The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-12
Many Complaints OF impossible
Thoroughfares Are
Made.
SUPPLY ABOUT EXHAUSTED
City Must Find New Method Of
Improving Less Expensive
Roadbeds.

Residents of Henry and other streets
In the western part of the city are UP
in arms over the character of gravel
which is being used in coating streets
In that section. Under thu gulse OF
"graveling" Henry Street has recently
been given four-inch coating of red
mud, which puts it on par with the
worst road In Goochland county. One
heavily loaded team stalled outright
there yesterday, while lighter vehicles
came through spattered as though they
had made long country journey over
the typical Virginia road in January.
AT the office of the City Engineer, IL
was stated that the matter was not
che for levity but that most serious
situation confronts the city. The gravel
pits in the west end from which the
city has been drawing it's supply. af-
ter gradual ydeteriorating for the past
year, have played out entirely. and the
wagons are bringing from them clay
and mud formation that would be bet
ter left off than used.
Looked, but Never Reported
AS much as a year ago City Engineer
Boiling called the matter to the atten-
ton of the Street Committee most
1orcibly, and subcommittee was APP
pointed TO look about for new gravel
beds.
If the subcommittee ever met. ii
never reported, though Mr.. Boiling a
number offtimes deferred to the urgen
cy of the situation, and 1T was one of
the first matters he brought up in. the
newly organized Street Committee this
fall, and new subcommittee now has
The matter in hand
Some members of the Street Com
rittee believe that it will be neces-
sary 10 so far into the country and
establish quarries and bring the gravel
IN on trains TO convenient distributing
points. Others favor abandoning the
use of gravel and establishing muni-
cipal rocq quarries with proper crush.
ing machinery for macadamiz'ng
streets
Many Streets Need Help.
There are being opened UP and
graded in both the East End and the
West End miles of new streets, which
require some attention. II will be
many years. if at all, before the value
of the property will justify the smooth
paving of these streets, and some form
Of inexpensive roadbed is essential. If,
indeed, the streets are to be used al
all in, wet weather.
Members of the Street Committed
assert that Richmond now has enough
highly improved streets on which
wealthy citizens may erect high priced
houses; that what it needs is miles
OF comparatively inexpensive streets
properly graded, graveled and witr
curbing and guttering. en- which sala-
ried men may rent or erect homes
within their means, and live in com
fort, II not with the pretension of tn,
mansion houses on the great thorough
fares, such as Monument Avenue.
Favor Suspension of Work.
In view of the red mud, which Il
being used, several members OF hi
Street Committee said last night. tina
they would favor suspension of al
work In grayeling streets until prop
err supply of gravel can be located
that the present work was doing NOR
narm than good. Mr. Boiling said tina
ne had no option hut 10 gravel tn
streets ordered by the Street Commit
tee with the material al his disposa
Mr.. Boiling said he believed the cit
would effect great saving by turn
ing It's attention TO grading the street
In which sewers are to be laid as
the trenches are cut now, and tn
streets later cut down, It would mea
handling the same earth twice, wit
corresponding loss. Members of III
committee favor the purchase OF on
or more additional steam rollers, wit
view of keeping thief surface {
Btreets AT least in disable conditio
during the coming winter.