The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-05
rrr-rAr.ro STREET BUILDING.

rIr-TAT.TO STREET BUILDING.
Apparently building streets in Rich
mond is much like playing that tas-
c,nating chiid's game. Tit-tat-te. The
oh,ec, Of the game 10 to get three
things in a row. In building a street
4he three things are the city. the
street car company and the contractor
In TO date it is not reported that the
people Of Richmond have succeeded
IN winning a game When the city and
@be contractor will Gee" the street
car company pulls "Haw." and when
the company and the contractor gets
together. the city is OF In a corner
earnestly peering down rat-hole. For
permission 20 view this puss-in'the-
corner process. the people pay heavy
price OF inconvenience. delay, loss OF
money from mud and dust. unkind COM
ments from rude visitors and the mer-
chants in particular sacrifice perfectly
good money in lost business
The latest exhibit Of gross inem-
cheney affords its own comment. Put
ON the stage as comedy. you wouldn't
believe it. Yet it is only one OF the
ridiculous revelations by the suocom-
n,ittee investigating the causes OF de-
lay. The city thinks it wants to pave
- part OF Park Street, so begins by
paying $4,000 damages to the abutting
( property owners. Then it is discovered
that there is no money to do the neces-
sary grading. and that the amount paid
=, damages may have to be expended
again II the work is not begun at once.
But here is a solution: Let US take the
money allotted for paving Robinson
Street and spend it on this grading OF
Park Avenue. The car company says it
is too busy to do any work on Robin
son Street anyhow. Give 1t time ana
save the $4,000. trembling in the bal
ance. The car company. of course, IS
willing, since time is what it is fond
est Of.
Enter the william in form OF con-
tractor who had bargained to do work
on Robinson Street for the car people.
He. in pleasing contrast to other con-
tractors and the car company itself,
has expended $1,000 on material FOR
Robinson Street. If this work is aban-
dcned, what happens to him? He is
ready to do his share. but unfortunate
" his $1,000 is tied up by the inability
OF the car company to do any more
work. In accord with street committee
logic, he should be put to work grad
ing Park Avenue.
The obvious remedy here has been
suggested. Let the car company get
its work done by an outsider II 1t can
not do 1t with its own force. A con-
tractor who really gets enough ma
4erial for his Job. ought to be encourag-
ed.
Owing to the difficulty of getting
three in a row on Broad Street IL Is
now possible. that part of the sS''o'c
available .for-this'Nork since last April
may revert to the treasury. because II
CANNOT Dc SAPciucU tSAcAS sA~ emu W
tho year. 1t is probably record
among municipalities Of over 100000
stipulation not TO be able to spend $50.
900 TO get down seven blocks of paw
ing in nine months. But it hardly
seems one that Richmond need be
proud Of.
Chairman vonderiehr need not wait
Tor more information. He has gotten
enough already. Let him make a punE
en-. statement OF the facts to tins
Street Committee al once. Yet Chair.
man Pollock. OF that body. suggest ths
Yemedies. and IL necessary, get a spe'
rial meeting of the Council 10 pass upo,
fhem- Eicamond people are tired o.
Ve:tins red in the face boosting great
Or Richmond when its greatness is
Aampered by methods that woulc
Bankrupt little girl running penn.
lemonade stand Its time 20 chang
the Tit-tst-to rules for next year. w
wan, the edifying spectacle OF tire,
hearts with but single thought: sc
che work done.
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