The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-26
REPORT ON STREET WORK
A STATEMENT OF WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE.
Chairman Dfewry Gives the Information Which
Was Asked for by the
Citizsns

IltiZ ms.
To the Editor: The Street Commt-
tee is very glad to have an opportunity
to make full and frank statement of
the affairs of our department to the
people of Raleigh and it is with genuine
pleasure that we answer The questions
propounded by Mr.. Chambers Smith and
others in the News and Observer of yes
terday. Our department has kept an ac-
curate account of every dollar spent on
our streets for the past four years and
we can give you a detailed statement
of every cent received and every cent
paid out; to whom it was paid, how paid
and for what purpose paid.
We also keep a record of every foot
of curbing laid and how much maca-
dam and paving is put down; and when
and where it is put down and the cost
of the same, and every other detail con-
nected with out deparement, but 10 give
all of this information would fill vol
ume. In fact our very efficient City
Clerk, Mr.. Ham 4. Smith keeps an al
most perfect set of books, and every
department is kept separate and distinct
and every item and expenditure i'll each
department stands out clearly to speak
for itself.
If it were practicable we would be
pleased to give these details as they APP
pear upon his books. The street COM
mittee has earnestly endeavored to in
form the people concerning every trans
action in its department, as far as 1t
was possible to do SO. We have made
monthly written reports to the Board
and had them published in our city pa
pers giving detailed statement of the
work done upon our streets.
In addition to this we have made
written annual report, which was pub
lished in pamphlet form together with
the reports of the other city officials and
distributed for the general information
Of our citizens. We make this state
ment at the outset in order to show that
we have tried to do our duty and that
it has been our desire to keep the people
fully informed, even at the sacrifice OF
our personal feelings at times, for fear
that someone might think that we We're
keeping ourselves unnecessarily conspic-
uous before the public. We believe that
Mr.. Chambers Smith and others signing
the card with him are sincere in their
desires, and that they are only asking
these questions stated by them ION
purely business principles" and there
fore we most cheerfully comply with
their request, shall endeayor to answer
the questions seriatim.
Question l. ''The total number OF
linear yards grading and curbing and
the cost per linear yard of eachY
Grading is never done by the linear
yard. 1t is done by the cubic yard. We
have moved for purposes of grading and
improving our streets curing the past
four years 1926 cubic yards, which
at a cost Of % cents per cubic yard
makes an expenditure of $50, 10000. The
grading done ON the streets of a city
will naturally cost more than that done
for railroads and other like purposes.
The earth on the streets being closely
packed from constant use and often full
of rocks and other hard substances, be-
sides having to contend 9TH the VARIOUS
pipes which run under the street. = The
city of Richmond is now paying 40 cents
per cubic yard for moving dirt for pur-
poses of grading its streets.
We have laid during the past four
years S2,421 feet OF curbing which at
a cost OF 20 cents per linear foot makes
a total expenditure OF $16,484.20.
Z Question 2. 1.-THE total square yards
of paving done by the city and the cost
per square yard, differentiating between
different kinds of paving?'
1t would be somewhat mystefying to
give total number of square yards of
paving, so in order to be more clearly
understood we will give the number of
blocks which have been paved. We
have macadamized with ordinary stone
is blocks at an average cost of about
100000 per block or 80 cents per square
ward. making a total expenditure for
that purpose of $1O,S0O.0O. Two blocks
with shell rock from Castle Hayne at
an average cost of about $1,000 per
block or 60 cents per square yard, max
ing total expenditure of 100000. One