citizenship.
Acknowledgment. — From "Attainable Standards in
Municipal Programs," published by the University
Extension Division, University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, N. C, December 1, 1921,
The Child Labor Decision — What Are We Going to
Do About It?
Seven Next Steps
(i) Our parents can secure state laws
which require children to go to school regu-
larly until they are i6; whoever is at school,
of course, cannot be working in factories
or even at home.
(2) School officers and business men
can advertise so well that going to an effi-
cient school pays better than even earning
money, that parents will keep children at
school wherever possible.
(3) Citizens everywhere can work for
efficient schools.
; (4) ' Boys and girls can often earn more
)^ being careful of clothes and food than
)V going to work when too young.
I (5) Your locality can be interested in
iroviding scholarship or loan funds for
•hose children whose parents are proved
upon inquiry to be unable to get along with-
out children's earnings.
(6) Teachers and editors can teach em-
ployers that premature child labor hurts
them and reduces their profits in the long
run; business will make bigger profits from
high-paid workers than from low-paid
workers; the fewer the child laborers, the
more high-paid workers our country will
have.
(7) Finally, every American school
child can help remove such arguments for
child labor as that children who do not stop
school at 14 become lazy and thriftless.
Constitutional Amendment?
The executive council of the American
Federation of Labor and others propose a
Constitutional amendment which would
abolish child labor.
— From the Institute for Public Ser-
vice Looseleaf Current Events No.
ID.
It is well understood by every intelligent citizen that a very large percentage of disease
is preventable. The health of the children dem:inds clean homes with sanitary surroundings.
— Piihlic Health, State Department of Health, Lansing, Mich.
553
Fundamentals of Design for Safe Roads
By A. R. Hirst
State Highway Engineer, Madison, Wis.
IN securing safety on highways, probably
the greatest advance can be made in
the design of the highway structures
themselves. Up to the present the prin-
cipal idea of American highway engineers
has been to build a structure which will
stand up under traffic; very little attention
has been paid to safety. Practice along
safety lines, however, is making rapid ad-
vances as traffic becomes heavier and faster.
It has recently been stated that more ac-
cidents occur on straight highways than on
curving and presumably dangerous high-
ways. It is doubtful if this is true in gen-
eral. If it is true, the trouble is probably
caused by too narrow surfacing or by the
presence of more traffic on the straight-
away sections than on the sections with
excessive curvature. In all probability, if
the exact number of vehicles and accidents
were known, the road with the greatest
number of sharp curves would .show the
most accidents per mile of traffic. A com-
parison of accidents without a comparison
of traffic is worthless.
Vertical curves are almost as dangerous
as horizontal curves, especially if the sur-
faces are narrow and the drivers do not
keep to the right side of the road on ap-
proaching the crown of hills. Vertical
curves should have a radius of at least
1,000 feet. With this radius, an approach-
ing vehicle can be seen 200 feet ahead and
there is comparative safety if there is mod-
erately careful driving.
No horizontal curves of less than 300-
foot radius should be planned, unless the
circumstances are very exceptional. On
high-speed main lines of travel and on
roads which carry the highest character
of traffic, almost any expenditure is justified
in order to secure such curves or even
easier ones. A curve of 300-foot radius
in a cut gives vision only 200 feet ahead —
and this is little enough when it is con-
sidered that two cars going 30 miles an
hour will meet in two seconds after seeing
each other.
Superelevation and Widening
Curves should, of course, be superelevated
and widened. This practice is now gen-
eral in several states and, while in most
cases it has not proceeded far enough, a
greater number of radical superelevations
are being used each year. It is believed
that on curves less than 300 feet in radius,
superelevations up to one inch to the foot
are desirable. All curves of less than 1,000-
foot radius should be widened, the widen-
ing becoming greater as the radius of the
curve becomes smaller. If radii as small
as 300 feet are used, the widening should
be at least 24 feet on a two-way road.
Where it is impossible to get curves with
a radius of 300 feet or more — if such a
case exists — care should be taken to secure
at least 200 feet of vision ahead. Too
many engineers are placing their curves so
as to restrict the vis'on, although it is
possible by throwing the ends of the
tangents away from the bank to put in
the same curve and still get vision past the
bank. Cutting down banks to the line of
vision is being practiced to some extent,
but unless good maintenance is secured,
this is not proving as satisfactory as was
expected, because of weed and brush growth.
Dead ends come under the same clas-
sification as curves. Dead ends are corners
where the course of the main highway is
not continued by an inferior highway, while
the main highway makes the sharp turn.
Treatment in such places should be just as
radical as at curves, and added protection
should be given by erecting white boarding
across the dead end, so that the driver is
notified that the highway turns sharply.
On such boards an arrow indicating the
direction of the turn is helpful.
The points of danger on our highways
occur at curves and on high-speed main
lines of traffic. Too much money cannot
be spent in securing good vision by build-
ing curves of easy radius. The fact that
in every case an easier curve shortens the
center line distance and thus reduces the
554
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
amount of paving required, always helps
to offset the additional cost of securing
right of way for such curves.
Insu'ficient Width Is Dangerous
Next to curves, the factor which prob-
ably produces the greatest number of ac-
cidents is narrow surfacing. No perma-
nent roadway should be built with a width
less than i8 feet on any main line of travel.
Twenty feet is much better and far safer.
We do not believe in building over 20 feet
wide unless a road for four lines of traffic
is desired, in which case 36 feet should be
the minimum and 40 feet would be much
better.
Pavements on high-speed roads should
be some multiple of 10 feet in width, pro-
viding a lane for each line of traffic. Such
widths as 14, 15, 16, 24 and 32 feet, and any
other widths that do not provide a clear
width of at least 9 feet for each line of
vehicles, are useless widths and should
never be figured upon. Large sums of
money have been wasted or partially wasted
in build'ng pavements of such width. If
the traffic does not justify at least 18 feet,
a 9- or 1 0-foot road should be built, so that
no one will be deceived into believing that
there is a double-track road where such
does not exist. These roads can be made
double-track later when funds become avail-
able. Wide pavements make for easier and
cheaper maintenance, in that they keep the
traffic off the edges of the pavements, make
for easier shoulder maintenance and also
provide for a moderate distribution of
traffic.
Bridges and culverts should be built of
adequate width between end walls. The
distance between end walls should be at
least equal to the width of the top of the
fills when new. It is suggested that on main
lines of travel not less than 26 feet should
be used as the distance between end walls
or parapets of bridges and culverts, and if
grades are wider, greater distance should
be provided.
In the design of bridges and culverts,
especially in the end walls and railings,
there are great opportunities for the
beautification of highways. Artistic panel-
ing on spindles adds very materially to the
appearance of concrete structures without
greatly increasing their cost. People are
usually willing to pay for the artistic,
once • they have a sufficient number of
samples of artistic bridges from which to
judge the effect of good proportion and
good design.
There is need for some artistic develop-
ment in the construction of guard-fences.
Nothing, probably, adds more to the appear-
ance of a highway than well-constructed,
well-aligned, white guard-fences.
Fort Smith, Arkansas, Celebrates Opening of New Bridge
ON May II and 12 the new Free Bridge
spann'ng the Arkansas River at
Fort Smith, Ark., was opened with
appropriate dedication ceremonies. The
bridge, bu'lt of reinforced concrete, is
3,168 feet long and 38 feet wide with a 5-
foot sidewalk on each side, and cost
$1,000,000.
The state line between Arkansas and
Oklahoma crosses the bridge. It is a con-
tinuation of the main highway from Arkan-
sas into the state of Oklahoma. The bridge
was built by an improvement d' strict voted
by the people. The bonded indebtedness of
$1,000,000 is to be redeemed within 25
years, the interest being payable semi-an-
nually.
We are indebted to Hon. Fagan Bour-
land, Mayor, Fort Smith, Ark., for the
photograph of the bridge and the informa-
tion above.
THE NEW REINFORCED CONCRETE ARCH BRIDGE AT FORT SftUTH, ARK.
555
The Need for Health Training
in Our Schools
By George T. Palmer, Dr. P. H.
Fpidemiologist, Detroit Department of Health
THE most valua])le asset which a
child takes with him on stepping forth
from the public schools is a healthy
body. Lacking this, the school pupil faces
the world handxajjped. It is true that some
of these handicaps are so far humanly un-
preventable. We are interested particularly
Ji the ills that do not have to be.
A Community Health Program
The coniniunty can perform for the
school pupil three distinct services that
make for health. First, it can institute a
system of daily
nursing service in
each school build-
ing, with the
object of control-
ling contagion.
Early symptoms
of communicable
disease are de-
tected, and chil-
dren thus affected
are excluded be-
fore there is op-
portunity for ex-
posing m any
others. Secondly,
there should be
complete inspection of pupils at least
once a year for the purpose of revealing
physical defects. With this knowledge,
parents can take corrective steps be-
fore the condition becomes aggravated.
Thirdly, the community, through its
educational forces, can familiarize children
with health history and with good personal
hygiene and can arouse in the child a de-
sire to establish good health habits. This
program is dictated as a governmental re-
sponsibility, as a groundwork for a healthier
commonwealth in the years to come, and as
a business investment. The prevention of
sickness and incapacitation means fewer
charitable institutions, asylums, prisons and
relief agencies.
The need for these health services is
It is well worth the trouble and expense
to incorporate health education in the ele-
mentary, as well as the high school,
curriculum. This information must come
from the medical and nursing personnel of
health departments, from the instructors in
physical training, and from the school
teachers. The already crowded school pro-
gram should be adjusted or balanced to meet
this situation, even at the expense of
eliminating some of the most desirable,
though less necessary, cultural studies.
illuminatingly shown by the experiences of
any of our municipalities. It has not been
uncommon to find at the beginning of
school in September, children in advanced
stages of acute infections — scarlet fever
cases with skin beginning to peel, chicken-
pox and smallpox cases with pustular erup-
tions. These are mild cases which no
physician has seen, but which are capable
of causing severe illness in others. During
the year 192 1, school nurses of the Detroit
Health Department found 15,000 cases of
dsease in the school and in the home. These
infections would
have been passed
on to many
others had not
the nurses
brought them to
the attention of
the medical
diagnosticians. A
thousand cases
o f pediculosis
(head lice)
threatened the
disruption of a
high school one
winter. The next
year an mspec-
tion at the beginning of the school year
ruled out the few guilty ones, and this
practice annually has prevented the repeti-
tion of such a condition.
We self-satisfied Americans received a
jolt in 19 1 7 when, to our astonishment, we
read that Uncle Sam had to examine three
drafted men in order to find one fit to bear
arms. We can see physical defects in
embryo by looking at our school children
to-day. The examination of 13,000 first-
grade children in the Detroit schools in
1922 shows the following departures from
physical perfection :
Per Cent of Children with the Following
Physical Defects
Enlarged cervical glands 0.8
Enlarged thyroid , . . . . 1.3
Defective vision '. 5.1
Impaired hearing 1.5
556
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
Month breathing 12.0
Enlarged or diseased tonsils 57.0
Skin diseases 1.6
Anemia 6.0
Defective teeth 22.0
Deformed palate 0.02
Abnormal heart signs 3.0
Abnormal chest signs 3.1
Orthopedic 0.9
Eighty per cent of this group had one or
more defects. It should be noted that in the
Detroit examinations only marked cases are
listed as defects. Slight or doubtful de-
fects are not included in the above table.
For this reason the number of teeth defects
seems small in comparison with the rec-
ords of other cities. Slight pit cavities or
unclean teeth without pronounced cavities
are omitted from the tabulation. If these
were included, our records would indicate
that at least 80 per cent need dental atten-
tion. As a matter of fact, the physically
perfect specimen is rare indeed. Probably
not more than two out of a hundred are free
from at least one imperfection in physical
health.
The largest item in the table is abnormal
tonsils, 57 per cent of first-grade children
showing the defect. In many cases this
condition may be temporary and will shortly
correct itself. In other cases we find here
the seat of frequent colds,, malnourishment
and general ill health. This condition war-
rants a more careful examination by a pri-
vate or a clinic physician to discover the
corrective procedure necessary. Mouth
breathing is frequently associated with ab-
normal tonsils, and unless the condition is
purely temporary, the removal of adenoids
may be indicated. Anemia and defective
vision affect 6 per cent and 5 per cent, re-
spectively, of first-grade children. Ob-
viously, these conditions demand more care-
ful medical examination to determine their
true seriousness. Left undiscovered or un-
attended, we have in our growing school
population physical abnormalities which will
handicap many children all their lives and
even materially shorten the lives of some.
Definite Healtli Lessons
These facts are not so much a cause for
alarm as for action. It should be the con-
cern of health departments to devise ways
and means to lessen the occurrence of health
defects. This involves intensive study of
their causes and means for their prevention
and correction, and then popular education
in the subject. The educational program
must reach into the home to protect the
child before he enters school. The school
itself can do tremendous good by reaching
the home through the child and by prepar-
ing the child to take care of the next
generation.
Through health education the school
child must learn something of the history
of disease : that diphtheria caused ten times
as many deaths forty years ago as it does
now; that it is possible to protect against
diphtheria by immunization with toxin-
antitoxin; that vaccination protects against
smallpox, and that in the Western States,
where vaccination is lax, there is one hun-
dred times as much smallpox as in the East-
ern States, where there are stringent
vaccination rules; that drinking sewage-
polluted water has caused thousands of un-
necessary deaths • from typhoid and that
American cities now have one-fourth the
number of deaths from this cause that they
had in 1900, very largely because of filtra-
tion and sterilization of water-supplies.
. The first grader is not too young to learn
that he should not put his fingers into his
mouth, that he should not swap lollypops,
that coughing and sneezing should be done
in a handkerchief rather than in someone's
face, that he should not drink from a pub-
I'c cup or use a common towel.
There is the whole question of diet that
must be put across in a way that will leave
its imprint on the child's mind. Thousands
of children are reared on coffee and pastry.
Their acquaintance with milk and vegetables
is scanty. Just question a roomful of pupils
in your neighborhood if you doubt this.
Much of the spread of acute infectious
diseases is due to failure of parents to ob-
serve the Golden Rule. When "other"
people's children are running loose with
whooping-cough and measles, it is shocking
to Mr. and Mrs. A., who have children.
But the shockingness is forgotten when Mr.
and Mrs. A.'s children are affected, and it
is so hard to keep the children indoors when
the case is mild. If growing children ap-
preciate the means by which disease is
spread, when they become parents they will
think and act with more intelligence.
In thirty years' time our American death
rate has been halved. The motive for
broader education in health, however, is not
only a longer life, but — what is equally im-
portant— a more efficient and comfortable
life freed from the distressing, the debilitat-
ing and the expensive handicap of unneces-
sary physical defects and disease.
557
The Municipal Swimming Pool
in Johnstown
By H. Lee Wilson
City Engineer, Jolinstown, Pa.
FOR many years the residents of Johns-
town, Pa., were without one of the
most enjoyable forms of recreation —
outdoor bathing. Two rivers flow through
the city, but their unsanitary condition
makes them unsatisfactory for bathing ex-
cept at points too far distant for con-
venience. During 1920 the Lorain Steel
Company built a small concrete swimming
pool on its property in Johnstown. This
was so successful that the public demand
impelled the construction of several small
privately owned pools. As all these were
far too small, the growing demand for
adequate bathing facilities resulted last year
in the construction of Johnstown's first
municipal swimming pool.
In connection with extensive improve-
ments which the School Board was making,
the Recreation Commission found that a
much-needed recreation center could be
built on an irregular tract of land owned
by the Board, without seriously interfering
with the building plans. The swimming
pool is part of this recreation center, and
the property will be further developed with
a baseball diamond, tennis courts and a
playground.
The circular or oval type is particularly
adapted to public pools. The shallow water
space provided at the edge tends to reduce
the overcrowding so common in public
pools because more than 75 per cent of those
bathing do not swim. A diving platform
TSS JOHNSTOWN FOOL, UNDEB CONSTBTJOTZON
558
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
at the center gives open space for the
swimmers, as only those who are able to
swim can reach it. In Johnstown a survey
of the character of the available ground in-
dicated the advisability of an oval pool, and
this design was adopted.
The Engineering Department took ad-
vantage of all the space and designed a
pool 252 feet long and 165 feet wide. It
has a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons and ac-
commodates over 1,000 bathers at one time.
The water depth at the center is 10 feet,
gradually decreasing until at the edge it is
only 15 inches. At a po'nt 54 feet 6 inches
from the edge there is a more precipitate
increase in the depth, from 6 feet to 9 feet,
giving ample depth for diving from the
platform placed at the center. The floor
is 6 inches thick, reinforced with steel wire
mesh weighing 35 pounds to the 100 square
feet. The s'de walls are 12 inches at the
top and 18 inches at the bottom, providing
a batter on the inside face to offset ice ex-
pans'on when the water is allowed to freeze
to afford skating. The reinforcement is
continuous from floor to wall, and the walls
are additionally reinforced by i-inch steel
rods placed vertically 6 inches apart, and
by three i-inch horizontal rods at both the
inside and the outside faces. A 9-foot con-
crete sidewalk, 6 inches thick, was placed
entirely around the pool. The walk slopes
away from the pool, >^-inch to the foot,
and this prevents surface filth from enter-
ing the pool. Bath-houses will be provided
and are now being designed in connection
with the other improvements.
The expansion joints were arranged so
that a day's work would consist of entire
slabs. They were therefore placed 32 feet
6 inches apart on the long arc and 46 feet
on the short arc, converging toward the
center. Joints were also placed at all breaks
in the grade of the floor. The platform
was designed of wood construction so that
it might be removed in the winter to pro-
vide a clear way for ice skating. It is
bolted to concrete foundations under the
floor.
The wet, soggy condition of the subgrade
necessitated extra care in providing drain-
age. A rather extensive system of sub-
drains leads to a main drain placed length-
wise under the pool. The main drain in
turn leads to an outlet under the center of
the pool which carries the water to a 12-inch
sanitary sewer. A concrete sump prevents
the overloading of this sewer, which is
only a temporary connection. The perma-
nent connection will be made as soon as
the construction of the new 36-inch con-
crete storm sewer is completed. This
drainage required 1,764 lineal feet of 6-
inch and 8-inch drain tile laid in trenches
12 inches deep and 10 inches wide, filled
with coarse broken stone. One 6-inch drain
was placed under the outside wall, into
which lead the four overflow pipes from
the pool, thus maintaining continuous flow
to keep the drainage system clear.
Two distinct sources of water-supply
are available. The main supply will come
from one 8-inch driven well which assures
pure water. The pool is also connected to
the city water-supply. In the event of a
drought affect'ng the flow of the well in
warm weather, when the pool is most
needed, the c'ty supply may be utilized.
The design at first contemplated locating
the water intake at the edge, but as this
would not provide proper circulation, it
was finally decided to supply the water at
a point in the floor near the center of the
pool, through an 8-inch cast iron pipe. The
d'scharge is effected through a special grate
in the floor at the center of the pool and
through a 24-inch pipe line which empties
into the sewer in the same manner as does
the drainage system.
In the construction of the pool a 1:2:3
mix "was used, with river sand as fine aggre-
gate and blast-furnace slag as coarse aggre-
gate. Slag was used, not because of its
quality, but rather because an available sup-
ply was readily produced. The slabs were
laid alternately. The extremely soggy con-
dition of the subgrade under one of the
slabs necessitated extra reinforcement. This
was obtained by placing additional steel
5^-inch rods 12 inches apart each way. The
forms for the side walls were made in sec-
tions and used repeatedly. An interesting
incident was the cooperation of the boys
from the city vocational school, who built
and placed the side walls for the concrete
walk The concret'ng operation was per-
formed by having the concrete mixer set
in an elevated position, the concrete placed
in wheelbarrows with a long chute, and the
wheelbarrows run along elevated boards to
the desired location.
All expansion jo'nts were specified to be
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
559
LONGITUDINAL SCCTlON
PLAN AND SECTIONS OF THE NEW JOHNSTOWN, PA., SWIMMING POOL
of K-inch premolded Elastite joint mate-
rial. Lack of joint material at the start of
the work necessitated some other method
of forming the joints. The wooden side
forms of the slabs were left in place, and
it was intended to remove them when the
concrete had set and to pour the joint with
asphalt. The great difficulty of removing
the wood, however, made a very expensive
method. All joints were sealed with asphalt
at the completion of the work.
An average force of 2^ men was re-
quired.
The summary of the final cost account is
as follows:
700 tons of blast furnace slag, delivered $ 1,400
500 tons of river sand, delivered 1,700
1,000 barrels of cement, delivered 4,000
1,764 lineal feet of drain tile, delivered 352
184 lineal feet cast iron pipe and valve,
delivered 1,700
12,000 pounds of steel reinforcing mesh,
delivered 480
5,000 pounds of steel reinforcing rods, delivered 200
Rent on mixer, 60 days at $10 600
Labor 11,500
Miscellaneous, expansion joints, form lumber,
tools, etc 3,000
Total $24,932
Acknowledgment. — Photographs by Ressler, Johns-
town, Pa.
56o
Some Conclusions from Recent Visits in
Germany, Holland, Belgium, France
and England
By Stephen Child
Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects
AS outlined in The American City
last month, the writer has recently
had the privilege of visiting the
countries enumerated above, with parties
of trained city planning and housing ex-
perts, and has therefore had a particularly
good opportunity to study their conditions.
The question comes, how can these ex-
periences help us in America?
From the point of view of the planning
of towns (not the broader, all-inclusive
subject of city planning), they cannot help
us very greatly. Little is being done in any
of these countries in regard to comprehen-
sive replanning or rebuilding of the older
portions of their cities, even the devastated
cities, nothing at all comparable to what,
for example, Chicago is accomplishing.
(Rheims is a brilliant exception and the
work of an American.) The making of
town plans in most of these countries is
confined to the preparation of what we
should call new allotments on the outskirts
of towns, and. as. in most instances the
topographical conditions are simple, the
plan-problems are correspondingly so.
Formality is appropriate, with straight lines
of streets rather than curved. Diagonals
are usually not forgotten. Narrow pave-
ments are wisely used, few alleyways are
employed, and frequent park spaces and
open squares occur. The court or place has
been quite generally overworked, especially
THERE ARE FEW DETACHED HOTJSES, BUT
MANY OPEN SQUARES. A GROUP AT
DUSSEIJ>ORr
in England. Little or no attention is given
to organized play and the providing of
playgrounds. Front dooryards are gener-
ally not deep, 15 to 20 feet is the average,
and rear yards are also for the most part
comparatively shallow, seldom more than
50 or 75 feet in depth. Allotment gardens
are not uncommon. Parks, as we know
them, especially genuine, comprehensive
park systems as in Boston, Chicago, Kansas
City, and Portland, Ore., are almost un-
known.
The great question of zoning has hardly
been considered in either Belgium or
France; and while it may be said to have
originated in Germany, it is not being very
actively considered even there at present.
There is, however, an awakening in this
regard in England. In all these countries,
natural conservatism has served as a par-
tial protection.
These countries, however, have much to
teach us about housing, particularly hous-
ing for the poor. In every one of them a
great deal is being done to help the poor
man, not by building model tenements, but
by housing him and his family in condi-
tions that are usually excellent and occa-
sionally luxurious. We are not doing this
in America. We are building our Roland
Parks, our Forest Hills Gardens and the
like, but these are for what we should call
the middle class, certainly not for the day
laborer. And as to the various government
war housing enterprises, this admittedly
emergency effort was not only conducted
under most abnormal conditions as to costs
and speed, but was rightly directed largely
to the better housing of the higher-paid
skilled mechanic and foreman rather than
of the really poor man. Is it not our prob-
lem here and now to do better for this
enormous group? Must they always "con-
tinue to occupy the cast-off houses of the
better paid?"
How are the Europeans doing it? First,
by mass production. Projects of from 200
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
S6i
THE APPROACH TO MABGABETENHOHE, ESSEN, IS BY WAY OF THIS FINE STONE ARCHWAY
CROSSING A VALLEY PARK
to 500 houses are quite common, and we
noted one or more of 3,000. Then there are
really very few detached houses, many
semi-detached, and many more in rows or
groups of from four to ten.
Eliminating Non-Essentials in Housing
As to details, an enormous amount of
money is saved in the aggregate by the al-
most universal method of not building cel-
lars. If there is any substructure, it is
small; more often there is none, but a con-
venient outbuilding serves for coal, wood
and supplies, at far less cost. Modern heat-
ing methods do not demand a cellar for
genuine comfort in many parts of America,
and we should do well to adopt some of the
ingenious heating and cooking devices noted
in England and Germany. These are being
introduced in France, Holland and Belgium.
Simpler methods of plumbing must be de-
vised and our plumbing and building ordi-
nances amended to permit them — they can
still be safe, sanitary and healthful. For
example, it should be noted that in the
homes of the really poor it is not absolutely
necessary to have porcelain bathtubs — often,
as we know, abused. With other toilet and
heating facilities, portable tubs or inex-
pensive shower-baths are perfectly proper.
Among other things worth noting are: the
comparatively small size of rooms, and the
fact that they are often relatively low-
studded; the common room or dining-room-
kitchen, doing away with the extravagant
parlor usually shut up except for funerals
or weddings; and the small kitchenette,
which saves money and steps. Standardized
details, such as window-frames, doors,
sashes, shutters, or blinds, and the produc-
tion of these in large quantities, contribute
toward economy in construction.
As to exterior architecture, our American
architects are by no means lacking in skill
and taste; certainly Germany and Holland
can teach them little.
The policy of buying land ahead, at or
near agricultural values, and holding it for
housing needs, is of the utmost importance,
and there would seem to be no good reason
why foreign principles in such matters
should not be adapted to our conditions.
The Society "0ns Limbourg" that buys the
farm lands in the Maestricht min'ng district
of Holland is run on principles that could
be readily employed in America.* To be
sure, it demands foresight, good judgment
and a spirit of cooperation, but no Ameri-
can will admit that our people are lacking
in these qualifications. The problem is to
stir them up, set them to work.
The writer holds no brief for many of
the foreign financial methods, however, cer-
tainly not for the private philanthropy of
Port Sunlight and Essen with their over-
luxurious provisions, nor the over-subsi-
dization, the real government charity meth-
ods that have been so common in England,
France, Holland and Belgium. He became
fully convinced in 1920 when England's
methods were at full cry that they were
"riding for a fall," and the slump has now
come, with disastrous results to housing and
labor conditions. Holland did not go to
quite such limits and is now proceeding
more conservatively to retrench. Belgium
is following closely in Holland's footsteps.
Germany's methods of spend and make
• See The American City for February, 1922,
page 103.
562
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
NO CELLARS— A CONVENIENT OUTBUILDING
SERVES FOR STORAGE
Note small individual rear yards and the allotment
garden area in foreground
debts and "the devil take the hindmost" cer-
tainly are to be avoided. On the whole, per-
haps France is turning out to be the most
conservative. Financial conditions have no
doubt had much to do with this, and there
to-day among the most thoughtful "it is
hoped that private initiative will again get
the upper hand when the people have been
persuaded that the provision of small dwell-
ings is a business proposition like any other,
and that the capital which is involved
therein ought to bring a net return at least
equal to the legal rate of 5 per cent. The
philanthropic societies which rent dwellings
at lower than the market rent have killed
private initiative."
And "there's the rub" — how not to kill
private initiative, the faithful goose that
will lay the real egg. Our Congress, state
and city governments have been slow to
act — and perhaps it is well. Our poor peo-
ple, however, have had to double up and
live in crowded, wretched conditions, but,
except for the various war emergency hous-
ing efforts, now being liquidated, we have
not piled up huge house-building liabilities.
Three Lines of Progress
Why should we not organize in America
"Our Boston" and "Our San Francisco"
societies to do as "0ns Limbourg" has done
— buy housing lands, not for exorbitant
profit, but for genuine, future building
needs, then establish other coordinate
groups, building societies, and so on, for
the mass production of inexpensive homes?
These societies would of course employ
standardization for all it is worth — and it is
worth much. It is in these three items, the
buying of cheap land, the mass production,
and the standardization of parts, that they
are making the greatest gains in Europe.
•Some of the methods have been alluded to.
We must devise and establish similar meth-
ods suitable to our own conditions. Such
organizations will then employ real econ-
om'es for the poor man, will not permit
him to waste his money on cellars, porcelain
tubs, high ceilings, and stuffy parlors, but
will so direct things that he will put his
hard-earned dollars into what he needs —
not tenements, but comfortable, attractive
row houses.
To attract the working man's dollars, we
must increase the scope of the splendid
work done by the building and loan
societies ; for, in the op'n'on of those far
better able to judge than the writer, our
financial and building conditions would be
infinitely worse to-day but for these or-
ganizations, and their usefulness must in
some way be greatly increased. Some
method must be devised, too, in regard to
our savings banks, whereby the honest
laboring-man-depositor — the man who is
really saving to build his own home — may
be assured by some sort of certificate that
when he makes a deposit it will be used to
buy cement, brick, lumber and nails and not
be diverted by methods of high finance to
other purposes. To really secure home
ownership and help forward the "own your
own home" campaign, the loo-monthly-
payment idea of Germany and elsewhere
may well be adopted by the mass production
organizations above alluded to.
Mr. Hoover, through the Division of
Construction and Housing, the Bureau of
Standards, and the National Zoning Com-
mittee of the Department of Commerce, is
doing a great work and should receive our
support.
In order that these efforts of the Depart-
ment of Commerce may bear the most fruit,
is it not most important that the Division
of Construction and Housing be per-
mitted to organize in cooperation with
the Library of Congress an American Cen-
tre of Civic Documentation to be affiliated
with the International Union of Cities and
its European Centre at Brussels — the proj-
ect recently presented in The American
City — the so-called "International Clear-
ing-House of Civic Information"?
