Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-23


BATES stated that at the last meeting OF
tne committee he did not avail himself
vi 'ne opportunity TO speak on the oues-
IN y. Ahe ordinance. because he knew
Ia. 'he entire ground had been covered
ny the CITY Engineer; but. after thinking
over The matter ne would like IA make
rev remarks. Mr.. Bates said he had
an experience In the department that no
once else mad. In that he had served
unaor every City Engineer that the city
l','S nau' ana, therefore. in what he was
err. W say ne would speak advisedy
ne duties Of tie City Engineer" Mr.
Bates continued, have never heen more
honestly, conscientiously. and intelu-
eenuy performed than they have been
unuer the administration OF Colonel Cut
an."' ana perhas this statement will
a. 80, strange TO the committee. when
~ tnis statement / have included wears
"a Mork or my father. whom | knew 10
nave Deen an honest, faithful. officer.
man In the department has honest
~ ana faithfully discharged his duties.
~. oi,iy giving voluntarily each day
-, Hours 10 the service of the city.
put IN the construction Of the new steam
~ einp-house' during the water famine in
iooV while putting in the waterways AT
'ne new or regular, pump-house: re-
pdirihg the breaks and leaks I'm the canal,
repairing the break at the Nine-Mile
Lochs' ana on many other occasions OF
emergency have devoted Sunday after
sunday and night after night TO this
Worh, without ose cent Of extra paw.
showing you clearly the interest which
they take In the work. Now, in view of
what nave said. IL does seem to us that
'pe ordinance requiring the City Engineer
ana MS assistants TO devote their whole
gaTxfipn ~ ha ofs L..
perhaps not so intended, q reflection on
the department"
MT BATES also stated that. prior TO
1871. the corporate limits were the north
side or Broad street east Of Eighteenth
street TO the Bloody-Run ravlne on the
east; a diagonal line striking Henry and
Broad streets, Monroe and Grace streets.
and Madison and Franklin streets. and
continued through the penitentiary build
ing. He said the large section west OF
this line and the section north of Broad
and east Of Eighteenth street, known as
Union HUI and Springfield, had been
added to the city; that the territory had
doubled, the population nearly doubled.
ana the work In the department was
more than double Yet the Engineers
once had the same force to-day that Il
had prior to 1873. and, but for the sys-
tematic administration of the duties by
Colonel Cutshaw. It would be impossible
to discharge the duties of the office in
anything like a satisfactory manner with
the present force
Mr.. Bates concluded by saying that he
fully endorsed every word that Colonel
Cutshaw had said on the subject.
ENGINEERS FINAL STATEMENT.
Colonel Cutshaw expressed his graft
fication at the kindly words spoken by
appropriate remarks, closed his argu-
ment before the committee with this
statement:
In 1857 the corporate limits of the city
were extended eastwardly from Eigh-
teenth and northwardly from Broad street,
and westwardly from a line from Adams
TO Munford streets; and in 1892 Lee Dis
trict was added to the city. extending the
limits to the Soldiers Home.
within this time of enlarging the city's
area more than double. the work Of the
city was increased and demands for more
work and increased force have grown in
ali the departments.
within twenty-seven years the perma-
nent force in every department, except
those of light and streets has been in
creased. With the exception Of one as
sistant, who for eight years has filled the
position vacated successfully by five diff
ferent engineers, who resigned to take bet
ter positions, the present Office force or
the Street Department has been I'm con-
tinuous service Of the city for over twen-
ty-three years.
with the increased growth OF the city
there has been a corresponding Increase
of street work of various kinds, besides
the increased demands for work which the
financial condition Of the city has not
been able to meet. New and additional
permanent duties have been added TO the
department; increased office work and in
creased supervision of work outside have
been brought about by new ordinances;
extension of railways. electric and other
privileges have increased the work of the
department; and work in other depart
ments. for which. under the ordinances,
engineering services are demanded-a re-
qurement made of no other department
of the city-a great deal of work has been
done and will continue 10 be done.
"An impression prevails that because or
the large amount OF public work done IN
the past by the Engineer Department for
other departments, such as water-Works'
parks. City Hall, school buildings, mar
kets armories, &C, and the imperative
necessity for limiting all work Of the city
for some years to come within the reve-
nues of the city, that a reduction can be
iudiciously made I'm the force Of the Street
Department The increase of work from
the demand Of other departments not only
innosed onerous duties on the office, but
absolutely necessitated while such work
was in progress, the temporary employ
ment OF a large number of additional as
sistants and other help. Even with
great curtailment in actual street work
the work of the department from all the
demands upon II will fully occupy the
nresent force. so that the Street Commit
Tee should thoroughly understand why we
believe a reduction Of the present force
will cripple the department -. ,.o
"rrhare seems to be an impression, also,
that the proportion Of cost of office eX-
penses TO the total expenditures IN the
Engineer Department IS greater imam IN
other departments. An examination OF
the last published annual report SHOWS
the+ the ner cent. Of such cost was less
In the Engineer Department imam IN any
other, being about per cent.
"The necessity for a sewer FOREMAN lot
renairs and for making approximations,
as well as TO inspect material on tne
work, is so apparent that II seems SUM
Gent TO say that TO show how important
such a man is, no city Is WITHOUT such en-
nlovees. While this service is charged 10
he cost NJ sewers. the least part OF 1t Is
charged directly to the city. There are de-
nands enough for changing and making
connections to old sewers, as Wen as lot
numerous small repairs during the year.
to occupy such man.
AZ TO THE OFFICE HOURS.
Az soon as Colonel Cutshaw had fin
,sbed reading his statement a motion
vas offered by Mr.. Pollock, providing
mat the various sections OF the ordinance
be taken up seriatim. This was adopteG
ond the section providing that the bust
ness hours OF the Engineers ONCE snail
ha from A. NJ. 10 L. NJ. was taken up
and argued at great length.
An amendment was offered by MI:
carter. by which all the departments OF
the CITY would be placed upon the same
"a ,rovfdiup that the officials