The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-15

Chafiin. Beverly and Wallaee streofs from
Reservoir to Randolph, and Fifth street from
the Hospital 20 the liaduct were reduced TO a
permanent grade and graveled. THIRTY first
street fromlBroad 10 o. Thirty-third from Mar
shall to Clay. buchanan from Richard to CLris-
tian and Dance streets were partially graded.
and Seventh street from Bates 10 Hosnitai was
finished TO its temporary width and graded
The lots surrounding West avenue have been
hiled up in part. correcting from the time the
drainage of that section. 1t isintended 10 raise
the grade Of West avenue as the lots are filed.
so that 10y the work OF both going on together
water will not be allowed TO stand staanant az
10 has done In the past
The City Engineer rcnews his recommenda-
ton for more efficient sweeping and sprr king
Of the streets 10 avoid dust in DRY weather and
mud in wet weather. II is needed on all the
streets, but especially on the Rrayeled and ma
cadamized streets, which should have both the
dust and mud scraped of instead Of swept from
their surfaces. The sprinkling should be done
by the city and under proper regulations. in
stead of being done. as IL is now. I'm such a
wasteiul and irregular manner.
THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM
Nothing adds more TO the health OF city
than good sewerage system. The amounts
appropriated Tor this purpose have been entire
IS Inadequate TO moct. the demands for new
sewers and for needed changes to be made in
many o. the old stone cglverfs which are the
cause Of the defective drainage IN certain locsi-
tics. and unless more liberal provision Is made
We shall be unable 10 meet the requirements OF
health r the growing section Of be city
The city nurseryman has lanie1 some fifteen
10 twenty thousand small trees and seedlings At
the New Reservoir Park, which IL u hOued in
the near future will lie increased 10 several hun
dred thousands. and with such n nursery we'll
grown the entire tree-p lanttng Of the streets
and parks can be undertaken by the city.
The new market-hOuse erected az the corner
81 Cary and Linden streets was completed dur
ing the year at total cost of Ss22l6.Si 10 Is
well adapted for It's purpose and will furnish
ample market accommodation for all that sec
ton OF the city.
Work upon the new City Hall has been con-
tnuod during the year Eight hundred and
ninety thousand dollars has been Appropriated
Tor us construction. Of which there has been
expende TO February !. 1892, ss69.4.71I. leaving
Q balance 10 the credit Of tho fund Of 521,j62s9
IL IS estimated that an additional appropriation
OF S5iG4l 20 VIII be needed 10 complete and
furnish the building.
THE SCHOOLS
The Virginia Mechanics Institute is doing
fine work IN the education OF students in the
scientific and mechanical arts and IL is render
ing valuable service 10 the community IN llac-
ing the means Of education within the reach Of
most worthy class OF boys and young men.
who. without such aid would q conn eIied 20
forego the training essential 20 the highest use
fulness IN their chosen vocation. Three hmm
dred and siXty-eight students have mairicu-
lated during the session. and seventy-seyen
have been refused Tor lack OF room TO accom-
MEDIATE them. The great need of the institute
is a suitable building IN which 10 DO lts work.
II j. 10 he hoped that the movement begun
some time ago to secure n building will be
crowned with success. The institute is most
valuable addition 20 our educational forces. and
should be fostered and assisted with liberal
The public schools OF Richmond are among
her greatest attractions. They have an envla-
blerepuiatiOn for excellence. We enrolled last
wear 1.352 pupils. for whose instruction the
city Appropriated Sl07 900. The high standard
of our schools attracts many strangers TO our
city. who become residents because they can
lind nowhere else greater inducements for the
their
orr schools would be greatly enlarged by the
addition OF al stem Of manual labor training.
which Will he introduced Just az soon IS the
Council may deem IL XIedlent 10 make an ap-
preparation for that purpose hope our imam
cial condition will enable Us 10 DO this during
the coming year.
The GAS WORKS.
The gas-works. under the efiic' ent and intel
ligent management Of Supcrlntendent ". &.
Adams, continue TO be source of profit to the
CITY.