563
fhrvoard ^tops
in
Municipal j\f fairs
(jtty Managers
City Manager Plan Makes Good
in Bluefield
Bluefield, W. Va. — Last spring a strong
agitation arose in Bluefield for a substitute
for the old mayor-and-council type of gov-
ernment, which, in the minds of many
people, had too long paid political debts out
of the city treasury. As a result, a new
charter was drafted by a committee of one
hundred, providing for the modern com-
mission-manager type of government. Five
directors or commissioners were provided
for, they in turn to appoint the city man-
ager. The new charter became effective
August I, and Clarence E. Ridley, formerly
City Engineer and Superintendent of the
Water- Works Department of Port Arthur,
Tex., was selected as Manager.
Among the first things accomplished by
the new government was a change from the
slipshod method of purchasing and disburs-
ing, to an up-to-date and systematic plan
which furnished a definite and accurate
control. A part-time health officer gave
way to one on full time. A city physician,
a sanitary inspector, public health nurses,
and a bacteriologist were appointed, and
for the first time the people of the city felt
that their health was adequately safe-
guarded. A capable engineering staff was
provided to care for public works. The
salaries of the chiefs of the fire and police
department and of the underpaid men un-
der them were increased, and they were
told to "produce results." The outcome
has been a decided decrease in crime and
lawlessness and in the number of fires.
Back taxes, old assessments, and uniform
collection of licenses were met in order,
and because of the collection of these ar-
rears and strict economy in the expenditure
of the city's revenue, additional services in
all departments have been _made possible,
especially in the health department; a sub-
stantiar sum has been set aside to redeem
the bonded debt, something that had never
been done before ; a floating debt of $25,-
000 has been paid, and $35,000 has been
set aside to defray the city's share of perma-
nent improvements. For the first seven
months of the new administration, the oper-
ating cost was $20,000 less than the budget
estimates which were prepared by the old
administration, based on the average oper-
ating costs under the mayor-and-council
plan.
During the coming year, the city expects
to be able to provide a considerable amount
to apply on the bonded debt. It expects to
appropriate at least $20,000 for the city's
share in permanent improvements, and to
set aside $10,000 for the making of a
topographic survey and the preparation of
a city plan. It plans to make provision for
the free collection and disposal of munic-
ipal waste and to do all this without in-
creasing the present tax rate of $1 on $100
valuation, even though this is based on an
assessment of approximately one-third of
the actual value. Notwithstanding the low
tax rate, the city is now being entirely
financed on the pay-as-you-go policy.
CLARENCE E. RIDLEY,
City Manager.
Cit^E'
ngtneers
Pontiac Tries Oversize Street Signs
PoNTiAC, iMiCH. — Some months ago,
when installation of street signs in this city
came under discussion, our daily paper, the
Pontiac Daily Press, suggested that a large
street sign be placed at one of the principal
corners of the city. This street sign was to
be of such size that the motorist could see
5^4
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
it a half-block away, allowing him plenty
of time to make the turn. As we have a
tremendous amount of foreign traffic which
may take any one of seven main trunk
roads leading out of the city, it is very im-
portant that the transient motorist be helped
as much as possible, so as to avoid traffic
congestion.
Accordingly, the
large sign shown in the
■■tes*i*a-^^ accompanying illustra-
^^BBBiuii^QL- i^on was erected on one
of the principal cor-
ners of the city. This
has been in place some
six months and has
caused very . favorable
comment. There is
noticeably less traffic
confusion than in pre-
vious years, despite an
increased amount of
travel.
The sign was made
by the local iron works
at a cost of $23. It
consists of a 3-inch
cast iron post 14 feet 6
inches long, on which are mounted two 10
by 48-inch plates of lo-gage material. The
post is buried 3 feet in the ground and set
in concrete, leaving 11 feet 6 inches clear
to the bottom of the sign. The background
is black, with white lettering 6 inches in
height.
It is planned to place these signs on nine
of the principal intersections and to place
street signs of ordinary size on the prin-
cipal streets. An appropriation of $4,000
has just been made for this purpose and,
while this will not cover the entire city,
all the principal streets will be marked.
L. G. LENHARDT,
City Engineer.
FOUR-FOOT
STREET SIGN,
PONTIAC, MICH.
£)eparimonts
off^ducaiion
The Opportunity School in
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio. — Five years ago a
teacher in one of the grade schools in Co-
lumbus persuaded the Board of Education
to allow her to conduct a special room for
children who were not normal in ability and
therefore could not be taught properly in
the regular classes. From this beginning
has grown the Opportunity School, which is
now housed in seven buildings.
Half of each day in this school is spent
in regular school studies — reading, writing,
arithmetic, language, spelling, geography,
history. The other half of the day is spent
in the manual training shop, or in one of
the cottages, doing reed work, caning chairs,
cooking, sewing, painting, and a variety of
other manual work. The emphasis in this
school is upon the hand work.
The output of the shop is indeed surpris-
ing. Bookshelves, tables, desks, and reno-
vated chairs have been added to the equip-
ment of the school. Old furniture of rare
antique type, found in second-hand shops
and bought for a small sum, is repaired, re-
finished, and sold. The wooden toy depart-
"^ ^r
«5»
^^S
m-pri
mak
i^g^^^^^^^m
i
BOYS OF THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL CANING
CLASS
ment is a revelation. There are dolls of
all sorts and sizes, fully equipped with
clothes and with furnished houses. There
are baskets, trays, embroidered articles,
dresses, millinery, jellies, jams, canned
vegetables, all made or prepared by the chil-
dren in school. The salesroom is a veri-
table gift shop, and with prices more mod-
erate than are found in the usual down-town
shop. The boys and girls are thus supplied
with really useful work, and at the same
time the proceeds help to maintain the
school.
The children come from all parts of the
c'ty, with car-fare provided by the Board of
Education. About half of them had proved
to be so backward mentally that they were
a handicap in regular classes. The rest
are those who have been sent there by order
of the Juvenile Court for a variety of of-
fences. Many of these court cases, or in-
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
56s
corrigibles, are also sub-
normal in mental ability.
The aims of the school
are implied in its name —
Opportunity School. It is
a school where the children
who are not able to keep up
with the regular school-
room classes and yet who
have the ability to profit by
special training, are taught
simple occupations whereby
they are able to earn their
living. Many of these
children, who otherwise
would be permanent bur-
dens upon society, become
self-supporting. For the
court cases, it affords a place where children
can receive school training and vocational
training, and still be under court super-
vision.
The grounds and buildings were bought
by the Board of Education, and the cost
of up-keep and the teachers' salaries are
paid by the Board. In all else the school is
self-supporting.
p.. H. EISENBEIS,
Principal, Opportunity Scliool.
(Jommissions
A Comprehensive City Plan for
Richmond, Calif.
Richmond, Calif. — At a meeting of the
City Planning Commission of Richmond
on October 14, 1921, a comprehensive City
Plan, prepared by Carol Aronovici and Guy
Wilfrid Hayler, associated city planners,
was presented for the consideration of the
Commission. The Plan, which was under-
taken at the request of the City Council,
has been some months in course of prepara-
t'on and is based on an exhaustive civic
survey.
The work has comprised stud'es of exist-
ing conditions, improved streets, major
thoroughfares and transportation facilities,
public utilities, distribution of population,
water-front and harbor, and land values.
The Plan provides a system of major
thoroughfares linking Richmond with the
surrounding territory and giving direct ac-
AIRPLANE VIEW OF RICHMOND, CALIF.
cess to the new inner harbor being con-
structed by the U. S. Government, as well
as to the future development on San Pablo
Bay. A boulevard system is shown, with
a scenic boulevard on the shores of San
Francisco Bay and a linking up of a series
of city playgrounds and open spaces. An
aquatic park is also contemplated in the re-
gion of swamp lands at Point Richmond.
Considerable attention has been given to
the industrial and traffic development of
the city, and a new neutral freight right
of way connecting the Southern Pacific
Railway and the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Railroad is proposed. This will
give the harbor and adjacent industrial lo-
cations excellent opportunity for shipment
over trans-continental lines. In this con-
nection the municipal wharf facilities are
utilized to their full extent. The industrial
locations on the harbor are to be served
by new street car routing as well as trans-
bay ferry services. The existing school
playgrounds are to be extended in many
cases, and provision is made for a future
high .school and stadium. In the northern
part of the city a large public park is pro-
posed.
A zoning scheme was also submitted in
connection with the plan, making zones for
residential property, business, light indus-
try and heavy industry, with an unclas-
sified area on the mountainous backbone of
Point Richmond. The vexed question of
apartment houses and multiple dwellings in
the residential area is to be solved by local
option, the adjacent residents determining
the use of the land. The City Plan pro-
vides sites for a new public library, a hos-
566
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
pital, a police and fire hall, a post office,
etc., together with the grouping of the
present city hall with projected city build-
ings so as to form a central city garden
plaza.
With a few suggestions for extending
open spaces still further, the Commission
accepted the plans. In a series of meetings
the Commission went over each phase of
the work in detail, and several citizens'
meetings were also held to discuss local
problems/ On January 26, 1922, the City
Planning; Commission formally approved
the Plan ;by unanimous vote. The City
Council h^s since approached the question
of adopting ordinances covering zoning,
setback lines, etc., as well as propositions
covering the larger schemes of civic
improvement. An interesting feature of
the publicity campaign for the Plan has
been a series of special articles in the news-
papers, in which the various problems have
been analyzed. The Plan has been thor-
oughly dissected, and a further number of
graphic diagrams have been compiled from
the original plans, so that the ordinary citi-
zen may be able to judge of the merits of
the proposals without technical language
or unfamiliar map illustration. In order
that the fullest popular consent may be
given, the Commission proposes that in the
near future the citizens shall vote on its
adoption.
GEO. B. FREDENBURG,
President, City Planning Commission.
pire
Departments
Fire Department Conducts Essay
Contest
New York, N. Y. — A large number of
fires occur in apartments, tenements and
dwellings, over which the Fire Department
of New York has practically no jurisdic-
tion as to the enforcement of fire preven-
tion methods. In order to bring about bet-
ter cooperation between school children and
the Fire Department, and through educa-
tion to overcome the hazardous conditions
in apartments ajid tenements, the Depart-
ment has recently inaugurated an essay con-
test on fire prevention among the school
iJ^^^n,.^ the- city.
In the schools of New York there are now
about a million children, comprising one-
sixth of the population. They are impres-
sionable and afiford a good field for educa-
tion on the subject of fire prevention. By
starting with the pupils in the fifth grade,
it will be possible to give several years'
training to each child before he or she leaves
school.
In this way it is hoped to greatly reduce
the number of fires that occur through igno-
rance or lack of thought. There is no
question that the benefit of such training
in the future will be enormous, and the
Department is therefore supplementing its
present-day fire prevention work by plan-
ning the careful education of the citizens
of to-morrow.
THOMAS T. DRENNAN,
Fire Commissioner.
PuhlicSl^elfare
Departments
Service-at-Cost Succeeds in Toledo
Toledo, Ohio. — A reduction of about 12
cents per car-mile in operating expenses
is shown as one of the results of Toledo's
II months' experience under the "service-
at-cost" ordinance by which the city trac-
tion lines are operated. The first annual
report, including the first 11 months since
February, 1921, when the ordinance went
into effect, has been issued.
In February, 1921, the operating ex-
penses were 42.863 cents a car-mile, and
in December they reached the low point of
30.498 cents a car-mile. On the other
hand, passenger revenues have climbed from
38.045 cents a car-mile in July, 1921, to
46.354 cents a car-mile in December, and
45.407 cents a car-mile in February, 1922.
By February i, 1922, the city's equity in
the Community Traction Company was
about $212,500, which represented 23^ per
cent of the capital value of $8,500,000. The
ordinance provides that yearly this percent-
age of the capital value shall be turned
over to the sinking fund until this amount
equals 20 per cent of the capital value, when
the payments shall stop for the time being;
In II months $476,749 was paid out in in-
terest and dividends.
- The Street Car Commissioner has had
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
567
the difficult position of
striving to operate the
traction system with the
utmost efficiency and
economy and yet to meet
as far as possible demands
for service on the part of
residents along the car
lines, strenuously made on
their behalf through their
councilmen.
We are bending every
effort to build up the fare
stabilizing fund to $400,-
000, at which time the
present 7 cents and i cent
transfer fare rate may be
lowered. This fund now
aggregates $86,412.
W. E. CANN,
Street Car Commissioner.
Municipal Vacation Camps That
Work the Year Round
Los Angeles, Calif. — The Los Angeles
municipal camps — Camp Radford and Camp
Seeley, in the San Bernardino Mountains
— have just opened for their tenth season.
Visitors to the camp in 1921 exceeded 4,000.
"These camps are the only ones where
the main object is to accommodate people
without regard for the dollar," is the ob-
servation of a Government agent who in-
vestigated the system prior to establishing
others in the governmental reserves, on a
similar plan.
The Los Angeles Playground Depart-
ment was the first to undertake a camp
system outside of the city. Its charges are
so low that vacation seekers pay but $14-25
for two weeks' holiday, and only $7 for the
children. Fxpenses can be cut, as each
WINTER OUTINa OF THE SIERRA CLUB AT CAMP SEELEY
CAMP RADFORD GIRLS ENJOY A TUG-OF-WAR
camper gives an hour of his time each day
to camp duties — washing dishes, cutting
wood, building bonfires, etc. Yet the rates
charged cover the entire expense of main-
taining the camps, the salaries of play-
ground experts in charge, the wages of
cooks and helpers, and the cost of clerical
assistance and advertising, with a slight
gain besides, accruing to the city, which
seeks to give it back in service.
Over $30,000 has been spent on the camps
and central lodges. One camper expressed
his appreciation of the city's wise expendi-
ture by saying that it was a positive pleas-
ure to pay taxes when he found out what
could be gained in pure enjoyment. Many
who have hitherto been unable to afford
holidays find it is no more expensive to go
to the Los Angeles camps than it is to stay
at home.
While whole families
attend summer camp, cer-
tain outings are arranged
just for boys, and others
just for girls and women.
The success of the camps
is demonstrated, not only
by the numbers, but by
the reunions of camping
parties held in the play-
ground centers of the
city in the winter time.
C. B. RAITT,
Superintendent, Playground
Department.
568
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
Highway
Jjepartmenis
Using the Old Hitchiog-Post
SoMERViLLE, Mass. — In establishing
traffic guides in Somerville, we have made
use of the old-fash'oned horse's-head
hitching-posts as tops for the silent police-
men. -Hitching-posts were quite common
SHADES OF OLD DOBBIN GUARD TRAFFIC ON
THE STREETS OF SOMERVILLE, MASS.
in front of residences throughout New Eng-
land in years past, but with the advent of
the automobile they have gradually disap-
peared. Havng secured a number of these,
we have set them on concrete bases, as
illustrated, and are using them as silent
policemen at the various street corners.
The post proper bears the name of the
.square or street, and on the base is painted
the warning, "Keep to the Right." In ad-
dition to being more ornamental than the
wpoden sign, these posts are firmer, as
each one weighs about 500 pounds. Quite
a number of the wooden signs have been
broken, but no damage has been done to
the iron ones.
The only expense connected with the use
of the hitching-post was* for the labor of
removing it from the sidewalk, the con-
struction of the base, the painting, and the
placing of the warning sign on the street —
probably about $25.
ASA B. PRICHARD,
Street Commissioner.
Police
Departments
Traffic Booths Lessen Accidents
Knoxville, Tenn. — The concrete traffic
booths shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion were erected in Knoxville about a year
ago. They are erected in the center of the
street and are sufficiently strong to endure
the impact of an automobile or other vehicle.
The signals are operated electrically. Since
the installation of these booths, accidents
have decreased so noticeably that automo-
bile accident insurance has been reduced
2>2> 1/3 per cent. Thirteen booths have been
installed at a cost of $1,000 per booth. The
city regards the system as so satisfactory
that it is now contemplating the installa-
tion of four additional booths.
EDWARD M. HAYNES,
Chief of Police, Knoxville, Tenn.
CONCRETE TRAFFIC BOOTHS DECREASE
ACCIDENTS IN KNOXVILLE, TENK.
5^9
The Business of Water- Works
Management— Part II
By George A. Johason
Consulting Engineer, New York City
Classes of Service
THERE are four main classes of water
service: for public building and char-
ity; for fire department and public
works hydrants ; industrial service ; domes-
tic service. In many cities the first two
classes of service return no revenue to the
municipally owned water department, its
only revenue coming from strictly indus-
trial and domestic service.
There appears to be no reason why every
municipally owned water-works system
should not be run on a strictly business
basis, and for every measurable drop of
water in whatever service rendered, a money
return should be made to cover the cost.
There is no reason why water consumed in
public buildings, by the fire department, or
at public works hydrants should not be paid
for out of the general city funds. The tax-
payer has to foot the bill ultimately, and
it makes for much better bookkeeping and
management if every city department is re-
quired to stand on its own bottom. The
same idea applies equally well to reimburse-
ment for water supplied to charitable insti-
tutions.
It is often the case that no charge is made
for the large volumes of water used from
public works hydrants for street sprinkling,
street cleaning, and sewer flushing purposes,
nor for fire extinguishing. Measurement of
such use of water is little attempted; in-
deed, in some cities the water department
has no control over water consumption at
such points.
In the eight large cities referred to in the
table, leakage and waste (water unac-
counted for) ranges from lo to 34 per
cent and averages about 17 per cent of the
total water consumption, and municipal use
of water ranges from 3 to 21 per cent,
averaging about 8 per cent. The domestic
and industrial uses of water are about equal
in these cities respectively, amounting to
about 37 per cent of the total consumption
in each case. The average figures herein
given closely approximate average condi-
tions in all American cities.
In some cities, as has already been
pointed out, of all the service rendered, an
average of only about 75 per cent of the
water actually pumped is revenue-produc'
ing. In Kansas City the case is particu-
larly accentuated. There no revenue is de-
rived from 35 per cent of the total water
pumped. Obviously, in all cases the un-
necessary waste must be cut to a minimum,
and a campaign to that end is being vigor-
ously prosecuted in Kansas City. Also,
the endeavor is being made to restrict to a
more reasonable figure the use of water
for sewer flush'ng and street sprinkling.
Naturally, the 35 per cent of total water
pumped without subsequent revenue must
correspondingly increase the charges for
the 65 per cent of water pumped from which
all of the revenue of the water department
CLASSIFICATION OF W^ATER CONSUMPTION IN VARIOUS AMERICAN CITIES*
Kansas
SERVICE Toledo Milwaukee Cincinnati Chicago Boston Cleveland Newark City
1918 1919 1916 1916 1892 1904 1918 1919
Dnni«t,V „<=P fG. C. D.. 40.0 40.5 45.0 45.0 30.0 26.0 34.0 40.0
L-oraesuc use ^^ ^2.0 34.5 35.0 38.0 31.5 27.0 29.0 29.0
Industrial and com- JG. C. D.. 40.0 45.8 47.4 50.0 30.0 40.0 44.0 49.5
mercial use \% 42.0 39.0 36.0 42.5 31.5 42.0 37.5 35.9
Municioal me |G. C. D.. 5.0 13.0 23.0 7.0 3.0 10.0 3.0 27.7
Municipal use | ^^ 5 0 jj ^ j^ 5 g„ 3 0 ^^ ^ 2.5 21.1
Under registration ^G. C. D.. 2.5 3.0 3.4 2.1
of meters 1% 2.5' 2.5 2.5 1.5
Leakaire and waste |G-C. D.. 10.0 15.0 13.2 17.0 32.0 20.0 37.0 18.4
i-eaKage ana waste | ^^ jO 5 j3 0 jq ^ j^ g 3^ q gi.o 31.0 13.6-
Total consumption, gallons per
capita daily 95.0 117.3 132.0 119.0 95.0 96.0 118.0 137.7
• Report on the water-supply of Kansas City., Mo., by Fuller & McClintock, 1920.
570
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
is derived. There is something very un-
businesslike in this procedure. Unavoid-
able waste of water cannot be included in
the equation, but all other water service,
whether for domestic, industrial, charitable
or public uses, should be charged for on
an equitable basis and actually collected;
and the amounts collected annually should,
in the sum total at least, equal all overhead
operation and maintenance costs, and in ad-
dition provide an annual sum sufficient in
the aggregate to defray future replacements,
extensions and improvements. The dates
on which such improvements will be needed
are capable of prediction with a degree of
accuracy sufficient to make the idea an en-
tirely workable one. In this manner there
will be avoided the necessity of special tax
levies, borrowing from other city funds to
meet deficits in the water department, and
eternal geeing and hawing of rates in an
attempt to avoid the contingencies that must
be the natural heritage of such unbalanced
and inexcusable business management, and
there will be an end of many new bond is-
sues, the approval of which the body politic
is called upon to give on relatively short
notice. On such occasions there always oc-
curs a division of opinion as to the neces-
sity or desirability of the issue, which in
consequence is just as liable to fail as it is
to pass, regardless of the actual merits of
the movement.
With the water department operating as
a business enterprise, it is only necessary
for the taxpayers to see that the admin-
istrative and operating staff are selected
solely because of their competence and are
in no wise indebted to political contrivance
and favoritism for the positions which they
hold. Their annual reports will constitute
the accounts of their stewardship, and by
them they will be judged. Make a business
of the water department activities, run it
like a business, and the community will
profit by better service and lower charges
for it.
Adjustment of Rates for Different Classes
of Water Service
A competent survey of existing condi-
tions should determine : first, what is needed
to organize the administrative, operating
and maintenance staffs on the best possible
basis in the light of efficient and economical
management of the water department; and.
second, what are the precise physical condi-
tions and needs of all parts of the system
at present, and the probable needs for a
generation to come, all in the light of the
ability of the system to render satisfactory
service. From this information a budget
can be prepared which will cover the esti-
mated requirements for a term of, say, 20
years. The annual budget totals for this
period will then serve as bases upon which
to compute the charges for various classes
of service, the receipts from all of which
will equal or moderately exceed each an-
nual budget as it becomes operative.
We now arrive at the proposition of how
the necessary annual revenue may be raised
by even and just distribution of the charge,
to the end that the cost of supplying water
year in and year out may be distributed over
all classes of consumers as equitably as
such things can be done in this world of
imperfection.
The minimum rate. — In fixing rate
schedules, experience indicates the appar-
ent necessity of establishing a minimum
rate payable by each individual connected
to the distribution system, regardless of
whether he uses any water or not. The rea-
sons for this are: first, that every service
connection represents a certain part of the
total investment cost of the system, and ac-
cordingly should bear its share of the total
cost of operation and maintenance; second,
it is desirable that every citizen use a cer-
tain minimum amount of water daily for
sanitary reasons; and third, the minimum
rate is necessary because any consumer
using less than the minimum volume fixed,
if assessed on any other basis, would not
return a revenue sufficiently great to pay
for the maintenance of that service, and it
would be continued at an actual loss, which
would become an added charge on other
consumers using more water.
Allen Hazen ("Meter Rates for Water
Works," 191 7, page 75) found that the
amount of water furnished for the minimum
rate varied from 40 to 300 gallons and aver-
aged 120 gallons per day. These figfures
are equal to 8, 60 and 24 gallons per capita
daily, respectively, assuming families of five.
A better way of fixing the average daily
volume of water allowed at the minimum
rate would seem to be to fix on a definite
quantity per capita for each actual in-
habitant of the premises served. This would
JUNEj 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
571
lend to obviate difficulties such as those en-
countered in tenement houses. Hazen states
that while the minimum rate might be ap-
plied to a fixed quantity of 20 gallons or
so per capita for every man, woman and
child living in every house, there is no as-
surance that each person or family in a
tenement house would get its share. He
suggests a provision whereby each tenement
would be provided with certain fixtures for
the free use of tenants.
Such matters as these — and they are im-
portant, too — are not susceptible of
arbitrary rulings. Rather are they best set-
tled in each case with reference to the local
peculiarities of the problem. But if, as is
sometimes the case, half of the domestic
consumers pay for water service on the
minimum rate basis since they use less
water than that allowed at that rate, it is
apparent that unless this minimum rate is
high enough, the revenue derivable from
such sources is not commensurate with the
cost of producing that service. There are
many cases where under the minimum rate
scale the charge for 20 gallons daily is quite
as high as that for 100 gallons. Quite
patently it costs more under equal conditions
to deliver 100 gallons than 20 gallons, but
the facilities are there for producing the
higher quantity and they must be paid for.
This may be inequitable, but there seems to
be no workable manner in which to avoid
placing upon the user of 100 gallons per day
or less, a part of the financial burden which
properly belongs to the users of the larger
volumes.
The adoption of a uniform rate of so
much per gallon would be manifestly in-
equitable, inasmuch as it would raise the
charge to manufacturers who use large vol-
umes of water far above the figure which
would be fair to them. As Mr. Hazen
points out, this can only mean that the large
users of water would then be made to stand
the brunt of the deficiency in income which
results from supplying small users at less
than the actual cost. To do this would place
in hazard the business of supplying the
large users, for they might be driven to the
development of an independent supply and
thus a large share of the revenue on which
the municipal water-works depend for their
support would be summarily wiped out, leav-
ing the community with the same fixed
charges on its water-works investment and
approximately the same operating and main-
tenance charges. Such a predicament
would be extremely disastrous in some
cases, and very annoying in any event.
Fire hydrant rentals. — A community
should pay fire hydrant rentals and collect
taxes from the water department just as it
does from other properties. The rental
charge should be based upon the .fixed
charge on the investment for hydrants plus
repair and replacement charges. There
should also be a service charge representing
the additional expense to which the water
department has gone to provide standby
service at times of fire, that is, readiness
to serve water for fire extinguishing pur-
poses in adequate volume over and above
the normal peak load consumption. This
charge ramifies into all parts of the physical
plant, being reflected in the capacity of the
pumping station equipment, reservoirs,
mains, operation and maintenance costs,
etc. From the sum total of these costs the
fire hydrant rental can be computed fairly.
Public use of water. — There is every good
reason why a fair charge should be made
and collected by the water department for
water used i^n public buildings, public
schools and charitable institutions, and for
all water used for street sprinkling and
sewer flushing. This charge should be based
on the volume of water so used, and the
rate should be the same as that properly
applicable to large domestic or industrial
consumers.
A Business Basis Essential
There is not the slightest question that
municipally owned and operated water-
works systems can learn much from the ex-
perience of privately owned works of a
similar nature. The latter are operated on
a business basis, whereas the managers of
the former, in all too many cases, are
hampered in numerous ways when attempt-
ing to do likewise. The average taxpayer
cannot be expected to rate as a business
man of the first class — or a water-works
man, either; still, he has a vote, and, what is
even more important, a voice, and when
campaigns are going on for a water-works
bond issue he can be depended upon to use
it for what he thinks is right, but which
may be, and often is, utterly wron^.
Those in charge of municipally owned
water-works systems should be aided in
572
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
every way possible in systematizing their
work and reducing it to a strictly business-
like basis. Their revenues must equal their
production costs, else maintenance work,
extensions and general improvements in the
system will lag behind, to be accompanied
by poor service and high costs therefor.
Last year the July 2nd number of Invest-
ment News contained a pertinent paragraph
along this line :
"Knowing that rate advances would be un-
popular with consumers, they deferred acting
upon such increases until big losses were being
shown and revenues far from met operating
costs. With the municipalities it became either
necessary to make their utilities pay for cost
of operation or assess the losses upon the pub-
lic in the shape of additional taxes. Inasmuch
as ordinary expenses of operating city govern-
ments have risen to such heights and taxes were
as burdensome as the people would stand, it
was necessary to take the unpopular course of
increasing rates. In many instances the in-
creases in rates will be actually beneficial to
the municipalities, inasmuch as operation of
their utilities is being put on a business basis,
not making them so dependent upon taxation
to meet deficits."
It would be difficult, indeed, to find in a
few words a more convincing argument in
favor of making a real business of the man-
agement of municipally owned water-
works.
The Cost of Public Health in Detroit
IN 1883, Detroit, with its 127,000 inhabi-
tants, spent $7,054 on public health, or
about 5J^ cents per capita. In 1921, with
942,000 people, Detroit spent $1,527,355 for
the maintenance of the Health Department,
or $1.62 per capita. Of this sum, 73 cents was was 11.
devoted to the maintenance of the Herman
Kiefer Hospital. The maintenance item,
less hospital charge, is 89 cents per capita.
In 1883 the total death rate per 1,000
people was 22.3. In 1921 the death rate
Smallpox by Popular Vote
IN the United States, say J. N. Force,
special expert, and Dr. J. P. Leake, of
the United States Public Health Service,
in a recent Public Health Report, small-
pox depends on the popular vote. Study
of the smallpox statistics in twenty states
for the last six years and of the vac-
cination laws in the same states indicates
that the people have generally obeyed the
vaccination laws that they have made.
Where popular sentiment has sustained a
strong centralized compulsory vaccination
act, smallpox is to-day negligible ; where
local authorities have been given discretion-
ary powers as to enforcement, the rate has
tended to rise; and where the laws have
lacked compulsory features or there have
been no laws, the rate is high.
In the twenty states considered, four
Eastern States show a combined smallpox
curve that has been at a consistently low
level for the six j'cars, Seven Southern
States and six Central States show curves
that are much higher and are very similar
to each other, though that of the Central
States is about twice as high as that of
the Southern States. The three Pacific
Coast States show a most extraordinary
increase in the disease, the smallpox curve
having soared from one nearly as low as
that of the Eastern States in 1915 to one
eight times as high in 1920.
Within each of these; four geographical
groups, the better the status of vaccination
in the law, the lower is the smallpox rate.
The states where vaccination of school
children is generally required have little
smallpox, averaging three cases a year for
a community of 100,000 inhabitants; the
states where there is no such requirement
have 113 cases per year for each 100,000
persons, a rate high enough to make it prob-
able that I person out of every 30 would
at some time have an attack of smallpox.
573
City Demonstrates the Development of
Electric Street Lighting
Progress of the Art of Street Illumination Illustrated in Kansas City, Mo.
By H. L. DoUahan
NOTABLE among the cities which
have passed through the successive
stages in the development of the art
of street illumination is Kansas City, Mo.
