The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-08
ENGINE WORKS
SEEKS RELIEF
Complains to Administrative
Board OF Condition of Bacon's
Quarter Branch.
CREEK NOW AN OPEN SEWER
Method of Assessing Grading
Damages to Be Dis
cussed To-Day.

Asking that Bacon's Quarter Branch
now an open sewer running beside i's
property. be walled I'm. the Kichmon"
I.ranch Of the American Locomotive
Company. In communication q"
dressed tc the Administrative Boar"
Yesterday. called attention 10 concl-
tions in the great valley north or inc
city through which the tracks OF inc
Seaboard Air Line Railway make the"
WAY. The board took no action, lay :
inc the paper over for consideration at
a later meeting The proposition - nv
a new one. steps 10 inclOse this creek
having been recommended in every
annual message sent 70 the Mayor bS
CITY Engineer Charles T.. Boiling since
he has been in Office. Some steps 10
reach the matter have been taken III
annual appropriations from year 1"
wear. but up to this time the work mas
not reached 10 that section OF the creek
bordering on the property OF the loco
motive works
The creek. which tradition says
flowed through the quarter" or farm
buildings cf Nathaniel Bacon OF Co
lonial fame. is an arm OF Shochoe
Creek. Having its heaHwaters IN
what was formerly great swamp OF
crawAsh land which modern methods
q
lows eastward partly in and party
on, of the city limits. through the
great hollow which separates the city
from Barton Heights and Chestnut
Hin Practically all OF the city north
Of BROAD Street drains into the creeh-
+, recent years the drainage or Lee
District fas been diverted there. ana
even more recently sewers under the
boulevard and West street nave
thrown the drainage OF the western
annexed territory as far south as OaI'
street into this creek. into IL also
enp,ies the Ginter Park sewer. DUH
along the old Brook Turnpike. and 'he
sewerage OF other suburban SeCtl""S
north OF the city. making II much NOR
a, sewer than a natural stream. The
watershed is large one. ho"eNe''
and when heavy summer rains come
the creek ove-fows into the yards OF
the locomotive company. spreading
nlth and damage.
Two wears ago at the earnest soFci-
ta,ton of former Councilman John J.
Lynch. the Council Undertook the wall
ing in OF the creek. Sll.2so having
been expended in 1911. and s29,"V0 pro-
vided in the budget for the year JUST
closing Under supervision OF Nt'S
Engineer Boiling. work began IN t"1
West End. continuing the sewer east
xxardlv between walls OF concrete with
an arched bottom which would scour
out with each heavy rain, the laying oA
q far TOP over this culYert being DC
ferred until conditions Justify IL Work
has recently been going on al the
northern end of Harrison street "hs'e
various difficulties have been encouh-
I'D bv the breaking away OF an an
Years ago. and which required immedl-
80 raconstruction. At the present rate
If nroCress II would be many years
Fefore the work reached the FOOT OF
Nortb seventh Street. where the plant
q. the locomotive Works is located In
some ulaces IL has been necessary 10
arouire land TO straighten the wan
dsring course OF the stream MT
Rolling has recommended that large
tracts be acquired. the creek walled IN
and arched over. after WHICH he be
lieyes the city may dispose OF the iahc
far manufacturing purposes. using
desirable tract near the virginia MON
T-niversitv for a colored park and play
,-ound II is believed that BY straight
.ning and walling in the creek ana nh
ing over the construction from time
"a time. large sections could be re-
claimed that are now practically value
less.
Grading Damages
The board will hear from city Al
,ornev Pollard ct ~ o'clock to-day on
the matter Of assessment OF damages
TO abutting property by reason OF the
grading Of streets and alleys espe-
cfally as to the effect on the me,"ou
Of procedure of an act OF the idS'
session o. the General Assembly pear
ing on this subject.