The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-15
SHOULD BE SELF-SUPP0RTING.
COL. VIM DISCUSSES THE INTER-
EsTS OF HIS DEPARTMENT.

Engineering Department should Not
only BE seIf-SuppOrting, He Says,
But should Return a Revenue to
the City-WOrk Done by the Engi-
neering Force for Other City De-
partments and for Private Indi-
viduaIs and Corporations for None
of Which Amy Charge was Made.
Col w J. VIM, in his annual report,
| just submitted to the Mayor, makes a
strong plea 10 have the city engineering
department placed upon a self-supporting
/ basis
THE increase of work laid upon
| this department during the last few years
has been so great" says Col. VIM, in
his report, that considerable outside help
has been required and calls for some ex
! PLANTATION and such a remedy as will check
this growing evil. In some cities the de-
partment Of engineering is self-supporting,
and L will call your attention to the
bureau of surveys of Philadelphia. This
bureau consists of one engineer and as
sistant, with thirteen district surveyors.
These district surveyors have 119 assist
ants, including draughtsmen. This large
force not only pays its own expenses and
salaries, but is a source of revenue to the
| city, having turned in a net profit of $685.,
| be found by referring TO the
last annual report of the city of Phiiadel-
phia. Nor is this an exceptional year,
for by referring we see that this amount
is less by $4,000 than for the year 1885,
I'm Philadelphia, all work done for the
different departments by the bureau of
serveys is charged to their appropriations
and the cash turned back to the city treas
ury the bureau of surveys being credited
by such amounts.
Moreover, all the location of tracks,
turnouts curves, crossings and extensions
of street railway tracks, etc, is done by
this bureau and paid for by the street rail-
ways All other surveys, such as lots,
street lines, subdivisions, plats for deeds,
etc, are made by this bureau and paid for
by the parties having the work done
while this city is not as large as Phil
adelphia, yet it is my opinion that some
of its methods might be adopted here to
advantage. Street lines and grades for
free to all parties. The giving of these
lines and grades in many cases costs as
much time and trouble as surveying a lot
for which a charge of IS is made. Dur
ing the past year street lines for 30 lots
have been given with fourteen grades and
lines for sidewalks
1T has been and now Is the custom for
the different committees and heads of de-
partments to call upon this department
for plans and surveys of all kinds; for es-
Inmates, plats for deeds, and for many 9TH
er kinds of information. All of this takes
up large amount of time.
1T is, therefore, most respectfully rec
commended that the present system of max
ing surveys, maps, tracings and prints
street lines, curb grades and all other work
free of charge, be abandoned, and that all
work of whatever kind done
by this department, whether for
individuals, corporations, heads of
be paid for by the applicant at a reasona-
bic rate and that this sum be covered into
| the city treasury and credited to this de-
partment.
Also that fees be charged for all work
done for private parties, and all work
| which is supervised or which has to pass
| the inspection Of the city engineer shall
pay for such inspection or supervision.
ITO give an idea of the amount of work
done by this department / will, as an ex-
ample, state that during the past year. 2S5
blue prints and copies of maps have been
made in this office. Nearly every print
| represents original surveys, the plotting
of the same, a tracing from the plat and
the final blue printing 1t will then be cas-
lily seen that each of these blue prints
will cost on an average not less than SIS
and how expensive this system is
Even the smallest print represents an
outlay in time labor and material of fully
IS. Whilst such prints as that of Laurel
Grove cemetery and the map representing
the house numbers and privy vaults run
up to about $500. Many of these requests
for maps and estimates are made without
thought as to the cost of them in time
and money.
Should this recommendation be ADOPT
ed, it will undoubtedly result in a large
saving to the city in outlay and larger
cash returns, and, finally place this de-
partment where it ought to stand, not as
an expense to the city, but as a source of
revenue to it,"
A condensed statement taken from the
detailed lists gives some idea of the work
done for the different departments and
committees: Two hundred and thirty
three grade lines, 81 surveys, 10 plans
maps and profiles, 80 reports and specifi-
| cations, 80 estimates, 50 tracings and 2S5
blue prints, a total of 921 were made OF
this total of estimates, blue prints ETC.,
the streets and lanes committee received
299, committee on opening streets o. park
and tree commission S. harbor and
wharves committee 90 public health COM
mittee so, drainage committee II, fire com
mittee %, commissioner of public works
TO- and private parties 223.
A detailed statement of the work done
by the engineering department for streets
and lanes, dry culture, harbor and
wharves. city lots, sewers and other de-
partments is given. Particular attention
is called to the Drayton street sewer.
When heavy rains occur, the report states.
this sewer becomes surcharged and being
unable TO carry off the water promptly.
it backs up into the houses and floods
the streets and lots for several squares in
the vicinity of CASTOR street. This back
ing up is not caused so much by the sewer
being small, the engineer states, as by the
fact that the larger sewer into which il
empties being full. at these times prevents
the Drayton street sewer from discharg-
ing its water consequently 1t backs up
until the water in the large sewer falls.
when it runs off.
This trouble can be easily and cheaplv
relieved by making a connection between
the East Broad street sewer and the old
Perry lane sewer at the intersection of
H.