Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-24
Points Out Examples of Piece
meal Policy Failing in Its
Purpose.

p
up the present terrible condition of tn
and attacks the present system
as a "makeshift." His statement is o
especial interest and timeliness in viev
Of the city councils meeting to reor
ganize the chief Of construction de
partment on Monday.
Here is Mr.. Ansley's statement:
Atlanta is the Gateway Of the
South, and its location, together
with the fact that perfectly graded
and paved public roads and inter
urban car lines are planned to in
tersect all the country within 200
miles Of Atlanta and that within
100 miles there is already a popu-
lation Of more than 100000, helps
to make Atlanta the Metropolis"
and the financial and commercial
center Of the South No other sim
liar area of the South can show so
great population, not excepting
New Orleans and Louisville with
their surrounding territory
Plan For City of 100000.
We must plan for city of 1000
900 people or more and build ac-
cordingly. We must plan for the
future, and not for the present
alone
Reorganize every department Of
the city government.
As we have no commission form
Of government, we should place an
expert at the head of each depart
ment Of the city. Not a political
expert but an expert who can stop
the waste that has been going on
up to the present time.
1t will cost the taxpayers millions
Of dollars to perfect Atlanta water
and sewer system and perfect the
grades and pave the streets of the
city,
Employ tfe best sewer and street
experts in America and contract all
this work Let the city and county
combine and perfect the trunk sew
err system. and then lay all lateral
sewers and water mains on unpaved
streets by contract at about $l40
to $3.50 per lineal foot, or practical
ly at cost to the owners of prop
erty on the street. This will perfect
these systems at a minimum expense
and within a minimum period Of
time
Street Work by Contract.
city and county forces should do
sewer and repair work and not
build streets in the city. Street
WORK should all be done by con-
tract by the lowest best bidder. All
contractors should be forced to
furnish the material called for by the
specifications. The city should en-
ploy more laborers and fewer boss
es for its work
Employ the best business man OBJ
tainable to be chief of construction,
and let all plans and specifications
for work to be done be drawn by
expert engineers, and contract for
all work strictly under these plans
and specifications.
In addition to aldermen and coun-
Cilmen, let each ward select by
written private ballot the best bust
ness men in their ward to form an
advisory board that will be nom
political and hear all requests for
public improvements to be made
anywhere in the city and let this
board recommend to the city coun-
ell such work as it approves, after
all necessary estimates of the cost
of same have been obtained.
Makeshift System Now.
In my opinion, the fault with the
present system, If it may be called
a system, Is that it is only make
shift" and public improvements,
where undertaken at all are done
by "piecemeal," which is not only
unsatisfactory, but very much more
expensive than If these matters
We're handled on a business basis.
The city should adopt a definite
progressive policy and work to that
end. The streets located In the
center of the city should be brought
to their proper grades at the ear
liest possible moment, and this
could be done at a comparatively
moderate expense.
Building limits should also be es-
tablished on streets where it is
deemed advisable to widen the
present street and an agreement
obtained from the property owners
To- conform to this building limit
in the erection Of all future struc-
lures
As an illustration Of the present
"piecemeal method. l will mention
the following cases:
l. Mitchell street was regarded
three times before it was brought to
its present level.
EdscWood avenue was reCrad-
ed at a large expense to both the
city and county on two different oc-
casions before il was brought to its
present grade.
3 Hunter and Forsyth streets
have been regarded twice, and the
new grade now being established on
Forsyth street is from three to five
feet too low
4 whitehall street was widencd
and regarded AT d very large ex-
uyasa ro th. city and county a few
years ago. and 10y reason OF inn
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