The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-17
MAKING A MESS
OF BROAD [ Street !
SO Says Council Committee, Of.
Contractor for Electric
Plant.
3. H2A r. e sHIPsHoD WORK.
Streets Left in Uneven Condition
So That Sweeping Machines
Will Not Work.

Another Council committee Is dis
gusted over the slipshod methods OF
city contractors who undertake to dig
in the streets This time 1t Is the
Council Committee on Street Cleaning.
Councilman Hirschberg, who has been
looking into the matter, reported last
night that Broad Street was In such an
abominable condition OF mountains and
valleys that the street-swecping ma
chimes touch only tho high spots, leav-
ing the accumulated trash OF weeks in
the depressions.
Some weeks ago City Engineer Boil
ing exhausted every effort to induce
the Street Committee TO take some ac-
ton toward requiring contractors Dig
ging up streets to replace them in
proper condition. Apparently his pro-
test had little effect. Alderman Rem
holds Informed the Street Cleaning
Committee last night that the work
Of tho Mckay Engineering Company,
contractors for laying the underground
conduits for the municipal electric
plant, was the worst yet--that none
of 1t seemed to him to have been done
right.
Mr.. Boschen agreed with him and
said he would call the attention Of
the Committee on Electricity to it
that in his Judgment the conduits were
not being properly 1aid-the concrete
not properly tamped, and certainly the
trenches were not being properly re-
filled. nor the paving properly relaid.
Mr.. Hirschberg reported several man
hole caps set several inches above the
surrounding paving. to the Imminent
danger both of pedestrians and We
hiclcs.
Roasting Contractors.
1t was the consensus OF opinion OF
the committeeman present that no
other city in America would allow Its
principal shopping street to be torn
up In such a manner and fcSt pile
of dust In dry weather and impossible
mud on rainy days. It was reported
that the contractor made no effort to
light obstructions left in the streets
and was apparently entirely negligent
of the necessity of providing crossings
and passageways to street cars, and
that the consulting engineer had APP
, parently made no effort to insist that
the trenches be properly flushed and
paved before the paving Is relaid. Mr..
Hirschberg was at first In favor of
calling the whole matter to the atten-
ton of the Mayor, with view Of
having work suspended and payment
stopped by summary action. but yield
ed to Mr.. Remedies suggestion as to
courtesy to another Council commit
| tee.
To Send Protest.
After debate the chairman was d.
rectcd to send letters OF protest to the
chairmen OF the Council Committees
on Streets and Electricity. informing
those bodies of the condition OF Broad.
Main. Ninth and other streets. and
stating that 1t would be Impossible to
sweep or otherwise clean those thor
oughfares unless the surface of the
paving was put in proper order
Members of the committee took gen
eral part in the discussion and ex-
pressed the view that the time had
come to call halt on slipshod meth
DDS OF city contractors. whose work
has frequently to be done over by the
city hands and carts and which in
some cases has been 80 poorly done
as to necessitate the repaving OF an
/ entire street at the ctty's expense