The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-16
GAS WORKS TAR
FOR CITYSTREETS
Administrative Board Would
Use By-Product for Public
Benefit
NO FIRE PUMP ON CITY TUG
Board Preparing to Pave Main
Street West of
Roland

Useof tar and other by-products of
the City Gas Works as binder for
macadamized streets was discussed at
some length by the Administrative
Board yesterday superintendent
Knowles of tho Gas Works and others
taking part. resolution offered by
Captain Mccarthy was adoptes. direct
ing the Superintendent of the Gas
Works 10 make thorough inquiry
into the nature and cost of the plant
necessary to prepare the tar for use
in street work. a supplementary rcso-
luton also adopted instructs the Super
intendent not 10 renew any contract
for the sale of gas tar expiration of the
for sale of gas tar after e. peration of the
present term. and 20 inform the Ad
ministrative Board of the terms of the
present contract. and further whether
additional land would be required for
such plant as is proposed.
Experiments Made Here.
The general Introduction Of auto
mobiles has brought about change
in street building. the old style maca-
dam being quickly cut to pieces by the
strong suction of the rear driving
wheels of motor cars. To meet this
condition engineers here and elsewhere
of all forms of tar and asphalt binders
20 form blanket or top dressing for
the street Under the personal super
vision of Assistant City Engineer Talla
ferro a block was laid on Fifth Street
between Main and Franklin more than
a year ago. lake asphalt being poured
hot into the interstices of the rock, and
the whole substance rolled like "a maca-
dam roadway. Under heavy traffic the
street shows no sign of wear, and more
than mile of the same form of con-
struction has recently been laid on
West Cary. Beverly and other streets.
Crcnshaw Suggested Its Use.
In his annual report for 1910, Special
Accountant George s. Crcnshaw recon-
mended That the coal gas tar and
water gas tar. by-products of the gas
works. be used for tho improvement Of
the roadbed OF tho city's streets after
the expiration of the present contracts.
and after such treatment may be
necessary in lieu of being sold at the
extremely low prices which have pre-
vailed for these byproducts for several
years past
1t was a matter of some comment at
the time that the old Committee on
Light seldom. if ever. had more than
one bid for the tar. but such was the
jealousy between the various city dc
partments that no serious efforts were
Improvement of the streets, and the
suggestion was allowed TO go by.
Now that the Administrative Board
has supervision of both departments,
it is proposed to revive the matter,
investigate il thoroughly and de-
termine whether it is practicable.
Fire Boards Request Filed.
Although taking d step in advance
in regard to the gas tar. the board re-
versed its attitude when request
was received from the Board OF Fire
Commissioners that. for the better
protection of property along the water
front. fire pump and apparatus be
installed on the city tug. The Admin
istrative Board ordered the communi-
cation received and fled. The Fire
Department Is not under the Admins
trative Board. The Fire Board has
made the same commentator IN
past years. but in view of opposition
from the employees of the James River
improvement forcc and the tug crew.
the James River Improvement Com
mittee took no action.
Pay rolls were approved by the
Administrative Board for the first
half of January as follows: First
Market. ses75: Second Market. 500 ;
City Home. 500 Shockoe Cemetery.
So, Riverview Cemetery. $40. Water
Department. s3.776sI; Gas Depart
81, $50 s..
Bills for supplies at the city Home
were ordered paid amounting TO So
Si653
VIII Pave West Main Street
BY instruction. the Virginia Rail
way and Power Company was instruct
cd 10 reconstruct Its tracks on Main
Street West of Rowland. IL being the
intention of the board to pave that
portion Of the street with granite
sDaIls this year The board approved
the purchase of forty trash cans from
the American Can Company. at
s275 each for use in the markets
The much discussed permit for
barber pole al IA East Broad street
was granted BY resolution, after a
tour of inspection of tho premises.
. william u. West was allowed 500
as the city's proportion of the cost of
erecting d reinforced concrete retain
ing wall in front of his property on
Nineteenth Street. The City Engineer
was instructed 20 make a personal
inspection Of the Mutual Building
and ascertain the cause Of foul water
running into the basement. presumably
from some broken sewer in the vicinity
Henrico Marriage License