The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-04
PLACES B[A|NEO.N
SMITH COMPANY !
City Engineer Charges That Con
tractor Is Responsible for
Bad Sewer.
INSPECTOR is GEMS u t. b
Atkinson Sharply Called to Task
for Failure to Report
Negligence.

City Engineer Boiling flied with the
Council Committee OH Streets last night
a written report. on the troubles With
the new deep sewer on the south side
OF Broad street placing the blame on
the contractor. /. j. Smith and Com
pany, for failing to fiji in the tun-
nels after the pipe was laid. The
report was indorsed by Assistant City
Engineer Jackson Bolton, who had
direct charge Of the work, and sharp
ly ccnsures III. S. Atkinson, the In
spector on the job for the city, for
failure to report the negligence.
Mr.. Boiling explained to the com.
mittec that the pipe being or great
depth, had been laid by series Of
cuts about twelve feet apart which
were tunneled.
The excavation and reflling contract
was given to l. j. Smith and Company,
and the pipe was laid by the city force.
According to the report, the work was
apparently properly done from seventh
and Clay to Broad. and thence west.
wardly on Broad to Third, that part OF
the sewer being now in use. The
stoppage has been between Third and
Toushee. The report Of Mr.. Bolton
showed that at three places between
Second and Third the tunnels had not
been filled over the pipe, and the pipe
sbuclled In the tunnel. SO that earth
entered as the cuts were being refillcd
and the pipo line was choked. Mr..
Bolton reported that he had cleared
the dine to First Street and that the
ony difficulty now is between FRS.
and T'ouahee. The cost Of making cx-
cavations and replacing the pipe line
will be several hundred dollars. The
report was referred to subcommit-
tee. consisting OF Messrs. Lynch, pa-
Wis and zimmerman, to hear from Mr..
Smith and to report fixing the blame.
Mr.. Smith was present last night, but
made no statement.
Want Bids on Sewer.
The City Engineer was authorized to
advertise for bids. to be returned on
March 16. for the construction OF the
main sewer designed to drain the whole
section OF the annexed territory west
of the Boulevard. lying between Cary
Street and Broad Street. Tho esti.
mated cost Of the sewer Is s143,0SO.
Mr. Boiling reported that he had been
greatly delayed in securing bids for
the construction of the Dooley ravine
sewer through objections raised by Ma
jor Dooley, with whom he and the City
Attorney have been negotiating. I'm
der the annexation order of 1905, Major
Dooley's estate, "AIavmont," was left
out OF the corporate limits on condition
that the city should have right to-
construct a sewer down ravinc which
forms the natural drain for large
area of the city lying south of Cary
Street, west of Randolph. including
William Byrd Park and the ground
about the street car barns.
Major Dooley is now making certain
claims for the value OF a spring which
may be cut off by the sewer construc-
ton. for the keeping open OF natural
creek and for payment for any trees
damaged o: removed. The sewer is the
largest ever constructed In the. city
and will drain an area which is great
~ in need of relief, having practically
no natural drainage. The negotiations
We're left in the hands of the City At
torney and City Engineer, with tho
understanding that II prompt settle
ment is not effected condemnation pro-
ceedings will be Instituted
The committee recommended to the
Council for adoption an ordinance
amending tho franchise Of the Rich
mond and Hcnrico Railway Company,
changing from double overhead troll
ley to a single trolley OF the same type
AS now in use by the Virginia Railway
and Power Company. and with the same
system OF rail bonding to prevent cleo
trolysis. Another ordinance changing
tho route OF the car company through
'Chimborazo Park is still In the hands
OF subcommittee