The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-06
MAY SOON START
WORK ON BROAD ST.
Predicted That Mr.. Mills Plan
of Improvement Must be
Rushed
MAY BORROW FUNDS
TO MAKE BEGINING
Bond Issue Not Favored to Meet
Estimated Cost Of $4,000
Project Pleasing to

That the actual work if improving
and beautifyinS Broad street win be-
gin before the end of the present
year is the opinion of several high
municipal authorities.
A general plan of Improvement will
be submitted to councils by Mr. Nor
gan Mills at the meeting Monday
night. Mr. Mills has deciarsI that
there is no known opposition to the
proposition and that, while certain
formal steps. such as recomm ending
the project first to the committee on
streets. and later to the committee on
finance must be observed, he expects
the plan To be given speedy atten
ton. and the usual slow winding red
tape process 20 be considerably short
ened.
Such a prospect should re crafty
ing to every resident Of Richmond.
1t is particularly so to the Richmond
Virginian. for this paper has advo-
Gated such course editorialiy from
the beginning. Indeed. the entire
sanction of The virgintan is said to
have played no small part in bring
ing about general attitude of favor
toward the proposition.
To Cost $4,000.
Mr.. Mills has estimated that i'm
provements such as he has in mind
and will lay before council can be
effected at q cost of not more than
$4,000, If these figures are accept
ed by the finance COMMITTEES MEM
hers and since Mr.. Mills has given
the matter much careful thought and
hased his estimate on q liberal basis,
ii Is more than probable that they
viii be, Il is generally believed at the
City Hall that the committee viii ap-
propriate $4,000. or half the amount
needed, and viii pay for the remain
ing half with a new appropriation
next year.
Various suggestions have been
made concerning the advisability OF
bond issue to meet the indebted
ness in case the plan carries. Such
an issue is improba BILE for various
reasons chief among which is the
deep-rooted objection of Mayor Rich
ardson TO any such plan.
Opposes Bond Issue.
The latter official declares it would
be more simple and more expeditions
In every way. fer council to allow half
the sum to go over until next year, or.
II the contractors prove unwilling to
agree 10 such an arrangement. to
borrow the necessary funds from
repaid out of the appropriations of
1911.
Although at present there is little
or NO surplus remaining from the APP
preparations of the present year,
Mayor Richardson is nevertheless OF
the opinion that the finance commit
tee will experience little difficulty in
raising $4,000. Thus, since 1t Is an
open secret that Mr.. Mills plan is
regarded IA Nrabig on all sides. 1t is
more than probable that this course
will be pursued, and that within one
year Richmond will have a bigger.
betttr. more business like and more
beautiful Broad street which will not
only possess increased attractiyeness
10 the casual pedestrian and shopper,
but which VIII result In increased
value OF real estate holdings.
Would elevate Tracks.
According to MIR. Mills plan. the
street Is to be repaved, the present
rough Belgian blocks being replaced
or covered with smooth coating of
asphalt that will make the present
rumbiing of heavy wagons a thing of
the past. MIR. Mills also plans to
elevate the street car tracks to a point
about two feet above the remainder
of the highway, with a grassy lawn
each running along the outside.
These paths. he explains will enable
those who wish to board street cars
to wait for the carriers without dan
ger of being run down, by automobiles
or horses other eauipagcs.
There are various other plans afoot.
including a movement to better the
lighting facilities, and to repaye the
sidewalks in those places where Ii
seems necessary. but none of these
are included in the resolution which
Councils will receive from Mr. Mills.
The latter deals only with the repay
ing OF streets and the elevation of
the car tracks. The rest, Mr. Mills
declared viii follow naturally of them
selves.
Civic officials seen Monday expressed
themselves as delighted with Mr.. Mills
plan, and declared their wish and
hope that IL would be adopted as
speedily as possible. Merchants along
Broad street are also enthusiastic.
Several of these latter expressed their
thanks to the Richmond Virglnian for
the beneficial results of it's friendly
aid.