The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-23

said have never been mbore honestly 4,
! consclentiously and intelhseusy ~, ad-
/ ed than they have been unoer vi ,,cr-
| n,inisfration OF Colonel Cutshaw' aru ~,
h.,,, ,Lts statement will appear strange
| 10 tho committee. when In this stat'ut,'n' ta
7 have Included tho work OF my id'''''
who ] know 10 have been an honest faith-
ful officer
Every man in the department has
honestly and faithfully DISCHARGED his du-
Ties. not only giving voluntarily each
day extra hours 10 the service Of the city.
hut I'm the construction OF the new steam
pump-house during the water famine I'm
1850. putting I'm the water ways at the
new or regular pump-hotise, the breaks
and leaks I'm the canal the break at the
nine-mile lOck-head wall. the overhows ~
ShockOe creek. and the wind storm which
occurred fcw months ago have devoted
Sunday after Sunday and night after
night 10 this work. without one cent or
extra paw. showing you clearly the inter
est which thev take I'm their work.
Now. IN view Of what l have said. II
does seem to us that the ordinance re
qulring the City Engineer and his assis-
tauts 10 devote their whole Time TO the
service OF the city is. while perhaps not
SO Intended. reflection on the depart
mont from the fact the inference Is thlt
they have not been doing their duty. ana,
therefore requ<e such an ordinance.
Mir Bates also stated that prior t. 1871
the corporate limits We're the nOrth SIDE
OF Broad street east Of Eighteenth street
10 the Bloody Run rayine, blOcdy Run Oh
the east. and the western boundary
diagonal line striking Henry and Broad
streets. Monroe and Grace street, ana
Madison and Franklin, and continuing
through the penitenuary building, thal
the large section west cf TINS line' anu
tie section north OF Broad and east or
l. ghteenth street known as Union I'M
AMI Springfield has been added TO the
city. that the territory mas doubled, the
population nearly doubled. and the WORK
in no department more than doubled
yet they have the same force In the ONCE
to-day they had prior TO 1913. ANA but
FOR the systematic administration or the
duties by Colonel Cutshaw 1t would DO I'M
possible TO discharge tho duties OF the
office I'm anything Ike a satisfactory man
ner with the present force.
ie concluded by saying that he fuily
endorsed every word that Colonel Cut
shaw has said on the entire subject.
COLONEL CUTSHAWS 5 STATEMENT.
on melton Of Mr.. Pollock the city En-
gineer was then given the floor ana alter
a few preliminary remarks read 10 the
committee the following statement:
In 1867 the corporate limits OF the city
were extended eastWardly from Eign-
teenth street. and northwardly from
Broad street, and westwardly from
line from Adams 10 hunford street, and
in 1892 Lee district was added 10 the
city extending the limits TO the Sol
diers Home.
Within this time Of enlarging the citys
area more than double. the work OF the
city was increased and demands for more
work and increased force have grown IN
all the departments.
Within twenty-seyen years the per-
manent force In every department except
those Of Light and Streets has been m
creased. with the exception Of one as
sistdnt. who for eight years has n..~e
. .sff f.4 vacated e.
different engineers. who resigned 10 take
better positions. the present Office force
OF the Street Department has been IN
continuous service Of the city for over
twenty-three years.
with the Increased growth OF the city
there has been a corresponding increase
Of street work OF various kinds, besides
tho increased demands for work. which
tho financial condition Of the city has
not been able TO meet New and addl-
tiOnal permanent duties have been. added
to the department: increased office WORK
and increased supervision OF work out
side have been brought about by new
ordinances: extension OF railways cleo
tric. and other privileges. have increased
the work Of the department: ana work
I'm other departments, for which, under |
the ordinances. engineering services are
requirement made OF no
other department of the city-a great
deal Of work has been done. and Will !
continue 10 be done.
REGARDING A REDUCTION.
An impression prevails that because OF |
the large amount OF public work done |
IN the past by the Engineer Department |
for other departments, such as Water !
Works. parks. city Hail, school build F,
ings, markets. armorles, etc, and the |
Imperative necessity FOR limiting all work |
or the city for some years 10 come WITHIN |
the revenues Of the city, that a reduc- |
tiOn can be JudiclOusly made I'm the force !
Of the Street Department. The increase |
OF work from tho demands or other |
departments not only imposed onerous |
duties on the office. but absolutely ne |
CcsSitdted, While such work was in pro-
sress, the temporary employment OF a |
large number OF additional assistants and !
other help. Even with a great ctrtaii-
ment IN actual street work, the work or /
the department, from all the demands !
upon DO, Will fully occupy the present /
force, 50 that the committee should thor
0uguy understand why We believe re-
duction OF the present force VIII cripple |
the department.
There seems 10 be an impression also
that the proportion OF cost Of Office ex-
Denses 10 the total expenditures in the
Engineer Department Is greater than IN
other departments. An examination OF
he last published annual reports shows
hat the per cent. OF such cost was less
N the Engineer Department than IN aAy
)ther. being about 6 per cent.
The necessity for sewer foreman. for
'epairs and for making pipe connections. |
is well as 10 inspect material on the
work. IS so apparent that II seems sut-
icient 20 say that 70 show how import
ant such a man Is. no city Is without
such employees. While this service IS
charged 10 the cost OF sewers. tho least
part Of IL Is charged directly 10 the city.
There are demands enough for chang
ng and making connections 10 old sew
rs, as well as for numerous small re-
)airs during the year. 70 occupy such a
nan.
CONSIDERING THE ORDINANCE.
When Colonel Cutshaw had concluded
ir. Pollock moved that the various sec
ions OF tie ordinance be considered seria-
in. This motion was adopted. and the
ection providing that the business hours
4 the Engineers Cfiice be from A. NJ.
o i. NJ was taken up.
Mr. Carter offered an amendment 10
his section providing that various de-
OF the city be kept open for |
he transaction OF business from a. NJ
o =. n daily. except Sundays, and |
hat the cltys officials remain in their
iilces, except when engaged outside IN
he citys business; this not TO apply,
owever, 10 the Mayor physicians 10 the
cor. and City Attorney.
Mr.. Pollock made the point that the
cmmittee had no right 70 consider any
hing referring 10 any department but the
ne under discussion.
The Char sustained Mr.. P0llocks point,
nd Mr.. Carter appealed. making a strong |
peech In support OF his position. The
ommittee sustained the Chair by 4 vote
{ 10 3.
MIR. Carter then moved that section / |
Z the ordinance 10 referred back to the
card OF Aldermen with the recommenda-
On that IL be referred 10 the Committee
n Retrerchnent ana Reform. together