Illumination that was ample for certain
streets, boulevards, traffic ways and parks
ten years ago has become inadequate be-
cause of the growth and expansion of the
city, as well as the introduction of new
modes of transportation. The need of re-
habilitation of the street lighting system in
Kansas City was realized for several years,
but such work did not seem to be advisable
until late in 1920, when city officials felt
that prices were stabilized and financial
conditions warranted the expenditure.
Street lighting contracts were formerly
held by the Kansas City Power and Light
Company and the Kansas City Gas Com-
pany. Outlying districts were illuminated
with 250-candle-power series lamps, sus-
pended by brackets and mast-arms from
wooden poles. This form of lighting is
very efficient and satisfactory for this class
of service. The lights are suspended from
18 to 22 feet above the street, and the light
is distributed by a reflector. The use of
this form of lighting will- be continued and
STREET SCENE IN KANSAS CITY, MO., SHOWING LIGHTING STANDARDS
574
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
BOULEVARD LIGHTING IN KANSAS CITY. MO.
extended to all outlying sections of the city
where residence streets are unlighted at
present and where gas lights need to be
replaced.
The principal illumination on the busi-
ness streets of the city was from cluster
lights, each containing four loo-watt lamps
supported on the trolley poles at a height
approximately 14 feet above the curb line.
On those streets nQt having trolley poles, a
special iron pole or post was used for sup-
porting the cluster lights.
At meetings of the Joint Light Committee
of the Upper and Lower Houses of the City
Council with the officials of the Kansas City
Power and '-Light Company, all existing
forms of street lighting and its^ future trend
were thoroughly considered, with a view to
obtaining a system suitable to the needs of
the city at a minimum cost as regards in-
stallation and operation, and at the same
time to secure an attractive appearance
with an effective distribution of light.
The real purpose of a modern lighting
system is not ornamentation of the streets,
but protection to the public. With this ob-
ject in view, the new lighting system was
laid out so that all streets, traffic ways, and
boulevards where traffic is very heavy were
properly illuminated to facilitate the rapid
movement of vehicular traffic and at the
same time protect pedestrians. Properly
illuminated streets eliminate the necessity
of increased police protection and, whereas
the four-light clusters burned only until
I A. M., with one light all night, the new
system provides for all-night service, for
the additional cost of the small amount of
energy consumed is fully compensated by
the increased protection to those who must
be out at all hours of the night.
The members of the Joint Light Com-
mittee of the City Council and the repre-
sentatives of the Kansas City Power and
Light Company spent about eight months
in preliminary investigations, negotiations
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
575
and public hearings. A satisfactory con-
tract was finally drawn up and an ordinance
was passed in June, 1921, authorizing the
Mayor to sign the contract on behalf of
the city.
The New Fixtures
All the four-light clusters are to be re-
placed by General Electric Form 8 Novalux
units, supported on trolley poles by a special
cast iron ornamental bracket made by the
King Manufacturing- Company. This form
of lighting was adopted as the standard for
business streets having trolley poles. Where
the traffic is heavy, the lights are placed on
every trolley pole, while in the outlying dis-
tricts they are staggered on alternate poles.
A 6oo-candle-power, 20-ampere lamp is used
on the Novalux unit in the down-town dis-
trict, and a 400-candle-powei", 15-ampere
lamp in the outlying business districts.
A Form 16 Novalux unit supported on a
King cast iron standard of Flemish design
was adopted for the boulevards, parks, traf-
fic ways, and the business streets not hav-
ing trolley poles.
The new standard supports the light cen-
ter 14 feet 6 inches above the base of the
post. These standards have an average
spacing of 200 feet and are staggered on
both sides of the boulevards, streets and
traffic ways, giving a very even and effec-
tive distribution of the light. Both Novalux
units are equipped with alabaster ripple
globes and metal canopies. The use of the
alabaster ripple globe gives an intense white
light, without showing the filament of the
lamp.
The current for the lights supported on
brackets on trolley poles is supplied from a
6.6-ampere series circuit carried by ridge
pins on the tops of the trolley poles. The
series circuit requires the use of only one
wire instead of the two and three wires of
the old multiple installations. A. G. E. aerial
type transformer is used with the 15- and
20-ampere lamps. This transformer is
mounted on the trolley pole immediately be-
low the series circuit. Between the series
circuit and the transformer there is a King
disconnecting pothead with a film cut-out
to furnish absolute safety. The low-voltage
leads from the transformer enter the
trolley pole and immediately below the
transformer come out at the point where
the bracket is bolted to the trolley pole,
thereby concealing the low voltage wiring.
The use of the above type of installation
thoroughly insulates the series circuit from
the trolley pole.
The lights in the parks and on the boule-
vards, traffic ways and business streets are
supplied with energy from 6.6-ampere un-
derground series circuits. The conductor
is a No. 8 solid single copper wire with
7^32-inch paper insulation, 5/64-inch lead
sheathing, two layers of asphalted jute, and
a braid of asphalted jute over all. The
operating pressure is 4,500 volts. A G. E.
subway type transformer and a King dis-
connecting pothead are installed in the base
of the post, thereby eliminating the hazards
from high-voltage wiring inside of the post.
The use of the disconnecting pothead is a
safety-first measure, as it permits the dis-
connecting of the transformer and lamp
from the rest of the circuit, making it pos-
sible to repair the lamp installation, if nec-
essary, with the rest of the circuit operat-
ing, and enabling the inspector to test the
circuit in cases of underground trouble.
This installation is proceeding very rap-
idly. When complete, there will be ap-
proximately 4,000 of the bracket-type lamps
supported on trolley poles, requiring the
stringing of over 650,000 feet of No. 6
W. P. wire for aerial conductors, and 3,500
of the post type lamps requiring the installa-
tion of over 700,000 feet of underground
conductor. There will be approximately
250 G. E. 20-kilowatt outdoor-type constant-
current transformers. The entire cost of
the installation is being financed by the
Kansas City Power and Light Company.
There will be about 12,500 lights, including
the 250-candle-power lamps which were in
service at the time work was started and
those used to replace gas lamps in the resi-
dential district.
The investigation of street lighting
methods by Kansas City, Mo., was carried
on by Aldermen Bryce Smith, William
Scannell and James Mellody of the Upper
House and Aldermen Edward J. McDonald,
John J. Manning and F. L. Berry of the
Lower House.
57<5
State Aid for Pennsylvania Municipalities
By James F. Woodward
Secretary of Internal Affairs of Pennsylvania
FOR many years past, Pennsylvania
cities and boroughs, as individuals,
have vi'orked diligently for civic de-
velopment. Civic improvement advocates
working for the betterment of local con-
ditions led state officials and the Legislature
to take cognizance of their ambition to im-
prove municipalities. The climax of the
municipal movement came in 191 5 with the
legislative creation of a Bureau of
Municipalities in the Pennsylvania Depart-
ment of Internal Affairs. The sole purpose
of the Bureau is to cooperate with the
boroughs and cities of the Commonwealth
in improving local conditions.
The original act creating a municipal
bureau, it later developed, so hampered
constructive work that the Bureau could
accomplish things only in a very small way.
The Legislature, in session again in 1919,
broadened the scope of the Bureau's pos-
sibilities and enabled the Department of
Internal Affairs through this division to
branch into many forms of municipal en-
deavor.
The departmental bureau maintains a
trained corps of municipal experts to ex-
tend free aid to the municipalities within
SUGGESTED STREET EXTENSIONS AND WIDENINGS, PREPARED
FOE McKEESPOET BY THE BTJEEAU OF MUNICIPALITIES
its boundaries. Since the creation of the
Bureau many inquiries have been directed
to Pennsylvania by other states as to the
accomplishments possible. We are con-
fident that, before many years pass, every
state will have a bureau or department
similar to the one in Pennsylvania for the
help of municipalities.
The municipal division of the Pennsyl-
vania Department of Internal Affairs
touches on every phase of municipal govern-
ment and municipal development. It has
in its employ city and town planning en-
gineers, landscape architects, expert ac-
countants, municipal engineers, and others
trained for municipal work. The pro-
cedure of procuring their services in a
municipality, large or small, is simple. A
request from the mayor, a burgess or the
council directed to the Secretary of Internal
Affairs of Pennsylvania and asking for the
services of one of the Bureau men to assist
in working out a particular problem, is
sufficient.
It may be that the borough or city making
the request desires the installation of a
modern budget or accounting system; the
planning of a municipal park or play-
ground ; the working
out of an entire city
planning proposition,
which, as is well
known, entails a con-
siderable amount of
time and study; assess-
ment matters may be
the cause for asking
aid, or it may be that
only a minor question
regarding the number-
ing of houses on a
newly developed street
has necessitated the
seeking of outside ad-
vice. No matter how
large or how small the
job involved in the re-
quest may be, the law
permits and authorizes
the giving of all as-
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
577
sistance possible.
Scores of Pennsyl-
vania cities and bor-
oughs in the last two
years have taken full
advantage of the help
extended by the Com-
monwealth, and the
result is that many of
them now find them-
selves working along
modern lines so far
as finances are con-
cerned; more of them
have municipal parks
and playgrounds ;
while others are de-
veloping and being
bettered in numerous
ways under the prof-
fer included in the
legislative enact-
ments.
It may be proper
at this time to point
out that the help it is
possible to accord municipalities by the De-
partment of Internal Affairs is free of all
cost. In the establishing of a budget and
accounting system in a city or a borough
which has made a request, it is necessary to
send an accountant to that particular mu-
nicipality until the system is thoroughly es-
tablished. In the preparation of plans for
parks and playgrounds, it may be necessary
for a landscape architect to make several
visits to the site before the details are com-
pleted. Even in these matters, where con-
siderable expense is involved, the munici-
pality is not asked for pay; but instead, the
state, through appropriations made for the
maintenance department, foots the bill.
In park and playground propositions the
completed plans show the necessary grad-
ing, planting and other details, so that it
will be possible for the municipality to
proceed with actual development imme-
diately upon receipt of the drawings.
Actual development of the land, however,
is entirely the work of the municipality.
The Coordination of Statistics
The service of experts in planning and
advising is only a part of the actual work
done by the department's Municipal Bureau.
Annually, statistics dealing with every
phase of municipal government are gath-
PETOlJYLVAniA CEB&EITCJrr -f inTtBHAL ATTAIBi
BUREAU >< MUniCIPAUTItJ AUGUiT 1920
A TYPICAL PIAYGROUND LAYOUT PREPARED BY THE BUREAIT
OF MUNICIPALITIES
ered by its men in all the cities and several
hundred of the boroughs of the state. These
statistics have to deal with fire depart-
ments, police departments, water depart-
ments, financial accounts, appropriations
for various purposes, parks, street paving,
sewerage systems and sewage disposal,
street lighting, ta>cation and assessment
matters, garbage disposal, bond issues, and
other questions as well.
Following the gathering of this informa-
tion, data thus procured are compiled and
tabulated so that it is possible to make
comparisons of governmental operations
and costs in the respective classes of mu-
nicipalities. There are at the present time
38 third class cities in Pennsylvania. The
following may serve as an example of the
use of municipal statistical compilations:
Taxation figures gathered in each of the
cities show: the assessed valuation; the
assessor's or city clerk's estimate or the
percentage that the assessed value bears to
full value; the estimated full value based
on the assessment and the percentage of
the full-value figure; millage for all city
purposes; the millage if based on full valua-
tion instead of partial valuation, which
assessments usually represent; the total
millage for general purposes; millage for
interest and debt service; millage for the
578
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
poor fund; millage for improvements; the
assessed valuation per capita, and the per
capita taxation for all city purposes. These
figures for all of the cities of the third
class are tabulated on big sheets, so that
it is possible to show at a glance just ex-
actly how one city compares with another
under the various items. Similar tabula-
tions are made for every other division of
municipal government.
As the various statistical sheets are com-
pleted, they are blueprinted and copies for-
warded to officials of the various cities who
are most interested in the particular subject
covered by each sheet. This procedure
enables all of the cities of one class to
become familiar to a certain degree with
the activities of other cities. Likewise, it
saves municipal officials considerable time
and trouble, for, prior to the establishing of
the Municipal Bureau, city officials desiring
information on one subject or another
would, of necessity, be compelled to com-
municate with officials of other municipal-
ities to procure the desired information.
The Bureau has proved a remarkable time-
saver in this regard and is acting as a
clearing-house for municipal information.
Boroughs in Pennsylvania range in popu-
lation from a few more than lOO to over
30,000, and there are approximately 950 of
them in the state. Municipal statistics,
similar to the statistics of third class cities,
are gathered from several hundred of the
representative towns. The boroughs, for
the purpose of comparing information con-
cerning them, are grouped according to
population, so that when information is
sought by one borough, the information
given it is that procured from other
boroughs of its approximate size.
Questions of all kinds are received daily,
and they are given immediate attention by
men trained in respective municipal lines
Some of the inquiries relate to ordinances
of various kinds, and the department has
on file several thousand ordinances relating
to all kinds of municipal subjects. Advice
on the drafting of ordinances is given when
request is made.
Parenthetically, it may be stated that at
no time does the department endeavor to
persuade a municipality, large or small, to
do one thing or another. In this regard it
keeps absolutely neutral and confines itself
to the giving of advice, permitting the
municipal officials to be the judge of the
proper thing to be done.
On the Calendar of Conventions
June 19-24. — San Francisco, Calif.
International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Annual convention. Secretary, George Black, Chief
of Police, Wilmington, Del.
June 19-30.- — Chautauqua, N. Y.
General Federation of Women's Clubs. Biennial
convention. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. George
W. Plnmmer, 878 North Clark Street, Chicago, III.
June 20-23. — Coiorado Springs, Colo.
National Association of Comptrollers and Account-
ing Officers. Annual convention. Secret.ary, Mark
M. Foote, Comptroller's Office, Chica^^o, 111.
June 21-22. — Crookston, Minn.
League of Minnesota Municipalities. _ Annual con-
vention. Executive Secretary, Morris B. Lanibie,
The Municipal Reference Bureau, University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.
June 21-22. — Stroudsburg, Pa.
Association of Pennsylvania Boro'n^hs. Annual
convention. Secretary, j. Herririn Knisely, Capitol
Building, Harrisburg, Pa.
June 22-24. — Fort Wayne, Inh.
Indiana Commercial Secretaries Association. Annuel
convention. Secretary-Treasurer, G. L. Baker,
Wabash, Tnd.
June 22-29. — Providence, R. T.
National Conference of Social Work, Annual
meeting. General Secretary, William 11. Parker, 25
East 9th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
June 26-30. — Seattle, Wash.
National Organisation for Public Health Nur.<;ing.
Annual meeting. General Director, Anne R. Stevens,
870 7th Avenue, New York, N. Y.
July 3-9. — Boston, Mass.
National Education Association of the United
States. Annual meeting. Secretary, J. W. Crabtree,
1400 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W., Washington,
D. C.
JULY_ 14-15. — DuLUTH, Minn.
Minnesota Association of Community Secretaries.
Summer meeting. Secretary-Treasurer, W. E. Olson,
Mankato, Minn.
July 27-28. — Wilmington, N. C. _
North Carolina Commercial Secretaries Association.
Annual meeting. SecretTy, W. T. Ritter, Winston-
Salem, N. C.
August 15-17. — Clinton, Iowa.
League of Iowa Municipalities. Annual meeting.
Secretary, Frank G. Pierce, Marshalltown. Iowa.
August 15-18.— San Francisco, Calif.
International Association of Fire Engineers. Annual
meeting. Secretary, James J. Mulcahey, City Hall,
Yonkers, N. Y.
August 21-September 2. — Evanston, III.
National School for Commercial Secretaries.
Address: Robert B. Be5ch, Business Manager. Asso-
ciation of Commerce, Chicago, 111.
August 28-Septemeer 2. — Detroit, Mich.
National Safety Council. Annual Safety Congress.
Secretary, W. H. Cameron, 1«S North Michigan
Avenue, Chicago, 111.
October 1-6. — Cleveland, Ohio.
American Society for Municipal Improvements.
Annual convention. Secretary, Charles Carroll Brown,
P. O. Box 234, St. Petersburg, Fla.
October 16-19. — Cleveland, Ohio.
.4merican Public Health Association. Annual
meeting. Secretary, A. W. Iledrich, 370 Seventh
.'Vvenue, New York, N. Y.
October 23-25. — Chicago, III.
National Association of Commercial Organization
Secretaries. Annual meeting. Secretary-Treasurer,
Tolin E. Northway, Chamber of Commerce, Ifamilton.
Ohio.
579
The Administrative and Financial Ma-
chinery for Carrying Out the City Plan
By Herbert S. Swan
City Planner, New York
QUITE as important as the city plan
itself is the financial and legal plan
devised to carry out the improvement
contemplated by the plan. How to apply
the city's resources toward the carrying out
of a plan in a manner that will neither em-
barrass the city's finances, endanger the
solvency of individual property owners, nor
unduly disturb the conduct of business dur-
ing the execution of the plan, are adminis-
trative problems of major importance which
must be thought out before any real plan
can be undertaken with a view to success-
ful completion. Both the city and the prop-
erty owner must be in a position to pay for
the plan, or the plan can, of course, never
be realized. It is this homely fact which
necessitates the consideration of such tech-
nical, but none the less fundamental, mat-
ters as the establishment of proposed street
lines upon the city map, the control of im-
provements within the lines of mapped
streets, condemnation, damages, special as-
sessments, assessment bonds, debt limits —
indeed, the entire administrative and finan-
cial machinery necessary to be set in mo-
tion for the carrying out of the plan.
The Establishment of Proposed Street Lines
The first step in carrying out a street plan
must of necessity be the establishment of
the proposed street lines and their incor-
STRAIGHT STREET, PATERSON, N. J.
Notwithstanding a proposed widening from 50 to 80 feet on the left
side of tbls street, the owners of the house on the corner were demol-
isbing it and preparing to build a substantial building, May 23, 1922
poration as a part of the city plan. Only
through placing the projected widenings
and extensions upon the official map of the
city can owners develop their property in
accordance with the city's program of im-
provement.
The mere mapping of the proposed im-
provements injures no one. Every plot can
be used as the owner would have used it
if the projected street lines had not been
laid down upon the city map. Mapping a
street over private property is a quite dif-
ferent thing from taking private property
and, until property is actually taken, there
need be no compensation. Since owners
have the right to disregard the plan, so,
too, has the city — it may change or modify
the plan, or it may refrain from ever
carrying out the improvement if it so elects.
As this is the law, wherein, then, is the
advantage of placing the proposed street
widenings and extensions upon the city map ?
The chief outstanding advantage lies in the
fact that it gives the city a constructive
program of development; it focuses public
attention upon a group of coordinated im-
provements which when executed will fit
into a comprehensive scheme promoting the
highest development of all parts of the com-
munity. If they are not placed upon the
map, they will never be carried out, and if
they are not placed upon the map until the
city is ready to carry them
out, their execution is
likely to be deferred for
many years after the time
their execution would
otherwise be possible.
The fact that these im-
provements have been
placed upon the official
map after an exhaustive
survey of the needs of the
whole community will,
moreover, tend to prevent
the spending of public
moneys upon relatively
unimportant, i m p r o v e -
ments.
58o.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
A TYPICAL SECTION FROM THE OFFICIAL MAP OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
All owners without exception are anxious
to improve their property in a manner to
increase its value. Until an official map is
adopted, they are denied the privilege either
of improving their property in a manner to
give its value the maximum enhancement or
of helping the community to attain a com-
prehensive plan.
Immediate Acquisition of Vacant Land
Within Proposed Street
All vacant land within projected street
lines should be immediately acquired by the
city. Such land presumably will never be
cheaper to acquire than now. So long as
the city refrains from acquiring the land
within mapped streets, the owner, of course,
has the right to use it as he chooses. The
land is his until it is actually taken by the
city, and until that time he has not only
a right to develop it and to erect buildings
upon it, but a right to put up buildings with
the single object of extracting larger dam-
ages from the city when his property is
taken.
For the city to defer taking the land that
is at present vacant within mapped streets,
whether such streets be widenings or ex-
tensions, is in effect to give tacit approval
to its development without reference to the
official plan. If the map may be changed
and the street completely abandoned with-
out any indemnity against loss being guar-
anteed the owner on account of compliance
with the plan in the development of his
property, certainly the owner cannot be
blamed for taking his own counsel in im-
proving his land and ignoring the mapped
street.
Justice to the owner of vacant land with-
in projected street lines, who will suffer
serious loss in observing the plan should
the city alter its intention of ultimately
taking his property, as well as justice to
the taxpayer, who by the refusal of the
municipality to take such lands immediately,
would through rising land values and the
erection of costly buildings be burdened
with increased taxes, both demand that the
land now unbuilt upon be purchased with-
out delay. The acquisition of such lands is,
moreover, the best pledge a city can give of
its intention to carry out its program of
improvement.
The appropriation of so much of the front
portion of vacant lots, or of the forecourts
of improved lots, as might be necessary to
afford the increased width to the widened
thoroughfare, would make the owners in
front of the widened portions, distributed
here and there as they would be throughout
the length of the new street, the staunchest
advocates of the quickest possible comple-
tion of the improvement.
With part of the street widened, the own-
ers along the widened portions would never
rest until the entire thoroughfare was
widened. There would be no turning back
from the plan; in fact, there could be no
turning back from the plan, because the city
would stand irrevocably committed to the
undertaking.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
581
Gradual Recession of Fronts in Built-on
Portions of Widenings
The acquisition of the vacant land with-
in the projected lines of a street, of course,
still leaves the built-on land to be acquired
before the street is completed. Alterations
in street lines are at best always difficult
and expensive to effect, but in the case of
improved properties, they are doubly diffi-
cult and expensive. The land values ex-
ceed the building values in very few locali-
ties; indeed, outside of the business sections,
the building values are almost invariably
greater than the land values, and in cases
where land in the outlying sections is im-
proved with expensive buildings, this ex-
cess is often manifold. The prudence of
proceeding most cautiously with the widen-
ing or extension of streets through built-up
localities is therefore obvious.
When it comes to the extension of a
street, very little choice is left to the city;
to get any benefit at all from the street, it
must expropriate both the vacant and the
improved lands at once. Unlike the case of
a street to be widened, there is in the case
of a street extension, no existing street, not
even a narrow one, to be used by traffic.
The use of the thoroughfare cannot, there-
fore, go on hand in hand with its acquisi-
tion; all of it has to be acquired before any
part of it can be used even to the slightest
degree. Every consideration of prudence
and expediency demands that an extension
be carried out as an integral improvement
without delay.
But in the case of a street widening,
economy demands — unless the increased
width is required at once — that the widen-
ing be made as, and when, the existing
buildings are demolished and reconstructed.
At that time the new building can be made
to recede to the new street lines, thus re-
lieving the city of all damages for build-
MT. VEBNON
WHERE TWO CITIES MEET
A striking example of the failure to plan
BAD DEVELOPMENT WHERE NO CITY PLAN
CONTROLLED
ings. This method of widening streets has
been exercised on several different oc-
casions in the development of the city of
Philadelphia.
It would be disastrous to the city to re-
quire that all the streets in need of widen-
ing should be widened in their entirety at
once. By gradual widening as, and when,
old buildings are replaced by new ones,
progress is made step by step towards a
wider street without unduly straining either
the city's or the property owner's finances
to pay for it.
Platting the new or widened street upon
the city plan interferes with no one in the
use and enjoyment of his property until he
comes to rebuild. This may be in a year,
ten years, or a hundred years. But when
the property owner does rebuild, his build-
ing must recede to the new street line. It
is then that he is injured, if he is injured
at all ; and it is then that his land is taken
for public use, and he is entitled to have his
damages assessed.
The instant an old building is torn down,
the city takes that part of the plot within
the widened street for public use. Existing
buildings are not interfered with. Imme-
diately upon the destruction of the old build-
ing, the city takes possession. Recession
follows upon the rebuilding or altering of
the front of the buildings now erected. The
moment this rebuilding is commenced is
therefore the moment of taking which
gives the person whose land is taken the
right to damages.
;82
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
MARKET STREET, PATERSON, N. J.
A widening from 50 to 70 feet on the left side was
under consideration, May 23, 1922.
Making Improvements Pay for Themselves
Judicious expenditure on a well-thought-
out city plan usually results in an apprecia-
tion of neighboring land values that is at
least equal to the sum expended upon its
execution. In some instances, the enhance-
ment in near-by values may even exceed the
cost of an improvement.
Through the assessment of benefits, a
city plan may, to a large extent, be made to
pay for itself without encroaching upon the
municipality's borrowing power, increasing
the general tax rate, or throwing new finan-
cial burdens upon those least able to bear
them.
It is a rare improvement that does not
confer some local benefit which should be
assessed, the assessment being limited only
by the cost of the improvement and the
amount of benefit conferred. The city
should assume no part of the cost where the
local benefit is sufficient to pay the whole
expense. Only in instances where the local
benefit does not equal the cost of the im-
provement, should the city at large partici-
pate in the expense. When the city assumes
part of the cost, the sum assumed should
be limited by the amount that the local
benefit falls short of defraying the whole
cost.
Property can be assessed only for an
actual benefit derived from an improve-
ment. The assessment may not be for ben-
efit that is speculative and distant or de-
pendent upon remote and uncertain con-
tingencies. The benefit must be substantial,
certain and capable of being realized with-
in a reasonable and convenient time. An
assessment cannot be levied if, in the opin-
ion of the courts, the measure is premature
and will cost more than the proprietors of
the adjacent land will be benefited by the
improvement.
To be assessed, property must be of such
a nature that its value is capable of actual
enhancement in consequence of an improve-
ment. Unless this enhancement in value is
susceptible of reasonably accurate measure-
ment, the property cannot be assessed. An
assessment should represent the difference
between the value of the property before
and after the improvement. In levying an
assessment, the enhanced value of property
by reason of the improvement should be
taken into consideration.
The assessment of benefits will make
great improvements immediately possible
which if paid for by bond issues would have
to be deferred for many years. A city's
borrowing capacity is quite commonly lim-
ited by law to a certain per cent of its as-
sessment roll, and many cities are very
near their debt limits. Such cities, to carry
out any comprehensive plan of street widen-
ings or extensions, will probably find special
easements the best means of financing their
program.
The Need of Municipal Fire Alarm Systems
Special importance should be placed upon the necessity of designing, installing and
maintaining fire alarm systems, so that alarms may at all times, and under the most adverse
conditions, be promptly transmitted to fire departments. To this end, attention is called to
the supreme desirability of providing headquarters which, as far as practicable, will be
free from liability to damage by fire from internal or external causes ; of installing appa-
ratus suited for promptly and correctly transmitting alarms, but which will be simple of
operation and easy of maintenance; of placing all wires outside of buildings as far as
practicable underground ; of frequent and systematic tests of all apparatus ; and of having
in charge of such systems only men of known judgment and ability.
— From report of Committee on Signaling Systems, National Fire Protection Association.
583
Devices for Traffic Control
By C. H. Shepherd
Consulting Engineer, Chicago
THE problem of handling or dividing
traffic on the park and boulevard
systems in the large cities of this
country has grown to be extremely serious
v^'ith the great increase in the number of
vehicles and their speed.
It is unfortunate that the foresight of the
planners of the original city streets did not
extend into or beyond the present day, but
the conditions which they established are
now in existence, and must be reckoned
with.
Many devices for handling, slowing down
and dividing traffic have been put into
operation with varying degrees of success.
In cases where it is necessary for pedes-
trians to cross streets filled with swiftly
moving automobiles and other vehicles, it
has been found expedient to establish
islands of safety in the center of the road-
way so that persons passing from one
side to the other may find a safe and secure
stopping-place after crossing one stream
of traffic and before attempting to cross
through the stream moving in the opposite
direction. In the case of Chicago as well
as other large cities, the difficulties have
been greatly aggravated, not only by the
tremendous increase in traffic and by the
narrowness of streets and boulevards which
were ample during the days of the horse,
but also because the great length of the
streets makes it impossible to place traffic
officers at all intersections.
Since the opening of the Michigan
Avenue Boulevard Link connecting the
down-town business district, or loop, of
Chicago with the extensive north side
boulevard system under control of the
Commissioners of Lincoln Park, the speed
of unimpeded traffic has greatly increased,
but the congestion, instead of growing less,
has increased to the point of practical im-
mobility at certain times.
The first step in traffic control taken on
the Lincoln Park system many years ago,
was the installation of safety island lights
along the various boulevards. As these
islands were placed at various intersections
where it was necessary to slow up, divide
or divert the stream of traffic, it became
the practice to station traffic officers at such
intersections during the rush hours, and as
a rule these officers stand either in front of
or behind the islands. In conjunction with
the installation of safety islands the curb
corners at prominent intersections were
rounded ofif, thereby providing a longer
turning radius for automobiles and allow-
ing a higher speed in turning corners.
Tlie Safety Island Lights
The first safety islands used on this sys-
tem were of concrete molded in the shop,
and were set by means of a crane, at the
proper intersection on the building line of
the cross-street and in the middle of the
boulevard. The lighting standard was of cast
iron, carrying a ruby globe, i8 inches in
diameter, in which was installed a double
cluster of incandescent lights. Each cluster
consisted of four i6-candle-power, iio-volt
SIMPLE POST, UGHT AND BASE
5^4
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
POST WITH TWIN BASE LIGHTS AND GOOSE-
NECK TO SHOW OFFICER
carbon lights, which were connected in
multiple and fed from the secondary of a
series-multiple transformer whose primary
was connected in the series circuit used
to illuminate one side of the boulevard.
Inasmuch as there was a circuit on each
side of the boulevard, each safety island
was connected to two circuits, each circuit
feeding one cluster in each island, making
a total of eight lights, or two clusters of
four lights each. It is evident that the
factor of safety in such an installation was
high, for in case one circuit was out, the
remaining cluster still had four lamps in
service. Also, the fact that low-tension,
secondary current was used to supply the
safety island lights minimized the danger
of shock to the public in case of collision.
