The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-30
ROANOKE, VA, DECEMBER 80, 1899
BOARD AND ENGINEER.

THE TIMES publishes side by side on
the first page the charter provisions as
to the board of public works and the
city engineer, the ordinances of Febru-
airy "a, defining the duties of the board,
and of September z, defining the duties
of the engineer. The first ordinance
was vetoed by Mayor Evans in mes
sage which pointed out with singular
clearness the weak points of that or
dinance. The veto message is given in
full. The subsequent amendments
which will in due time be given, with
the present ordinance, partially re-
moved the difficulties, but the ordinance
adopted September :, defining the
duties OF tho engineer, made confusion
worse COMPOUNDED. The draft of an ordi-
nance prepared in the engineers office
had been submitted to the ordinance
committee, but was wisely suppressed,
for it exaggerated the powers OF that
Office out of all proportion to the intent
OF the charter. The ordinance which
was built out of its ruins however,
seems To have been constructed with
tho charter provisions net Us limit.
but as a starting point.
The city engineer is, under the
charter, Il field officer, surveyor, a
prcparer OF plans, a technical e. pert a
custodian of papers relating to such
matters as como within his province
He would be called upon to make sur
veys and preliminary examinations
necessary for proposed public improve
irents; he should prepare the plans for
tho impTovenon But except in a
purely advisory capacity his functions
should then cease and those Of the
board begin
For instance, sewer is to be built
through n certain street to drain cor
tain territory. The city engineer
should inform che board, and they in
turn should inform Council of the OK.
tent of territory to be drained by that
sewer, the pitch practicable, the size
necessary, the form most suitable for
the purpose, and the character of the
ground, determined by surveys and
thorough preliminary examinations.
lie should furnish estimates as to cost
of excavatlng each class Of earth or
rock and Of construction. When these
data have been absorbed he should then
be called upon for working plans, and
act in technical advisory capacity
with the board Of public works in draw
ing up specifications on which to base
bids.
This fully prepared material is then
in shape to be laid before Council for
final action by the sewer committee and
Council itself. II agreed to and ordered,
bids advertised for and the work
awarded to contract. then the special
func tions.of the board come into opera
ton. The city engineer is through.
He should have nothing moro to do with
the work except in special matters as
requested by the board. Even then his
position should be purely advisory,
and in no case should he be
saddled with responsibility. The
board is now responsible and no
one else. If the board ask the
engineer his opinion as to the
quality Of certain lot OF cement, he
should not pass upon its suitability; he
should merely state that it sets in q
certain time and exhibits SO much
strength. The board should determine
from his report as to it's suitability and
not attempt to make the engineer pass
judgment. He is to determine abstract
facts; they arc the judges rs to tho
application OF tho facts furnished, It's