The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-09
GRADE OF BROAD STREET
THECTTr ENGINEER DENIES THAT
ITHAs BEEN CHANGED.
Great Commotion About Nothing, He says
Retrenchment and Reform 'ohni'
tee Hear Much Eyideuoe'

Reform were in session for three ana
half hours last night, inquiring into VINO
is responsible for the present condition
Of Broad street, but. after great mass
Of evidence had been heard adjourned
without action until next Friday night
1t s o'clock.
The con mittco met promptly at
o'clock with tie following members pres
cnt: Mcssrs Otway 5. Allen, chairman;
Jones, John j. King Iimmermdnn'
Rountree. Noble and Ebel
MR. MEREDITH QUESTIONED.
Mr. Allen having stated the object OF
the meeting. and upon motion OF Mr.
Noble. the city Attorney WAS called upon
10 give the committee what information
he could regarding the ordinance under
which the BrOad-strcet franchise had been
awarded TO the Richmond Traction Com
pany.
Mr. Meredith said that tho ordinance
was drawn just as others of a like nature
were, with probably more safeguards
than usual to protect the city.
Does the ordinance contemplate that
the city shalt be put to any expense in
carrying it out?" asked Colonel Jones.
Its general intent is TO avoid any
thing like that" replied Mr.. Meredith.
How arc you guided in drawing ordi-
nanccs of tne character asked Mr.
Rountrec
The committee designatcs the route
and the terms upon which the franchise
shall be granted. / then consult ordi-
nancos Of Ike character. and get my In
formation as TO grades, etc, from the
city Engineer Office.
Continuing Mr. Meredith stated that
In. ion .
this nature were purely legal the ques-
ton OF the grade Of streets being In the
province OF the City Engineers depart
ment
is It not generally Intended asked
Mr. Zimmerman. that after tracks are
laid upon "a street, the said street shall
be restored to its original condition.
THAT is the general intent Of ordi-
nanccs Of this character replied Mr..
Meredith. "tho idea is that the city shan
be put 20 no expense
At the request Of Colonel Jones. Mr..
Meredith looked over the ordinance Grane-
ino, the franchise to the Traction Com
many. lie read C.ie fourth section OF
that ordinance. which declared that the
Traction Company should follow the
grades designated by the city Engineer.
This section. however. he said did not
allow the company 10 alter the grade
OF any street. The only thing obligatory
upon the company was 10 restore the
street 10 the condition in which they
found H.
I'm reply 10 further questions. Mr.. Mere
dith stated that the city had the power
10 change The grade Of any street when-
ever She chose, and abutting property
owners had no redress. Mr.. Meredith
further said that the city had IL In IFS
powor 10 require a company 10 replace as
much Of street as IL saw it, but the
general practice was for them 10 restore
tb,t nortion of the street disturbed by
them. ...-,,,,o.-,-
After a few more questions Mr.. ; H.
Rloomberg. a member Of the OLD street
Committee. was interrogatcd M lenslh
bv different members Of the committee
lie said he had been present wlen tne
committee voted TO give the ianchlse
TO tho Traction Company. and chat no
conditions were imposed on the company
other than those set out I'm the ordinance.
No question Of grade. he said, at been
discussed. The franchise was granted
iudopondcnt Of grades. and when u came
TO laving the tracks Of the two companies
the CITY Engineer was instructed To des-
ingate the lines.
In answer TO q question by Oolonel
Jones. Mr. Blo0mhcrg said that so far as
he knew there was no intention TO put
the city TO any expense i'm carrying out
the franchise granted the Traction Com
pany: he himself had certainly not con-
tcmplatcd any. There was no intention
that the company would be required TO
replace more of the street than two feet
on either side.
Mr.. Blanks. who was also a member
of the old Street Committee, next tesu-
field. He said that at the time the fran
chise wa granted he did not know there
would be any change Of grade. Later he
vas informed that there would he "a little
change-four to six inches. He did not
think the street had been injured TO any
extent.
WOULD BE \ CHANGE.
Mr.. Reuben Burton. another member
of the old Street Committee, then testi-
fled. lie said that he was aware at the
time the franchise was granted that there
would be slight change of grade, but
he voted for it believing that the city was
fully protected. and that the Traction
Company would put the street back in
the condition they found 10. lie admitted
that the grade had been changed consid-
erably
Would you have voted for It IF YOU
had known so great change would be
made asked Mr.. Rountrce.
Il should have objected" he replied.
Mr.. John NJ King next tcsthcd> lie
said that when the franchise was granted
ne was aware that there would bc some
necessary expenses OF which the city
should bear her share. but that she would
be sufficiently rcmmcrated for the out
lay. He would have voted for the meas
ure. ne said. even If ne had known that
the present condition OF things would
have resulted. lie thought that the
changes now necessary in Broad street
would have been necessary even II the
tracks of the Traction Company never
mad been laid az all.
Mr.. King said he was aware that Broad
street had been rcpavcd az certain places
lust before the franchise was granted,
and that these places would be disturbed.
but that he would have voted. he thought,
for the franchise even if it eutailed an eA-
pcnse of $4,000 on the city.
THE CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES.
Major Otway :. Allen. chairman 90 the
Street Committee was next questioned.
lie stated that the Street Committee care
fully considered the franchise. and the
committee was extremely careful i'm en-
deavoring 10 protect the city's interests.
The charter was granted under Condi-
lions similar TO charters heretofore grant
ed. with more stringent regulations, and
no expense TO &c city was contemplated.
The franchise stated that the stree;
should be replaced everywhere disturbed.
81 think there is a msapprehension
here" he said. land that the statement
- or "a