Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-17


4. The proposed ordinance saws: "The
Engineer shall designate one of the as
sistant engineers In his department 20
perform the duties Of the position OF
sewer foreman, I'm addition 10 his other
uutes. and the sewer foreman now en-
p'oyed shan no longer be engaged to per-
form the duties OF the said position"
CANNOT BE DISPENSED WITH.
we do not see how sewer foreman
can be dispensed with any more than a
foreman OF pipc-layers In the other de-
partments OF the city. This foreman Is
required 10 be on hand to call his gang
together 10 make repairs when reported
Just as the ppe-layers do. His regular
ana constant duties are TO make the
pipe connections from the main sewers
10 the curb line, and 10 inspect sewer
material as 1t is brought 20 the ground
where his work goes on. When several
large sewers are being built at the same
time we need n man for each to inspect
the material and work. and we then put
on a temporary inspector for each. the
same as every other city does Although
an assistant goes TO all this work to
give lines. grades, and directions, and
10 measure up the work. IL is impossible
for him 10 supervise the work in such
manner as 10 prevent bad material or
construction or both so that some one
Is needed on the work constantly to see
to this. We believe it is 10 the city's
interest 10 retain a sewer foreman.
Explain how this was formerly done.
a. This provides for two district forces
Of hands and carts, instead Of three.
This is a matter that should be left
10 the discretion Of the Committee on
Streets, or tried before making 10 a
permanent arrangement. The city at one
time had several small forces for repairs
alone. and. afterwards finding a great
deal of regular grading and gravelling 20
be done, combined these into three, which
seem 10 have worked we'll. especially
when the force Of each district is scat
tered over the streets for repairs.
Explain the changes and reduction in
managers bg former committees.
8. This can be embraced i'm the third
section. as indicated before.
Z. This should be left to the discretion
Of the Committee on Streets
8. The City Attorney should frame the
ordinance properly.
EXTRA HELP HAD BEEN REQUIRED
While going over and explaining his
statement, Colonel Cutshaw was subject
ed to numerous questions as to what eX-
plan2tions of his office duties were made
TO the subcommittee on Retrenchment
and Reform lie replied to all interroga-
lions fully. With reference to the propo-
siti0n TO cut off one Of the assistant engi-
neers, the Engineer gave a detailed state
ment Of the extra help that his Office had
required during the past twenty-three
years. in order TO carry out the duties
which fell upon his department. He said
that he had heard it charged that 1t cost
the department $4,000 a year to spend
$4,000, and in this connection brought for
ward statistics 10 show that the Office
expenses were about per cent of the
whole sum expended in improvements,
&C, or a smaller percentage than any
other department in the city showed.
Messrs King and Ebel, members of the
subcommittee from the Committee on
Retrenchment and Reform, making the
original examinations into the affairs OF
the Engineering Department. stated that
they believed every one connected with
that branch Of the city government had
been given ample opportunity to make
every detail Of his duties plain to the
body
AS TO DOING OUTSIDE WORK.
Mr.. King stated that he had been in
formed that members of the engineering
force had gone away from the city to 90
work elsewhere and as an instance it
was cited that Mr.. Jack Bolton had gone
up to Charlottesville and conferred with
Mr.. Maynard, a contractor, about a GER
tain matter. He believed that there were
other and similar cases to this.
Colonel Cutshaw explained that Mr.
Bolton had gone to Charlottesville upon
leave Of absence; that similar trips were
made by the men In almost ell the depart
ments Of the city. He could not say
whether Mr.. Bolton received any COM
pensation for his time or trip. He added
that the subcommittee had never spoken
to him concerning this matter.
The Engineer, in concluding his state
ment. said he was glad that these ques-
lions had come TO the Committee on
Streets. He refuted the impressions that
this committee had never done anything
i'm the matter Of retrenching ~ citing
number of cases in which reductions OF
force, consolidation Of positions, &c, had
been made.
on motion Of Mr.. Pollock the committee
here adjourned until Friday night at
o'clock. when these questions will be final
" disposed of, so far as this body IS con-
cerned.
The Committee on Finance held a regu-
lar meeting in the Office Of the City Audi
tor last night. number Of petitions Tor
aid for charity institutions for this year
were considered. but no action was taken
upon them. Some routine work was ac-
and the committee adJOurheu'
Meters mt the Penitentiary.
A regular meeting of the Committee on
Water was held in Room NO. IL OF the
civ Hall at 1880 o'clock last night Those
i'm attendance were Chairman Briggs ana
Afessrs Carter. Noble. Tanner. and Clutch
ms A communication from Major b. W.
Lynn. Superintendent of the Penitenuary'
asking that the two water-meters III tua'
institution be taken out, was read Inc
letter stated that the meters mad seVeIdi
times become so clogged up that water
could not be gotten for the boilers. cap
rain White. Assistant Superintendent OF
the Penitentiary, and Dir. Gates, Of the
paws Boot and Shoe Company, appeared
before the committee and urged the grant
ing of Superintendent Lynn's request
Superintendent Boiling, OF the Water
Works explained that these DISTINCTIONS
in the meters We're caused by the low
pressure which had prevailed all over me
civ since the last obstruction. he said'
an arrangement had been made by means
Of a bypass, so that the penitentlaiy
could oct water while the meters were
being cleaned out. The real objection 10
the meters. the superintendent thought
was that the water bills were larger than
before they were put in
There was some discussion over the
matter. which was finally referred to SUI
Boiling, with instructions to
renort In a month, on motion of Mr..
Cutchins. .,...o
ON motion OF Mr.. Tanner, the committee
decided TO pay j. T. Vaughan 81 per day
evtra for work done in addition to his
ree,,lar duties at the New reservoir du-
ring the illness Of Mr.. w. S. Roach, the
late keeper -, ,,,,
The payroll was approved and some
minor routine business was TRANSACTED