The original safety islands were not
equipped with base lights as shown in the
illustration, but the large number of colli-
sions due to cutting off the driver's view
of the red globe by the automobile top
made it advisable to install base lights so
that both high and low vision could be
used. This was done by installing a red
marine fixture on each side of the base of
the standard, each fixture containing a 56-
watt, iio-volt railway lamp connected in
parallel with the lamps of its corresponding
top cluster. The reduction of accidents by
means of the base lights was very gratify-
ing. As may be seen from the accompany-
ing photograph, either the top or the bottom
warning signal should be visible at all
times.
In order to render the traffic officer visible
at night, a spot-light, consisting of a bowl
reflector mounted on a pipe gooseneck and
connected in parallel with one of the cluster
circuits was installed at locations where the
traffic officers were stationed. Each spot-
light was controlled by an ordinary key-
type snap switch, and when in service
illuminated not only the traffic officer but
also the safety island base. Different types
of spot-lights are shown in the accompany-
ing illustrations.
While collisions can be greatly reduced
by such methods, a certain number of acci-
dents are bound to occur and it is apparent
IMPROVED POST WITH TWIN BASE LIGHTS,
ISLAND BASE AND SPECIAL REFLECTOR
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
585
that a dark island constitutes a serious
menace to traffic. Hence it is necessary to
devise some means of restoring signal ser-
vice quickly in case a post is demolished.
This was accomplished in Chicago by means
of the temporary safety island light stand-
ard shown in the accompanying photo-
graph. It will be seen that four fingers
were provided to slip into the handhole
of the island, and two clusters were pro-
vided in the top globe. The main leads had
slip type cord connectors, so that in case
of emergency it was only necessary to take
the temporary post to the point of accident,
remove the handhole cover, disconnect the
broken leads, connect the emergency leads
and erect the post, all of which made it
possible to provide emergency signal ser-
vice anywhere in the system within thirty
minutes after the receipt of the accident
report.
With the increase in traffic on the boule-
vards of the Lincoln Park System it became
apparent that some means was necessary
to enable a traffic officer to handle both the
boulevard and cross-street traffic for
several blocks on each side of his station.
After investigation, it
was found that this
problem, like many
others, could best be
solved electrically, and
accordingly the writer
designed a semaphore
system for the purpose.
Unfortunately, changes
of administration and
other matters pre-
vented the carrying of
this project to comple-
tion, but the scheme it-
self is very interesting.
A Semaphore System
The semaphore
standard consists of an
adaptation of the regu-
lar safety island lamp-
post with certain
changes which are ne-
cessitated by the gen-
eral type of construc-
tion. Two stop-arms
are set to oppose
EMERGENCY
LIGHT, USED
AFTER ACCI-
DENTS TO FIXED
STANDARDS
5TDP O
THE COMMISSIONERS OF UINCOI_N PARK
ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT
ORAWINS OF COM8■Ny^TION SAIXTY I5LAND STANCMRO AND
KEEP 7.iRlCHT
SLOWDOWN SCALE -.-.«•
"^=""" "^^^Uf^-
TRONT VIEW
aioe VKw
PROPOSED COMBINATION SAFETY ISIAND STANDARD AND ELECTRIC SEMAPHORE
586
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol.. XXVI, No. 6
traffic on each street, the idea being that
the flow should cease when the arms are
against Ciither street, and resume when
the arms drop. A further feature of the
system is that by dropping one set of arms
to an angle of 45 degrees with the horizon-
tal and raising the other pair to the same
relative position, warning to get ready will
be given. In this way the "Stop," "Get
Ready" and "Go" signals are incorporated
in the action of two pairs of arms which
carry nothing but the word "Stop." The
arms themselves are detachable and in the
end of each is a two-way red bull's-eye for
use in night work. The action of the entire
mechanism is perfectly balanced, requiring
only a slight pull to throw the arms to any
position.
The standard carries the usual top globe,
double cluster and base lights, the normal
operation of which is in no way interfered
with by the semaphore mechanism, which
is operated from entirely separate and in-
dependent circuits. Each standard carries
a master control switch, a bus section
switch, and a jack for hand operation, and
each being a duplicate of all others on the
same system, it is possible by means of
proper switching to operate any one stan-
dard alone; to operate all or any number of
others from any standard interchangeably;
or the system may be operated in whole or
in part by a traffic officer located in an
elevated control station, which may be
placed in a most advantageous position for
observation of traffic movements.
It is obvious, therefore, that any desired
number of combinations may be obtained
for various situations encountered in the
handling of large masses of traffic; and
such a system is admirably adapted for
handling traffic for some distance each way
from the main control station. In case it
is desired to hold all vehicles away from
a boulevard, or to clear a boulevard for
police or fire purposes, this may be easily
done by setting signals against all cross-
street traffic.
By proper design, the extent of this
system may be increased to any point within
reason. Lack of space prevents the show-
ing of mechanical and electrical details of
the semaphore standard iteslf, but these
po'nts are very simple as well as electrically
and mechanically correct.
Briefly stated, the circuits consist of a
means for supplying direct current of the
proper voltage, capacity and regulation, to
a multiple four-wire bus consisting of a
positive and negative feeder bus, and a
double positive control bus. Power is sup-
plied to the operating solenoids from the
feeder bus, their movements being con-
trolled by a master control switch which
is automatically held in zero position by a
center spring when not in use, and in either
the "Stop" or the "Go" position by a series
retaining coil tapped off the feeder bus
positive, until such time as the stroke of
the solenoids is completed in either direc-
tion, when the circuit is opened on the
completed, and closed on the impending,
stroke by the action of the automatic limit
switch. Since all units are duplicates, and
the entire system may be operated from any
unit, it is evident that the operating master
control switch will not be released until
the last signal in the bank has completed
its final stroke.
The cost of this type of system is ex-
tremely reasonable, considering the results
of its installation, and its possibilities are
unlimited, if properly engineered.
An Error in the Report of Gainesville's Population
In the article "Making a Municipal Light
and Water Plant Pay," by G. H. Cairns,
City Manager, Gainesville, Fla., the figure
as published in the 1920 census was inserted
for the population. Mr. Cairns writes:
"The question of population in this city
has been rather a sore subject to its citizens
since the Federal census was taken in 1920.
At that time a figure of 5,000-odd was
returned by the takers. However, the local
Chamber of Commerce, knowing this to be
incorrect, had the census retaken after
having been properly Mi^horized by the
Government. This time the total count was
foimd to have been 6,860.
"This figure does not include about 1,000
students regularly in attendance at the
State University.
"Needless to say, the city has grown con-
siderably since the census was taken, and
a directory firm of good standing, who have
only recently made a canvass of the city
preparing a new directory, assure us that
about 10,000 bona fide names will be shown
in this vear's issue."
THE AMERICAN CITY
587
UNFOKTUNATE DAILY EVENTS "ON THE ROAD TO CANEY'
Mud and Ruts Strangle a County
A Kentucky County Practically Isolated by Bad Roads
THE two pictures above show roads
which have been in existence for a
great many years between Pippapass
and Wayland, Ky. The distance between
these two towns is twelve miles, Wayland
being the railroad or shipping point. Run-
ning to the county-seat in the other direc-
tion from Pippapass are 8 miles of road in
just as bad condition. There is not a single
mile of improved road nor a mile of rail-
road in Knott County. The only travel is
by wagon or horseback along the sides of
mountains or through the beds of creeks
without bridges or culverts. When the
creeks rise, the county is practically cut
off from all communication with the outside
world. In this county is located the Caney
Creek Community Center, which is doing
such remarkable work for the unfortunates
of that sect'on who are isolated from the
activities of the world by poor roads.
How much better off a community is
when it is served by hard-surfaced roads,
maintained in good condition throughout
the year, with the snow removed in winter
to enable traffic to pass through the com-
munity and to its rail centers at any time
during the winter months ! Many states
are slowly pushing their improved road
systems into the remote corners and along
what were but a few years ago the by-
ways of the state. In this way, states,
counties and towns are knitted together
more closely and have more common inter-
ests. Through the highway, trading be-
comes easier, education is more easily se-
cured, and life generally made happier for
the small community.
-r
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T ■ — - ^
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mi
A WELL-DEAINED SURFACED ROAD IS A DISTINCT ASSET TO A COIUMUNITY
588
Gasoline Engines Are Servants of Many
Municipalities
Whether Installed in Autos or Motor Trucks, or Running Concrete Mixers,
They Are Always Ready for Action
A WHITE POriCE PATROL AND AMBULANCE, VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILL.
A GROUP OF AMBULANCES MADE BY THE V/HITE COMPANY FOE, THE SERVICE OF THE
BOSTON CITY HOSPITAL
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
589
BUILDING THE HABLEM CREEK SEWER, ST. LOUIS, MO.
The Smith tilting mixer illustrated was sold to the Department of Streets and Sewers hy the
George F. Smith Company, of St. Louis
THIS 2 1/2 -TON STANDARD TRUCK, WITH 3-SECTION TRENTON TOWER OPERATED BY A WOOD
HYDRAULIC HOIST, IS USED IN STREET RAILWAY MAINTENANCE WORK, DETROIT, MICH.
590
Worth- While City Work for the
Unemployed
AS a means of helping to solve the
unemployment problem and at the
same time to get needed public works
done, the Common Council of Schenectady,
N. Y., recently authorized a bond issue of
$100,000, the proceeds of which were used
to give aid to the unemployed through pro-
viding work which at the same time re-
moved a serious flood hazard in the city.
Schenectady is crossed by three large
creeks and culverts which run under the
business and residential sections and under
some of the largest industries. One of
them, Veeder Creek, runs under the city for
a distance of more than three-fourths of a
mile, finally emptying into the Mohawk
River. This culvert, the largest in the city.
SCHENECTADY FINDS WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED IN CLEANING
CITY'S SEWERS
was badly choked. For several weeks a
gang of workmen varying in number from
20 to 70 were engaged on the task of dig-
ging out the waste material and debris
which had accumulated in this and the
smaller culverts. Hundreds of tons of this
waste material were taken out, and as a re-
sult the water-level in the culvert has been
lowered approximately 4 feet, thereby per-
mitting the water to flow more freely and
minimizing flood conditions during heavy
rainfalls.
This is the first time that the culvert has
been cleaned in many years. The work at
first was quite precarious because the work-
men could not enter the culvert for any
distance on account of high water and
sewer gas. An extra manhole was built
about 1,400 feet from the entrance in order
to allow the sewer gas to escape. As the
refuse and waste were dug from the bed
of the culvert, they were loaded onto a
scow, which was dragged to the entrance
by the workmen, and the debris was then
loaded into trucks and carried away. In
the older section of the
culvert there is a plank
flooring sloping toward
the river. The water in
this section rushes along
at the rate of 16 miles
an hour, and the floor
was so slippery that it
was impossible for the
workmen to maintain a
footing. However, the
men chosen by the un-
employment committee
as being the most de-
serving to receive these
city jobs proved equal
to the task. The accom-
p a n y i n g photograph
shows the workmen with
a partly loaded scow,
and the smaller culvert
to the left of the picture
gives some idea of the cramped quarters
in which the workmen had to work.
What Schenectady did is only a sample
of the many odd municipal jobs that need
to be done and that can be made the means
not only of protecting the city against haz-
ards, but also of providing employment for
those in need of it.
A city's real strength is not in its dollars per capita ; it is in its character
per capita.
591
f=f /=//=/ f^ f=/ f=/
— ^ — — (^^ '
Middletown's Civic and Industrial
Exhibition
MiDDLETOWN, CoNN. — The Combined
Civic and Industrial Exhibition of local
products and activities recently held at Mid-
dletown. Conn., and sponsored by the Cham-
ber of Commerce, had an immediate favor-
able effect upon public morale. Not only
did this exhibition fulfill the usual func-
tion of satisfying the curiosity of the citi-
zens as to what is being done in their com-
munity, but it set before them in unmis-
takable language the community's strength
and resources, both tangible and intangible.
It put an end, for the time being at least,
to an undercurrent of pessimism which was
beginning to acquire considerable headway.
From a purely artistic point of view the
exhibition was perhaps quite as successful
as from the standpoint of public morale.
There were two distinct sections, industrial
and civic, the former occupying the first
two-thirds of the exhibition floor and the
latter occupying the rest of the floor to the
rear. Seventeen civic and social agencies
were represented, and 31 industrial and
commercial firms. The industrial and com-
mercial booths were of the standard 10- x
lo-foot type, with side and rear panels;
the civic and educational booths formed a
complete scheme of their own, being
specially made and decorated. The illustra-
tion shows both the general arrangement
of the floor and also the design for the civic
and educational section; the latter included
a blue and white "color scheme which was
remarkably effective.
This show developed nothing new to ex-
hibition science. It did, however, bring
out the fact, sometimes overlooked by those
in charge of public displays, that the less
the amount of distracting influences, such
as excessive decoration, loud music, etc.,
the more attention is paid to the exhibits
themselves. From all points of view, espe-
cially the financial side, this is well worth
remembering.
T. L. HINCKLEY,
Secretary, Middletown Chamber of Commerce.
A PORTION or MIDDLETOWN' S CIVIC AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION
592
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
Ballinger Votes for Paving
Ballinger, Tex. — A study of the street-
paving and water-supply problems con-
fronting this city was instituted last fall by
committees from the Young Men's Busi-
ness League and resulted in the calling of
a bond election on April i8, at which bond
issues for the improvement of both these
utilities carried by a vote of 370 to 150.
About $125,000 worth of street paving will
be laid in the business district, replacing
the water-bound macadam laid several
years ago. The present water-supply will
be practically doubled by the building of
additional reservoir capacity.
Several months ago the League fostered
a campaign for the municipal ownership of
light and power, following which, suffi-
cient bonds were voted to build a modern
plant. This is now supplying practically
every residence and business house in the
city. The Business League was also instru-
mental in securing the teaching of fire pre-
vention in the public schools, which brought
about a substantial reduction in the fire in-
surance key rate, and is expected to greatly
lessen fire losses in the future.
The commercial organization now has in
hand the marking, mapping and advertising
of three cross-state highways which pass
through this city, and the building and
equipping of a modern tourists' camp.
STUART L. WILLIAMS,
Executive Secretary, Young Men's Business
League.
Chamber Demonstrates the Value
of Organized Effort
Wheeling, W. Va. — After having voted
down bond issues on three different oc-
casions during the past ten years, provid-
ing for a filtration plant and other related
improvements, the citizens of Wheeling, by
a three-to-one vote on April 20, ratified a
two-m'llion-dollar bond issue for this pur-
pose. It provided for a rapid sand filtra-
tion plant, extension of water-mains to all
suburban sections of the city, rehabilitation
of the present water-works, five million gal-
lons additional reservoir capacity, and the
purchasing of two private water companies
now serving the suburbs. Work will be
started just as soon as the bonds can be sold
and contracts let. Employment will be pro-
vided in the near future for almost one
thousand men.
Several weeks prior to the election at
which the bond issue was ratified, the Cham-
ber of Commerce through its Civic Com-
mittee built up the greatest organization in
its history. Complete cooperation was
given by the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and
Women's Clubs, the League of Women
Voters and practically every social, fra-
ternal, and labor organization in the city.
The four daily newspapers also supported
the project wholeheartedly. Sufficient funds
were raised by the Chamber's committee
from the members to cover campaign ex-
penses.
An educational campaign was planned
and carried on for twelve days preceding
the election. Display advertising was used
in quarter-page space in each of the four
daily newspapers during this time. The
Chamber's Publicity Committee and the
city officials cooperated in furnishing the
material. Fifteen thousand pamphlets were
printed and distributed to every home in
the community. These pamphlets thor-
oughly explained the proposed improve-
ments, the cost and the benefits to be de-
rived, as well as what the cost would be
to the taxpayers, to pay off the interest and
principal. Fifteen thousand novelty but-
tons with the inscription "Vote for Pure
Water" were distributed among the 10,-
000 school children and others in the com-
munity about one week prior to the elec-
tion; 500 large muslin signs bearing the
same message were placed on 500 automo-
biles the day before the election. Window
displays showing the muddy river water
which the people of Wheeling have been
using for years, compared with filtered
water, were placed in many sections of the
city.
Four-minute men organized by the Ro-
tary, Kiwanis and Lions Qubs spoke in all
the theaters and in many public meetings
during the week preceding the election, ad-
vocating the ratification of the bond issue.
The Chamber of Commerce committee
cooperated with the city officials in effect-
ing a complete organization in every voting
precinct on election day to assist in getting
out the vote. Augmenting this, the League
of Women Voters had a voluntary or-
ganization of workers in every precinct.
These workers were assisted by the auto-
mobile dealers and owners, who furnished
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
593
more than one hundred and fifty machines,
which were used throughout the day until
the polls closed. The organization in every
respect was so complete that it was a
physical impossibility for the opposition to
have any effect. The ratification of the
bond issue was the greatest achievement of
its kind in the history of Wheeling, and
authorized the largest amount of money
ever devoted to a public improvement in
any municipality in the state of West Vir-
ginia.
H. P. CORCORAN,
Manager, Wheeling Chamber of Commerce.
Education That Helps Boys to
Plan Their Lives
New Haven, Conn. — Groups of high
school boys are being taken on visits to
the various industries of the city in order
that they may be better informed as to the
industrial opportunities offered, and the ex-
tent of the local manufactures.
After a meeting of representatives of the
New Haven industries, a questionnaire was
sent to each one of the industries to obtain
information necessary to form an itinerary
for the boys. The points covered in the
questionnaire were as follows:
large a group can you accommodate
1. How large a group can you accommodate at
one visit?
2. What time of the day do you prefer?
.S. How long would you keep the boys?
4. Would you give a preliminary talk to the entire
group of boys, explaining the high points of your in-
dustry and its products?
5. Would you be willing to prepare an outline
which can be mimeographed by the Chamber of Com-
merce and given to each boy previous to the visit?
Note. — The preliminary talk to the boys and out-
line to be mimeographed may cover such points as:
(a) Raw material and sources of supply
(b) Products that are made and products that the
group will see made
(c) Methods of packing, marking and shipping
(d) Market — where products are shipped to
(e) Emphasis on advantages of education in secur-
ing advancement in the industry
The boys are asked to use the informa-
tion they obtain on these visits in their
school work, in the writing of themes, prep-
aration of short talks in rhetorical work,
etc. The educational authorities
consider this experimental work of
such value that they have decided
to make it part of the regular class
work next year.
It is expected that the "Know
New Haven Industries" visits will
promote a mutual understanding
on the part of the industries and
public school teachers and public
school officials. The plan is based
on the desire of industries to enlist
the interest and sympathy of prospective
workers, and since the public school officials
are interested in promoting the highest
type of education, the cooperation between
these two functions is most desirable.
It will help to educate the boys in the
general knowledge of typical industries,
thereby increasing their range of choice in
making it possible for them to select the
kind of work they like best after leaving
school. A clearer idea will be given them
of the opportunities in New Haven and this
will make them want to stay in New Haven
rather than go somewhere else. Emphasis
will also be laid upon the fact that the
longer a boy stays in school the greater is
his opportunity for obtaining a good posi-
tion.
W. PHILLIP SHATTS,
Assistant Secretary, New Haven Chamber of
Commerce.
City Hall and Auditorium Com-
bined Is Economical
Newton, Kans. — The Newton city audi-
torium well illustrates an admirable type
of municipal building adequately serving
the needs of the community, in which every
local organization and interest can hold
gatherings and where all the people can be
entertained. Probably the greatest advan-
tages to the community brought by such a
building are the sense of common owner-
ship and the civic and patriotic spirit that
are developed through the better acquaint-
ance and fellowship enjoyed.
The utility of this Newton building is
shown by the freedom with which it is be-
ing used. During the year 1921 the audi-
torium has been used more than 200
evenings, as well as many afternoons. The
auditorium proper seats 1,300 comfortably
— 384 in the balcony, and 916 on the first
floor. It is well adapted for professional
road shows, the stage being 65 by 23 feet,
with five set scenes and a picture curtain.
CITY HALL AND AUDITORIUM, NEWTON, KANS,
594
THE AMERICAN CITY
Vol. XXVI, No. 6
There are eleven dressing-rooms, and shows
with more than sixty people in the cast have
been accommodated comfortably. These
facilities have been the means of interesting
a booking company and of bringing many
good shows to Newton, although it is a
much smaller city than any other on the
same circuit.
The Newton city auditorjum was erected
through the efforts of the Chamber of Com-
merce in 1912 and 191 3 at a cost of $40,090.
Bonds were issued bearing 4^ per cent in-
terest, to be retired in 20 years. In addition
to the auditorium, the building contains the
city clerk's office, the city commissioner's
offices and meeting-room, the city engineer's
office, a rest room for women, the office of
the city health nurse, the offices and store-
rooms of Company F, 137th Infantry, the
Chamber of Commerce office, the Harvey
County Farm Bureau office, the rooms of
the Boy Scouts and the American Legion,
and a meeting-room seating 200 in connec-
tion with the Chamber of Commerce and
Farm Bureau offices. Many meetings not
large enough to require the use of the audi-
torium proper are held in this room. Many
of the most progressive and forward-
looking movements and accomplishments of
the community have been launched in this
assembly room, and it is used several times
each week.
The average cost of equipping and main-
taining the entire building over the past
six years has been $3,300 per year, and the
income from rentals on the aud'torium has
been approximately $1,500 per year, leaving
an annual expenditure of $1,800 from the
city funds. fred bowers,
Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
Ashtabula Finally Settles Street
Car Question
Ashtabula, Ohio. — After many uncer-
tainties, the street car question in Ashtabula
seem§ to have been settled. The question
of purchasing the system first arose in April,
1920. At that time the Chamber of Com-
merce appointed a committee, which, after
several weeks of careful investigation, re-
ported unanimously in favor of the pur-
chase of the existing system for the price
of $296,000.
The property of the street car system con-
sisted of approximately six miles of single
track with the necessary turn-out switches,
etc., ten cars in a very bad state of repair,
and a car barn with the customary equip-
ment, but no power-house, the power being
purchased from other sources.
Following the report of the committee,
the Chamber of Commerce began an active
publicity campaign, as a result of which a
special election called by the city stood 923
for and 905 against the bond issue, the very
small vote being due to the fact that it was
a special election. The provisions of the
bond issue were that the bonds must be is-
sued against the utility itself, and that the
rate of fare to be charged must be such
as to make the system self-supporting. Be-
cause of general market conditions the
bonds could not be sold, therefore the deal
was never closed. Immediately after the
election the system went into the hands of
receivers and has been in that condition
ever since.
Shortly before the general election in No-
vember, 1 92 1, an offer was made by the re-
ceivers to turn the property over to the city
at the price of $197,000. The Chamber of
Commerce again appointed a committee to
investigate the matter, which it did quite
thoroughly, and the majority of the commit-
tee reported favorable for the purchase.
But a referendum taken among the member-
ship did not support the committee's report,
and in the final election, November 8, the
ordinance to purchase was overwhelmingly
defeated. The vote stood 1,313 for and
3.303 against. It was rather difficult to ex-
plain just why there was this reversal of
sentiment both of the Chamber and the
community, except that the purchase at this
time was to be an outright one, the bonds
to be issued against the credit of the city.
General business conditions and the attend-
ing unemployment made the necessity for
adequate transportation very mucH less ap-
parent at that time.
Not long after the election a meeting of
the stockholders of the street railway line
was held, and following this meeting an
offer was made to the city to sell for $150,-
000. On January 9, 1922, the newly elected
City Council voted to purchase the car line
at this new figure. A referendum was called
for by a 2etition of those opposed to the
purchase, and on April 24 at a special elec-
tion the ordinance to purchase carried by a
majority vote of 856. The complete vote
was 2,164 for and 1,308 against. The Cham-
ber of Commerce held forum meetings and
Tune, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
59:
THE SPRINGFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FINANCED THE MAKING OF THIS ETCHING
OF THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL GROUP
furnished speakers on the matter, and the
purchase at that price was unanimously en-
dorsed by the Directors of the Chamber.
The line will be taken over and operated
by the local authorities as soon as the bonds
can be issued and disposed of.
A. J. HORN,
Manager, Clianiber of Commerce.
Chamber Procures Etching of
Springfield Municipal Group
for Publicity Purposes
Springfield, Mass. — The commission-
ing of Louis Orr of Paris, a distinguished
American painter-etcher, by the Springfield
Chamber of Commerce, to make an etching
of its famous Municipal Group had its
origin in the desire of the Convention
Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce for
a picture of the group worthy of its recog-
nized excellence, which it might use in
showing Springfield's advantages as a con-
vention city. It was first planned to secure
an oil painting of the group, but this was
found impractical.
The work of Mr. Orr was called to the
attention of the committee and a year ago
he was invited to make the etching. This
resulted in a contract with the artist by
which he agreed to make a large etched
plate of the group, from which are to be
pulled fifty first state artist's proofs, each
to be signed by the artist ; the plate will then
be destroyed. Of the fifty proofs, five are
to be retained by the Convention Bureau
for exhibition purposes and the remaining
forty-five have been taken by private sub-
scription at $200 each, thereby financing
the entire undertaking.
Mr. Orr came to Springfield last Sep-
tember and spent a month in making his
preliminary drawing and detailed sketches.
He returned to Paris in December and has
been working steadily upon the Springfield
plate. The first proof recently arrived in
Springfield. The etching, which is 223^
by 39 inches and is said to be the largest
copper plate ever etched, is reproduced
herewith.
B. A. HAPGOOD,
Secretary, Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Concrne pavement^ If'aUrvUet, N. > .,
gipfft hard, long-wearing surface by
Hard-n-tyie Road Treatment.
—and when it comes to concrete road
maintenance — read this book!
For ove
r twenty years
the General
Chem.ca
1 Company has
been at the
forefront
of chemical
research and
manufac
ture in this cou
ntrv. Hard-
n-tyte is
the latest contr
ibution of its
splendid
staff of chemis
ts. It is the
success^
1 result of long
search for a
concrete
hardener that r
eallv hardens
the surface and materi
Ily increases
its life.
It enables engineers and
contractors to deliver a q
ualityofcon.
Crete wo
rk far in advanc
e of anything
that ha
s heen possibl
e heretofore.
Weather-proof, wear-proof con-
crete is the easiest to maintain.
Hard-n-tyte is used not only
for new work, — ask a few high-
way engineers who have tried it
on old concrete pavements. Find
out what state highway depart-
ments are doing to old work with
Hard-n-tyte.
They're giving it a surface that
water doesn't penetrate. They're
keeping soft concrete from crunch-
ing out under heavy traffic. And
put this down — you'll need it
some time — Hard-n-tyte saves
the day on concrete that has bi
touched by frost.
Hard-n-tyte Road Treatm
gives either old or new concret
hard, long-wearing surface i
requires little or no maintenar
It is quickly applied by comn
labor and increases the life
concrete roads at least 30%.
Send for a copy of "Hard
tyte Highways" and find out h
to take the trouble and expe
out of concrete highway m<
tenance.
General Chemical Company
40 Rector Street New York
11
— makes concrete roads wear longer
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
597
Albany Chamber of Commerce
Stages First Radio Meeting
Albany, N. Y. — Successful use has been
made of the radio telephone by the Albany,
N. Y., Chamber of Commerce in conducting
what is believed to be the first radiophone
chamber of commerce meeting held in the
United States, and later in opening its
membership expansion movement with an
inspirational speech made by wireless from
an airplane flying 2,500 feet above the city.
The first radio meeting was held
April 12. More than 1,100 members and
friends of the Chamber of Commerce gath-
ered in beautiful Chancellors' Hall in Al-
bany to hear the speakers, musicians and
other participants in the program at the
radio broadcasting station of the General
Electric Company in Schenectady (WGY).
The audience was therefore assembled
about twenty miles from the performers.
The program consisted of piano, violin and
soprano solos, followed by a radio telephone
speech delivered by Roy S. Smith, Execu-
tive Manager, Albany Chamber of Com-
merce.
A most interesting result of the meeting
was the subsequent receipt of telegrams,
letters and newspapers from scores of cities,
some as far west as Terre Haute, Ind., in-
dicating that the Chamber of Commerce
speech and musical numbers had been
clearly heard by thousands of persons.
Among those who sent word that they en-
joyed the entire program were many cham-
ber of commerce groups in various cities,
who having been previously notified of the
program arranged, had scheduled their
meetings and tuned their apparatus to re-
ceive and enjoy the program of the Albany
meeting. Still another interesting reaction
came from a number of Albany Chamber
of Commerce members, who notified the
President of the Albany Chamber the fol-
lowing day that they desired to be recorded
"present," as, though they had remained at
home the night before, they had heard and
enjoyed the entire Chamber of Commerce
meeting through their private radio sets.
In his address, "The Forces That
Build Cities," Mr. Smith gave a short
outline of chamber of commerce work,
pointing out the great possibilities of
using radio communication in chamber
of commerce meetings, which hitherto
have been limited to those who were
fortunate enough to be able to attend.
The membership expansion movement
was inaugurated under most unusual condi-
tions. On Wednesday, April 26, Lieutenant
Maynard, the minister who won the coast-
to-coast race and who is generally known as
the "Flying Parson," flew from New York
to Albany with the bride and groom he had
married the day before in a Fokker plane
over New York City. The plane was
piloted by the famous aviator Bert Acosta.
The machine was equipped with complete
receiving and broadcasting wireless equip-
ment to deliver speeches over the cities
visited. At Albany the entire party were
the guests of the Chamber of Commerce.
At noon the aviators took Mr. Smith
for an airplane ride over the city, dur-
ing which he broadcast the beginning
of the expansion movement and in a radio-
phone speech, heard not only by every wire-
less equipment in Albany but within a
radius of 200 miles, announced details of
the movement and outlined the Chamber of
Commerce program for the coming year.
The event had been extensively advertised
and thousands "listened in" on the ground;
many were able not only to hear the speech
but to see from their homes the huge ma-
chine circling over the city. At the conclu-
sion of the speech the occupants of the plane
were able to receive messages sent to them
and to hear musical numbers not only from
Albanv but from as far away as Newark,
N. J.
This agency makes possible broadcasting
to the citizens of the surrounding country,
as well as to the stay-at-homes, the inspiring
message of chamber of commerce speeches,
and the educational possibilities of such
community gatherings are thereby vastly
increased.