There we're generated during the wear el9Gs6-
200 cubic feet Of gas. which is an increase o. ~
696,lO0 cubic feet as compared with the precet-
ing year. The exces o. receipts over expendl-
lures was Sil3lhG9. 10 which. If we add S1i,Gs3W
for gas consumed by the street lamps and III all
public bindings. we have balance IN favor OF
the gas works OF SllS.Ojy.
We now have sixty-seyen miles OF street
mains, 30 new connections were made and 9 IS
surface pipes renewed and repaired.
The leakage account last year was largely in
excess of former years. and was due 70 the bad
condition OF the holders AZ the upper works.
The crowns Of The holders were nothing but
shells and had 90 be entirely renewed. This
could not be done until the consumption OF gas
WAS small enough 20 admit 81 these holders ue-
ing thrown ont Of use. and - was the middle or
August before any part OF the leakage could be
stopped. 10 Is absolutely necessary that we
should either construct new holder or else
introduce some means for the more rapid gen
Grafton of gas. f we are 90 expect he best resn
from our works We must equip them with he
latest appliances for the manufacture and dis
trlbutiOn OF gas.
The new ordinance reducing the price Of gas
from 81 30 to sl25 per thousand cubic feet went
into effect March Ist
ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
The city has recently entered in TO n contract
for two ears for the lighting of her streets and
pnbiic parks with electricity. by which She Is to
have five hundred electric lights OF two thou
sand candle power each. az an annual cost OF
$1,000
Imost earnestly renew my recommendation
OF the cIfys ownership Of an eiectrc-lighi
plant. The amount 10 be expended by us during
the next few years. under the IRE ent contract
would more than pay Tor a plant that would
fully supply eectuc lights TO all Of our streets
and 10 lie parks n We are 10 continue 10 sup
port orr gas works with profit then We should
own an electric plant .O as 10 be bic 20 supply
consumers with ei'her gas or electric light.
Every reason that urges "a 10 continue uni
ciral control of orr gas works applies with
equal force 20 the cltys ownership OF al cleo
trio light plant
TIE FIRE DEPARTMENT
There is no department of the city govern
mont whose affairs are more JudlclOusly man
aged han those o. the Fire DEPARTMENT lie
duties OF this DEPARTMENT have cen very
ard n dur the asst year. but 10 has met
promptly every demand that has been ma ie
uuon II. amt unde the supervision of the Board
of Fire Oh N s-lOners and thlet W. q Fuller
continue O. euiOy high degree Of efficiency.
ne del urtment now has on Its rolls l3l officers
and men, OF which o are ornament and 81 call
members. There are NOW seven engines IN ser
vice. five hose wagons and three two-wheeled
hose carts, besides three hook-and-iadder
trucks
During the year two new improved engines
have been placed in service and another Will
soon be- added. Engine Ompany o. ;, located
in lult0n, has zen 1ur her equippe and now
and Other equipments. l WOuli recommend
thaf an appropriation DE made for the tmplo.
neut oil au eng n mon and hel err which VII
maze this mos excellent hos comuan q IlI
ereine company well prepar { q protect me
fire nteres of The district I'M which IL J. I'D aicd
The three central companies. n%lhe olnp mes
No 3. 4 ami E. onu foOk-ant-Laider iFuch
Comranv NO. I. should e put upon iuil PAID
basis giving 20 each Of tn three engine com
NAMES seven station men ana 20 the truck COM
tanv eight station men. his wonid enable
these imuOrtant cor an es 20 re pom 10 iiies
in their districts fully eQnl ped and manned
On. OF the greatest obstacles nat lesiralhs
the efficiency OF the ire eprtnent !. tia the
out cts OF he FIRE hydrants Iea IRE J. inches
whilst the hose j. 2ia inches. This dlscle cucF
EXISTS because whom the fire hydranis were e.
f4Iishel he diameter of the leather hose then
I'm u.c and The outlets were fhe same, iut We
nov use the standard hose which re iuNes
much larger Quiet. To make the nee a
chsn.e would involve au outlay OF SliBf, VII en-