The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-19
REFUSES TO PAY
STANDARD BILL
Street Committee Informed That
Oiling Contract Has Been
Grossly Violated.
SEWER WORK ALSO BEHIND
Smith Cannot Secure Brick.
Gary Street Widening
Plans Tabled.
SEWER WORK ALSO BEHIND

| Report was made to the Council
| Committee on Streets last night by
| City Engineer Charles Z. Boiling that
the Standard Oil Company had utterly
failed to live up to its contract In OIL
! ing city streets, and the Engineer read
letter he had written to ]. w. Graves.
agent for the Standard Company. in
forming him that the bill would not be
paid. The committee indosed the
stand taken by the City Engineer.
The work done up TO this time en-
braces about $1,000 square yards and
while not yet fully measured up, the
bill will amount to several thousand
| dollars. The specifications in the con-
tract require that of the composition
used so per cent. was to be asphalt.
making Il permanent binder of the oil.
Samples of the preparation used in sew
eral sections of the city were submit
| I'd to City Chemist Whitfield. who, on
analysis. could find no trace OF asphalt
whatever. the preparation used being
| merely, he reported, a dark oil which
was readily absorbed.
Dust Deeper Than Before.
Mr.. Gunst called special attention to
| the condition of Meadow Street and
West Grace Street. oiled recently by
| the Standard Oil Company. Formerly,
he said. these streets had been covered
with yellow dust, now they were even
| deeper with black dust. Mr.. Boiling
| agreed that much OF the work done
was absolutely worthless. not even hav-
ing laid the dust. Mr.. Gunst announced
his opposition to spending street money
intended for permanent Improvement IN
oiling and other temporary dust-laying
eXpedients. Mr.. Lynch agreed that the
standard OIL Company had acted in bad
faith with a subcommittee which had
gone to Baltimore to see oiled streets.
in failing utterly to give the same SER
vice here.
Under advice OF Acting Chairman
Pollock. the action OF the City Engi-
neer in rejecting the bill was ap-
proved. They will nAver get q penny
for the work they have done in Rich
mond, and they know It," was Mr.. Pol
| locks assertion.
Donnell Must Give Up Contract.
Mr.. Boiling brought to the attention
OF the committee the interminable de-
lays of Contractor Donnell on the
Gillies Creek bridge, the most impor-
tant part Of the plan for opening new
Lester Street. The City Engineer
stated that Contractor Donnell had
never had on the ground the appliances,
equipment or force to execute the work
that the time for completion OF the
entire contract had expired. and the
contractor, was not yet out Of the mud
Attorney James L. Anderson appeared
for Contractor Donnell and frankly ad-
mitted that his client was financially
embarrassed and unable to go on with
the work. but said that he hoped to
get assistance from his bonding com
pany or TO sublet the contract Mr.
Lynch asserted that he should not have
bid unless in a position to take the
work, and that it was no use jumping
on the City Engineer for failure TO
execute work when the committee fails
to back him up and allows contractors
and their bondsmen to take their own
time Mr.. Boiling read many letters
sent to Contractor Donnell urging him
TO begin work
The matter was referred to the City
Engineer. with power to act, either TO
relet the contract or to employ men to
finish the work. 1T Will not take me
long to decide what to do with Mr.. Don
NELL" said Mr. Boiling.
Smith Also Behind Time.
While on the subject Mr.. Boiling re-
ported the contracting firm of i. J
Smith &; Co. as far behind time on con-
tract work for sewers. Mr.. Smith, who
was present. claimed that II had been
impossible to secure brick. and asked
permission to use concrete construction,
with brick lining. The committee OBJ
Jected TO changing the specifications
as unfair to other bidders, and Mr.
Boiling stated that Contractor MAYNARD
had told him he could supply the brick
Mr.. Smith said II appeared that some
contractors were favored by the brick
yards at the expense of othera: that
his supplies were always delivered last
Mr.. Smith said it would take 1000, 900
brick to finish work he now has under
way for the city.
If you can't get them in Richmond
you should buy them elsewhere" said
Mr.. Lynch Mr.. Smith said city in
spectors had recently condemned the
greater part of two carloads of brick
red to the City Engineer to report
whether brick could be secured. and
whether the method of construction
should be changed.
The Boulevard and Hermitage Road
leading to the Fair Grounds were or
dered oiled previous to the State Fair
Experimental Paving.
The Virginia Railway and Power
Company was allowed to make an ex-
pertinent OF new type OF paving be-
tween the tracks on Seventh Street
from Broad to Main, the paving to be
replaced at the cost OF the company IL
found unsatisfactory.
Plans for widening Cary Street west
of the Boulevard were tabled because
VI Inc Iaiiure OF ebutting property
owners to sign releases. and the City
Engineer was instructed to proceed
with grading and crawling the street
from the Boulevard to the corporate
limits at It's present width.
The application of the Richmond and
Henrico Railway for general light
Ing franchise was referred to a sub
committee of seven, Of which Mr.
Lynch will be chairman. The aYplica-
tinn of the fnr oIr
extensions in the western part of the
city was passed by at the request of
Samuel L. Kelley, attorney for the
company