W. E. BACON,
Assistant Manager, Albany Chamber of Commerce.
EniTORiAL Note. — The Albany claim for the honor
of conducting the first chamber of commerce meetirfg
by radio rests on the following record:
April 12. — Albany Chamber of Commerce meeting
in Chancellors' Hall; musical program and speech by
Roy S. Smith, Executive Manager.
April 21. — Brooklyn, N. Y., Chamber of Commerce,
addressed by H. V. Kaltenborn, Associate Editor of
the Brooklyn Eagle, from the Westinghouse broadcast-
ing station, Newark, N. J.
April 26. — Albany, N. Y., radio speech by aeroplane
to Albany Chamber of Commerce, Roy S. Smith,
speaker.
April 24. — Clipping from the Pittsburgh Gazette-
Times indicating that the Pittsburgh Chamber of
Commerce members on their Golden Rule tour were
welcomed in Toledo, the following week, by a radio
program broadcast from Fort Wayne, Toledo, Cleve-
land and Pittsburgh.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Read This Street Superintendent's Report
The "Cater pillar' s''*
field of usefulness is by
no means limited to road
making. There is a "Cat-
erpillar"* of size and
capacity for every power
need. For snow removal,
hauling garbage disposal
trains and other civic
w or k — wherever potver
and endurance is at a
premium, the "Caterpil-
lar"* has no real com-
petitor.
HOLT
PEORIA^ ILL.
STOCKTON. CALIF.
W. W. Jones, Superintendent of Streets, Memphis, Tenn.,
says: "We have had splendid work and satisfaction with
our "Caterpillar,"* crowding it to the limit and working
constantly. In three months, sixty=five streets, which had
been almost impassable, were graded and surfaced a total
of over thirty miles. On ordinary dirt roads we cut ditches
and surfaced about one mile per day, but this is good work
considering narrow streets, many not over thirty feet
wide, with sewers, water pipes, hundreds of plank crossings,
short runs and contracted corners. We can do this work
at about one=fifth the cost of teams and hand labor.
Our service has been excellent at all times. We expected
this from Holt, and we are not disappointed."
*There is but one ** Caterpillar** — Holt builds it
THE HOLT MFG. CO., Inc., PEORIA, ILL.
Branches and service stations all over the world
Eastern Division: 50 Church St., New York
2429 Farnam St., Omaha, Nebr. 305 Merchants Bank Bldg.,
417 Washington Ave. N., Indianapolis, Ind.
Minneapolis, Minn. 2045-47 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
5th and Court Sts., Des Moines, la. Holt Company of Texas, Dallas, Tex.
Canadian Holt Co., Ltd., Montreal, P. Q.
78
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
599
How Rotary Works
By Chesley R. Perry
Secretary General, International Association of Rotary Clubs
FOR the readers of The American
City who may not be familiar with the
Rotary Clubs that are now being
formed in our most progressive cities, let
me start with a thumb-nail sketch of Ro-
tary's purpose and growth.
Founded February 23, 1905, in Chicago
by a lawyer who was lonesome and who
wished to know his fellows better, Rotary
grew from one club to three, then a hun-
dred, and now claims eighty thousand
members in nearly twelve hundred clubs
scattered through twenty-five separate
nations. One of the early clubs, in
a city in which three or four civic organiza-
tions fought among themselves and ne-
glected civic leadership, saw the need
for community action and took it. After
the storm of protest that ensued, this
club stated its position. Rotary would
interfere with no recognized organization,
but it would make its own those tasks
which others seemed indifferent to, or in-
capable of doing. Thus Rotary's public
service began.
Another function which soon evolved was
the formulation of codes of business ethics.
Under the Rotary scheme of organization
there is but one representative of each line
of business in a club; thus each member
became an ambassador to his business as-
sociates, and when the need for a state-
ment of business ethics became apparent.
Rotary met it, as the organization most
truly representative of all business. Rotary
soon recognized that he profits most who
serves best, and this — simply another state-
ment of the Golden Rule — became Rotary's
creed.
To maintain a working membership, Ro-
tary developed the idea of compulsory at-
tendance at meetings: any member failing
to attend four consecutive meetings except
for illness or absence from the city is auto-
matically dropped.
The manner in which the Rotary prin-
ciples are put to work is naturally varied
with the needs and conditions of the com-
munity. It is the ideal of the Rotarian
to have his club so regarded in a community
that its interest and influence in community
affairs are assumed as a matter of course
by the citizens generally ; that whenever a
Rotarian is selected to participate in any
community activity, the sincerity of his work
and the single purpose of his motives will
be understood or assumed as needing no
further explanation or proof; that a jury
of Rotarians can be depended upon to give
a fair trial to any sort of offender and help
administer justice or execute the law in a
way that is calculated to best serve the needs
of the community. That is the way in which
the Rotarian wishes his club to be regarded,
and it is the mark for which he aims.
Rotary as a unit, throughout those coun-
tries where the laws provide for jury duty
by citizens, insists that its membership shall
assume its full measure of jury duty.
Further than that, it insists that these mem-
bers shall urge their employees as a part
of the responsibilities of citizenship to ac-
cept jury duty and to serve faithfully.
Rotary Backs Up the Chamber of Commerce
and Other Civic Bodies
In some Rotary clubs it is compulsory for
an applicant for membership to be a member
of the chamber of commerce in his city or
of the civic body that is equivalent to the
chamber of commerce in other cities. The
clubs as a whole encourage membership in
such civic bodies, and some of the literature
published by International Rotary has di-
rect argument as to why a Rotarian should
also be a member of other civic organiza-
tions.
In civic movements of importance, the
Rotary Club will always be found in the
forefront of progressive thought and ac-
tion. When one club has performed a ser-
vice that seems to be of importance and is
applicable to other communities, the Inter-
national Headquarters usually publishes a
resume of what has been done, in The
Rotarian, the official organ of Rotary, or
in the Weekly Letter, a weekly bulletin
that goes to all clubs,
THE AMERICAN CITY
Built spe-
cially for
Road Main-
tenance
Work By
TRACTOR
SPECIAL-
ISTS
Maintain Your Dirt Streets
WITH TRACTOR POWER
Flesh and blood has never been able to compete
with mechanical power Why attempt it now?
SIMPLICITY ECONOMY DURABILITY
Make the Hart-Parr Road Maintenance Tractor supreme in road work.
TWENTY-ONE years of Tractor Specialist Experience has built this tractor
simple in design so that it does not need an engineer or expert to operate and
service it.
SIXTEEN YEARS proven work in building Kerosene Tractors only has
made us supreme in the field of fuel economy — thus cutting your operating
expense in half.
TWENTY YEARS of continuous operation by our first tractors in the hands
of their satisfied owners is proof of Hart-Parr durability and ability to deliver
power under practically all conditions.
Hart-Parr Tractor Power JJfiL o'tuwlyr^^Stigh!
ways. It is not an experiment. It is a proven fact.
Catalogue and record of performance will be mailed to interested persons on request.
HART-PARR COMPANY
511 La^hr Street
Charles City, Iowa
POWERFUL STURDY KEROSENE TRACTORS
FOUNDERS OF TRACTOR INDUSTRY
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
601
Work for Boys and Girls
One of the big accomplishments of Ro-
tary is what it calls the '"back-to-school
movement." This was initiated by the Ro-
tary Club of Blackwell, Okla.. three years
ago. The members of the club learned that
some of the boys and girls who had com-
pleted the elementary and secondary courses
in the public schools were not planning to
go to the high schools. The Rotarians
sought out these pup'ls and learned the
reasons. They then set about correcting
conditions and eliminating the reasons, and
persuaded most of these boys and girls to
continue their education. Some of the
pupils were being forced to quit school for
economic reasons. Jobs were found for
these that enabled them to continue in
school. In some cases where the parents
thought the pupils had received education
enough, the Rotarians interviewed the
parents and proved to them that the boys
and girls ought not to give up. In one way
or another, most of the boys and girls
\icnt back to school.
A statement of what had been done was
published in due course, and now the "back-
to-school movement" is a regular part of
the work of many Rotary Clubs every year
— as much so as the election of officers or
the annual convention. Last year it is esti-
mated that this movement was responsible
for the return of 25.000 boys and girls to
school.
For two or three years past a very im-
portant place has been given in several of
the large cities to what is called "Boys'
Week." New York, Chicago, and Kansas
City, particularly, have staged celebrations
that attracted nation-wide attention. This
is a Rotary movement of a different sort
from the "l)ack-to-schoor' idea. In this
case a non-Rotarian conceived the idea of
a "Boys' Week" celebration and he turned
to the Rotary Club of New York City to
bring about the realization of the idea.
Fifty thousand boys participated in the
parade that was held on one of the days
during the week. Each day has its special
significance, beginning with Sunday as a
"Boys' Day in the Church" ; then iMonday,
"Boys' Parade Day" ; Tuesday. "Boys' Day
in the Schools'' ; Wednesday, "Boys' Day in
Industry" ; Thursday. "Boys' Day for
Health and Safety"; Friday, "Boys' Day
for Thrift and Citizenship"'; and Saturday,
"Boys' Day with Dad and At Home." This
year more than 150 cities are celebrating
Boys' Week. And in towns where there is
no Rotary Club to get behind the move-
ment, the American Legion is carrying it
on.
Rotary's connection with Boys' Week is
temporary. It is a part of its very active
nterest in what it calls "Boys' Work," a
regular feature of all club work. The or-
ganization is demonstrating that it believes
n a Boys' Week and is showing the com-
mun'ties the value of the Boys' Week, to the
end that an appropriate organization may
1 e formed to carry it on.
Pub'ic, Not'Political Service
Rotary does not take any part in political
campaigns ; naturally, an organization of
its character could not be expected to
participate in such campaigns or have any
l)art in political discussions. But Rotary
believes in good citizenship and urges its
members to vote. In San Francisco some
years ago the club started a movement to
bring out every voter in the city to the polls
at an election. It announced frankly that
it was not in the least concerned as to how
the cit'zen voted after he reached the polls.
But it sought by every possible means to
impress on the c'tizens of San Francisco
the fact that voting was the main duty of
each man and woman on election day, and
that the man or woman who did not vote
was not only shirking the responsibilities
of citizenship, but was also making it im-
possible for him or her ever to complain
about bad city government. This work of
the San Francisco Club has developed a
healthy sentiment in San Francisco toward
the ideal of good citizenship. The club was,
of course, criticized severely by political
factions. But it has continued on its way.
Practically every Rotary club in the Brit-
ish Isles — and there are more than eighty
clubs in that section of the world— has
either initiated or been a most important
factor in the campaigns throughout the
United Kingdom to find "Jobs for Demobs,"
as the movement to get work for the dis-
charged soldiers and sailors is called. This
movement has met with considerable suc-
cess, and much time of Rotarians has been
devoted to it.
THE AMERICAN CITY
80
When writiag to Advertisers please mention The Amesican City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
603
The prosperity poster campaign of the
Rotary Club of New York, carried on dur-
ing the current year, resulted in displaying
optimistic posters on 80,000 bill-boards in
every section of the United States and
Canada. Many Rotary Clubs in various
parts of the country assisted in financing
the campaign, but it was undertaken by the
New York Rotary Club alone, and two-
thirds of the total cost was borne by mem-
bers of this club. The posters themselves
simply carried the signature, "Rotary Club
Members."
One entire issue of this magazine could
be filled with brief paragraphs of this sort
from every section of the world regarding
the activities of Rotary, despite the fact
that fully 80 per cent of the things that
Rotary has actually done to promote or
initiate civic movements will never be
known, because of the idea of the organiza-
tion that unselfish service means service
without the attendance of brass-band
methods.
The various clubs in the state of Ohio,
for instance, are the initiators of a work in
caring for crippled children in the state.
This has become a state-wide activity in
which all sorts of organizations and civic
bodies have taken part, the Toledo Rotary
Club being credited with originating the
idea. In Erie, Pa., the Rotary Club main-
tained a paid visiting housekeeper to teach
the housewives of the community home
economics; the McAlester, Okla., Rotary
Club initiated the movement to create pub-
lic sentiment demanding the construction
of better public highways; the San Jose,
Calif,, Rotary Club inaugurated a move-
ment for street signs; the Minneapolis
Rotary Club, assisted by the other clubs in
the state of Minnesota, obtained the enact-
ment of legislation for better school facili-
ties for crippled children; the Superior,
Wis., Rotary Club provided the means for
the establishment of a dental clinic in the
schools of the city; the Denver, Colo., Ro-
tary Club was the main factor in the work
of securing the famous municipal organ
that is now installed in the city auditorium;
the Winnipeg, Man., Rotary Club raised the
funds for a Boys' Home; the Los Angeles
Rotary Club initiated the movement for a
public health clinic — the list could be in-'
definitely extended.
The main idea of a Rotary Club is to
make itself useful, not to acquire merit for
itself. It is the desire of Rotarians that all
organizations engaged in civic work should
know the Rotary Club as a backer of every
worthy civic enterprise, as desiring to push
forward any worthy movement, and as be-
ing in the front rank when support for
such enterprises is needed — but as being in
the ranks. No Rotary Club seeks to gain
credit for enterprises of a civic nature.
Rather, even when it initiates a big Rotary
movement and another organization takes
charge of the enterprise, or is developed to
carry it through, it desires that the whole
credit for the success of the enterprise
should be given to the organization that
fathers it.
National School Announcement Draws Many Inquiries
GREAT interest in the second session
of the National School for Com-
mercial Secretaries, to be held at
Northwestern University, Evanston, 111.,
August 21 to September 2, 1922, is indicated
in the flood of inquiries which poured into
the office of Chairman Robert B. Beach of
the Board of Managers of the School im-
mediately following the mailing of the
formal announcement and invitation.
Two courses are planned for this year,
one for experienced secretaries and those
who attended the first session, and one for
men and women not now engaged in the
profession who desire to prepare themselves
for chamber of commerce work. Many of
the leading men of the secretarial profes-
sion have already indicated their intention
of attending the School, recognizing its
value in keeping them informed of the latest
developments affecting their work, and as
a means of receiving a fresh inspiration for
the tasks and problems of the coming year.
The tuition rate will be $30. Good board
and comfortable rooms may be obtained
for $2.50 to $2.75 per day. There will be
special accommodations for women stu-
dents, and one building has been set aside
for secretaries accompanied by their wives.
Application forms may be secured from
Robert B. Beach, Business Manager, Chi-
cago Association of Commerce.
THE AMERICAN CITY
KSki;^^^^,
Harvester Road, Si. Char lei. Mo.
■ ' Tarvia-X," iq20
Carthage-Antuerp Road,N. Y.
Another Tarvia Highway
Glastonbtiry-H art ford Road,
Glastonbury, Conn. "Tarfia-X" JQIS
State Road at Ktttery, Me.
"Tarvia-X," JQI2
farvia transforms old-fashioned mud roads
nto all-year mudless, dustless highways—
President Harding recently declared
lat the problem of distribution "is one of
le greatest economic problems, if not the
reatest problem, of modern civilization."
When we realize that it costs from four
) ten times as much to haul a ton of goods
^^er bad roads as it does over good roads,
e see at once how vital this road problem
to all of us.
The question no longer should be, "Shall
e have good roads.'"' It should be, instead.
How quickly and how cheaply can we get
ood roads?"
For Road Construction
Ropair and Maintenance
The Road Commissioners of hundreds of
towns and rural districts throughout the
country have found from experience that
Tarvia pavements are the most economical
good roads it is possible to build.
In first cost a Tarvia road Is only slightly
more than plain waterbound macadam. The
upkeep of Tarvia pavement is, all things
considered, so much less than that of any
other type of lasting road that the saving —
over a short period of years — will offset the
original cost of construction.
Properly looked after, there is no limit to
the life of a Tarvia road. With regular but
inexpensive maintenance, it is actually im-
proved by time and traffic. Its easy-trac-
tion surface is smooth, firm, dustless and
mudless all the year round — year after year.
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When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
6o:
The Law Covering Trespass on Abut-
ting Land in Highway Construction
By A. L. H. Street
A HIGHWAY engineer in Ohio asks
jL\ for a citation to court decisions on
*■ the question whether an abutting
landowner has legal recourse against grad-
ing a street in such manner that an em-
bankment spreads to the adjoining property.
The question is specially applied to cases
where the surface of the street is graded
full width, permitting the dirt to form a
natural slope extending upon such property,
which has been improved without regard
to the established grade or remains unim-
proved. Must the city build a retaining
wall, or does it devolve upon the abutter to
protect himself if he does not desire the
dirt to spill over upon his land?
An examination of the law reports shows
that the general rule established by court
decision is that there is no right to commit
such a trespass upon private property. A
city has no more right to occupy private
property in this way than it has to encroach
upon such property to widen the surface
of a street. In either case, the right to
occupy the abutting property must be ac-
quired by purchase or condemnation. We
refer below to a few of the leading cases
on the subject.
In the case of Bunker vs. City of Hud-
son, 99 Northwestern Reporter, 448, the
Wisconsin Supreme Court said :
"Roth allegation and proof are undisputed
that the Council ordered Third Street graded
to established grade by the Street Commis-
sioner, within whose charter functions such
work fell ; that he did that work so as to bring
the surface of the street to grade for its full
width, whereby, of course, the foot of the grade
necessarily extended onto adjoining premises
in absence of any retaining wall or other pre-
caution. It is difficult to conceive a plainer
case for corporate liability. In grading the
street the city was doing one of the things
which, as a municipal corporation, it was author-
ized to do. That work was done in an improper
or negligent manner, so as to invade the rights
of the plaintiffs, not as members of the public,
but as adjoining proprietors. Toward them the
city's act was not governmental, but proprietary.
For approximate damage thus caused, liability
results according to principle, and without con-
flict of authority. . . . Counsel for ap-
pellant seeks to escape this result by urging
tliat the city did not place this earth upon
plaintiffs' prtmises, but that such act was done
by the Street Commissioner unlawfully, and
thus as an individual. Doubtless it is true
that neither the charter conferring powers on
the Commissioner nor the resolution of the
Council requiring him to grade Third Street
expressly authorized him to cast a shovelful of
earth on plaintiffs' lot, but both conferred on
him general authority to do the work of grad-
ing, and in the good-faith performance of that
work he was the corporation in action. What
he did, the city did. Express authority to do
the specific unlawful act is by no means essen-
tial. It suffices that such act occurs in the
course and as a part of the good-faith per-
formance of an authority to act for the city
upon a general subject."
The subject was considered by the Oregon
Supreme Court in Reiss vs. City of Port-
land, 141 Pacific Reporter, 167, where the
Court said that "the city had no right to
pile earth and other material upon the abut-
ting owners' lands, and that, if this was
done without their consent, it was a tres-
pass, for which the landowners could re-
cover damages." Citing several decisions
from courts of other states, the Oregon
Court adds:
"In this case it is claimed that the city made
a fill the full width of the street, and made a
slope extending onto the lands of the abutting
owners. We hold that the city had no right
to do this without the consent of the owners.
However, it is probable that the city could have
o'^tained a right to use the property of the abut-
'TiT owners by proper proceedings and payi ^g
for it."
In Moore vs. Albany, 98 New York Re-
ports 406, 407, the New York Court of
.'Kppeals said :
"In grading a street it seems clear to us that
the public authorities have no right to invade
private property outside of the street lines. If
it becomes necessary to use or interfere with
such property, they must in some way acquire
the right to do so. . . . In order to grade
the street to the full width thereof, it was
necessary either to build retaining walls on the
sides of the street within the street lines, or
to support the street bv sloping embankments
upon the adjoining lands. It is evident that
the latter mode was the most reasonable and
economical. The lands outside of the street
lines . . . remain in the possession and oc-
cupancy of the owners thereof, subject to the
THE AMERICAN CITY
.«19^^fj^
^^g^g^gl^^^^H^^^g^^^g
^^^^^^^^I^^^^^^^^^K^B
Birmingham's
Record
Nine 19 2 0 Harley-Davidsons
served Birmingham, Alabama,
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The Motorcycle Officers'
Monthly Report shown at the
right tells how successful the
Harley-Davidson squad was
during February. Total arrests,
723; total fines, $5,962.00/ 4.
Increased efficiency is the big reason why
847 cities and counties are using Harley-
Davidsons for police work. The increased
revenue to the city, though important, is inci-
dental. For chasing automobile speeders,
running down "motorized crooks", enforcing
parking and traffic rules, for emergency calls
and a variety of service duties — a Harley-
Davidson is ideal.
Cost? 50 miles for a dollar (gas, oil, tires
and all) is the average upkeep expense of
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Milw^aukee, Wisconsin
IJJorld's Champion Jvtotorcycle
82
When writing to Advertistrs please mention The American City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
607
burden of the earth cast thereon. These em-
bankments are evidently not injurious to the
adjoining owners, as it is for their interest to
have their lands filled up to the grade of the
street. It cannot be presumed that the)' will dig
away and remove these embankments, and, if
they should, the street would still remain, and
the city could support its sides in some other
way. The only practical remedy for the owner
of the lands thus invaded is to sue the city or
these who placed the earth upon his lands with-
out his consent, express or implied, for the
wrong, and in such an action he can recover
his entire damage for a permanent appropria-
tion of his land for the embankment. . . .
They could, if they had desired, have restrained
the deposit of earth upon their lands by an
equitable action.''
The decision of the Oregon Supreme
Court in the case of Giaconi vs. City of
Astoria, 118 Pacific Reporter, 180, goes a
step farther by holding that even where a
street embankment is constructed wholly
within the limits of the street lines, the city
will be liable for invasion of lower abut-
ting property, caused by subsidence of the
embankment, if that be caused by a defect
in the construction plan, as by failing to
provide a proper foundation, thereby
naturally exposing the embankment to sub-
sidence. In such case, it is further decided,
the city cannot avoid liability on the ground
that the work was done by an independent
contractor. The Court says:
"The standard of care to be observed by the
city in such cases is such that a reasonable and
careful man in like circumstances would use,
if the responsibility for damages rested upon
him. All would most likely agree that a wide
and level pedregal would lie a safe foundation
for a fill of the character and dimensions de-
scribed in the city ordinance. None would
' obably contend that a steep declivity of shift-
ing sand would be suitable for that purpose.
But between these extremes the question is one
of fact, which must be decided by the jury or
court."
Insect Pests Must Be Considered in City
Planning and Planting
By W. Dwight Pierce, Ph. D.
Consulting Entomologist, San Mateo, Calif.
IN laying out new suburbs, planning parks
and parkings, great care must be given
in the selection of the trees and shrubs
to be used, not only from the standpoint of
landscape, but also from the standpoint of
immunity to attack from insects and
disease. Some trees are far more sus-
ceptible to attack than others. In the city
of Washington on the Agricultural Depart-
ment grounds there is an avenue of Japan-
ese maidenhair or gingko trees, presented
many years ago by the Japanese Govern-
ment. From these trees many other streets
have been planted to this species, and yet no
insect has ever been recorded as attacking
them, and they are comparatively immune
from disease. This tree is beautiful in form
and makes a good shade tree.
Another pretty shade tree which can be
grown in many parts of the country is the
tulip poplar. It is also remarkably free
from insect pests. Standing next to these
in the Eastern States are the red and scar-
't oaks and the plane or sycamore trees,
also known as button-ball. In California
and the Southwest the eucalyptus and pepper
trees are becoming quite popular. In the
Southeast the live-oak is a good, sturdy tree
not easily injured.
Many of the trees we love so much to see,
as the elm, the locust, the poplars and
maples, are very susceptible to insect at-
tack, and where they are commonly planted
considerable entomological control work is
absolutely necessary.
Ambassador Bryce in an article on Wash-
ington called attention to the plan of plant-
ing a certain type of tree on a certain
street for its entire length, and another kind
on the next street. Thus the observant
one in Washington will recognize avenues
of hard maple, Norway maple, elm cotton-
wood, poplar, oak, maidenhair, tulip pop-
lar, locust and many other fine trees. If
an insect pest appears and ravages certain
trees, it is certain that most of the other
species of trees will be immune from this
particular pest, for there are not many kinds
of insects which attack numerous kinds of
vegetation, and none which attack all types.
THE AMERICAN CITY
The Streets are illuminated with General Electric
Fixtures supported by King ornamental cast iron
trolley pole brackets.
King Manufacturing Co.
Monadnock Building, Chicago, 111.
^'^.g^^g^^HJ.n-JUB^g^'CIU.H^H.H^H^I.H^.t.H^^
88
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
JUNE, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
609
Parkways Should Have Protected Trees
All trees planted along streets and park-
ways where there is danger of artificial
abrasion or gnawing by horses, should be
protected by some kind of wooden or metal
guards, which must themselves be harmless
to the tree. A large part of the injury by
borers and diseases starts at points of in-
jury, such as broken limbs, gnawed and
scratched places, etc. If the city watches
its trees carefully, removes all dead wood
and treats the scars with a coat of white
lead paint or of asphaltum, insect injury
will be reduced. Some species may be con-
trolled by pruning the infested branches
during the summer before the larvae have
gone too far.
Badly Infested Trees Should Be Removed
There are many types of borers which
we have never learned to control, once they
get a start in a tree, because of the im-
possibility of getting killing agents to reach
them. Often sentiment causes a city or a
householder to cling to a certain tree which
is slowly dying from internal attack, when
common sense dictates that this tree should
be cut down and destroyed to prevent the
spread of the pest to other trees in the
vicinity.
Careless Pruning and Trimming Is
Dangerous
A trained expert should be in charge of
the pruning, trimming and care of the city's
trees. By careful and judicious pruning
much insect injury can be removed and
prevented. The scar made by pruning
should always be painted to prevent attack
by boring insects, and fungous diseases.
Tn fact, when a diseased limb is sawed off,
the spores are likely to adhere to the saw,
and infest the next limb sawed. An ex-
pert would d'sinfect his tools before pro-
ceeding.
Proper Tree Surgery Is Often Effective
Certain types of disease and injury by in-
sects can he cut out. and the fresh unin-
fested wood disinfected and protected. Trees
in almost the last stages of decay can some-
times be saved by surgery and the wound
then filled in so that normal growth may
proceed. Men who are not properly trained
may do more harm than good by their sur-
gery. They must know how to provide for
expansion and contraction of the cement,
overgrowth of the bark, anchorage of heavy
branches to prevent splitting, and many
other technical points of great importance.
Many Trees Need to Be Sprayed
Spraying of trees v^^ith insecticides and
fungicides is often necessary, but is worse
than useless unless directed by an expert
who knows what spray to use and when to
use it. Some sprays are designed to kill
by contact and are used against sucking
bugs, while other sprays are stomach
poisons and kill when eaten. Kerosene
emulsion and nicotine sprays are used
against lice, some scales and certain suck-
ing bugs. Arsenicals are most frequently
used as stomach poisons. In the case of
certain scale insects, fumigation only is ef-
fective, but this is not often practised in
cities because of the dangerous gases used.
Poisons in the form of impalpable dust are
rapidly supplanting liquid sprays in many
of our pest problems.
None of Our Pests Are Nation- Wide
I have carefully refrained from citing
particular species of shade tree pests in the
latter part of this article, because to do so
would be confusing. There are multitudes
of them, requiring volumes to describe. Our
country is large and has many different
types of climate, and no species of shade
tree occurs throughout the country. The
particular pests of your city may require
separate study before control can be
effected, or it may be that work has been
done elsewhere which will give your city
scientists the basis for their work.
Make Your City Beautiful
It is the duty of city managers to make
their cities beautiful and homelike. Proper
use of trees and proper care of them after
they are planted will contribute more than
any thing else you can do to add to the
beauty of your streets. Don't permit signs
to be fastened to any tree in the city, for
they not only mar the beauty of the tree but
also injure the tree itself, giving entrance
nnd shelter to pests.
It is the duty of the city official to pro-
tect the magnificent shade trees along the
way. Use your influence to protect all
trees from the sign-board pest that ruins
both trees and scenery.
THE AMERICAN CITY
WOLLO^SPUM
I
Licjhiincj Siandards
^
'T'HE appearance of the business district of
"■• Miami, Oklahoma, was greatly en-
hanced by these Hollowspun reinforced con-
crete trolley poles. The railway company
also benefited through the elimination of pole
maintenance. Lighting standards, trolley poles
and a combination of the two are all described
in Catalog Supplement No. 9.
Massey Concrete Products Corporation
Peoples Gas Biulding Chicago
/I
i/ritincr tn Advprti«:prc nlease m£.ntir
ThP AXfTTRTr*
6ii
An Avenue of Roses
By Florence Holmes
Bureau of Parks, Portland, Ore.
AS characteristic as the hawthorn
hedgerows of England, the cherry-
blossom ways of Japan and the
stately palm avenues of California is the
four-mile rose avenue of Portland, Ore.,
now in the making. A similar street is
shown on the cover of this issue. The
lovely Caroline Testout and the dainty
Dorothy Perkins are the beauties of the
rose world which make Portland's rose
boulevard a highroad of charm in June.
Early in January, 1920, the Portland Ad
Club put before the public the proposition
of a roseway along four miles of the Sandy
Boulevard, the connecting link between the
city and the famous Columbia River High-
way. Civic clubs and city officials inter-
ested themselves in the project, and the
plans for the rose-bowered avenue are now
being realized. The nursery force of the
Bureau of Parks set out 21,000 Caroline
Testouts and 4,500 Dorothy Perkins cut-
tings to be used on the roseway, and others
are to be grown by organizations and in-
dividuals at various times.
The choice of the Caroline Testout has
been the outgrowth of a gradual increase
in the use of this profuse bloomer. Port-
land has held an annual rose show in June
every year since 1889, and in all these
years the rose growers of the city have been
endeavoring to produce a rose that will
qualify as the official rose of Portland. In
1908 the Rose Festival, supplementing the
rose show, was instituted and held in June,
the gala time of the City of Roses. The
official Portland rose has not yet been devel-
oped, but in lieu thereof, by common con-
sent, the Caroline Testout has been serving.
