The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-23
GREAT CHANCE TO
Open CITYSTREEIS
Mayors Plan May Put All
Paving Under Engineers
Department.
DISCUSS CABINET SCHEME
While 1t Would Have No Bind
ing Power, 1t Could Take
Out Many Kinks.

Comment on Mayor Ainslie's plan for
forming a caninet of the heads OF the
larger city departments was general
yesterday, the lack of authority OF
such a body being pointed out as it's
chief weakness Neither the Mayor
nor the heads of departments have
any funds at their disposal, however,
they may desire to cooperate. and
the concert OF action by such body
can be only advisory. Under the
present committee plan OF government
the Superintendent of the Water
Works has not a dollar he can spend
without having first an order from the
Council Committee on Water. Similar
IL. the City Engineer IL limited In
street and sewer work by the Commit
tee On Streets. and in park improve
ments by the Committee on Grounds
and Buildings.
May Consolidate street Work.
Out of the discussion. however. has
grown a concrete suggestion for the
protection OF the streets of the city
and for fixing responsibility for their
uneven, and In some places. ruined
condition. This is to transfer from
the Gas. Water and Electrical depart
ments to the City Engineers office all
street construction work. At present
| both the Water Department and the
Gas Department are laying mains and
I! making house connections in many
| sections. and each has its own con-
| tractor for replacing street paving
| over such trenches. In instance after
| instance the City Engineer and Com
| mittee on Streets have complained OF
| faulty work on the part OF these con-
! tractors. but the uneven paving has
not been repaired. and all over the
city one may notice the uneven de-
| pressions in paving where gas and
! water men have dug in the streets.
| and In the case Of graveled or dirt
| streets. have left a mound that Is
| dangerous.
| Under the plan proposed there would
be but one contractor for such work
| directly under supervision of the En-
gineers office. which could be held d.
rectly responsible for the result OF
the work and for the condition OF the
streets. When the Water Department,
for instance. wanted a Pipe laid In a
| certain street. II would give the order
not to its own contractor-but the
| Engineers Department, which would
! have 1t laid and paving replaced. and
| charge the whole cost to the Water
| Department. Thus all city work in
! the public streets would be under the
! direct supervision Of one department.
which could be held responsible.
| NJ Results Expected.
Little actual result is expected fror
the appointment of a subcommittee BY
| the Committee on Streets to look int,
the question OF delayed contracts. Tn,
ihsuhnciency Of force and material o,
the paving Jobs Is obvious. After thre'
months time Contractor Cheat
| wood has not yet on the ground any
ing Of Main Street from Fifth Il
this paving has been done. nor has the
concrete base for it been laid. the only
paving done in the three months since
the street was opened being between
! the street car tracks.
On the Broad Street paving job Fri.
day morning exactly three negro me-
were leisurely digging with pick axe:
| in the hard surface. Later . pair OF
/ mules and a plow and few more mer
were added. but at no time since tn;
| Paving Of Broad Street was opened
early In August has there been an ade.
Quate force at work. nor has Their.
| been any noticeable amount OF the
night work that was promised. saw,
in the relaying of the street car tracks
! The north track has been renewed 70!
three blocks, less than one-fourth OF
; the entire track renewal required. NJ
| blocks have been laid. nor has any
concrete been placed under the city,
part OF this work.
Work Not Even Begun.
| Still Broad and Main Streets have
Jared better than many other section:
| Of the city. where paving contract.
awarded last spring have not even
been begun. When City Engineer Boil.
ing brought the matter to the atten.
! ton OF the Committee on Streets. Cap
F! tain Mills remarked that the news.
papers were always kicking about
something. and the contractors were
given more time. In fact. there ID nt
; record At the City Hall to show thai
any forfeit for delayed work has evel
4: been required by any Committee or
Streets. and banking on this past re-
/ cord. the contractors are taking theil
/ own time.