The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-22

ANAuaL REPQRT-wQ1K D0xE DURING I'll
fkAR-THE CHURCH AND uSIoN.HrIL Az
SuE-coNDTToNof TBn BUSINESS STREETS
THE RESERVOIR GROUNDS, &C., &C.
: The annual report 81 the City Engine,
mas been sent In to the Mayor, who IL no
engaged In writing his message TO the Cou,
GU. In referring 10 thesfree's and Churcl
Hili avenue, Colonel Culsbaw says:
One hundred and seventeen thousap
seven hundred and sixfy.fiye cubic yards {
earth were excavated during the year, gi,
Ing an increase OF 1871 cubic yards owe
tlle amount OF The year before. Eighiy.fy
thousand one hundred and Twenty-Five
cubic wards OF this grading were moved b
the city force OF bands and carts. at q,
average cost Of Is 4-5 cents per cubic yard
and 32,642 cubic yards were moved by con
tract at cost Of II rs To 2la cents per Gu
bic yard-tbe contract prices OF the year be
lore being Is cents to 25 cents per cubi
yard. SO much Is dependent upon the per
manent grading OF streets as a basis upo,
which all other improvements should b,
made that / must urge the necessity for In
creasing this part OF our city work beyond
what 1t has been heretofore. Especiall,
should this be done IN the case of tht
Church-lIill avenue, where "A large amount
OF work remains to tie done, and which
needs to be tiaished before hesbenefits from
these improvements can be realized
The Engineer further says: A large
amount Of repaying is needed upon some
OF our business streets, especially where
The rough cobble-stoDe paving exists. and
should be replaced with granite. Specia
provision should be made for this work
More attention should be given to cleaning,
and In dry weather to sprinklIng the streets,
as the increasing traffic upon them is now
producing such an accumulation OF mud
and dust rs will soon become a nuisance.
Each year this is becoming more marked
upon the macadimized and gravelled
streets, and in the upper portion OF the city
VIII be increased bv the hauling OF freight
to the Richmond, Fredericksburg and PO-
tomsc railroad deI OF located on west Broad
street.
Although a great deal has been accom-
plshed By the Board, OF Health having
charge OF the street-c!eanng, which is done
with more system than formerly, / do not
see how this cleaning can be salts sfactorly
done without force sufficient TO make daily
rounds OF the PRINCIPAL streets, instead OF
the periodical cleanings OF several times a
year.
Hereafter in constructing sewers the con-
nection will be run TO the proposed curb
! mes, then TO be Joined by the house con-
Dection, when they are required to enter
the sewer. | must again call attention TO
the importance OF connecting Shockoe-crcok
sewer.
Three new bridges are needed-one over
the basin at Ninth street, one over Shockoe
creek at the end Of Hospital street, and one
to be replaced at Fifteenth street over
Sbockoe creek. With some slight repair all
the other bridges under our control will be
in good order.
1he temporary building used as City
Hall has had the usual repairs made during
the year, besides cnlarging the Nult-rOom,
and making some changes in the Chancery
Courtroom. The extension OF the vault
room over the space occupied by the office
OF clerk cf the Chancery Court has re-
Qulrtd the use Of The Mayors Office for the
clerk OF this court. An Office should be
provided for the mayor, VINO is now using
a private Office at his own expense. Some
Of the offices are very much crowded, and
are In need OF repairs. A few changes in
those offices will probably be made this
year.
In regald d to the necessary changes at the
Third police station, the Engineer says they
.annot be made until separation is made
II the combined police and iire-ensino sta
ions. Tue changes proposed in the Po-
ice-Court room will be made this year.
Some changes are asked for IN the Circuit
Court room.
During the ye1r the Monroe and Libby
Hill Squares have received the usual atten-
ion, besides placing a few more seats in
hem. To continue the improvement Of
Libby Hill 1t will he necessary TO acquire
he hillside extending from Main street to
Rockets street and Williamsburg avenue.
The work upon Candles Hill and CHM
)orazo has progressed as far as the means at
)ur disposal would permit. With another
lear's work the Improvement Of these
places will be 50 far advanced that the pub
ic can redily understand the design OF
hem.
During the year the usual attention has
)een gwen 10 repairing and Keeping up the
improvements OF the reservoir grounds. 1t
5 intended to improve gradually, rs the
means at our disposal will permit. that pOr-
ionOf the grounds now an unsightly waste,
Is well as 10 bring TO complete state OF in
the other portion already laid
,ut in roads and grass plats.