Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-12
A COMPLAINT.

A COMPLAINT.
Portsmouth, Va. July 10. 1899.
Editor Virginlan-Pilot:
Dear Strive noticed an article In
your paper several days ago signed
Sufferer" In regard to Washington
street where 1t intersects with High.
After seeing such appeals from the tax.
payers (who must necessarily support
our city government we fail to see why
some action Is not taken to remedy
this great evil that is complained Of.
I say evil, because surely it must be an
evil, IL 1t is injuring and undermining
Sufferers" property as stated in the
communication. The writer happened
to pass down High street about 10
o'clock Saturday night just about the
time the fire bells were ringing. and
during that hard shower and the
streets at the corner of High and
Washington. looked like a river. with
the water flowing over the railroad
tracks and down Washington street.
tearing up and washing away not only
the cinders placed there by the rail-
road company, but actually tearing up
the oyster shells in the street OF
course. If this water could run off. as
1T did when the water pipe was first
put down, it would take away the dirt
and filth that Is carried to that corner
from the surrounding lots and streets.
But. as IL Is. the wood, etc, is washed
on the sidewalks and left there. which
must be injurious to the health of those
living In that section. This fact has
been clearly demonstrated within the
past two morths, when 1t was a COM
mon occurrence to see from two to three
NJ. DIS buggieS on Washington, be-
tween High and Queen streets, in one
day. and gentleman. living In the i'm
mediate vicinity for twelve or fourteen
years. informs us that chlls and fevers
were unknown in the neighborhood
when this water could run off and car
ry the poison away. We happened TO
be passing down Washington street
when the sewer pipe was run on the
block in question. and we noticed that
the water pipe was broken about where
the sewer pipe had to be run. Instead
OF taking out all OF the broken pipe at
that time, as should have been done we
saw only few joints or sections re-
moved and new pipe put in for a short
distance, leaving the broken and crush
ed pipe at either end. just to catch the
dirt and rubbish and obstruct the
outlet. The question was asked at the
time why the broken water pipe was
not replaced with new. as 1t was a con-
venient time and would cost less then
than 1t would later on. and 1t was
stated the whole matter would be at
tended to soon; thus the trouble was
not remedied, and we suppose the tax
payers are getting tired paying out
their money and having to submit to
such injustice.
Why, Mr.. Editor, 1t is a common
thing to see the gentlemen who live on
the square in question, with rubber
boots. broom and shovel, washing and
scrubbing the sidewalks after a rain.
preferrinE that dirty work to having
Inc miasmatic filth remain in front of
their homes.
1t Is a very small matter to relieve
the block in question, notwithstanding
the fact that such an enormous sum
has been reported in the estimate to
the City Council. and 1t strikes us that
the city may possibly have something
10 pay in the way of damages If this
thing is not attended to soon. With
the railroad tracks on High street. at
the corner of Washington, about six or
eight inches above the level. on account
OF the shells and dirt washing away. 1t
Is ever dangerous for our fire engines
or hook and ladder truck to pass that
way. Should they have occasion to
come down Washington street. which
Is possible at any time, and the fire en-
CINE were to break down, it would no
doubt cost the city quite a sum, 10 saw
nothing of the dilemma in which we
would be placed. especially if we had
S'.ty Oiic i'ic cuSIle III commission.
We now hear 1t stated that as soon
as the rubbish is cleared up around ST
Pauls Catholic Church the work will
be started up and pushed to compile
ton as speedily as possible We would
like to ask why 1t is that the contrac-
tors on this kind OF work are allowed
so much greater privileges than other
contractors? Our city ordinances ONLY
allow one-third of the street for anY
material used for building purposes.
and we really think the contractors
have. at this point on Washington
street, about three-fourths. or nearly the
whole street. Besides this, the stone
has been piled up there so long that
they never think of placing any lights
on them at night. OF course. this is
direct violation OF our city ordinances
and. OF course. that is no mans bus
mess. but what the taxpayers want is
for the City Fathers" to order the
rubbish removed from WASHINGTON and
High streets and the unsightly and
disease-hreeding nuisance abaied as
soon as possible.
Yours for Justice.
HIGH STREET.