The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-03

relieve the heavy draft or the present
feed mains. which causes a large re-
duction in pressure on the high points
supplied from the Byrd Park Reservoir.
The loss OF head at Ninth and Broad
Streets varies from twenty to thirty
pounds under normal domestic draft,
and proportionate losses are sustained
elsewhere Under heavy fire draft the
reduction is seriously below the above
figures. This loss of head not only
causes Inconvenience TO water takers.
but II greatly increases the hazard of
loss of life and property by fire and in
creases fire insurance rates.
There is something the matter with
our distribution system There are
few, If any, localities north of Broad
Street where as many rs four fire en-
gines can work any length of time at
/ full draft. The whole retail district
OF Broad Street west OF Ninth has
nothing like the pressure IL would need
| in case OF really bad fire during a
high wind. The same is true of large
districts downtown. Richmond has
! just been surveyed by experts for the
National Underwriters Association, and
their report will be distinctly bad. The
fairest OF cities have been swept by
I flames. and Richmond is not fireproof
/ / am of opinion and recommend that
tho city should engage the services OF
the best engineer to be had to con-
slider this situation and advise relief
{ / also invite your attention to the
early need OF n large storage reservoir
to hold at least 5000. 900 or 5000, 600
gallons. This need VIII become imme-
date upon the annexation OF the pro-
posed new territory. and should be
considered in farsighted way"
The Engineers Report.
| The report OF the City Engineer
shows total expenditures through his
nf nf ctr ft,,ry
299,619.59; sewers. s2S1.939,99, and
Mayos Bridge. S149.5i9.S7. In street
work there was accomplished 120S6o
square yards of paving construction
and surface Improvement.
! During the year new kind of paw
/ ing known as bitumnous macadaSn
was laid several streets, costing
/ s1.25 square yard. or on rolled
gravel base about 20 cents per square
yard.
The Mayor says:
"Shockoe Creek and Bacons Quarter
Branch again received SEQ. 900 worth of
repairs. patchwork that made little
show. and was mostly waste. ] ur-
gently repeat the recommendation l
made in special communication TO
the Council dated December 2, 1912.
! that the city adopt q comprehensive
plan to reclaim the whole Shockoe
/ valley by strengthening and covering
the creek, icveling up the adjacent
land and tunneling Fifteenth Street
under Broad. The land in the valley
is OF large acreage. and with possible
! railroad facilities would offer attrac-
| tive sites for wholesale houses and
manufacturing plants. believe the
| added taxable values sure to follow
this Improvement would soon pay the
| interest on the cost. certainly If aided
by the amount annually waste on
the creek
Mayo Bridge was reported on April
10, 1913 as no per cent complet ed.
support of the City Nursery. The
Mayor approves the recommendation
! of n driveway overlooking the river
from CANDLES Hill to Riverside Park.
In connection with a general review
of the work Of the public schools. the
Mayor says:
| SpccinI school Levy Proposed.
THE problem of financing public
! education is large. serious and diff
| fcult one. We still do il out of the
general fund. upon which 1t makes
growing inroads. 1t consumed for
maintenance alone last year Is per
cent Of the total appropriations, except
for interest and redemption. and this
years budget carries appropriations
for the same purpose amounting TO
1913 per cent OF that sum. We have
arrived where we must seriously con
slider the adNlSa blllty OF entirely sep
aratinG this problem from the general
fund and providing separate and indie
pendent support for schools by spe-
cial levy"
A very remarkable record is noted
in connection with the report OF the
| City Attorneys office. Ten damage
suits were decided against the city. the
total recoveries amounting to s2,0l5
OF which s1.Sl0 was for grading dam
ages. leaving the insignificant bal
ance OF S205 the sum OF all other
recoveries in tort actions. For city
of Richmond's size. the Mayor says,
this is unique. An additional stenog
rapher and filing clerk Is recommended
for the City Attorneys office In con-
ncction with the last report OF former
Building Inspector Beck, the Mayor
says.
New Municipal building.
your attention is particularly called
to the Inspectors comment upon the