The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-05
Committee Favors General Policy
Of Improvement, With Paw
ing Of Broad Street.
GOES TO FINANCE COMMITTEE
Docket Cleared at Last-Asscs-
sor Harman Is Under
Fire.

by Alderman Marx Gunst and Council
! man John j. Lynch. who secured APP
prevail of the Council Committee on
Streets last night TO resolution pro-
viding for an issue OF 100000 in
bonds. The committee was practically
unanimous In recommending the paper,
though AIR. Blilcy expressed some
doubt as to whether ii would ever see
daylight from the Committee OH
Finance
In explaining Its purport, Mr.. Lynch
said that with the completion of the
deep sewer in the north side OF Broad
street, from Ninth to Adams Streets.
contract for which was awarded last
night to l. j. Smith e Company, the
lowest bidder. the way would be open
for the Improvement of the roadbed
of Broad Street within the next few
months. The city. he stated, was OBJ
ligated to smooth paving Of the
thoroughfare through the business sec
tion. and the work, he roughly esti-
mated. would cost from 100000 TO
St50.00O.
Grnde Ahead OF building.
In addition to this. Mr.. Lynch said
that 1t would prove a wise policy for
the city TO grade streets in advance
of building operations I'm all the out
lying SECTIONS. C1uCr tne present -SSS-.
TEN. where street improvements fol-
low building, large sums are expended
in payment of damages TO property
owners by reason of the changes In
grades, and much delay Is experienced
in nppraisemcnt, condemnation or in
securing releases before the work can
be done.
Mr.. Lynch said that he would not
have favored such Il bond issue n year
or Ip
ripe for it, but now that many OF the
sewers authorized by the former bond
issue are nearing completion, the way
is opening for the completion Of the
street surfaces, and the opening to
building of larger sections. thus maxi
ing for cheaper rents lowering the
cost OF living and making Richmond a
more desirable centre for manufacture
ing and other enterprises, employing
large numbers Of operatives. ~ pres
ent 1t is stated. such Industries arc
turned away from Richmond by high
rentals. -
The resolution provides that the
money may be used for grading, gray
cling curbing, rondbed paving and
otherwise improving the streets of the
city. 1t was pointed out that the Com
mittce on Finance contemplateS n gen.
eral bond Issue in the near future to
take care OF the cost of the new Mayo
Bridge and other OUTLAWS, and that
there was no demand more urgent than
that of street Improvement. i
Must buy Gravel Pits.
subcommittee reported TO tho
Street Committee that 1t had made an
exhaustive study OF the various de-
posts OF gravel around the city. and
recommended the acceptance of an
offer OF John W. Traylor TO take spe-
cificd amount OF gravel from pit in
the East End for $4,000. the gravel
to be used within five years. For the
West End tho committee recommends
n contract with tho Richmond. Freder-
icksburg and Potomac Railroad Com
pany. The report was adopted. ana a
resolution forwarded TO the Council,
! asking n special Appropriation of $4,000
for The ACQUISITION OF gravel pits for
/ street Improvement.
building line was established on
| the south line of, Grace Street, from
Robinson to Mulberry Streets
| Bids were opened for n large amount
! of street work and referred to the
| CITY Engineer for award to the lowest
| responsible bidder, Including the deep
| sewer In Broad Street, and n sewer
! in the Hermitage Road from Leigh to
Marshall Streets.
Contractors Dlntory.
Complaint was made that many
| contractors did not finish up work in
| the time specified, and that they did
not clean away refuse after completing
their work. Tho City Engineer was
| Instructed to notify I'm writing all con-
| tractors OH city work that IL tho
streets were not put back in condition,
and all refuse removed promptly on
the completion of any work. it would
be removed by the city at the con-
! NTr OIL
that many sewer contractors were far
i behind time Including work on some
! of the larger sewers, and that much
excellent working weather had gone
| by with little or nothing done on some
Jobs He was Instructed to notify such
contractors that the city would expect
them to live up to requirements as
| to time. or forfeit the work.
After Assessor Hartman.
A resolution was adopted instructing
| Assessor of Damages A. c. Hartman
| to report what he had done to earn his
| salary since his election.
Many blocks which it is proposed to
grade have been referred to him for
| appraisemcnt but 1t was stated that
| no report had been received. though
some of them had been in his hands
I many months. Mr.. Lynch asserted
! that the city was not getting on as
f, well under the assessor system as by
| the plan OF condemnation, as com
para lively few streets and alleys have
been graded In the past year, owing
to the difficulty OF adjusting damages
or securing releases from the property
| owners, appropriations for this pur-
! pose having In some instances revert
| cd TO the treasury.
| Tho Street Committee transacted a
large amount of routine business
| clearing IT'S docket to the last paper
| for the first time since appoint
ment last year. City Engineer Boiling
was instructed to appoint some one to
act as clerk Of tho committee during
| the three months vacation which has
been allowed To Clerk ]. Taylor STRAIT
| ton. which begins on May 10...