On September 12, 1715, 309 years ago, after founding St. Petersburg, Peter I immediately began caring for its streets. The layout of every new street was personally approved by him. Initially, they were merely clearings. Even the main street – Nevsky Prospect – was just a clearing from the Admiralty to the Novgorod road. There was no pavement: two simple ditches were dug along the edges to drain water. "The Great Sovereign ordered that a decree be published in St. Petersburg stating that from now on, no one shall trade or possess metal brackets and nails used to reinforce men's and women's boots; and no one, of any rank, shall wear shoes or boots reinforced with such materials. Those found with such footwear will be heavily fined, and merchants holding such brackets and nails will be sent to hard labor, and their property will be confiscated for the benefit of the Great Sovereign." Later, on Gorodovoy Island (now the Petrograd side), work began on paving the roads with cobblestones. Peter issued a "Decree on the transport of wild stones by river vessels and carts arriving in St. Petersburg, in a specified quantity." The decree detailed exactly how many stones each vessel had to carry. This decree remained in effect for more than 60 years. Although many were not fond of it, stones were still brought to St. Petersburg. However, wooden pavements remained cheaper and more familiar to Russians – this became especially important after 1718, when every homeowner was required to arrange and maintain the pavement in front of their house. Later, sidewalks began to be made from stone slabs, then came block pavements, diabase cobblestones, and finally, asphalt.