The roseway is the culmination of many
plans and of much int-erest in Portland's
peculiar adaptability to rose growing. The
name "Rose City" was first given to the
city 25 years ago by the Presbyterian Gen-
eral Assembly, which was in session here.
Later, in 1905, at the Lewis and Clark Ex-
position, the rose was declared the queen
of flowers and great bouquets of the blos-
soms were presented to the women visitors
at the fair on certain days. The interest
in rose culture was continued, being spon-
sored by the Portland Rose Society and
other organizations and by individual resi-
dents. "Plant a Rose" posters were pasted
on automobile windshields two years ago
to further the rose idea.
Rose enthusiasts in all parts of the coun-
try took a new interest in Portland when
the International Rose Test Garden was
established in Washington Park in 19 17.
This was made an official test garden of the
American Rose Society, and new roses from
all parts of the United States and Europe
were entered in the testing plats. At the
June Rose Festival awards are made for
the finest blooms of the season. All species
entered in the Test Garden are new and
unexploited commercially. The Rose Test
•Garden is a unit of the large decorative
rose garden now being built in Washing-
ton Park, where eventually there will be
botanical collections, historical gardens and
other features incorporated in one compre-
hensive design.
The Sandy Boulevard, which has been set
aside as the Avenue of Roses, is a broad,
straight road of few grades, running
diagonally through a residence section of
the city into an attractive rural section of
fields and woods, until it joins the eastern
division of the scenic Columbia River High-
way. The roseway will be a fitting approach
to the majestic river highway as well as a
striking feature of the Rose City, when it
is completed.
Under the direction of C. P. Keyser,
.Superintendent of the Bureau of Parks,
the parkings were surveyed and the ground
prepared for planting last fall. More than
three thousand roses were set out at that
time and many will be added this fall when
the planting season opens.
A park is a growing asset to a growing city — more beauty, more comfort, more
people, more value.
THE AMERICAN CITY
The
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Planning-
This 128-Page Medart Catalog is recog-
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suited for boys, for girls and for smaller
children. It shows ideal playground lay-
outs, where cost is secondary to service
and it shows, too, what combinations are
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centers where only a limited appropriation
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And, of course, it points out convincingly
just why you should always specify
Medart Playground Equipment.
Add this elaborate book to your library-
it is an actual help to anyone interested in
Playgrounds and Playground Planning.
Sent promptly on request.
FRED MEDART MFG. CO.
Potomac & De Kalb, St. Louis, Mo.
New York San Francisco
52 Vanderbilt Ave. Rialto Bldg.
Chicago, 326 W. Madison St.
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
6i3
Selecting a Boiler-Feed Regulator for
the Municipal Power-Plant*
By W. F. Schaphorst, M. E.
INEFFICIENT hand regulation of boiler
feed is still practiced in many large and
many small power-plants in all fields.
The writer witnessed the installation of a
new 500-horse-power water-tube boiler in
a municipal power-plant about a year ago
and inquired concerning the kind of feed-
water regulation that would be employed.
The engineer replied, "Hand regulation. I
guess it is as good as any other kind."
His guess was incorrect. Much money
too high or too low. Then the valve is
either completely closed or completely
opened, and is left in that position until the
water is again too low or too high. The
water may be too low just at a time when
additional boiler capacity is required. The
feed valves being open at the same time
means that the fires must be forced to a
far greater extent than should be neces-
sary, and this means that a large amount
of heat is lost.
THE VAliUI! OF REGULATING BOILER OPERATION
The two left-hand charts show inefBcient hand regulation; the right-hand chart shows the effect of
modern regulation on the same boilers
can be saved yearly by adopting good
mechanical regulation. Important savings
result from several sources. It is a mistake
to believe that the labor is the only saving.
There are other economies of much greater
magnitude.
Two methods of boiler-feed regulation are
in use to-day — hand and automatic regula-
tion. In the smaller plants where feed water
is controlled by hand, this is usually taken
care of by the fireman. The fireman, how-
ever, has many duties, and cannot give to
the regulation of feed water the time that
is necessary to insure satisfactory results.
The result is that the water input is not
changed until the water-level becomes either
•Copyright, 1922, by W. F. Schaphorst.
In the larger power-plants a water tender
is often employed whose duty it is to take
care of the input of water to a number of
boilers. If he is taking care of, say, eight
boilers, each boiler can receive only 12.5
per cent of his time, and this is sometimes
cut down to 8 or 10 per cent because of
losses, time consumed in walking between
boilers, etc. Starting with No. i boiler,
the feed valve is opened because the water-
level is too low, not because of a change
in output. By the time he gets around to
No. I boiler again the water may be too
high or too low, and an adjustment is again
made, not in any relation whatever to out-
put or efficiency, but purely in relation to
the level of the water.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Coldwell
Lawn Mowers
An Exceedingly Flexible Mower
With, a Considerable Appetite for Work
The Imperial Gang Mower, designed to fit the especial needs
of cost-considerate park officials, effectively accomplishes the cut-
ting of spacious lawns at an employment of the minimum amount
of time and expenditure.
Suited admirably to the strength and greater speed of the lighter
type of utility horse (as compared to the slothful ambles of the
cumbersome draft horse) this combination of five 20-inch Imperial
Hand Mowers cuts an immaculate swath 91 inches wide across the
surface of a level — or hilly — lawn in rapid style.
Over the triple gang mowers of the side-wheel type. The Imperial
Gang Mower has demonstrated its superiority under actual condi-
tions on all kinds of tasks, and on all public grounds where it has
superseded the narrower type, the comparison has proved a fea-
ture of saving, with better work, in favor of the Imperial.
After all, it IS a Coldwell Lawn Mower, and with 57 years of
constant effort forward as an heritage^ it should be a marked and
cost-conserving mower.
By the way, that 57 years of "knowing-how" has taught us many
things about lawns — a fund of knowledge — yours for the asking.
CoDBWnX Lawn Mower Co.
NEWBURGH. NY. U.S.A.
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
86
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
61S
Some power-plant engineers may say,
"My load is absolutely constant, and there-
fore hand feed is perfectly efificient." It
may be true that the load is fairly constant,
but this is true of the total load on the bat-
tery of boilers only, and not of the load on
each individual boiler. In other words,
with, say, six boilers, there may be a total
load of 2,400 horse-power, but this does not
mean that each boiler is carrying 400 horse-
power. Instead, it is more likely that some
boilers are delivering considerably above 400
horse-power, while others are carrying con-
siderably below 400 horse-power. Im-
proper feeding of the water will change the
steaming output of the individual boilers
to a marked extent.
Rapid strides in automatic boiler-feed
regulation have been made in recent years.
Practically all the large central station plants
in the United States that are operated with
steam, as well as thousands of smaller
plants, are to-day feeding their boilers by
means of automatic regulators which give
the proper kind of control. The man has
been made the supervisor of the apparatus,
instead of the mere supervisor of the valve,
which is as it should be. A report of the
Committee on Power Generation of the
American Electric Railway Engineering As-
sociation says:
"A great many feed-water regulators are de-
signed to maintain constant water-level and
are of a type that closes the supply positively
when the water-level is above the desired level
and opens wide when it falls below. This
method of feed control is responsible for a
considerable variation in the steaming capacity
of the boiler. Approximately one-fifth of the
total heat supplied by the furnace when operat-
ing at 200 pounds pressure is represented in
raising the temperature of the feed water from
200 degrees F. to steam temperature. The full
opening of the valve may deliver water to the
boiler at a rate of five or ten times the normal
rate of evaporation. Thus, if the feed valve
remains open for any considerable time, the
total heat input from the furnace may be spent
in raising the temperature of the water and
at this time the output of the boiler is reduced
to practically nothing. These features of feed-
water regulation are now better understood,
with the result that regulators are now available
which give a graduated control of the feed
water and permit a variation in the water-level
between any two extremes that may be fixed."
When high-pressure boilers first came
into use in power-plants, the principal con-
cern of the fireman was merely to keep
water in the boiler anywhere from the top
Courtesy Chaplin Fulton Mfg. Co.
KEGUIiATOR FOE MAINTAINING CONSTANT
WATEE-LEVEL
to the bottom of the drum. Water-level
was given very little thought. The only
real concern was to prevent burning the
boiler shell or tubes and to keep the boiler
from blowing up. Injectors were used to
force the water into the boiler against the
steam pressure. These injectors were
usually poor mechanically as well as in-
efficient, and their operation was one of
the most exasperating jobs the boiler tender
had. Consequently, the general practice
was to start the injector and not stop it un-
til the boiler was entirely filled. Then it
would not be started again until the boiler
was practically empty. This method is still
in vogue in many power-plants, particularly
the smaller ones, and should by all means
be discontinued.
The first commercial regulator ever made
depended for its operation on a float which
rode on the surface of the water and rose
and fell with it. This type of regulator is
still being manufactured and is used to-
day with practically no change in principle,
construction, or operation. The art of
boiler feeding, however, has advanced so
much that the float regulator should not
be used excepting under certain conditions,
THE AMEKICAX CITY
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THE AMERICAN CITY
''Just how will a
FAIRCHILD AERIAL MOSAIC SURVEY
The City of Newark, N. J., answers-
help our City?"
W0^ ,MPROVt^*t»«TS
^' v.u^^-' Vo"'*^ r.r.Ai "r/-
Board 1« ao« andartftklcg
for tho purpoto of Attrsi
to Vowark. and will «■• i
tonol*aly durinc thi> dri
w* '^= °uV. ''■• n.V;'»"/. Y/^=i.i. i
"*p •? I
°°»PJ,
» pttblleitj campaign
ting bo««-bQild«r«
ba aarlal picture az-
«o ab,'"' J "a'
Ib Tlow of thaao clrcuattan
can roadily undorotand why I am anzlo
lag to tho oarly eoaplotloa and dollv
plcturo.
Tor/ truly yourt.
A
Fairchild Mosaic Survey is made by photographing and as-
sembling a series of .overlapping vertical aerial views, resulting
in a complete map, perfect in detail and mosaic in character.
^ We will send to any interested City official, gratis,
a large gravure reproduction of a Fairchild Aerial
Mosaic map, recently made of the City of New York.
FAIRCHILD AERIAL CAMERA CORPORATION
136 West 52nd Street, New York City
88 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
619
installed merely according to the size of
the feed line. Investigation has disclosed,
however, that most boiler-feed lines are too
large. Not only are the feed lines generally
too large, but also the pumps, regulating
valves, and all other incidental equipment.
This is because with hand or old type
mechanical feed the flow of water is in-
termittent. Extra capacity must be avail-
able so that the system, besides supplying
the normal demand during its periods of
operation, can also make up for what was
not supplied during periods of inaction.
The control valve should not be chosen in
a haphazard manner to conform to the size
of the feed lines, as is ordinarily done, be-
cause this might result in the same inter-
mittent on-and-off operation characteristic
of the old methods and systems.
Insist upon a regulator that is designed
for the particular conditions under which
the boilers are to operate. The time has
passed when regulators are furnished merely
to correspond to the size of the feed line.
There are now available regulators which
are designed for the particular boiler con-
d'tions. This involves not only a considera-
tion of the size of the feed line, but also
normal rating, maximum rating, steam pres-
sure, water pressure, method of firing,
method of pump control, etc., and as a re-
sult regulators can be obtained that will
give the best possible service under any
specific conditions. Ragged and erratic
feeding will almost invariably result if the
control valve is too large.
In view of the increasing use of higher
steam pressures, many consulting en-
gineers are now specifying that on all pres-
sures above 250 pounds, cast steel should
be used in place of cast iron on control
valves and any other water-containing parts
of boiler-feed regulators.
If boiler-feed water contains scale, slime,
grit or other foreign impurities, great care
must be taken in the selection of a regu-
lator. Be sure that the regulator will not
be rendered inoperative by any such ele-
ments. Should grit or slime be present,
or should wire-drawing occur, it is well to
insist upon interior valve parts made of
monel metal. Such parts can be furnished
by the regulator manufacturers at a slight
additional cost, and in practically every
case they will be found to be well worth
the slight additional expense.
In the selection of boiler-feed regulators,
the following specifications, prepared by
the Prime Movers Committee of the Na-
tional Electric Light Association, will prove
helpful :
1. The regulator should conform to the con-
tinuous-feed, variable water-level principle.
2. The regulator shall be guaranteed to pass
a required amount of water at a certain pres-
sure drop, based on actual test data.
3. The regulating valve shall be of the "high
lift" type. It shall lift about §^-inch from
zero feed to maximum required feed.
4. The regulator shall be adjustable, so as
to give the full valve travel for any desired
limits of the water-level variation.
5. The regulator shall be adjustable for
raising or lowering the range of water-level
variation in the boiler, at the same time main-
taining full valve travel.
6. The regulator shall not have interval
friction in excess of 10 per cent of its actuat-
ing or moving force. If the internal friction
is large, the regulator is liable to "stick" and
will feed intermittently.
7. The regulator should be indicating, that
is, it should indicate the opening of the valve
at all instants and enable the operator to check
it up against the water-level.
Other items suggest themselves, such as
dependability, attention necessary to keep
the regulator operating efficiently, life,
cost, etc., but the seven points mentioned
above really constitute good regulation and
are usually sufficient. The right kind of
regulation should not be affected by time
of service, climate, or draft. Its response
to any given operating condition should be
constant over a period of years. On large
boilers, two regulators should be installed
to adequately take care of the differences
in operating conditions and to properly
distribute the cold water.
Municipally Owned Power Plants
There are now 2,318 cities in the United States and Canada that own and operate their
own electric light and power plants. Of these, 700 have established their municipal plants
within the last five years. In 1881 there was but one municipal plant in the United States.
Of the cities that now own and operate light and power plants, 275 have a 3-cent rate,
287 have a S-cent rate, 600 have an 8-cent rate and 615 have a lo-cent rate. These are
the retail or maximum rates.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Fence Succeeds Where Signs Fail
KEEPING them off the grass," in
Central Park, New York City, has
always been a man's size job. In fact, for
a time it seemed well nigh impossible to keep
the big, unmanageable crowds from tramp-
ling down the grass and turning the lawns
into an ugly barren. "Keep Off" signs were
ignored. But now, thanks to the installation
of a Page-Protection Fence around some of
the lawns, the problem has been solved.
When it comes to protecting municipal prop-
erty a Page-Protection Fence is more
effective than an officer of the law. Many a
dollar has been saved by putting this formi-
dable fence around pumping stations and
lighting plants. That's the only way to keep
trespassers out and eliminate the temptation
to remove tools and materials.
If you are looking for a fence that will really
protect, be sure you secure a Page Fence.
The many years' experience of the Page
Steel and Wire Company, as well as the fact
that the company conducts every process of
manufacture from the open hearth to the
finished product in its own mills, renders the
Page-Protection Fence without equal in gen-
eral excellence today.
Page Steel and Wire Company
Bridgeport, Connecticut
District Sales Offices:
Chicago,
New York,
Pittsburgli,
Portland, Ore.
PAGE PROTECTION FENCI
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
621
BONDING
Municipal Finance
ACCOUNTING
TAXATION
Municipal Financial Statistics Require
Explanation
To THE Editor of The American City:
Your article in the April number under
the head of ""Finance" prompts me to make
some comments, even though I am no longer
a city official.
These census bulletins and other statis-
tical tables of this kind are apt to be mis-
leading. In this case they seek to show the
excess of receipts over expenditures, or
rather the reverse. What nonsense ! A
taxing body is obliged sooner or later to
balance accounts. The year in question end-
ing in 1921 was a peculiarly inopportune
year for any such conclusions.
The only way the value of such statistics
can be tested is by analyzing a concrete ex-
ample, so let us see about the city of Cedar
Rapids. In the first place, the Census Bu-
reau data include schools, which in this
state are entirely separate from city busi-
ness, and what I have to say, therefore, does
not apply to schools, as I know nothing
ahout their finances.
In your case, the tax levy which was dis-
bursed in the year reported upon, viz., end-
ing April I, 1 92 1, was made by us in
August, 1919. Not being good prophets,
we thought labor and material costs would
certainly decline from war prices, but what
happened ? Just about as soon as our levy
was made, everything began to soar, so that,
as a matter of fact, the year in question was
about the worst in the whole history of the
city government and business, because a
c'ty. like any other institution, must pay
the fiddler. In this connection I might give
our experiences. Our levies for the years
1916-17-18 were 45 mills (on 25 per cent
of assessed value) ; in 1919-20, 44 mills; in
1921, 50 mills; and in 1922, 46 mills. This
resulted in the following averages: the levy
for three years before the war, 45 mills;
for four years during the war, 46.
In our City Treasurer's report for 1920-1,
in the funds on hand at the beginning of the
year there was between $300,000 and $400,-
000 proceeds of bonds for which sewer and
bridge contracts were outstanding, only a
part, or about $300,000, of which were paid
during the year in question. On the other
hand, the receipts for the year, because of
local changes and changes in bookkeeping,
show the receipt of nearly $200,000 taken
into the accounts, but which, as a matter of
fact, existed in special funds prior thereto.
1 know that this matter of "capital" invest-
ments or funds is kept separate by the Cen-
sus Bureau, or, rather, they try to do so,
but they may or may not succeed.
In conclusion, I can only repeat the
opinion that inferences drawn from such
statistics are of little or no value.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
J. F. RALL,
Ex-Mayor.
Editorial Note. — Ex-Mayor Rail's criticisms
of the financial figures issued by the Census
Bureau and printed in the April issue of The
American City reveal one of the dangers of
comparative municipal statistics which confront
the investigator. There is no doubt that, with
each city maintaining its own system of ac-
counting and classification of expenditures,
there is wide diversity in the use of terms and
in the grouping of figures under the various
accepted headings. In some cities, for ex-
ample, the total tax rate is figured upon all the
municipal services, the debt service, and the
expenditures of the board of education. In
others, money raised for educational purposes
and that applied to the state and county taxes
is excluded, and the tax rate for the municipal-
ity is figured upon the remainder. Until we
have a system of uniform municipal accounting
for all cities in the United States, these diffi-
culties in the matter of comparisons will doubt-
less continue.
Great strides, however, have been made in
the matter of comparative statistics by the in-
auguration of uniform systems of municipal
accounting in a number of states. Where such
uniform systems exist, comparisons between
cities of the same size within the state can
be made with a fair degree of accuracy.
THE AMERICAN CITY
CORRUC^Tffl"^™^LVERTS
Inltheldevelopment of subur-
ban sites "ACME" (Nestable)
Culverts offer an inexpensive
and permanent means of drain-
age. Moreover, by the use of
cement or stone work they can
be made into very attractive
forms, such as above.
This pleasing installation is in
Shaker Heights Village, suburb
of Cleveland. The two 6-foot
"ACME" sections are faced
at the end with rough ashler
stone work. Installed 191 1 —
still in perfect condition. Have
you catalog M-78?
THE CANTON CULVERT & SILO CO., Mfrs., CANTON, OHIO
Lowest Prices
In Years
Let us quote you prices on the iron fencing you have been
needing. The cost of iron is back on a pre-w^ar basis and
your Enterprise Fencing may be had at the lowest price in
years. We are prepared to meet your every need and to
co-operate fully. Write today for quotation, illustrated cata-
log and our free blue-print offer.
WIS
WIfi
mi
iqifl
wiq
mo
1921
19M
I
i
1
k
-.1:
k
kMm
_.
}
.
k
VVEVfAR. LEVEl ,
^
19
3
L9i
ENTERPRISE
2643 Yandes Street,
Free Blue Print.
Free blue-print show-
ing Enterprise Fenc-
ing on your ground.
Write for illustrated
catalog and quotation
today.
IRON WORKS
Indianapolis, Ind.
ENTEIFMSI
FENCING
Cost of Iron Back to 1913
Buy Kow for Less.
Protect and beautify
Schools, Hospitals,
Parks, Estates, Pub-
lic Buildings, Ceme-
teries, Asylums. Low-
est cost in years.
90
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
623
Pasadena Lives Within Its Income
To THE Editor of The American City
Magazine:
I notice that The American City Maga-
zine of April shows the per capita expenses
of the city of Pasadena to be $73.57, while
the per capita receipts are $67.69. We as-
sume you got these figures from the Finan-
cial Statistics of Cities of the Department
of Commerce, Bureau of Census. It is in-
correct in the way it is stated. Our per
capita expenses for municipal purposes are
$52.00 and our per capita receipts for mu-
nicipal purposes are $53.71. The figures set
up by the Bureau of Census include trans-
actions other than those of the municipal
government.
In making comparative statistics, it is
absolutely essential that the same objects
be taken into consideration in each case,
and one reason why so much apparent dis-
agreement is found in statistical informa-
tion is because this fact is not taken into
consideration by the magazine editors and
newspaper writers. The Bureau of Cen-
sus, being under the direction of one head
at Washington, should be in a position to
give accurate comparative information; but
unless the findings of the Bureau of Cen-
sus are properly reported by publicity
agents, the records they furnish can be very
readily misinterpreted.
fT 1 /^ 1-r C. W. KOINER,
Pasadena, Lallt. city Manager.
May 17, 1922,
Make Civil Service Do What It Was Intended To Do
To the Editor of The American City:
In response to your request for expres-
sions of opinion on civil service I submit
the following statement:
1. The merit system has not been tried
and found wanting, as your correspondent
suggests; rather, it has not been tried. In
the civil service, as in so many other
branches of government, we have put our
faith in the saving power of legislation and
machinery, assuming that any reputable
citizen could carry on administration. But,
however reputable our civil service com-
missioners may have been, generally speak-
ing, ignorance of examination and employ-
ment technique, i.e.. their job, has been the
common characteristic. This, combined
with limited tenure of office and inadequate
funds, is a sufficient explanation of the
present status of civil service administra-
tion.
2. There is nothing in civil service
rules, as your correspondent states, that
calls for theoretical examinations, either di-
ectly or by implication. Theoretical ex-
aminations are the natural recourse of an
examining body that exists by sufferance
and usually in a state of splendid isolation.
So far as examinations are concerned, there
is, as a matter of fact, no conceivable type
of test which cannot be given under civil
service rules, and, what is more, there is no
conceivable type of test which has not been
given in one civil service jurisdiction or
another. The tests given cover the whole
range from a personal interview to up-to-
date forms of trade and mental tests.
3. The charge that it is impossible to re-
move inefficient employees from the mu-
nicipal service is a widespread fiction.
There is no basis for it in most civil ser-
vice laws. The words of the last report of
the New York State Civil Service Commis-
sion are generally applicable. After stat-
ing that the law offers no such protection
to the inefficient, the Commission asserts
(page 13) that the retention of incompetent
employees is "due to lack of administrative
force on the part of the head of the office,
and the responsibilities and the burdens
must be borne by him alone."
The remedy for the existing situation
outlined by your correspondent strikes me
as being almost academic in character. No
political party would dare include the pro-
posed emasculation of the civil service law
in its party platform. The man of the street
understands civil service and has never
failed to register this conviction when a
referendum has given him the chance.
Civil service control is an established
institution and apparently permanent.
The question is, therefore, not whether
we shall emasculate or do away with the
civil service commission. It is rather by
what means we can make it do what it was
intended to do. The remedies here suggested
are obvious and require little argument:
(i) Appoint civil service commissioners
who are qualified to administer examination
and employment policy; (2) provide ap-
propriations adequate to perform these
functions. w. E. mosher,
National Institute of Public Administration.
THE AMERICAN CITY
ENDURANCE
ENDURANCE is the ability to
bear and continue in spite of
destructive forces. In this re-
spect Newport Culverts are pre-
eminent in the culvert field. Made
of GENUINE, OPEN.HEARTH
IRON (99.875% pure copper
alloy), these culverts are the most
rust-resisting on the market.
In strength, th^ have never been
found wanting, for under the
heaviest filb, with the greatest
loads, they have carried the burden
without deformation. They are
guaranteed to last longer under
identical conditions than any other
corrugated metal culvert pipe.
Newport Culverts are made in
full-round and half-round types, as
illustrated, so that city, county and
state officials may have a culvert
adaptable to every condition.
Newport Culverts endure the rav-
ages of time and rough usage for
decades. Let us explain further
why we thoroughly believe there
is no better culvert made. Send
us your name and address.
Newport Culvert Company, inc.
542 West Tenth Street
Newport, Ky.
91
When writing to Advertisers please mention Tub Amihican City.
625
New York Zone Plan Growing Stronger
By Edward M. Bassett
Of the New York Bar
TWK Greater Xew 'S'ork building zone
law has now 1 een in oi)eration over
five years. The protective requ're-
ments are shown on three maps, known as
heglit. area and use. The charter provides
that changes in the maps can be made only
by the Board of Estimate. The aggregate
changes are extremely small in area, show-
ing the remarkable permanence of the pro-
tection of the zoning system.
Tn the years 1916-1921, inclusive, 158 ap-
plications for changes were granted by the
Board of Estimate, and 134 were denied.
The.se figures tend to show that changes are
not easily obtained. This is as it should
be, because when an owner builds accord-
ing to the zoning requirements he ought to
be protected against easy changes of sur-
rounding requirements.
Of the total changes there were 4 in 1916.
43 in 1917, 26 in 1918, 20 in 1919, 27 in
T920, and 38 in 192 1. It would appear from
the figures that during the last three years
the map changes were fairly proportioned
to the normal growth and change of the
city.
Use map changes were 143, area map 11,
and height map 4. It is quite possible that
as the amount of new construction in-
creases, more changes proportionally will
he made in the area and height maps.
In 1916 the 4 changes all relaxed the re-
strictions; in 1917, 36 relaxed and 7
strengthened the restrictions; in 1918, 20
relaxed and 6 strengthened; in 1919, 13 re-
laxed and 7 strengthened; in 1920, 12 re-
laxed and 15 strengthened; in 1921, 15
relaxed and 23 strengthened. In other
words, in 1916 there was no strengthening,
in 1917 the strengthening as compared to
relaxation rose to 19 per cent, in 1918 to
30 per cent, in 1919 to 54 per cent, in 1920
to 125 per cent, and in 1921 to 153 per cent.
It will be seen that during the last two
years the strengthening changes exceeded
the relaxing changes, and that each year
the proportion of strengthening changes in-
creased. These figures show not only
official support of the zoning plan, but they
show clearly that property owners are
gradually favoring the strengthening of the
zoning requirements rather than their re-
laxation.
The building zone system^ of New York
may be deemed a success. Other cities
which have recently adopted it or are pre-
paring their maps may well be encouraged
by the experience of New York.
Building and Loan Income Exempt Up to $300
By Charles O'Connor Hennessy
President of The Franklin Society for Home Building and Savings, New York
NOT sufficient public attention, perhaps,
has been drawn to the provision, in
the current Federal Revenue Act
which took effect at the beginning of this
year, and which, by paragraph lo of sub-
division (b) of section 213 exempts from
income taxes
"so much of the amount received by an indi-
vidual after December 31, 1921, and before
January i, 1927, as dividends or interest from
the domestic building and loan associations
operated exclusively for the purpose of making
loans to members, as does not exceed $300."
The Internal Revenue Commissioner con-
strues this to mean that income received
during the five years 192 1 to 1926 inclusive
by a member of a building and loan asso-
ciation is exempt to the extent of $300 per
year.
This provision is a result of the agitation
carried on for some years by the United
States League of Local Building and Loan
Associations representing more than 8,000
associations in the country, and is designed
to increase the funds available in these in-
stitutions for the making of loans to indi-
vidual homeseekers. Such loans last year, ,
according to United States League figures,
amounted to $700,000,000, although in most
sections of the country the demand for
small mortgage accommodations is far in
excess of the supply of money.
THE AMERICAN CITY
The Truths About Drinking Fountains
UNSAFE
No. 1. Vertical stream
which permits saliva and waste
water from the drinker's
mouth to fall back to source of
supply. No longer consid-
ered sanitary.
UNSAFE
No. 2. Modification of ver-
tical stream. This slight angle
is little if any improvement
over No. 1.
IMPRACTICAL
No. 3. More sanitary if
properly used. However,
stream is hose-like with no
definite drinking point. Dif-
ficult to drink from.
THE PERFECT DRINKING FOUNTAIN STREAM
WITH AUTOMATIC PRESSURE CONTROL
is produced by the famous PURITAN Cantonment "2-stream pro-
jector" illustrated in connection with our Puritan 605 Fountain.
This stream producing device was designed for, approved and adopted
by the Government during the
war. Now recognized as superior
by the largest interests and
schools in the country.
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES
Practical drinking stream!
Automatic stream control —
Stream is never too high. Never
too low.
CANTONMENT
Write for illustrated literature
Puritan No. 605 Vitreous China Wall
Fountain
THE HALSEY W. TAYLOR CO. - Warren, Ohio
8S
When writinsr to Advertisers please mention The American City.
627
An Ideal Fourth of July
By Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker
Chairman, Department of Citizenship, General Federation of Women's Clubs
THE General Federation of Women's
Clubs has undertaken to make a
direct contribution to American life
by transforming- July Fourth into a day
of consecration to the old ideals of honor,
patriotism and courage that have lived
always in the pages of our history — a
great Citizenship Day, for all classes of
Americans, those born on American soil as
well as those who have come from foreign
lands. Here is the plan:
Reawaken the dormant patriotism of the
native-born ; stimulate the newcomers to
pride and interest in the country of their
adoption by a reverent ob-
servance of the day.
Rally the forces of the
entire community to par-
ticipate in an outdoor
meeting at which all
young men and women
coming of age this year
and all foreign-born citi-
zens naturalized within
the last year shall be the
guests of honor.
Let a great processional
be one of the outstanding
features, the new citizens
leading, with civic and
patriotic organizations
following in distinct
groups, veterans of past
wars — especially of the
World War — being given
the places of honor after
the new citizens. Have no music that is
trivial, unfamiliar or unrelated to national
ideals. Secure as many bands as possible,
using foreign bands also.
