The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-16
NEW c H AIR MAN
READS RIOT ACT
Lynch Declares Electric
Plant Poles Are Dis
graceful.
WON'T PAY FOR
CROOKED ONES
Two Committees Begin Crusade
Against Wooden Distinctions
and Dead Gas Lamp Posts.
Lynch Unwilling to Ap-
prove Bills for Pres
ent Work

Asserting that the poles being erect
ed b. contractors for the municipal
electric plant were a disgrace to the
city; that no more crooked, unsishtly
sticks could be found In the woods,
Councilman John j. Lynch, on the floor
OF the Street Committee last night, an
nouncsd that as chairman OF the Com
mittee on Electricity he would refuse
TO approve payment for any such work.
On Mr.. Lynch's motion tho City Attor-
ney was Instructed TO prepare an ordl-
nance requiring all parties owning
wooden poles In the streets Of the city,
whenever Hucf poles are removed from
time to time by reason OF decay. to
replace them with iron poles. City
Engineer Boiling was instructed to con-
fer with Consulting Engineer Trafford.
In charge of construction OF the city
electric plant. and 10 give no further
permits for installing poles until as
sured that proper material would he
used.
Crooked md Badly Placed.
The matter was first brought up by
Mr. Gunst who represents Lee Ward
on the Street Committee. He protested
against the erection OF crooked and
nnsigntly wooden pole in the ornamen-
tai grass plot at the intersection of
view of the Lee Monument Circle. The
City Engineer was instructed 10 report
whether that pole could not be moved
10 some less conspicuous place.
DIR. Lynch left the chair TO propose
general crusade against wooden poles
In the city. He held that they are dam
gerous. frequently rotting out under
ground and falling In storms. He be-
lieYed /; would work hardship both
on the electric companies telephone
and telegraph companies and the city
electric plant 10 require the immediate
removal OF comparatively new wooden
polcs AS soon as the city Is ready
10 light all the streets OF the city from
It's own plant, thousands uf old corner
poles belonging TO the Virginia Rail-
way aud Power Company. which has
held the lighting contract for many
wears, viii be removed from the cor
ners Iaay have been replaced, how
ever. by poles of the city lighting sys-
TEN, which alr. Lynch asserted were
disgrace, being altogether of inferior
character.
VIII Not Sign Voucher.
Under the terms OF the ordinance he
proposes, as all wooden poles rot out
and have TO be replaced the construc-
tion must be of iron. and all new poles
erected must be OF iron. Mr.. Fergus
son agreed that the poles erected by
the city for lighting along Grace and
franklin Streets could not be worse In
appearance. and Mr.. Gunst thought
that come OF them could not have been
more badly placed.
They have Just elected me chair
man of the Electricity Committee" as
serted Mr.. Lynch. II understand that
the chairman has to approve the poles.
II my predecessor hasn't already done
80, you and the contractor, too, can rest
assured that | don't propose to approve
of any such work He VIII put UP
better roles or go without his money,
IL the voucher needs my signature"
Remove Old GINS Posts.
While the Street Committee was dis
cuSstng the wooden pole matter, the
Council Committee on Light, in session
In another room at the City Hall took
action which will be almost as far
reaching In clearing the streets of use
less distractions and removing un-
slightly sources OF accident and danger.
On motion OF Mr.. Mitchell the Light
Committee instructed Superintendent
Knowles to remove at once all dead
or-unused gaslamp posts on both sides
of Broad Street, from Twelfth to def.
ferson Streets, and to remove all other
gaslamps and dead lamp posts which
Will be superfluous when the new elec.
trict-lightinS system is in full opera
tion, Subchairman Ratcliffe, who pre-.
sided. favored the clearing away of all
useless obstructions. Mr.. Mitchell
pointed out that by erecting muni-
cipal electric plant. the city has in
dicated It's permanent intention of hay.
an arc lamp at each street intersection
in the closely built sections. and it
was unnecessary. therefore, to leave
standing longer dead gaslamp posts
which would never be used again. and
which only obstruct traffic and prove a
fruitful source of accident
To Move Other Distractions.
Members of the Street Committee
indicate that it is their intention as
far as possible to clear the streets OF
obstructions of every character Show
case permits will be more limited here.
after, and an ordinance may be in.
troduced shortly providing that nc
showcase shall project more than two
feet in front of the property line, OF
stand as an obstruction In the entrance
to any store, creating menace In case
of panic or fire.
The Street Committee docket was a
long and important o>e. a petition
was presented from E. A. Stumpf ask
ing that his new hotel at Eighth and
Main Streets be allowed to encroacl
sixteen inches on the alley in rear. I,
was stated that after tho plans We're
drawn, the builders We're compelled
to move back sixteen inches from the
line of the former building to the true
line of Main Street, They built a
structure covering the entire depth Of
the lot, as shown by the deeds, and nov
find that the building rs sixteen inches
on the alley The petition was re-
ferred to the ward delegation and tho
City Engineer.
Want to Close Alley.
The petition of the American Ter
minal Warehouse Corporation to be al
lowed to close an alley running eas
from Seventeenth Street. betweel
Broad and MARSHALL Streets, entirel,