The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-24

:Apiaiieu us PROVISIONS, the Commit
tee on Streets last night adopted in
1ull the report ofithe COMMITTEES, which
recently made thorough examination
OF the conduct Of the Engineers De-
Of the accompanying recommends
tlons those which could be enacted as
rules Of the department were adopted
outright. while those requiring Council
actlon were recommended to the Coun-
eli IN the shape OF ordinances amend
ing, the City Code. The only clause to
wnicn there was objection was tho
provision for districting the city and
assigning an assistant engineer TO each
district. City Engineer Boiling said
! mat he had never seen a more pains
gone. deeper into n study Of conditions,
and that OF the nineteen rcconmenda-
lions that was the only one in which
he did not heartily concur but he was
willing TO give 1T a trial 1t was cX-
l,laincd that 1t was merely a rule OF
! the committee. and could be rescncd
az any time IL IL proved unsuccessful.
and Mr.. Powers was the only mega
tive vote. the repor, in all other
clauses being adopted unanimously
Some Provisions.
Important provisions recommended
10 the Council for adoption are u
! Engineer entire charge Of tile force
under him, with the power 70 employ
ana discharge without intervention OF
lnent OF adequately trained inspectors.
appointment OF a chief clerk for the
office. who stall be purchasing agent
for the department; new survey and
map OF the older part OF the city to
correct errors in the map OF 1872 q
new system OF giving street lines and
grades; transferring the numbering OF
spector's office, and tho abolition OF
the system Of local assessments for
paving sidewalks and alleys, or the in
staliation OF some simpler system
rt t,.,. - -
Issuing allegations. Ha
Abolish Local Asrcsnmcnts.
The last clause occasioncd some de-
bate IN the course OF which ii was
system large part OF the time OF as.
sistant engineers and clerks is taken
In making out and Issuing allegations.
which require a study OF the records 10
service Of the notice. The belief WAS
expressed that when allowance was
mad for the losses occasioned by re
bates to churches and charitable insti-
tnttons. the one half allowed to
proper,y-owners along the side OF cor
ncr houses. the corner intersections
ana the time OF the various clerks cit-
serving the notices, Keeping the ntri.
cate books of the special assessments
and collecting the accounts. II would
be shown that It would actually be
cheaper in the end for the city itself
TO appropriate the money and pave the
alleys and sidewalks outright. This
View was concurrcd in by many OF the
members present. Mr.. Jones stating
that the former city OF Manchester had
| long ago abandoned the clumsy system
OF local assessments provided for un-
der state law as burdensomc and veXa-
tlouS alike to the city and the property
owners, and serving only to give en-
| ployment TO a few more clerks at the
expense OF the taxpayers.
Must Discharge Careless Men.
In the course of his remarks. Chair
man Lynch spoke of several OF the as
| sissants in the office in plain terms.
city was devised mainly TO give each
assistant a definite responsibility so
that those who do not measure up
m'ght be speedily weeded out Of the
the committee made its report. several
instances OF errors. careless work and
evident incompentence on the part Of
| First Assistant Engineer jackson Boil
ton had come to his knowl edge, which
had the committee known OF them,
would have caused a special recon-
mendation:. The committee hereafter. he
said, would look to the head Of the
department to discharge at once any
assistant showing such carelcssness
and lack Of knowledge. The youngest
engineer In the office, he added Mr.
| Keegan, was now in charge Of the Viz
Sinia Avenue sewer, an Undertaking
requiring most careful engineering,
and work which several Of the mem
bers OF the committee believed Mr.
Bolton incapable Of performing. Errors
and carelessness on the part of other
assistants were also mentioned by Mr.
Lynch, who said that with direct re-
sponslbility placed on each man, and
the City Engineer held responsible for
the work OF all, it was hoped that the
incompetent men would shortly be
welded from the city',s service.
everaI members Of the committe,
characterized the report as the most
able and thorough ever presented by n
! subcommittee. and many OF It's provi-
| sions showed careful study of condi-
! tons.
Refuse to Iec0nsidcr.
Before going into the Lynch report
| the committee hcarl from the attor-
neys for the Virginia Railway and
| Power Company and tho Richmond and