Use the flags of America and of your
state in conspicuous places.
Arrange for a central reception place
where these new citizens will be formally
greeted and welcomed and where a brief
inspirational program can be given.
Select speakers of the highest standing
and ability, who are known to realize the
value of brevity. When the orator finishes,
the Chief Magistrate of the town or county
or state reads aloud the names of the new
citizens and administers to them the solemn
civic oath. He then charges the community
to see to it that they do everything in their
power both by example and by precept to
help the voter realize the honor and dign'ty
and responsibility of the privilege that is
now his. H we really place such an honor
upon the entrance into civic life, it will be
no idle dream to think that the day will
come when each young person on the eve
of casting his first vote will feel as d'd the
squire of old on the eve of knighthood.
Programs and other literature concern-
WELCOMING NEW CITIZENS, ATLANTA, GA., JULY 4, 1921
ing this matter may be had by writing the
General Federation Headquarters. Mary-
land Building, Washington, D. C. Last
summer some three hundred towns adopted
this plan. This year we fully expect three
thousand to observe July Fourth in fitting
manner. The President of the United
States has given his hearty approval to the
plan, and both the American Legion and
the Auxiliary have offered to help.
Will you not join forces with the General
Federation and assist in making July
Fourth the rnost solemn, the most uplifting
and beautiful day in our civic calendar.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Geedyear (SO Cushion Fire Truck Tin
On front wheels of heavy duty trucks,
or "all around" on lighter vehicles,
Goodyear SC Cushion Tires are ideal
equipment. They promote economy
in transporting heavy loads or in
hauling over unfavorable roads. The
ability of Goodyear SC Cushion Tires
Ctopyright 1922, by The Gondye^ TiTP & TITlDber Co.. Tno.
to serve long and well is the direct
result of the design, materials and
care used in their manufacture.
Goodyear makes other special tires
for other types of hauling — Goodyear
Cord Truck Tires and Goodyear All-
Weather Tread Solid Tires.
Single Jacket
Underwriters Fire Hose
The Underwriters' label on Goodyear Single
Jacket Fire Hose and Goodyear Monterey
Chemical Hose, means that the latter will re-
sist satisfactorily the biting, corrosive action
of chemicals and that both will withstand a
definite pressure per square inch. Goodyear 's
yearsof manufacturingexperiencehasenabled
the production of hose on a par with all other
Goodyear products— hose which will render
a denendable and economical service.
94
When writing to Advertiser; please mention The American City.
629
The City's Legal Rights and Duties
Information for City Attorneys and Other Municipal Officers, Summarizing
Important Court Decisions and Legislation
Conducted by A. L. H. Street, Attorney at Law
Ordinance Imposing License Taxes Against
Sellers of Used Automobiles Held Not
Unjustly Discriminatory
"Every person, firm or corporation en-
gaged in the business of selling, exchanging
or buying second-hand or used automobiles
or other motor vehicles for the purpose of
resale or exchange of same shall pay a
license [fee?] of $50 per quarter for each
such place maintained, provided, however,
that persons reselling used automobiles or
other motor vehicles taken in exchange or
part payment for new automobiles or other
motor vehicles shall pay a license [fee?] of
$25 per quarter,"
This section of an ordinance of the city
and county of San Francisco is upheld by
the California District Court of Appeal as
being a valid mea?ure, in the case of Hig-
gins, 195 Pacific Reporter, 740. Justifying
the distinction drawn between the two
classes of dealers in used cars, the Court
says, in part:
"It is a matter of common notoriety that the
theft, disguise, and resale of motor cars has
become so common as to tax the powers of the
police throughout the United States to recover
the stolen cars and to bring the criminals to
trial. It would be fatuous to assume that a
motor-car thief would very often pay the dif-
ference between the second-hand value of a used
car and the selling price of a new car. The
tendency of the thief would be to get money in
exchange for the stolen car from those in the
business of buying used cars for resale."
The Kansas Supreme Court Denies Validity
to Ordinances Which Arbitrarily Obstruct
Enjoyment of Private Property
In the case of Smith v. Hosford, 187 Pa-
cific Reporter, 685, the Kansas Supreme
Court not only annuls an ordinance pur-
porting to give municipal commissioners
arbitrary power to deny permission to con-
duct garages and automobile repair shops,
but questions the validity of any ordinance
which interferes with the enjoyment of pri-
vate property arbitrarily, capriciously, or
oppressively.
The ordinance under fire was one adopted
by the city of Kansas City, Kan., forbidding
issuance of licenses for "carrying on the
business of a garage or automobile repair
shop, unless the application for such license
be approved by the board of commis-
sioners."
The measure was successfully attacked
as failing to provide any general rules un-
der which licenses might be issued or denied,
and as permitting arbitrary denial of li-
censes.
The city attempted to support the ordi-
nance as valid exercise of the police power
to promote the health, comfort and safety
of citizens; admitting that a garage or re-
pair shop is not an inherent nuisance, but
contending that its location may be munici-
pally controlled to prevent its being so con-
ducted as to be ofifensive.
The Court does not contradict the city's
claim that before the courts can interfere
with the exercise of legislative power
granted to the city some abuse of such
power must appear. But it is said:
"The test laid down in City of Emporia v.
Railway Co., 94 Kan. 718, 719, 147 Pac. 1095,
1096, is this:
"The question is whether or not, considering
the entire situation and all the circumstances,
the action of the city so far fails to measure
up to the fair and just and reasonable as to
make it clear that such action is arbitrary,
capricious, unreasonable, and oppressive. * * *
"Of course, a garage is not a nuisance in
itself, but is becoming more and more necessary
and profitable, and is a legitimate and lucrative
means of making a living and adding to one's
capital. While, no doubt, a city may regulate
and look after the operation of this, as well as
other things, which, by an unlawful use may
become injurious, it cannot, without tyranny,
refuse a citizen to use his property in this way
when properly managed. And, by the same
token, it must be held that a city cannot author-
ize one or more of its oflRcers to prohibit such
THE AMERICAN CITY
Warren Pavements
have been laid
In Toronto, Ont.
Since 1904.
In Perth Amboy, N. J.
Since 1904.
In Portland, Ore.
Since 1904.
In El Paso, Texas
Since 1906.
In Honolulu, Hawaii
Since 1910.
Warrenite-Bitulithic Pavement
is making good
in every State in the Union,
in all kinds of climate,
and
under all sorts of conditions
BECAUSE
The Quality is unsurpassed
The Service is unequalled
The right materials, laid under ex-
pert supervision backed by thorough
laboratory service means a good road
to start with arid a good road for
years.
WARREN BROTHERS COMPANY
Executive Offices :
BOSTON, MASS.
District Offices:
Utica, N. Y.
Portland, Ore.
liTeW York, N. Y.
New Orleans, La.
Vancouver, B. C.
Chicago, 111.
St. Louis, Mo.
Toronto, Ont.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Winnipeg, Man.
Oakland, Cal.
Memhphis, Tenn.
Los Angeles, Cal.
Washington, D. C.
Minneapolis, Minn.
THE AUSTIN-WESTERN
LINE
''It Serves You Righf'
LJERE is a new symbol of serv-
*■ "^ ice to road builders, the guar-
antee and pledge of the oldest and
largest of road machinery companies
— a guarantee that every machine
in the A-W Line is of the best
material and v^orkmanship and will
give you absolute satisfaction, and
a pledge that real service goes with
each machine and stays with it dur-
ing all the years of its use.
Look over this list and then write
for General Catalog No. 21-G or
for special catalogs on the machines
in which you are particularly in-
terested.
AUSTIN
Motor Rollers
Steam Rollers
Rock Crushers
Reversible Graders
Elevating Graders
Road Scarifiers
Motor Sweepers
Street Sweepers
Street Sprinklers
Road Oilers
Dump Wagons
Culverts
WESTERN
Rock Crushers
Reversible Graders
Elevating Graders
Dump Wagons
Road Planers
Road Scarifiers
Road Drags
Wheeled Scrapers
Drag Scrapers
Road Plows
Ditchers and Back-Slopers
Screening Plants
THE AUSTIN - WESTERN ROAD
MACHINERY CO.
Home Office - CHICAGO
Branches, Warehouses and Service Stations
in 23 Cities.
95
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
631
Equal Benefit to All Abutting Property
Owners Is Noi Essential to the Validity
of a Local Assessment
Sustaining the validity of a street sprin-
kling assessment in the case of City of
Lafayette vs. Tanner, 89 Southern Reporter,
314, the Louisiana Suprerhe Court lately
observed :
"It is not essential to the validity of a local
assessment, or forced contribution, imposed for
street improvement, that all persons upon whom
the assessment is levied shall be equally bene-
fited. It is sufficient that the theory of special
benefit to the locality in which such an assess-
ment is levied shall be founded upon reason, and
that the apportionment of the assessment shall
have a reasonable foundation of fairness and
equality, and be not arbitrary or discriminating."
Keeping Minutes of Municipal Meetings —
Validity of Ordinance Suppressing Pool-
Rooms
Among other matters, the Illinois Su-
preme Court passes upon the sufficiency of
a municipal clerk's minutes of meetings and
upon the power of the Legislature to author-
ize suppression of public billiard- and pool-
rooms, in the case of Village of Atwood vs.
Otter, 129 Northeastern Reporter, 573. On
these points the Court says:
"This Court has held that the clerk of a
municipal authority is not required by the stat-
ute to prepare by his own hand or write out the
"findings or orders of the municipal authorities
in the record; that the essential thing is that a
record be kept by the clerk which shall show
accurately the record of the meeting, that is, it
is only necessary to show that the record is his
record and that the proofs show that it is in
accordance with the truth. Hepler vs. People,
supra ; People vs. Carr, 231 111: 502, 83 N. E.
,269. . . .
"The rule, as we understand it, is, that a
statute or ordinance which tends in some de-
gree towards the prevention of offenses or the
preservation of the public health, morals, safety,
or welfare is within tlie police power of the
state. There can be no question that pool-
rooms or the keeping and using of pool- and
billiard-tables in places of public resort may
tend in some degree towards a disturbance of
the public welfare. It is well known that such
rooms may become congregating-places for
idlers and loafers. As was said by the Supreme
Court of Nebraska in Morgan vs. State, 64
Neb. 369, 90 N. W. 108, a pool-hall in a village
is apt to degenerate into a trysting-place for
idlers and a nest for vice. Conceding, for the
purposes of the argument, that a pool-room is
not necessarily in itself a nuisance, the argu-
ment of counsel for appellants practically ad-
mits that it might become so because of its
tsurroundings. If a thing neither necessary nor
useful may or may not be a nuisance in itself,
depending upon local conditions and facts and
circumstances surrounding its use, the deter-
mination whether it is a nuisance or not rests
with the Legislature or the municipal author-
ities, and their finding is binding upon the
courts."
City May Adopt Daylight Saving When
Applied Only to Municipal Matters
The Ohio Supreme Court recognizes the
right of a city to adopt daylight saving
where no attempt to interfere in non-
municipal matters is involved.
An ordinance of the city of Cincinnati
provided that there should be submitted to
the electors of the city on April 27, 1920,
the question of establishing in the city from
2 o'clock A. M. of the last Sunday in April
to 2 o'clock A. M. of the last Sunday in
September a standard of time which should :_^
be that of the seventy-fifth meridian of s
longitude west from Greenwich. This ordi- 2
nance further provided that, if a majority p
of voters at the election voted in favor of fi
the ordinance, all municipal offices and legal
proceedings should be regulated by the time
at the seventy-fifth meridian west of Green-
wich. The election resulted in a favora\)le
vote for the ordinance.
It was contended that that ordinance was
invalid for the reason that it was contrary
to the statutes and constitution of Ohio.
The Supreme Court, in denying this con-
tention, says (State ex rel. Cist vs. City of
Cincinnati et al., 129 Northeastern Re-
porter, 595) :
"It is to be observed that by the provisions of
the ordinance enacted it is attempted only to
require that the purely municipal affairs of the
city shall be regulated by the standard of time
thus adopted. The mere statement of the pur-
pose and effect of the ordinance shows that it
has to do only with the details of local govern-
ment, and purports only to prescribe a standard
of time which shall apply to required acts of
any board or officer of the municipality.
"This is clearly authorized by the provisions
of section 3, art. 18, of the constitution (the
Home- Rule Amendment). The ordinance has
and can have application only to matters com-
ing within the express power thereby delegated
to, and conferred upon, the municipality. It
prescribes the standard of time in accordance
with which its own local offices and purely mu-
nicipal transactions shall be operated and regu-
lated. It must be conceded that the standard of
time prescribed by the law of the state governs
and controls as to all matters except those hav-
ing to do solely with local governmental action
and procedure."
THE AMERICAN CITY
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When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amertcan City.
633
Municipal and Civic Publications
Prices do not include postage unless so stated
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN CLEVELAND
Reports of the Cleveland Foundation survey of the
administration of criminal justice in Cleveland,
Ohio. Directed and edited by Roscoe Pound and
Felix Frankfurter. The Cleveland Foundation.
Cleveland, Ohio, 1922. XXVII + 729 pp. Illus-
trated. $3.75.
This survey, undertaken at the suggestion of the
Cleveland Bar Association, was conducted by a num-
ber of nationally known specialists. The substance of
the report includes: "Police Administration," by
Raymond Fosdick, author of "American Police Sys-
tems"; "Prosecution," by Alfred Bettman, formerly
City Solicitor of Cincinnati; "The Criminal Courts,"
by Reginald Heber Smith and Herbert B. Ehrmann,
both of the Boston Bar; "Correctional and Penal
Treatment," by Burdette G. Lewis, State Commis-
sioner of Institutions and Agencies in New Jersey;
"Medical Science and Criminal Justice," by Dr. Her-
man M. Adler, State Criminologist of Illinois; ''Legal
Education in Cleveland," by Albert M. Kales, of the
Chicago Bar, author of "Unpopular Go ernment in
the United States"; "Criminal Justice in the Amer-
ican City," by Roscoe Pound. The summary was writ-
ten by Dean Pound of the Harvard Law School. Among
the principal recommendations may be cited: a single
civilian police commissioner, in full charge of promo-
tion and discipline of the police force; greater use
of motor equipment and control; better organization
of the work of the prosecutors; consolidation of mu-
nicipal and county criminal courts; a plan whereby
a judge who is a candidate for reelection may run
without opposition; and the abolition of the coroner's
office. The surveyors found that the chief difficulties
concerning Cleveland arise from the fact that the
police and criminal systems were designed to fit small,
pioneer towns. Public officials who have to do with the
administration of criminal justice will find much that
will help them in the thorough analysis and summaries
of modern practice contained in these reports.
AMERICAN CEMETERY LAW
A. L. H. Street, of the Minnesota Bar. Park
and Cemetery, Madison, Wis. 1922. 532 pp.
$6.00.
A digest of the cemetery laws of all the states and
of the important court decisions. This volume is
divided into two parts, the first a general reference
section covering the legal status of cemeteries, liabili-
ties in the handling of bodies, cemetery funds, assess-
ments, the law on permits, perpetual upkeep, tax ex-
emption, and the law covering cemetery land. The
second part deals with the various state statutes and
the decisions arising under them. A valuable refer-
ence book for anyone connected with cemetery man-
agement.
ECONOMICS AND THE COMMUNITY
John A. Lapp. The Century Company, New York.
1922. XIV -f- 366 pp. Illustrated. $1.75.
A text-book intended to meet the needs of first-year
classes in high school, vocational school classes, and
continuation classes. The plan of instruction outlined
provides for preliminary gathering of local data for
each chapter, before beginning (he study of the text.
Questions and problems follow each chapter. Among the
subjects covered are consumption, production and dis-
tribution of goods, business organization, transpor-
tation, finance, labor problems, taxation, conservation
and social control. Well-chosen illustrations add to
the value oi this compact and timely book.
CITY PLAN FOR EAST ORANGE, N. J.
A quarto pamphlet of 80 pages prepared by the
City Plan Commission of East Orange. The Tech-
nical Advisory Corporation, consulting engineers, New
York, assisted in the preparation of the comprehensive
plan, the final report on which was recorded by the
Ccmmission last November. This publication is an
abridged reproduction of the report and covers all
the arious phases of such a thorough study. It is
adequately illustrated with maps and drawings. A
number of methods new in city planning were applied
by the city engineers to the collection, analysis and
presentation of data and to the actual solutions of the
problems involved. (Apply to Charles A. Heiss, Sec-
retary of the Commission.)
THE RURAL COMMUNITY
Llewellyn MacGarr, M. A. The Macmillan Com-
pany, New York. 1922. XV + 239 pp. Illus-
trated. $1.80.
Chamber of commerce secretaries, farm bureau man-
agers, executives, teachers, preachers and leaders in
country life improvement, will find in this compact
volume a stimulating guide. It discusses briefly the stra-
tegic importance of agricultural life, contrasts between
rural and urban districts, the survey and its adapta-
tion to rural communities, their chief characteristics,
the problem of the socially defective, district schools,
the rural secondary school, the constructive economic
and social forces in farm life. Study questions and
numerous illustrations and copious references at the end
of each chapter add greatly to the alue of the book.
CIVIC SCIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
CIVIC SCIENCE IN THE HOME
George W. Hunter, Ph.D., and Walter G. Whitman,
A. M. American Book Company, New York. 1922.
430 and 416 pp. Illustrated. Each $1.40.
These two text-books are frankly designed to take
into account the view-point of the child. The illus-
trations are chosen to interest him. The first discusses
the ideal community, the effect of climate upon it,
the relation of water to power, food production, for-
ests and community health, the organization of a city
government, how the city obtains its food, how diseases
are spread and how to fight them, waste disposal, street
lighting, safeguarding of life and property, good roads,
transportation, and aeronautics. The other volume,
"Civic Science in the Home," covers a similar series
of subjects dealing with the home as a small com-
munity.
THE EMPIRE MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY AND YEAR
BOOK, 1922-1923
Sanitary Publishing Company, Ltd., 8 Breams
Building, London, E. C. 4. 305 pp. and Diary
pp. for the years 1922 and 1923. Price lOs. 6d.
This volume claims to be the most comprehensive
municipal directory published, containing a complete
list of all the corporations, county, urban and rural
district councils in the British Empire, with the names
of all officials. The directory contains up-to-date ar-
ticles written by specialists on road construction and
maintenance, building construction, street lighting,
motor vehicles, water-supply, sewerage and sewage dis-
posal, sanitation and waste utilization. It also contains a
list of the municipal engineering, public health and
scientific societies, and a bibliography of municipal and
public health literature.
THE SCIENCE OF PURCHASING
Helen Hysell. Introduction by J. George Fred-
erick. D. Appleton & Company, New York. 1922.
XI + 261 pp. Illustrated. $2.50.
A handbook on the science of purchasing according
to the most up-to-date practice. The book opens with
a discussion of the personal qualities necessary for
successful purchase management. Then follows a dis-
cussion of plans and resources, source of supply, prin-
ciples and quality, and the attitude which should be
taken toward salesmen. Cooperation and coordina-
tion between executives, standardization, analysis of
market conditions, and the legal side of contracts, are
each covered in complete chapters. The ethical side
of purchasing, the organization of the purchasing de-
partment, and its method of operation are fully dis-
cussed, and records and forms are included. Altogether,
it should prove of practical value to purchasing agents
and those who wish to study the profession.
WATER-SUPPLIES IN MASSACHUSETTS
"Report of the Joint Board consisting of the State
Department of Public Health and the Metropolitan
District Commission Relative to Water Supply Needs
and Resources of the Commonwealth." January, 1922.
House Publication No. 1550 of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. 284 pp. Maps, plans, diagrams. (Apply
to X. H. Goodnough, chief engineer. State Department
of Health, Room 141, State House, Boston, Mass.
THE AMERICAN CITY
detracts Utility Is
Almost Unlimited
/^^ITIES owning Cletracs find that these
^^ compact, powerful crawler-type tractors
are able to handle an almost unlimited variety
of jobs. In the parks, on the boulevards,
grading, rolling, mowing, pulling street sprink-
lers, pushing snow plows, summer and winter,
Cletrac does all the work of several horses and
much that horses could never do. Remember,
Cletrac's operating and upkeep expense is so
low and its range of usefulness so great — that
Cletrac will show a saving over other power
or horses every time.
When the work around town is done, Cletrac helps pay
for itself by taking over all kinds of road-building and
maintaining jobs in the surrounding country.
If you are interested in cutting down your city expen-
ditures— write us. We will gladly supply you with a list of
towns and cities already using Cletracs as regular equipment.
From them you can learn all about the saving which
Cletrac performance has brought.
The Cleveland Tractor Co.
Largest Producers of Craivler Tractors in the World
19205 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
EASY ON A TRACK
THE CLETRAC WAY
97 When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
June, 1922
THE AMERICAN CITY
63s
ZONING PATERSON, N. J.
'"Zoning: The First Step in Planning Paterson."
Final report of the Commission on Building Districts
and Restrictions, Paterson, N. J. By Herbert S. Swan,
consultant. Plan adopted November 29, 1921. 54
pp. Maps and diagrams. Large building zone map
enclosed in envelope. Explaining the plan under the
following chapter heads: Necessity for Planning;
Building Lines; Location of Accessory Buildings in
Residence Zones; Families per Acre; Non-Conforming
Uses ; Board of Zoning Appeals ; Amendments. Giving
in full the building zone ordinance. (Apply to John
J. O'Rourke, secretary. Commission on Building Dis-
tricts and Restrictions.)
THE HEALTH OF PORTLAND, ORE.
"Public Health Methods and Their Application in
Portland." A preliminary study by the Public Health
Bureau of the City Club of Portland. February. 1922.
40 pp. Approved by the Board of Governors, but not
officially adopted by the club before being published.
Presenting facts on the organization, administration
and activities of the Bureau of Health, and on Port-
land's water-supply, sewage and garbage disposal,
housing, port inspection, industrial hygenic, maternal
and infant welfare, school inspection, treatment of
tuberculosis and venereal diseases, and out-patient
clinics. Recommendations for further health research
work by the City Club are included. (Apply to Dr.
N. E. Wayson, Chairman of the Bureau.)
RECREATION TRAINING
Announcements for 1922-23 of the Recreation Train-
ing School of Chicago, the successor of the Recrea-
tion Department of the Chicago School of Civics and
Philanthropy, 800 South Halsted Street, Chicago. (Hull
House.) 32 pp. (Apply to the school.)
IVCUNICIPAL RESEARCH IN TORONTO
Eighth Annual Report of the Toronto Bureau of
Municipal Research for the year ending February 28,
1922. The Bureau is financed through direct appeal
to public-spirited citizens. (Apply to John Mac-
Donald, President of the Bureau, 189 Church Street,
Toronto, Ont.)
FUN FOR EVERT ONE
■'A Pocket Encyclopedia of Good Times." Sugges-
tive social and recreational programs for community
groups. Published ty Community Service, 815 Fourth
Avenue, New York, N. Y. April, 1922. Price 50 cents.
Convenient handbook size. 112 pp. Fun for family
and neighborhood parties, for separate groups of boys
and girls, men, women, and young men and women,
in rural districts, towns and cities, readily adapted
for use in schools, church parlors, town halls and all
kinds of community gatherings. (Apply to publishers.)
GOOD ROADS
Official Proceedings of the Twelfth American Good
Roads Congress, Nineteenth Convention and Annual
Business Meeting of the American Road Builders' As-
sociation, held at Chicago January 17-20, 1922, and at
New York November 15, 1921, respectively. Officers'
reports and list of exhibitors at the Thirteenth National
Good Roads Show. Edited by Clifford Spurrier Lee.
XXIV -f 273 pp. Illustrated. Price, $3. (Apply to the
Association, 11 Waverly Place, New York, N. Y.)
KANSAS TAX RATES
•'City Tax Rate Bulletin for 1921." A compilation
of the city, school and county tax rates effective for
511 cities in Kansas, together with their population,
assessed valuation and bonded indebtedness. Bulletin
No. 31, compiled by the Municipal Reference Bureau,
University Extension Division. University of Kansas,
Lawrence, Kans. April 1, 1922. Price 25 cents. Pub-
lished by League of Kansas Municipalities, Lawrence,
Kans. Reprinted from Kansas Municipalities, April.
1922. 28 pp. (Apply to John G. Stutz, secretary of
the League.)
MINNESOTA CITY CHARTERS
"City Charter Making in Minnesota," by William
Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science
and director of the Bureau of Research in Govern-
ment of the University of Minnesota. Bureau Publica-
tioi. No. 1, 1922. 198 pp. Diagrams. Explaining with
careful detail how city government has developed in
Minnesota, analyzing its present forms, and showing
how far the power of the State Legislature goes in
municipal affairs. The principles and problems of char-
ter making are dealt with, and a separate chapter on
the making and amending of home rule charters is
given. A model charter designed primarily for cities
having less than 20,000 is given. There is also a bib-
liography of the subject, and the book is fully indexed.
Price $i.00. (Apply to the University of Minnesota,
MinneapoliR, Minn.
TREES FOR TOWN AND CITY STREETS
This bulletin describes the principal trees that are
used for street planting in the United States. A con-
tribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Washing-
ton, D. C. Issued March, 1922, as Farmers' Bulletin
1208 of the United States Departmeni of Agriculture.
A very valuable pamphlet of 44 pages describing and
illustrating with many views the kinds of trees suited
to different types of streets and to different regions.
Attractive, interesting and authoritative, and an im-
portant aid to city foresters and park superintendents.
(Apply to the Government Printing Office, Washington,
O. C.)
CITY NOISE
"Health Problems Involved in Noise and Fatigue,"
by Prof Henry J. Spooner, M. I. Mech. E., member
of the International Committee on Industrial Fatigue,
London, England. Reprinted from The Nation's Health,
February and March, 1922. Quarto. ^j pp. "The
correction of badly balanced machinery and the ob-
viating in civil and industrial life the maddening, mean-
ingless fanfare of sounds that sap our nervous reserves
becomes an urgent engineering problem, international
in scope." (Apply to The Modern Hospital Publish-
ing Co., Chicago, 111.)
NEW JERSEY WATER-SUPPLIES
"Report on Water Resources of the State and Their
Development," made by Hazen, Whipple & Puller, Civil
Engineers, to the Board of Conservation and Develop-
ment, Trenton, N. J. 76 pp. Maps and tables. Clos-
ing with a suggested plan of procedure for providing
water enough to supply a district in which there are
now thirty-three separate systems of water-supply —
a plan involving the creating of public interest ana
the securing of cooperation to carry out this great
project. (Apply to the Board.)
HOTELS
American Travel and Hotel Directory, published an-
nually by American Travel and Hotel Directory Co
Inc., Baltimore, Md. XXXII -f 2,010 pp. Many illus-
trations. Map of South America, showing principal
cities and railways. Not only listing hotels, with the
usual details, but reporting historical and geographical
details of the various sections of North and South
America. Leading restaurants and commissary supply
houses are also listed. Price |10. (Apply to publish-
ers.)
THE LINCOLN HIGHV/AY
•A Brief Account of the Eighth Year of Progress on
the Lincoln Highway — 1921." Published January
1922. 24 12x9 pp. Illustrated. (Apply to the
National Headquarters, The Lincoln Highway Associa-
tion, Detroit, Mich.)
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OREGON
"Budget Facts and Financial Statistics of Multnomah
County (Portland), Oregon, for 1922." 1921 Annual
Report of the Tax Supervising and Conservation Com-
mission of Multnomah County. 92 pp. Many tables
and diagrams. (Apply to C. C. Ludwig, executive sec-
retary, 101 Court House, Portland, Ore.)
PENSIONS IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
A report, under this title, of the Pension Com-
mittee of the National Municipal League. Prepared by
Paul Studensky, director of the Bureau of State Re-
search of the New Jersey State Chamber of Com-
merce. From the National Municipal Review, April
1922. 30 pp. Covering the following divisions of the
subject: Main Defects of Existing Systems; Prelim-
inaries of a Sound System; Financial Structures; Ben-
efits; Establishment, Administration and Membership;
Treatment of Unsound Systems ; Sound Systems in
Operation; Sound Pension Bills About to Become Laws
Including four actuarial tables and a brief bibliography.
(Apply to the National Municipal League, 261 Broad-
way, New York, N. Y.)
WHERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT ZONING
A "Selected Bibliography of Zoning." 16 mimeo-
graphed pages, containing critical references to the
most important articles on the subject, from periodicals
and books. Special sections are devoted to the argu-
ments for and against zoning, to the legal aspects of
zoning, and to such technical matters as tho relation
of city planning to zoning, the different types of dis-
tricts, and agencies and administration for zoning.
(Apply to Division of Building and Housing, Depart-
ment of Commerce, Washington, D. C.)
TAXATION IN CLEVEI^AND
"A Letter to East Cleveland Citizens from City
Manager C. M. Osborn, Setting Forth the Amount and
Distribution of Your East Cleveland Taxes for 1922 and
a Special Bulletin announcing a $78,000.00 Cash
Balance at the close of the year 1921." 4 pp. With
"Tax Dollar Diagram." (Apply to the City Manager )
TRINIDAD
Boston
THE AMERICAN CITY
in
[Arlingrton Street, Boston,
paved with Trinidad Lake
Asphalt in 1901, and still in
splendid condition.
Quality streets demand
a quality paving
And that's why Ariington Street, Boston — as most of the world's
finest thorofares — is surfaced with Trinidad Lake Asphalt Paving,
Attractive — resilient — noiseless — TRINIDAD streets are also long-
lasting and remarkably low in maintenance cost. Thirty or more
years' service — at less than a cent per square yard per year for
maintenance — is common record.
Trinidad Lake Asphalt is a native bitumen — storm-beaten and sun-
cured in the tropics for Ages. It resists heat, cold, water and wear
to a greater degree than any other bituminous product known.
More than four million tons of this remarkable material have been
used in street and road building since 1879 — enough to surface a road-
way, eighteen feet wide, extending around the entire world!
Trinidad Lake Asphalt is also the foundation for numerous products
included in the famous Genasco Line. Write for illustrated folders.
