The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-22
R ailw ay Com pany
ants Inspector as
It's Chief Engineer.
POLLARD URGES
COUNCIL TO ACT
Two Committees Agree to Raise
Salary to $1,000 in Order to
Retain Services Of This
Official Who Has Made
Excellent Record as
Building Inspector.

Building Inspector Henry Rec,-
was yesterday offered the position as
chiei engineer for the Virginia Rail-
! way and Power Company. made vacant
! BY the resignation Of Calvin Whitelev
| ~ VINO mas accepted a similar posi-
} lon In Baltimore. MIR Beck has the
matter under advisement and han NJ
statement to make last night as 10 his
+ action
| Realizing the great loss to the city,
were ne to retire from tho Building
Department, especially at this time,
I when there Is much Important con
! struction work in progress in all parts
/ OF the city, prompt action was taken
! last night by the Council Committees
( on Finance and on Ordinance. Charter
| and Reform with a View OF increasing
the salary paid by the city. The street
! railway company offers $500 per year.
ana the committees recommended that
! the city meet the price, increasing the
| Building Inspector from his present
! salary of $4,000 per year.
WINS MOI Solicited.
The action of the Virginia Railway
and Power Company came as a sur
prise to the Building Inspector and
| was not solicited by him. He was first
| approached on the subject, by Vice
! President Fritz Sitterding on Monday
|
yesterday morning. MIR. Beck is an
engineer of long and practical ex-
| perience. He was for several years
an assistant engineer in the office OF
former City Engineer Cutshaw Later
| he opened an Office for general en-
| giEeering, doing work for the Rich
nond and Henrico Railway In connec-
! ton with the foundations and prelirl-
/ mary surveys for the Marshall Street
viaduct. He has been employed at
| various times BY the Virginia Railway
and Power Company and its predeces-
/ sors, build! u several OF the dams In
| James River. and supervising construc-
ton Of the Twelfth Street power
house, built by the Virginia Electrical
Railway and Development Company,
| now the chief power house for the
| Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany's system. and In some regards
! piece Of unique construction. 1t was
the first all reinforced concrete build
ing to be erected in Richmond. and be-
| cause OF its location and manner OF
construction. is probably more abso-
lutely nre-proof than any other
/ building in the city.
Was In Board OF aldermen.
| Many years ago Mr.. Beck served in
! the Common Council from old Jack
| son Ward, and In later years he was
member OF the Board of Aldermen
from the same section, serving until
| under the rearrangement of ward
| lines, that ward was abolished. He
, was a member Of the Water Committee
during the construction of the city
| settling basins. He was elected by the
! Council to the Office Of Building In
| spector when it was created in 1907.
| At that time tho city had no build
| ing code, and only the most lax me-
| thods of regulating building construc-
| ton Under the leadership Of Mr.
! Beck a special commission was ap
| pointed. composed Of architects, build
| ers and citizens, which drew up the
| present building code of the city,
! adopted in 1908. Mr.. Beck has steadily
worked out a definite organization
| for his Office until 1t is one of the best
| maintained in the city government.
Issues Monthly Report
| Since its organization it has never
once failed to balance on the last day
| of the month, and issue for publica-
| ton an accurate report Of the volume
of building operations in the city, and
| for the corresponding month of the
| previous year. The office force now
consists OF one clerk and three deputy
inspectors. and the methods Of keep
! ing the records and division of the
work are regarded as models
| Mr.. Beck has worked hard, early
| and late. keeping his Office open IN
| busy seasons far into the night,
checking over plans. and has won
general appreciation by his impartial
action in many instances. Without
| favor to Councilman or citizen he has
adhered to the rules, reporting viola
| lions to the Police Court and condemn
ing faulty work and unsafe buildings
without fear or favor. Building opera
lions In the city have more than dou-
| bled since the Office was organized,
.ast years report having greatly ex-
cceded the Near before. while January
! and February this year from the totals
on exhibit in Mr.. Beck's office. are far
| year.
| Pollard Takes Initiative.
| So realizing what 1t would mean to
| lose such an officer, and that It would
/ take many months to break In any
| new man, however we'll trained, Chair
| man H. r. Pollard. IT., OF the Coun-
| Gil Committee on Finance. who for the
| past three or four years has led the
! night In the Council against Salary
! grabbing" and has been known as
| the watch dog OF the treasury" OPP
posing bond issues and unnecessary cH-
| penditurcs. took tho ,initativc In Sc
curing immediate action that would
! assure Mr. Beck Of the city's apprc-
| citation OF his work. and If possible to
| keep him In the post in which he has
! proved so successful.
| Mr. Pollard brought tho matter TO
the attention OF the Committee on FL
+, nance last night. Under the rules that
| committee can originate no action not
authorized by tho Council, but every
member save ono was Of tho opinion
/ that Mr.. Beck was worth as much or
more to the city as he is to q corpora
ton. Without committing themselves