The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-06

Beyond dlsposlnE OIL inc mum oe-
bated Miles Ravine controversy by
agreeing to pay $1,000 for release from
an alleged contract, the Common Coun-
ell last night passed finally on but few
| matters, although the debate over
| pending questions continued until al
most midnight. The proposition Of
Major James II. Dooley to pay the city
| 100000 for release from the city's right
of way for sewer through May
mont his country place, was called
| from the table by Sub-Chairman Gill
bert Is. Pollock, OF the Street Commit
| tee, who made vigorous, though un-
successful, effort to secure it's adop-
! ton.
I In the annexation of 1905. in.consid-
Grafton of being left out of the cGrpo-
lrate limits, Major Dooley granted 3p
the city right of way for q trunk sewer
designed by former City Engineer Cut
shaw to drain large part of Clay
Ward. The money for building the
| sewer was provided last year by a bond,
issue. and has since been lying idle
in bank. Mr.. Pollock, after explaining
| the great urgency of giving Sewerage
to large area, outlined the offer. OF
Major Dooley to pay for release from.
| the easement heretofore granted. The
proposition had been, adopted by tthe
Board of Aldermen and tabled In the
| lower branch, where 1t was pending
for concurrence.
New Route Is Cheaper.
Mr.. Pollock explained that City En-
gineer Boiling had made new surveys
! and found route $4,000 cheaper,
more than 1000 feet shorter, along Vir-
! ginia Avenue, through Riverview, en-
tering the river lower down by means
! of tunnel 1900 feet through granite
Mr. Davis, of Clay Ward, led the OPP
position, favorng the original route
and asserting that the tunnel through
| rock would greatly exceed the esti-
mates of the City Engineer IN cost
He was disposed to criticize the Engi-
neer's department for not having found
the cheaper route sooner-not, in fact,
until Major Dooley had made his offer
Mr.. Davis thought that the city was
growing westward and that the ravine
was the natural drainage, and that the
right of way should be reserved. even
though the sewer Were built along the
new route proposed by Mr. Boiling.
Mr.. Pollock quoted a written state
ment of the City Engineer showing that
the new trunk sewer would start from
the same place and drain all the area
1 proposed TO be served by the original
. route. and in addition could be used
for drainage of the suburb known as
Riverview, should that be annexed
/ Mr.. Mills thought the proposition
should be separated; that it was one
thing for the city to hunt the best
location for a sewer and to build 1t
there, and another thing to drive a bar
gain with Major Dooley He thought
the city should go ahead and build the
sewer by the cheapest route, and still
retain its rights down the ravine for
, future uses, should sewer ever be
wanted there. He said he was opposed
to the city giving up its right of way
there or anywhere else.
Davis Criticixcs Cutshaw's Work.
Replying to Mr. Mills. Mr.. Lynch
said it was absurd to suppose that the
city would want two trunk sewers
!, within three blocks OF each other, in
, reply to which Mr., Davis pointed out
, that the city was now building the
. EVest Street sewer parallel to the
great Boulevard sewer. built by Colonel
Cutshaw at enormous cost and which
is not deep enough to drain property
!, three blocks away. Mr.. Radcliffe OPP
: posed giving up the right of way, say
ing that should the city ever need it
again, the cost would be much greater
: than the price now placed on 1T. He
0 highly commended the work of tho
: Engineers department. in finding a
Q cheaper route. Mr.. Umlauf wanted to
Q know why the city should throw away
: $4,000 to retain a right the City En-
= Sineer says the city will not need,
d quoting the statement that the new
: route would serve all of the proposed
. aera Mr.. Pollock expressed himself
a e greatly surprised at the opposition
: Criminal, Says Pollock.
:. y 1T is almost criminal he asserted
Ske
h which should go to tax payers. We
: slneer says he will never again need
a the Dooley ravine. After we have
a built our sewer by another route, dc
r. you suppose the owner will pay for
q release from something we don't pro
Q pose to use? Should we retain !
u worthless right when we have secured
= and used another route?
,e is this fight made to save Major
\. Dooley, the man who fought anneXa
y ton at every turn, and who now pay!
his taxes in the county although hi
property is entirely surronued by tn!
city? Is that the issue? There j
no other question involved.
IL We have no right to refuse to tax
this $4,000 and to make present o
sr valuable right to Major Dooley. TIL
$. concession was made by him to saw
y his property from being taken Int
!. the city and to save city taxes. Thi
a Council is dealing recklessly Wit
d the revenues of the city to vote thi
" offer away
e Mr. Mills held that the Council
le should get detailed plans and the esti
It mates OF the cost of construction o
y the tunnel from competent contractor
~ and not act on mere preliminary esti
"a mates. He moved to recommit tn
At Whole matter to the Committee O
ID Streets, which was adopted
81 ~ Trying to Untanslc Red Tape.
Mayor Richardson sent speca
communication to the Council las
night calling attention to the Task O
20 any provision for the speedy abate
a. a. ment of public nuisances such as Nigh
Nv affect the public health.
ed The Health Department, he ASSERTED
e. had no facilities at its disposal, an
w. the executive officers of the Stree
Cleaning Department held that the
could not act until authorized by tt
), proper Council committee, and nui:
d ances We're therefore allowed to cor
tinue for weeks until some committe
could get a quorum. Superintende1
Cohn and City Engineer Boiling, tt