The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-28
.HENR|C0 Railway
AGAIN DISCUSSED.
Lynch Wants to Know Why No
Real Construction Has
Begun.
STRUCTURAL STEEL ORDERED
Special Meeting Called to Hear
Statements by Pro-
nloters.

Affairs Of the Richmond and Henrico
Railway came into sharp discussion
before the Council Committee on
Streets last night Councilman Lynch
asked why the company had done no
real construction since its most recent
franchise extension in June of last
year and whether it proposes any real
construction.
Councilman Mills replied that his
company had contracts for structural
steel for the proposed viaduct over
Marshall Street from Fourteenth to
Twenty first. Councilman Ferguson
stated that In view of past delay and
inaction the viaduct would not be built
by the present promoters.
But the question came formally be-
fore the committee in request for in
structions from City Engineer Boiling.
In June, 1893, an extension OF one year
was granted the company on It's fran
chise, the conditions being that it
should begin construction in ninety
days and that II should deposit with
the city 100000 as an evidence of
good faith the money to be paid out
only for actual construction work or
materials furnished on approval OF the
City Engineer ana the Committee on
Streets. Some time ago the company
filed with City Engineer Boiling bills
and vouchers for payment of engineers
and craftsmen now at work on plans.
Mr.. Boiling asked to be instructed
whether such plans came within the
meaning Of the term, CONSTRUCTION
work and materials furnished"
Bills for Old Foundations.
LAT 1aI fr,
tain foundations and concrete abut-
ments. laid some years ago. with in
terest from the time the work was
completed. Mr.. Boiling also asked in
structions whether to approve payment
out of the 100000 on deposit with
the city on bills for work ordered and
executed prior to the ordinance of June
%, 1909.
81 know nothing about the value and
character Of the past work" said Mr..
Boiling. 1T was done before / came
into Office. l am not prepared to say
whether these bills represent a fair
outlay for the work or not. While
have evary confidence in
Mr.. Mason, the contractor who built
the abutments and concrete piers. yet
am not in position to say that they
viii carry the load of the viaduct to
city should have the certificate of some
engineer under whom the work was
done as to their strength, whether the
viaduct is to be built by this company
for it's own use or for the city's use,
or to sell to somebody else The fran
chise says the plans must be approved
by the Committee on Streets, but the
franchise does not require me to see to
it that the bridge is of proper strength.
II wish to know also whether 1 am
to accept without question their state
ments as to the amount of engineer
ing services and material purchased.
The city has provided no inspector to
check up the work and certify to the
correctness of the accounts
Referred TO Special Meeting.
AS it was evident that there were a /
number wishing to speak on the ques-
ton, and as other matters were pend
ing, Mr.. Bliley moved that a special
meeting of the Street Committee be
held one night next week to take up
all matters relating to the Richmond
and Henrico Railway and its proposed
viaduct, when the City Engineer, the
City Attorney and all parties at inter-
est will be invited to be present
James D Crump asked the commit
tee to take up the matter OF opening
certain streets through Lakewood Park,
but number of committeeman OBJ
jected that they were not familiar
with the situation, and a special meet
ing was ordered for Thursday after
noon at 4 o'clock. when the commit
tee will make an inspection of the
streets about William Byrd Park and
the lakewood property. which Mr.. !
Crump claims is to some extent a
squatter on public streets.
The protest of S. H. Halves against |
the almost impossible condition of the
Hermitage Road, from Broad Street
to the tracks of the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac Railroad. was
referred to the Lee Ward delegation.