The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-17
BUILDINGS MUST
KEEP OFFSTREETS
Committee Votes, However, to
Let New Skyscraper Be Last
to Encroach.
BIG SUM FOR STREET WORK
Bolling's Budget Calls for
$a.4oo,ooo-Many Will Bid
on New Bridge.
BIG SUM FOR STREET WORK

a. Beirne Blair. president of the
Richmond Building Corporation, APP
peared before the Council Committee
on streets last night, asking that tho
concerns skyscraper. under oonstruo.
ton on the north line of Main Street,
between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets,
be allowed TO ROMAN over the strcer
line. The committee recommended to
the Council that the encroachment be
allowed, in view of the doubt as to tho
true line of Main Street, and the fact
that tho next door ncighbor, the First
National Bank. has recently beer all
lowed TO encroach several feet with its
portico. although its steps have been
removed
Chairman Adams announced that It
was time TO make an example of some
builder or architect and that the nexr
house built purposely over the true
street line would be ordered down.
aozen such requests. he said, had come
before the committee In tho past few
months. City Engineer Boiling stated
that the law clearly required any pei
certificate OF the true lines of tho lot,
with a drawing of same The Rich
mond Building Corpotation. he said
had made no such application. but hao
proceeded on Its own measurements
Mr.. Gunst wanted the City Engineer to
notify every contractor and builder In
the city OF the requirements of the law,
but Mr.. Lynch thought Ii was thciY
business to know the law. Mr.. Boiling
explained that while t was true that
the building corporation had secured
no certificate, II was also true that tho
present law was obsolete. He said that
the Lynch committee had prepared. Is
one of Its chief recommendations, "A now
ordinance covering the point and speci
flying clearly how builders must proceed
in getting the proper property lines. the
new ordinance providing penalty for
failure to conform to those lines. The
matter was allowed to remain open
until the Lynch committee makes Its
report on organization of the Engi-
neering Department The committee
will meet Tonight TO further consider
its report.
Mnny bridge bidders.
City Engineer Boiling reported that
he had had about eighty requests for
Information from parties proposing to
submit designs for the new bridge
over James River, and that about
twenty large bridge build.nS firms had
sent men here TO look over the ground.
The bidders had raised several ques-
lions. ana. on Mr.. Bollings recon-
mcndation all bidders were notified OF
the following additions TO the specih-
cations, bids TO be lilcd not later than
February |:
The old bridge is to be closed dur
ing construction, and all old material
in the bridge is TO become the prop
crty of the contractor, and Is 10 be
removed by him. The old houses on
Mayo's Island in the acquired right
of way may be used by the contractor
and arc 10 he removed by him. Con-
tractors arc 10 do all the paving both
of roadhed and sidewalk on bridge,
and are TO submit estimates both with
and without rails for street cars. the
proposition being raised as TO whether
the Virginia hallway and Power Com |
pany should be required to lay rails |
OH the bridge as it is erected. TO pre-
vent tearing UP the roadbed later The
contractor is TO furnish and install iron
posts for trolley service and for light
Ing the bridge
Duties of Assessor.
Several ordinances were offered and
recommended to the Council instruct
ing tho Assessor of Damages TO fix
damages on grading certain streets.
After discussion on motion of Mr..
Pollock the City Attorney was asked
TO advise the committee as 10 proper
procedure under the new law.
Mr.. Pollock raised the question
whether. when The Council had ordered
made. the city could rccede and fail to
order the work done. or whether the
report once tiled would have the effect
OF Judgment against the city. Other
members of the committee thought the
assessor could make a tentative assess
ment on request of the Committee on
Streets, which would then have infor-
nation what the work would cost both
from the contracting eXcavator and from
the assessor of damages, and might
order the work or not. "a it saw fit.
and If ordered. the Council might then
confirm the award made by the asses
sor. If each assessment is binding on
the city, the Committee on Streets will
still work in the dark as 10 what any
Improvement is to cost.
city Engineer Boiling submitted a
budget reaching Il total of S2,4OO,0OO OF
work which i'm as, judgment should be
done Oh streets and sewers in the city,
ami the Cl.y Engineer, Chairman
ADAMS and Subchairman Pollock were
named 10 appear before the Finance
Committee in support Of Il larger street
appropriation. Mr.. Boiling stated that
he did not expect 10 get 20 per cent.
OF the amount asked, hut that he had
made list OF all the improvements
which should be made. some of which
probably will not he reached for a.
number of years.
New Rrrtnr Takes Charge.
Special to.rhc Times Dispatch.
Goldshoro y. c.. january 1G.-Roy
John II. Dickinson formerly of the