Tbe Ctonasco Line
includes asphaltic
roofing, flooring,
paints and allied
protective products.
Write for descriptive
matter.
New York
Chicago
Pittsburgh
THE BARBER ASPHALT
PHI1.ADEI.PHIA
St. Looii
Kansaa City
Atlanta
San Franciflco
TRINIDAD As^H^V
•8
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
637
Methods, Materials and Appliances
News for City and County Engineers, City Managers, Water- Works Super-
intendents, City Controllers, Park Superintendents, Purchasing Agents, and
Others Interested in the Economical Construction and Efficient Operation of
Public Improvement Undertakings
A Stone Unloader for
Trucks and Cars
Most contractors have experienced the dif-
ficuhies of unloading stone by hand from rail-
road cars onto trucks or wagons for delivery
to the job. The Burch Plow Works Company,
104 Bucyrus Street, Crestline, Ohio, manufac-
tures a stone unloader which handles any size
of stone used for road construction and saves
the labor of from three to ten men. It is
simple in construction, easy to install and op-
erate, and greatly speeds up the work. Through
the feed doors of the platform onto which
the stone is dumped, the stone falls upon a con-
tinuous belt, which conveys it to the wagon
or truck bed. This belt is of the regular
conveyor type, 16 inches wide, 4-ply, 5^-inch
rubber-top covered, and made especiallj' to in-
sure maximum toughness, strength and dura-
bility. The conveyor belt, running at a speed
of 225 feet per minute, delivers stone to the
wagon at a rate of i cubic yard every 60 sec-
onds. The feed platform upon which the
stone falls from the car is fitted with three
movable feed doors that are opened or closed
by means of three easily accessible levers. Thus
the feed is controlled and regulated, and be-
cause of the convenient manner of locating the
machine and the accessibility of the feed levers,
one man can easily handle this part of the
work.
The machine is so constructed that the ele-
vator can be set at an angle of 26 degrees.
Thus, when the wagon stands on level ground,
the upper end of the elevator is 7^ feet from
the ground ,and the wagon or truck is only 20
feet from the track. The machine is guaranteed
to carry stone at an elevation of as much as
29 degrees, making it possible to raise the
delivery end of the elevator higher than 7)^
feet if necessary. A clutch provided at the
delivery end of the elevator and within reach
from the wagon enables one man to handle
that end of the job.
Special Paints for Marking
Traffic Lines
Many of the cities that maintain safety zones
at street crossings or where street cars stop,
indicate them by white strips painted on the
pavement. To keep these strips in such condi-
tion that they are readily recognized by vehicu-
lar traffic, a paint of heavy base and good
wearing qualities must be used. The Hoosier
Paint Works, Fort Wayne, Ind., claims to
make a long-wearing paint. In a number of
instances, lines made with this paint have lasted
from three to seven months, depending on the
amount of heavy traffic which passes over them.
The paint can be applied with a brush or a
marking machine, and dries quickly.
Technical Publicity Company
The Technical Publicity Company, Bissell &
Land, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., has removed its
office to Suite 609-611, 337-339 Second Avenue,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
LOADING GRAVEL FBOM FREIQHT-CAB TO TB.X7CK
THE AMERICAN CITY
Wi-i^7'
for power, speed, economy
Preparing streets for repaving, breaking up old pavements, making new
thoroughfares, all require an abvmdance of steady, dependable power.
Scarifiers, plows, drills, levelers, scrapers, graders, etc., do their best
work, and more of it, when propelled by good tractors. This is because
the tractor has the reserve power to keep the tool moving constantly
at proper speeds and with proper adjustments for maximum results.
Tractors like the BEST concentrate the pulling power of a large
number of animals within a small unit which is easy to manage, easy
to maneuver, and which has none of the weaknesses of the flesh.
Best Tractors are famous for stamina, power and dependability, and
their cost for up-keep and operation "is small. That is why they are
being adopted more and more by municipal, county and state officials
for road and street making and maintenance.
Let us send you further details on the use of tractors for road and street
work. Write for catalogs, prices and names of our nearest dealers.
C.L.BEST TRACTOR CO.
SAN LEANDRO - CALIFORNIA
There are three models of Best Tractors — the "Sixty," the " Thirty"
and the "Cruiser" ((JO). All are factory-built — not assembled.
'S^I^M
m
mm
i^iif0"rl^i^
"Sixty"
"Thirty"
Cruiser"
99
When writing to Advertisers please mention The Amekican Crry.
June, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
639
BSDUCES THE NOISE FROM TELEPHONING
Make Telephone Conversation
Private
One of the annoyances of using a telephone
in an office is that any conversation is practical-
ly public. The Hush-A-Phone Corporation, 41
Union Square. New York City, has brought
out a device for attaching to the transmitter
of the telephone which promotes privacy, ex-
cludes outside noises from the wire, thereby
improving transmission, and prevents telephon-
ing from distracting office associates and work-
ers, with resultant efficiency. It is claimed
that this device is equal to, and in many respects
superior to, a booth. Its convenience on the
desk appeals to busy officials, and its use is
increasing in those instances where telephone
efficiency is recognized as of prime importance
in transmitting business.
Cletrac Makers Expand
The Cleveland Tractor Company, Cleveland,
Ohio, manufacturer of the Cletrac, a medium-
weight tractor, is to be reorganized as the
Allyne-Zeder Motors Company, to manufacture
and market the new six-cylinder car which is
being designed by F. M. Zeder, formerly chief
engineer of the Willys Corporation and the
Studebaker Corporation. The reorganization
will be brought about by adding approximately
$5,000,000 of new capital to the present assets
of the Cleveland Tractor Company, resulting
in a corporation with a capital of $10,000,000
of preferred stock and 200,000 shares of no par
common stock.
A new corporation, subsidiary to the Allync-
Zeder Motors Company, will be organized un-
der the name of The Cleveland Tractor Com-
pany and will continue the marketing of
Cletracs through its present distributors and
dealers. A new i-ton truck, embodying ad-
va:iced details in designs, engineered by RoUin
If. White, will be added to the Cletrac line
in the near future. The reorganization plan is
practically ready to submit to the stockholders
of the Cleveland Tractor Company, and the
cooperation of several of the larger stock-
l.olders practically assures its adoption.
E. E. Allyne, second largest stockholder in
the tractor company, whose name is included in
that of the new company, is a director of the
.Aluminum Manufacturers, Inc. : Rollin H.
White, President of the Cleveland Tractor
Company and a director of the Aluminum
Manufacturers, Inc., will be President of the
new corporation. Other officers will be : R.
T. Hodgkins, General Sales Manager of the
Cleveland Tractor Company, Vice-President ;
A. F. Knobloch, Works Manager of the
Cleveland Tractor Company, Vice-President
.uid Works Manager ; F. M. Zeder, Vice-
President and Chief Engineer : C. D. Fleming.
of the Cleveland Tractor Company, Treasurer :
F. D. Wilson, formerly Sales Manager of the
Willys Corporation, General Motor Car Sales
Manager; O. R. Skelton, formerly in the
engineering departments of the Willys and
.Studebaker Corporations and the Packard
Company, Assistant Chief Engineer ; Carl
Rreer, formerly in the engineering departments
of the Willys and Studebaker Corporations.
\ssistant Chief Engineer; J. O. Hahn, for-
merly branch manager in several cities for the
Studebaker Corporation, also will be associated
with the company.
The Cleveland Tractor Company is an Ohio
corporation with a capital of $6,000,000. It
owns a large plant in Cleveland, where Qetracs
have been turned out for more than five years.
Its tractors are being used in 65 countries
throughout the world, and present plant facil-
ities and shop organization will make it pos-
sible to proceed with the manufacture of the
new Zeder with a comparatively small expendi-
ture and without impairing the production pro-
gram on tractors and trucks. The productive
capacity of the factory will be 50 automobiles
and 50 tractors a day. To provide for this in-
creased space, an expenditure of about
$1,250,000 will be necessary.
American-LaFrance Moves
New York Offices
The American-LaFrance Fire Engine Com-
pany, Inc., Elmira, N. Y., on May 1 moved
the offices of this company and of S. F. Hay-
ward & Company, its subsidiary, from their
location at 250 West 54th Street to the new
Fisk Building on 57th Street between Broad-
way and Seventh Avenue, New York City.
The new offices will take up most of the twenty-
second floor, affording ample facilities for the
growing activities of these two concerns.
The new suite contains private offices for
fames Rus.sell Clarke, president of the Amer-
ican-LaFrance Fire Engine Company, and new
f|uarters for the representatives of the' Ap-
paratus Sales department. R. D. Hazard,
Clarence D. Stewart, O. F. Beutell, and
THE AMERICAN CITY
^x^'
Bituminous Distributors
Like the motor truck itself, the problems surrounding the develop-
ment of Bituminous Distributors have been varied and complex. The
economic success of both units depends upon three fundamentals:
simplicity of construction
quality of materials used
and built-in safety factors.
The combination of a Mack chassis and a Chas. Hvass bituminous
distributor has proved its great economic value over a long period
and is well known by contracting road builders, city and state
engineers throughout the country.
The Hvass Distributor is oflfered in three standard types that meet
every conceivable requirement of highway dressing and mainten-
ance with bituminous material : —
Heavy Bituminous Distributor
Mechanically Driven Air Com-
pressor and Fuel Oil Burner
Light Bituminous Distributor
♦ ♦ ♦
^'Bulletin 17" gives detailed descriptions of these pieces of apparatus and outlines
their many operating advantages. A copy will be sent upon request. Write today.
INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, 25 Broadway, New York
Heavy Bituminous Distributor
Centrifugal Pump and Fuel
Oil Burner
kk
Branches owned by this company
operate under the titles of: "MACK
MOTOR TRUCK COMPANY" and
"MACK - INTERNATIONAL MO-
TOR TRUCK CORPORATION."
PERFORM
Capacities: V/z to T'/a tons.
Tractors to 15 tons.
COUNTS"
1«0
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
June, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
641
George E. Merely. The Sundry Sales De-
partment under Hugh Logan, manager, and
R. C. Engels, New York branch manager, has
also been provided with larger offices and
better facilities for service.
Facilities for show purposes and service
have been arranged for by securing a large
and well-equipped garage with a floor space
of 12,000 square feet, located a few blocks
west at 615 West 57th Street. The service
work will be in charge of Fred Flosdorf, de-
livery engineer, who, for the past several years,
has been in charge of this work at the old
office.
An Asphalt Material for Road
Repair
A specially prepared asphalt for repairing
jf)ints and cracks in concrete roads and for
general repair work in filling depressions, ruts
or openings which have been made in the road-
way has been brought out under the name
■'Road Solder" by the Waring-Underwopd
Company, Fernwood, Pa. It is claimed that
this material has greater adhesive qualities than
ordinary tar or asphalt and has a body which
allows it to withstand the wear and tear of
traffic. A slight amount of additional skill
or care is required in handling Road Solder,
but it is claimed that the results obtained justi-
fy this extra labor cost. In the long run, it
is believed, the initial labor cost is less than the
continued cost of repairs when made with light-
bodied bituminous materials.
In view of the fact that the ordinary cracks
or joints in any one section of a road require
a relatively small amount of filling material,
equipment which is quite small is ample. The
use of a compact outfit will allow even one man
to operate to full efficiency, and the useless
heating and wasting of excess materials will
be avoided. The outfit used should have a
heating capacity just as little as possible in
i^xcess of the amount of material required for
one continuous joint or transverse crack. The
repairing material can be melted while the
crack or joint is being cleaned out, and after
filling the joint or crack the outfit can be
easily moved to the next operation. Such .i
procedure will more readily give assurance
that each joint or crack has been properly
repaired. The following portable outfit, which
costs between $45 and $60, can be carried in a
s 'de-car motor-cycle or light automobile :
1 plumber's torcli 1 hatchet
* % -gallon ladles 1 point chisel
1 bale hook 1 1 ^-inch brick chisel
1 8-gallon gasoline can 1 machinist's 2 -pound
1 street broom hammer
1 plumber's furnace 1 or more drums Road
1 sand shaker Solder (90 pounds
1 wire brush each)
The joint or crack should be chiseled out to
a depth of at least one inch and brushed clean
with a stiff wire or heavy bristle brush. If a
plumber's torch is included in the outfit, it is
advisable to use the torch along the joint space
to dry out moisture and partially warm up the
concrete. The Road Solder, heated to about
400 degrees Fahrenheit, is then poured into the
joint space from a small ladle or dipper having
a rather narrow lip and holding about V^-gallon
or 6 pounds. This small pouring ladle will
allow material to be freely and accurately
poured without waste. The consistency of the
material is such that it will remain at a some-
what higher level than the surface of the con-
crete and will be gradually compressed by the
traffic to an even surface. Dust from the road
surface should be brushed over the repaired
joint or crack. This dust will adhere to the re-
pairing material and cause it to become a gray-
ish or slate color and, as it will not bleed under
the action of, the sun, the repaired joints and
cracks will be less noticeable than if made
with other materials. It is claimed that repairs
made with this material, when properly em-
ployed, should not require further attention for
at least two years.
Is Water-Main Cleaning Effective?
Within the last five or six years, a large
number of cities have contracted with the
National Water Main Cleaning Company, Hud-
son Terminal Building, New York City, to
remove incrustations, tubercles and deposits
from water-mains of all sizes by the National
method. This method consists in opening up
two points of a main, one point where the
machine can be inserted and another where the
material removed from the interior of the
main is permitted to escape after it has been
cut oflf by the machine and forced ahead by
water. A survey of a number of cities which
have had their mains cleaned has resulted in
an interesting collection of data regarding the
effectiveness of water-main cleaning, which is
summarized in the following brief paragraphs:
In 1916 and 19 17. the water-mains of the
Rloomsburg Water Company, Bloomsburg, Pa.,
were cleaned. Under date of March 31, 1922,
this company states that although there has
been no further inspection made for the results
of the water-main cleaning, no diminution of
flow has been noted since the cleaning nor have
any unfavorable aspects in the area cleaned
seemed to require investigation.
The mains of the Stroudsburg Water Supply
Company, Stroudsburg. Pa., were cleaned in
T912, at which time an amazing quantity of
barnacles was removed. It was considered at
that time by the company that the cleaning
was as valuable as the laying of new lines
would have been, and after ten years there has
been no change of opinion.
Mains were cleaned in Salt Lake City be-
tween T9T3 and 1017. It has not been neces-
sary to open up these mains to full capacity,
so that specific information regarding their
phvsical condition is not available. However,
the Superintendent of Water Works, W. K.
Burton, states that as soon as funds will per-
mit he expects to have more lines cleaned.
The mains of Altoona. Pa., were cleaned in
T9T4. Pres.sure tests o-i the fire hvdrants on
these mains have .shown no decrease since that
time.
In TOT 5 the mains in Rrnddock. Pa., were
cleaned. The engineer in charge stated that
THE AMERICAN CITY
Packard
Trucks
Save
Money
<:r::^;^'CH ^
It is perfectly plain that the Packard Truck
never could have attained outstanding leader-
ship were it not a sound, saving investment,
from every viewpoint of truck operation.
The comparatively low purchase price of
Packard Trucks— generally lower than
prices of other trucks of comparable quuU
ity — adds great emphasis to Packard value.
The seasoned and stable organization building
the Packard Truck will continue to advance
and fortify still further its leadership and its
reputation for low^er-cost haulage.
Packard Trucks range in capacity from 2 tons,
to 7/2 tons; and in price from $3,100 to $4,S00
PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, DETROIT
Packard Service
In 585 Cities and towns
througiiout the United
States, Packard Truck
Service stations give own-
ers higiily skilled service
at a reasonable cost. Pack-
ard Truck costs, always
low because sound, Pack-
ard construction mini-
mizes need of repair, are
held still lower by this
expert, broadcast service.
PACKARD TRUCKS
1*1
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
Junk, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
643
they had no necessity to take up any of the
pipe cleaned in this operation, but, as it is
on a rising main and the friction head in the
main nearly constant, they do not beheve there
has been much incrustation since the cleaning.
The water, prior to the cleaning, was untreated,
but since that has been treated with lime to
neutralize the acidity, which may be a reason
that deposits do not occur.
The Town Clerk of Sackville, New Bruns-
wick, reports that their mains were cleaned
in 1918 and that, although there has been no
occasion to open up the lines since that time,
they feel that the system was greatly benefited
and that they are still enjoying the beneficial
results of the work.
The mains cleaned in the village of Briar-
cliflf Manor, N.Y., in '1913, are reported to be
in excellent condition, and from general usage
there is no evidence of reduced pressure which
would be caused by the pipes' being again in
a scaled condition.
The Water and Light Department of Ottawa,
Kans., reports that the mains which were
cleaned in that city were those used for de-
livering the water from the river to the main
pumping' s1;ation about three-quarters of a
mile apart. There has been no decrease in the
flow sufficient to indicate any serious obstruc-
tion since the cleaning.
In 19 14 several miles of 6-inch main were
cleaned in Durham, N.C. These mains had
been in use supplying a cotton mill and the
village since 1886. The efficiency of the main
was doubled by the cleaning, and notwithstand-
ing the growth of the community, the mains
are still giving very satisfactory service.
A System of Traffic Signa'ing
The subject of traffic regulation in our con-
gested city streets is one of ever-increasing
importance and is constantly being given more
thought and study. The result of this study
on the part of engineers of the Federal Signal
Company, Albany, N. Y., shows that traffic
signals should be consistent in their indica-
tions, that is, the indications given by day
.should be the same as those given by night,
conveying information to traffic in the same
manner at all times when the signal is in
operation. The "Go" indication for a certain
direction of traffic should be given at all cross-
ings in a particular zone at the same time,
thus greatly facilitating the movement of traffic.
Studies of this method of control show an
enormous increase in the amount of traffic that
can be handled past a given point in a given
time.
The Federal Signal Company's traffic sFgnal
system claims to accomplish this by means of
colored lights. The signal itself consists of a
box-shaped head having two compartments,
provided on all sides with suitable colored
lenses. The lenses are shaded from the
rays of the sun by hoods. The head
is of such size that an electric bulb,
having a concentrated filament, is located
in a compartment at the focal point
of the four lenses. This arrangement gives a
positive indication in four directions that is
visible under the most adverse sunlight con-
ditions, as well as at night, so that when a
"Go" signal is given for east and west, a
"Stop'' signal is given for north and south,
and vice versa. The colors used should be
standardized so that the same indication will
convey the same meaning in all locations wher-
ever used.
To allow moving traffic to clear the cross-
ing, and to prepare waiting traffic to move, a
transition signal indication is given by using
a yellow Fresnel lens, which shows an elongated
yellow light in all directions for a predeter-
mined length of time. A red Fresnel lens may
also be used for this purpose, but yellow is
recommended. The head may be supported by
brackets attached to poles at the corner of the
sidewalk, on a pedestal in the center of the
crossing or suspended over the center of the
crossing. The height and exact location of the
signals should be determined by local conditions
of clearance and other factors.
It has been found that traffic can be ex-
pedited by so arranging the control of the
traffic signals that traffic in a particular zone
will all move in a certain direction at one time
for a predetermined period and then be brought
to a stop and traffic in the cross direction
moved. To accomplish this method of control,
the Federal Signal Company has an automatic
control device which may be located at any
point desired. This device controls all the
traffic signals in a particular zone and is so
designed that the time intervals for "Go" in-
dications may be adjusted to suit the traffic
requirements in the control zone. The time
intervals can have a range of from 30 seconds
to 2 minutes for the "Go" indication and
from 5 to 12 seconds for the transition indi-
cation. The change in the time interval is
readily made on the automatic control device,
and the change can be accomplished without
interruption to the operation of the signals.
In addition to the automatic control, a me-
chanical control is provided for the signals at
each crossing, thus permitting the operation
of the signal at every crossing by a traffic
officer, if for any reason such operation is
found desirable. This manual operation does
not affect the automatic operation of any of
the other signals. At each crossing there is pro-
vided a single-stroke gong which rings when
the signal indication changes, and calls the
attention of the public and the traffic officer to
the change.
Bi -Lateral Moves Offices
Clay Baird, President, Bi-Lateral Fire Hose
Company, Chicago, 111., has just announced that
the offices of this company have been moved
from ;i26 West Madison Street to 9 South
Clinton street, Chicago, 111-
Shepherd and Hovey Join Forces
C. H. Shepherd and S. S. Hovey have an-
nounced the organization of Shepherd &
Hovey, consulting engineers, with offices at 53
West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 111.
THE AMERICAN CITY
Crenei^l Motoi^liiicksi
One Ton GMC Used by Detroit Police Department
Particularly Suited for the Pick-Up Work of
Detroit Police Department
A variety of hauling is given to the one ton
GMC truck that is used by the Detroit
police department in connection with its
motorized patrol system. This sturdy
truck, a successor to the famous Model 16
that was adopted as standard by the United
States army, is used particularly for rush
deliveries of various kinds within the
department.
Used by Many Cities
Some of the other city departments in
Detroit are also using GMC trucks, for
their hauling and their service, as always,
has been satisfying. In fact, GMC trucks
now are offering more continuous trans-
portation than has heretofore been found
in a motor truck. Advanced improve-
ments have been built into these truck;
which contribute directly to more economi'
cal and better haulage.
Sets New Standard
In price also GMC trucks have set a ne\\
standard. Their cost, in comparison tc
their exclusive features and their thorough
high quality construction, is remarkablj
low.
The chassis now list at the factory as fol
lows: One Ton, $1295; Two Ton, $2375;
Three and One-HaK Ton, $3600; Five Ton
$3950, tax to be added.
Write for a booklet giving details of these
trucks or ask the nearest GMC dealer tc
show them to vou.
102
General Motors Truck Company
Division of General Motors Corporation
Pontiac, Michigan
DEALERS AND SERVICE IN MOST COMMTTNITIES
When writing to Advertisers please mention The \mebtcan City.
June, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
^S
Wagon Loaders in
English Road Con-
struction
One of the largest road-
building organizations in
England is using the Haiss
path-digging wagon loader,
shown in the illustration, for
digging and loading tar mac-
adam, which is much used
by English road builders on
their roads. This material
consists of crushed stone
mixed with tar, weighing
170 pounds to the cubic foot.
It is of such consistency that
laborers can hardly shovel
it. Before using loaders,
laborers forked it, but it
was such a sticky, gummy
material that they could not
handle it for more than an
hour without resting. Over
eight months ago this Eng-
lish company bought a path-
digging wagon loader from
the British representatives of the George Ilaiss
Manufacturing Company, 143d Street and Rider
Avenue, New York City, for this work. The
readiness with which the machine handles the
sticky material has been due in large measure
to the self-feeding propellers, which cut into
the material and push it towards the bucket,
where it is elevated. The machine has been
readily loading a 5-meter truck in from five to
six minutes.
English road builders are very favorably im-
pressed with American machinery, and at the
present time there is quite a demand in Great
Britain not only for wagon loaders, but also
for American-made concrete mixers, steam
shovels ajid other such material-handling de-
vices.
LOADING TAB IHACADAM BY MACHINE
A New Highway Patrol Outfit
With the increasing number of roads which
are being maintained by the individual patrol
system, new apparatus for this type of work
has been developed. The Road Repair Equip-
ment Company, 165 Broadway, New York
City, has recently placed on the market a port-
able heater and mixing machine of sufficient
size to repair a hole three square feet in area
in one operation. The machine is at the sarne
time small enough to be handled by one man.
The heater is designed similar to a wheel-
barrow, with a special body mounted in place
of the wheelbarrow body. The special body
contains a secondarj' solid body or tray with
a given space between the tray and the body.
USING THE NEW WHEELBARROW TYPE BOAD REPAIR MATERIAL HEATER
THE AMERICAN CITY
DANGER
STOP LOOK LISTEN
The hot summer months are coming. Have you complete
and efficient equipment for your street department and for
the collection of your garbage?
Will your equipment serve so as to produce that clean, sani-
tary condition, so necessary to good health during the period
of extreme heat?
Let us help you
TIFFIN FLUSHERS FOR YOUR
STREETS. TIFFIN GARBAGE EQUIP-
MENT FOR THAT DEPARTMENT
Write for catalog
THE TIFFIN WAGON COMPANY, TIFFIN, OHIO
REDUCE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
Five of these lights installed in an Ohio
city "have been a big addition in the regu-
lation of traffic and have been a means of
reducing traffic accidents at those certain
sections about one-half."
The Milwaukee Type Mushroom Traffic
Light stands only 8 inches high, is made
of cast steel and equipped with a dual
lighting system. When lighted it is a
bright spot on the road without glare
and, although not large, is big enough to
be noticed and respected. These traffic
guides are suitable for installation at street
crossings, on heavy traffic streets and
boulevards.
ELECTRICAL & SPECIALTY SUPPLY CO.
Madison Terminal Building,
Chicago, Illinois
103
When writing to Advertisers please mention Tije AMEitfCAN City.
June, 1922
METHODS, MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES
647
In this space tlierc is mounted a gasoline burner
from which a hot flame spreads over the bot-
tom of the tray, producing a uniform heat
throughout the area of the tray. This gasoHne
burner is fed from a tank mounted on the
handles of the heater immediately in front of
the body, permitting free use of the handles
and also protecting the tank from any damage.
Attached to the tank is a hand force purnp
for application of air to the gasoline for proper
mixture. By a needle valve, the proper flow
of gasoline to the valve may be controlled
by the operator. If the operator desires to
put the heater out of service for a time, he
can lower the flame and save gasoline. The
heater may be put back into service by simply
turning the needle valve.
A patrolman, inspector or workman may
start off in the morning with the heater, load-
ing it with stone, bituminous material and
tar from supplies which have been previously
located along the road, and then, upon reaching
the first hole, light the heater, heat the mix-
ture, turn it over with the shovel until the
proper mixture and heat are reached, then
dump the mixture into the hole, leveling and
tamping it into place. The complete operation
requires less than five minutes.
A Convertible Street-Sweeping
Machine
For the last two winters municipal officials
have been interested in the Fox Rotary Snow
Broom, manufactured at 2 Lombardy Street,
Newark, N. J., which has so effectively cleaned
the streets in a number of communities in New
Jersey. This machine consists of a circular
broom with a horizontal axis mounted at the
front of a motor truck. It has been found
very effective in rolling the snow up and to
the side of the road.
The most recent development in the use of
this machine has been the addition of a 250-
gallon tank and a 50-horse-power pressure
pump, by which the machine is converted into
a useful street sweeper for summer service.
Water is sprayed through nozzles in front of
the broom, as shown in the illustration. The
broom is well boxed in the front, preventing
the scattering of dirt and other refuse. The
sheet steel parts are easily removed when the
machine is to be used for snow work. When
the oufit is working in the winter time, the
water-tank is used as ballast, being filled with
gasoline. Thus the machine as now built con-
stitutes an all-year-round apparatus for remov-
ing street dirt in summer and snow in winter.
Early in April one of these machines was
demonstrated at Bayonne, N. J., before nearly
50 engineers from New York and other
municipalities in the metropolitan district.
Trips were made up and down various blocks,
including streets paved with cobbles, which are
very difficult to clean under any conditions.
Four trips up and down were made in less than
five minutes, cleaning the pavement completely.
The machine operates at the rate of 12 miles
per hour, which is practically double the speed
of most other street-cleaning machines.
J. T. Martin Joins Cleveland
Engineers
The Frazier-Ellms-Sheal Company, Illumi-
nating Building, Cleveland, Ohio, has an-
nounced the association of J. T. Martin,
former Water Commissioner of Cleveland, as
an active member of the company in the
capacity of Vice-President and Treasurer.
Mr. Martin has been actively engaged for over
20 years in water-works projects, covering the
construction of tunnels, reservoirs, distribution
systems, filtration and power-plants, water-
works accounting and administration. As
Water Commissioner of Cleveland, he organ-
ized, planned and commenced the execution of
a water-works improvement of greater mag-
nitude than the city had ever previously
attempted.
A ROTARY BROOM SWEEPER FOR CITY STREETS
THE AMERICAN CITY
Lea-Courtenay 12", double-suction
volute pump, motor-driven.
This same type of pump driven by a
steam turbine will deliver 2000 G.P.M.
against 150-foot head {average city press-
ure) at 2000 R.P.M. By increasing speed
10% the pressure can be increased to
100 lbs., and to deliver 1500 G.P.M.,
tvhich is Standard Fire Protection Press-
*' Specialization is the direct
road to perfection '*
said a prominent engineer in discussing the mod-
ern trend of menufacturing. And the thought
was a sound one: that perfection of product can
most nearly be attained by concentration of
thought and effort to that product only.
The L-C Company are specialists in building
centrifugal pumps. Every effort of this com-
pany is wholly devoted to designing and manu-
facturing centrifugal pumps of the very highest
quality and efficiency.
This specialization has enabled the L-C Company
to rigidly adhere to the very highest standard
possible in centrifugal pump design, manufacture,
and test. There are no other manufacturing
activities in the L-C plant to which this standard
might be sacrificed. L-C Pumps may be in-
stalled with the assurance that in dependability
and efficiency they represent the very highest
development in centrifugal pump construction.
There is a complete line of L-C Pumps
including fire, boiler-feed,
single-and multi-stage.
LEA-COURTENAY COMPANY
Manufacturers of Centrifugal Pumps
8 MAINE STREET, NEWARK, N. J.
Chicago Philadelphia Boston Minneapolis
Atlanta Pittsburgh Cleveland Detroit
New York Oklahoma City Birmingham Kansas City
St. Louis Baltimore Montreal
Write for Bulletin M on high hiad pumps.
2090- J
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SYSTEM OF DISPOSAL
will do toward eliminating
MUNICIPAL SEWAGE AND
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
from Connecticut Streams
CHARLES E. WHEELER
Member Streams Pollution
Commission
MILFORD, CONN.
104
When writing to Advertisers please mention The American City.
-'>,
'Oil*
I
The
DIETER BOOKBINDING CO.
1833 Champa St.
Denver. Colorado