The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-22
what Is the Matter and Wh2t II the
Remedy?

Editors Dispatch What IS the matter
with the running gear" OF our good old
city OF Richmond? Latterly it has seemed
to be wronged (unIntentionally, OF course)
by the treatment it has received at the hands
of somebody. 1t is reported that there Is
a probability OF the city becoming involved
i'm a lawsuit IN consequence OF the made
ouate supply OF water furnished to certain
OF our mills, Now, Messrs. Editors, il, as
is stated, the difficulty occurs because the
work OF cleaning out the cana-bed above
the new pump-wOrks has not yet been COM
pleted, can you tell who is at fault in regard
10 the slowness with which the work has
thus far been done? During the war our
army would easily throw up breastWork
I'm n night. Since this water question has
been taken in band the Allegheny Company
has constructed its trestle-work, built It's
culyerts, and laid It's track from Richmond
to Lynchburg, and yet all that time has not
sufficed TO clean out the dry bed OF canal
for few miles! II the distance TO be dug out
be three miles or 5000 yards, and one man
can clean out a distance OF ten yards In
day, why not let 300 men do the work In
couple Of days? Possibly man could not
do ten yards In day, and the distance may
be more than three miles; but the argument
remains the same. Here is the work before
us. and it has 10 be done. IL squad OF
men can do it in twelve months, Twelve
SQUADS can do it in one month, and hity-two
squads can do it in a week; the cost being
exactly the same in either case. Instead OF
going to law with the Alleghany Railroad
Company, wouldn't it be wiser to clean out
the ditch this week? Indeed, why are not
the entire new water.works cOmpletedf 7
When visited few afternoons since, every
thing there was as quiet as the grave. IL Is
true It had struck 6 O'Clock, but so 1t had at
the Tredegar Works, where everything
would have been found at full blast; and II
| IL be desirable TO complete an important
public work in the shortest time, why not
put on two sets Of hands? As II is, half
mIe-or so OF pipes aud the foundation ana
part OF the walls OF moderate'siZe build.
| inc are about the only visible results OF
some nine months OF time, with about 4
quarter Of million Of money in hand.
or a similar character with the above Is
the work OF paving now In progress on the
main thorOughfare OF the city. Instead OF
commencing at Eighth street ana working
downwards and at Fourteenth street and
working upwards, and at Eleventh street
and Going both ways, months are being
consumed III uOluS "un' hi.-"O INV -"
orcomnlished in a week. How long the
residents along the route are to endure the
cloud, OF dust which cover everything In
doors and out is not known; but dis
agreeable as it is, this could be borne (and
ought cheerfuly to be bOrne) if there be
necessity for it. But is there such neces-
sity? II, instead Of pouring tar into the
creyices between the blocks, they had been
filed with cement, and when The latter had
hardened, everything washed of nicely, tle
streets would have been almost sohd
stone-smooth, beautiful to the eye and
odorless. As it is, the unsightly tar has
spread where it was not intended TO go,
destroying much OF the beauty OF the
work, and, 1t would seem, rendering the
presence OF quantity OF dirt on top neees'
sary for an indefinite period.
What is the matter and what is the
remedy! CIIIZEN'