The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-02
Sweeping Changes Are
Recommended by Sub
Committee.
THREE ASSISTANTS
A RE CRITICIZE ed
Ordinances Putting Office on
Business Basis Proposed to
Street Committee inspectors
Should Be Assigned to Work
Under Direction Of Dis
trict Engineers.

Censuring by name three Of the
assistants in the Office OF the City En-
Xinccr. and making !, large number OF
recommendations for changes in the
operation OF the department, the Lynch
tnyesugatinG committee presented it's
findings and recommendations TO the
Council Committee on streets last
night
The report was read ana ordered
printed. and Will be considered later.
il adopted as whole an ordinance
viii be forwarded tolthe Cuuncii carry
Ing out the Recommendations The in
Scstigaiion was Held as "a result OF
certain structures made oy Mir. Lynch
in the Street Committee To the con-
duct Of the Office, and was requested
by CITY Engineer Boiling, who himself
recommended a number Of the changes
embraced IL, the findings. The report
fully hears out the charges made by
Alr Lynch as 10 negligence un the part
or certain assistant engineers, and as
- carelcssness and laXity in the de-
tail conduct OF the Once
Some Recommendations.
Important features are that the City
Engineer be made the head of the de-
x Pertinent in fact IS well as In name,
Il With entire charge 81 the force under
I him; that the assistant ngincers be
required TO give bond; that inspectors
on public work be employed by the
nionth:#thas a Grief clerk sc appoi NJ ed,
40 nave charge Of tile office and the
otHce force. anu that an accurate sur
Ney and map OF lie older part OF the
city he mode 10 replace that OF 1877 in
Which man$ errors have been found.
III addition, {, IS recommended that
tic CHIEF clerk he made the purchas
ing tgert for the Office and depart
lnent.Hthat the hours for worl. be def
nstciy fixed that a DEFINITE plan be
ulo?ted for giving street lines and
grades; hat 4 record be Rep; OF any
:ccdent in connection with city work;
tia. the city be- divided into five or six
districts. the boundaries 10 be fixed
BY the Ciiy Engineer and changed BY
him from time 10 time. and an assistant
engineer be placed in charge OF each
district, the district engineer TO have
charge Of all work going on in that
section OF the city; that the number
Ing Of houses be transferred from the
1ngncers office 70 the Building In
spector's Department; that a standard
system OF ming he Introduced, similar
to that in The Building Inspectors De-
partmcnt; that an atlas showing the
property owners OF the city be kept In
the Engineers office. and that the IL DO
rious and antiquated system Of paw
Ing alleys nd sidewalks at the expense
"A OF abuttinE property owners be either
altogether, and the work be done al the
expense OF the city.
Important Findings.
Findings Of the committee are tina
the Office has not been conducted in q
BUSINESS like manner. though IL is
Stated that conditions have materially
improved IN the past few years, since
1he present City Engineer took charge;
that many reforms are needed in the
If ~ off RI. . 10
total cost Of engineering and super
vision as compared with tie amount
expended through this department, Is
S23 per cent, which the committee re-
ports as Very reasonable. the usual
charge for engineering and supervision
being per cent.
First Assistant City Engineer Jack
son Bolton is held TO have been derelict
(. In discharge OF lis duties in not hans
Ing properly directed the work of those
under his charge. Third Assistant City
EnSince! l'ontaine Jones is reported 10
have been careless and TO have given
incorrect measures in several instances.
and Fourth Assistant City Engineer
Charles L. Todd. Jr, IS reported as hav-
dne been derelict in allowing to CON
tractors payment for work before it had
been measured, and in other Instances
doing work in Violation of The rules
OF the office.
boiling Not Criticized.
In conclusion, the report states that
If the City Engineer, vino is in no way
criticized In any part OF the report or
recommendations. will make full use Of
the authority proposed to be conferred
on him. the efficiency Of the office will
be greatly improved.
The report states that the Engineers
office, handling large amount of the
city's business. is in no way different
oil IN, b,,c;
that for satisfactory and economical
conduct Of the office the head Of the
department must be clothed with au-
thority to employ or discharge such
/. persons as in his Judgment contribute
to or detract from the success Of the
citys affairs under his direct superyis-
ION.
Findings OF COMMITTEES.
The findings and recommendations of
the committee follow in full:
Your subcommittee. appointed to in
ves.igate the conduct and affairs Of
the City Engineers office, beg leave to
report as follows:
l. After hearing from large num-
Der OF witnesses. consisting mostly Of
the employees OF the office, and on eX-
animation Of tho records and files kept
In said office, We find that the Office
is not conducted in 4 business like
manner While we lind that conditions
have been improved in the past few
years, under the management OF tho
CONTINUED on Seventh Pago.)