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As the spring approaches it is both natural and it that our thoughts should turn. to the subject matter of improving streets and rank. The mat- ter otgood roads.” well as streets. is a question of vastly greater financial importance than is usually supposed. In this country we are just beginning to realize the fact. It is not a little surprising how superficially many thoughtful and intelligent men will reason about matters in general. They see something done success- fully on one place and under certain circumstances, and they jump at the conclusion that the same thing will be equally successful in all other places and under all other circum- stances. ‘ We have noticed a very strong tendency in Highland Park to advocate against block pavement, nor have We ever felt that we were positively rigit in behaving that such pavements were better for us than macadam. A man will sees bl0ck pavement in Chicago in a worn out. rotten condition. a pavement which perhaps has. not been in emet- been more than six or eight, or ten years, and be at once reaches the conclusion that a. block pavement in all other places will. be just as abert lived. He forgets that the nature of the soil. the. hard work. required lot the improvement; and ‘- the climate, to say nothing of other lesser factors, may very greatly change the rela- tive value of different kinds of street and road~improvement§. . We have at the present time three kinde‘of improvement in Highland Parkâ€"macadam, block ». and brick. Unquestionably, for durability the brick pavement is the most substan- tial and long lived. Why the strong prejudice has existed against block we have never been able to see. ex- eept for the reason stated above. The oldest macada‘m in the‘city, that on Laurel and Prospect avenues, has been down only eight years, and yet it is practically ruined. being very little better than many other‘e’treete which have not been improved at all. The block pavement on Central eve- nue, if ire mistake not, has been down nearly four‘ years. With' the exception of one place, which needed THE SHERIDAN ROAD NEWS-LETTEli. repairing by reason of imperfectly lilting a ditch under the pavement. it has not, to the beat of our knowl- edge. needed any expense in the four yesre for keeping in order. It is apparently as goodes new, and will undoubtedly lent at least eight years longer with little or no expense to keep-it up. When the blocks are ultimately "worn out or decayed, and need 'relaying, whether the plank foundation will he found ' in suf- ficiently good condition to support another surface of blocks ie a ques tion. But at all etents there will be no necessity to go to the expense of excavating end refilling u'vith a sand foundation. If it needs anything more than the block surfacing it will need nothing but the replecing ol the plank underneath.” The name willelso hold true of brick. If we are not mistaken the block is the cheapest form of the three: certainly much cheaper than brick; much pleasanter, in our opinion, to ride over that: the brick," and rhuch lees noisy," and, therefore, much" to be preferred in front of residence prop- erty. This might not be a question of serious importance in front of business property; .If the streets of Highland Park were'to'be need con- stantly almost twenty-four hours a day for heavy trafficking, as in Chi- L We simply throw out these hints as suggestions, and would be glad to hear from any of our readers in a matter of so vital importance as’the improvement of our streets, Again, hmvever, reiterating what 'we have said in a former article-lb“ any- thing that diminishes'the first coat to theyciperty owners or to the city of pav' 3 our streets will be a very great incentive to a more general willingness to improve them at an early déy. .. cage, then the suggestions made above might. not have their full force. In othér words, that which is best or poorest for Chicago may be far from best or poorest in High land Park. .F.or Saleâ€"A Wagonette or Carry- all; practically new; never run a hundred miles, and cost 8450; also a hack harnesstnicklo plated. Will sell very cheap. R. R. Men’s Homo;- Remembering that Mrs. Hib. bard’s birthday came “about this time,” as the, old-time almanscs used to say, her associates in the Baptist Sunday-school. to the number of some live and twenty, or more, planned a surprise for her'Tuesday evening. They told Miss Bottnm, ,who is boarding there, their plans, and she kept the family at home reading some interesting book till just past 8 o’clOck, when the door-bell rang and the coinpauy entered, with sundry baskets, boxes, etc, of dishes and refreshments, includ- ing .a generous supply of that superb McLaughlin’s - cofl’ee from Mrs. Bock’s’ and a ’pail of cream from Dan Sheahen s dairy, and bakesd infinitum. ’ It was a very delightful evening, so pronounced/ by the “ victim" herself, as well as by all the company. There; freshments were served about I10 o’clock, H and in the strength of that superb eofiee we wrote bril- liant paragraphs till 1:30 am. Services at the Baptist church take place; next Lord’s Day (it 10: 45 a. m 'and 7: 45 p m Mr Robert Morris Babb preacher-I at both hours. In the evening the subject will be. “Some Events In the Life of Christ. ” Stereopticon views will be' used to illustrate the discourse. You will be made welcome. Boston. Mal. 133.81. 1300. Mhukbb thy hence. my her All who .9th to heat: (Neva-nut. thy bean-hall yet be: glad. God hem and men payers. How any“: thou know my Father's rm. And His commando obey? By child-like trust 1nd simple love. Living In Thee my. ' yo: He mesh His will to all Who m. and work. and man In ulcocc. then. expectant “It To be. flli’vovd etch day. Andvhen Ebmhmlncowm Ouhtbouwmtogo TodmeMma lone. Cbeeflcullfe. Themfimubm “know. . And mun-imam upon mom: To help thee do Hb wlll: lle kmm thy ban. will bu] it: hurt. And shield thee from 1!! m. Thus shall thy soul and happiness In service glad and true: Loving :- God. thy Pith". loves. And workin'uwb Him. too. IV HILL]! 8. CHARTER. ‘ A Surprise Party, HEARTACHE.