The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-25
Opposed toHavingBuild-
ing Inspector Regu-
late Use Of Streets.
CHARGE CLASS
LEGISLATION
CITY and Street Railways Block
Streets at Will = Contractors
Store Old Material in Public
Highways - Negligence
Charged Against
Police.

For nearly three hours yesterday az
terhoon prominent building contractors,
city officials and Interested citizens
discussed before a subcommittee Of tho
council Committee on Ordinance. Char
Ter end Reform proposed ordinance
designed 10 regulate the use of streets
Tor building material. without COM
pietiHg the hearing, the committee rose
just after I o'clccis, TO meet again this
afternoon at ) o'clock, when any par
Ties desiring 20 be further heard may
present their views. Tho subcomniit-
tee consists of Mcssrs Gunst Brown
and Lunsden. Chairman Cmlauf, of
the Ordinance. Charter and Reform
Committee. and n number OF members
OF the Council were also in attendance
on tho hearing. which was Ut times
spicy TO degree.
III. L Matthews John r. Wilson ana
Gilbert j. Hunt headed a large deIcga-
ton. made UP of tho leading building
contractors of the city. In opposition
TO further restrictions. 1fr. Matthews
claimed that the present law was am
pie. were II enforced, but later discus
sion showed defects IN the statute which
wcrc admitted. Whether II was worth
While 20 attemp, further restrictions
when the Police Depa rtmcnt makcsl
little or no effort 10 enforce the pres
en-, statute. was matter OF some de-
bate.
builders oppone Permit system.
The builders were unanimous In their
opposition TO the proposed new ordi-
nance, which. among other provisions.
limits tho space for material In front
of new structure TO onc-third OF the
street. instead of one-half. as at pres
cni. and to the clause which requires
permit from. tho Building Inspector
before placing any obstruction in thel
street whatever. Too many permits
al In
puircd. the builders asserted. and the
added provisions. while giving little
actual relief. could only result In al
considerable increase In the cost of
building.
Chief Joynes. of the Fire Depart
ment. presented the views OF that de-
partment as TO the necessity for clear
streets for nro apparatus. He men
,loned mapy narrow cross streets which
ale now so much taken UP with build
ers' supplies that the big three horse
engines and trucks cannot get through
At all. resulting in many instances in
delays III reaching tho scene OF fires,
though In answer to questions heI
could not recall any instances OF serious
accidents or loss OF life by reason OF
collision of tire apparatus with build
ing material.
storage AMI Sale Yards.
superintendent Henry Cohn, OF ,hcI
Street Cleaning Department.. was vigo-
rous I'm his criticism of builders who
he said, sprawlei about the streets in
amy manner they pleased, making little
effort 10 move their rubbish and in
many cases which he mentioned by
street and number using the city
streets as q storage and sale yard for
old brick, sometimes for months at a
time Mr.. Cohn also sharply criticized
tho street railway company for It's diia-
tory work OH East Main Street part OF
the street now being tori up from
Twelfth TO Eighteenth Streets Hell
suggeA:ei that whcro track Is reIaid,
permits for opening the streets be
granted only for few blocks at n
limc, and that stringent regulations be
adopted 10 require builders TO finish
up their work and clear away all rub
bish and refuse material.
City Engineer Boiling gave num-
Der of suggestions for changes in the
ordinance on the subject pointing out
defects both in the present law and
In what Is proposed. He saw no OBJ
lection 70 tho use OF one half of the
fcient width, but thought material
should at ali times be kept back fully
six feet from the car tracks.
boiling Suggests Changes.
He suggested amendments authoriz-
ing a covered walkway out in tho
street. such as now used in Ninth
Street By the First National Bank
building, and urged that provision be
made that the cutters be properly
bridged, with intervals. so that they
might be kept clear. saying that the
contractor for the government post
office was violatin the present ordi-
nance In entirely blocking the gutter
OH Main Street and forcing water to
flow all over the street. Protection of
street paving from concrete mixers was
also urged.
Mr.. Matthews. for the builders, pro-
tested that the proposed ordinance was
class legisa ton. in that 1t placed re-
strictIonsi on contractors FOR buildings
While almost unlimited use of the
streets is allowed to contractors for
who block the streets frequently for
months at a time, and in moro serious;
and difficult ways than By the mere
stacking of material. Mr.. Boiling adj
mitted that this was to some extent
true. but called attention 10 the great
difficulties of cXcavatlng under crowd
Cd streets.
Chief Joynes said he always received
notice from the Engineers Department
when any street was to be closed TO
traffic or SO blocked that apparatus
could not get through, and that this
was posted in each engine house for the
information of drivers but that the
ordinance--scction 10. chapter 81, of the
City Code--,wns not generally observed
by other persons or contractors block
ing. the streets.
Members of The committee after tho
hearing expressed the view that while
there were serious defects in the pres
s'l71TTI-- fContipuod ON oocond noca 100000