The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-05

irlent OF city work TO improving only the
4 few leading thorough EtreE.S
On those uninforined upon tie subject the
article has doubtless created the impression
4 that 10 large and increasing expenditures
upon our streets Ii attributable the high rate
OF tax of which he complains. That this
view Is very unjust to that department viii
Estate from The last annual report OF Mayor
Kelley that the total expenditure upon streets
in 1873 was SI13, 1856 (Which he states was
less than preceding years.; in 1874 IT was
S104, 231, whilst the aggregate expenditures
TO LIST January, 1876, although embracing an
for work done the preceding year, amounted
to only $4,000, with the orders of the Cour-
Gil all erscuted and the committee ont OF
debt. 1t must be borne In mind, also, that
these totals embrace the cost Of building all
sewers, which yield pecuniary return TO
1.-the treasury, as well as all work done under
city ordinances chargeable TO property
owners except brick walkwaysb and which,
when repaid, goes into the general treasury.
But presuming that the recent report from
the Committee on Streets RECOMMENDING
! the appropriation of 100000 in six per
cent. bonds to be used in grading apd gray.
cling the upgraded streets OF the city IS the
main object of attack, the writer begs space
to present to your many readers lew argu-
ments in support OF the proposition. fhe
importance of the subject, both from the,
amount of expenditure it involves acd the
great results hoped to be attained thereirom,
seems to demand that both SIDES snouid oe
heard. AT the least, II seems desirable tnat
the full scope of the scheme should be lald
before the public for It's information and
criticism.
To all citizens who pay any attention to
street improvements two observations often
press themselves upon their reflection as call.
ing for the application Of some proper RENE
i dy-ViZ.:
1st. That in extending our street iT'
provements into the outlying wards It is
found that citizens, impatient OF the tardy
approach of municipal development. have in
many cases erected houses agreeable to the
general surface-level of the neighborhood,
and when the streets are finally graded with
reference to the requirements OF drainage
and proper regard for straight lines 1t is
done at the cXpense-someLimes rulnously
so-of the houses already built and occupied.
Ia many cases it becomes necessary either 10
cut do Wn or Dill up say from one to SIX 1eet
in front of property which was not QUILT IN
anticipation of such alteration, and damage
to The extent Of hundreds of dollars Is done
to the property.holder without redress OF
indemnify.
I'd. That whenever it happens that gas. or
gater.ppes have preceded the grading of the
street-and such cases are by no means
rare-it then becomes necessary to relay
them according to the altered grade OF that
street, and it is done at the cost of hundreds
and sometimes thousands OF dollars to the
city treasury.
| Now, Messrs. Editors, tho friends of the
appropriation hold that it is full time to puta
stop to this unsatisfactory and costly system
for want of system:) of prosecuting city
work. 1t is beneath the dignity of city
like ours, whose various departments should
work in unison under a comprehensive sys-
tenn of Improvements system founded
upon the basis of true economy in the eX'
penditure Of its funds-a system so compre-
hensive as to provide not only for the needs
of 10 dag, but which will also serve the ne
cessities of the future with its increased
population.
The basis of this system must Of necessity
be properly graded streets. Without grade
the citizen cannot build his house with salts
faction, or, indeed, with safety. Without
Grade our gas. and Water.pipes had better be
Kept out of the ground for season than to
incur the possible risk and expense OF chang.
ing them. Without grade our sewers fire.
uuently fail to serve the purpose of drainage,
and at times are buried so deep by after.hil.
ing of the street as to be almost inaccessible
for entrance or ordinary repair.
TO carry out the intent OF the resolution
the following plan would be observed: The
Engineers Department would recommend
TO Inc Commissioners of Streets q system of
grades for i, particular area of the city, which
having been approved by them would be re-
ported 10 tRu Council for ratification. ne
grades having 2een thus established, The En-
pinecr would take each OF The streets in
order, and commencing ut The point where
the permapsnt improvements Upon SHcn
street lsuch as curbs, CATERS, ami pave.
ments) a:e now ended, grade II from thence
10 the corporation line.
Having graded, then gravel the street so
that it can be used with comfort aud convc-
nence by the public, leaving the more costly
surface-improvemeuls to follow as needed,
or as fast as the annual appropriations for
such purposes will justify.
Let the grades so established be made
matter of record, and if afterwards changed
by the Council the property.holder TO be
paid for any damage he sustains.
Having graded or gravelled our streets TO
the corporation line, our gas, water, and
sewer-pipes can be intelligently and economi-
caily laid, and not otherwise.
Aud now, Messrs. Editors, just word as
to ''improving streets Oh the outskirts OF
the city, or unimportantstre in any part OF
the city" During the past year it can be
claimed that the business portion OF the city
has had its full shsIe of attention, to which
the widening and repaying Of Gary street, the
Shockoe slip, the widening and paving OF
Dock street, and the streets around the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, as well as the
unsuccessful attempt TO pave the Basin bank,
all bear witness.
Apart from the equitable consideration
that the Taxpayer in the outskirts, and even
upon unimporlant streets in the city, Is as
much entitled 10 his pro rata Of street i'm
proveuents as his more fortunate felloW-citi-
Zens who live upon the "feW leading tho'
roughfares," the writer holds that the coal.
dealer. who has to deliver bis wood and coal
to customers in the suburbs; the grocer,
who delivers his flour and provisions
to customers living at and beyond the
corporation line; and the dry.goods mer'
chant, who delivers his parcels 10 every
part of the city, feel almost as much lI'
, terest in having good suburban streets as
those who live upon them. Besides, the
} owners of the one thousand two hundred
and fifteen licensed vehicles 10 Richmond,
who pay, in addition to the property.tax
upon their teams, special license.tax Tor
the privilege of using our streets, have .
right to demand that some attention be pald
e RI other streats Sc besides the few leading