The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-04
.SHOCKOE CREEK
TO Be IMPROVED
City Engineer Boiling Tells How
City Can Reclaim Sixty
Seven Acres.
v0NDERLEHR FAVORS PLAN
Would Use Idle Jail Prisoners in
Mixing Concrete for
Walls.
vONDERLEHR FAvORs PLAN

How Shockoe Valley could be con-
verted into great manufacturing
centre, with a broad avenue extending
through It, Mt q comparatively small
cost, was discussed yesterday after
noon ut the weekly table talk luncheon
of the Business Mems Club. City En-
Eineer Charles Il. Boiling, Councilman
a. j.. Vonderlehr and =. st. Julien Will
son, OF tho United States Office Of pub
lie roads. were tho speakers in favor
of tie project
The scheme, as outlined by Mr. Boil
ing called for the conversion OF
Shoclsoe Creek into huge sewer,
walled In with concrete, and with n
street over It. Mr.. Vondcrlehr suppl
mented this with his project for the
use Of jail prisoners on the job. while
Mr. Wilson discussed the feasibility OF
their employment to advantage.
Il. w. Farley presided over the
meeting. He made few Introductory
remarks concerning the question to be
discussed, and voiced his approval of
the project Mr.. Boiling was the first
and principal speaker.
Would Make Broad Avenue.
With 81 map showing the large terri
tory drained by fhocl<oe Creek, Mr.
Boiling explained the advantages that
would accrue to tho city by the con-
struction Of a conduit large enough to
carry the maximum flow Of sewage
now passing through the valley. The
area drained by the proposed covered
section is twelve and onc-half square
miles. Through tho strengthening Of
the stream. and the elimination OF
swamp and marsh land on it's borders,
siXty-seven acres would be added to
the available space in the valley, while
the avenue over the creek would be an
approach at m easy grade TO tho north
crn suburbs and an entry way for
farmers and their products.
This work. said Mr.. Boiling. should
have been undertaken years ago. He
is now preparing plans for the work
and it's approximate cost, to submit to
the Administrative Board next month.
He estimated that the work would cost
In the neighborhood of sl.500,0o0, but
that the increase in property values.
and the influx of new business enter
prises, would more than care for the
interest.
Mr.. Vondorlehr father of tho scheme
TO wall in Shockoe Creek by the en-
ployment OF convicts on the job. spoke
in behalf OF his plan. Owing to time
limitation, he was unable TO go fully
into details. but presented a complete
outline of his scheme. lie had studied
tho situation for years, he said. and
tho whole creek could be covered by
convicts from end 10 end In three
years. There are now more than zoo
idle men In Jail. eating and smoking
and loahng at the expense OF the COM
munity and teaching crime to others.
These men, he claims, could pour $50
yards of concrete in q ten-hour day.
and by doing the work in sections it
could be speedily completed.
Cut Cost to ShOO,OOO.
The cost, said Mr.. Nonderlehr would
DO cut to about 100000 by the use of
jailbirds. There is sufficient gravel
and said. he stated. in Shockoe valley
to do the work. In addition to tho
street through the valley. Mr.. Wonder
lchr explained how tho walling-in of
the creek ut Dock Street would give
an accessible approach to the new
Mayo Bridge.
Convict labor, said Mr.. Wilson, who
has for years supervised the state con-
Wet road building, amounts 10 from
81 to 90 per cent OF the working cost
OF public enterprises. He was of the
opinion that from l. to S per cent
could be saved on the concrete and
from IL to 20 per cent on the cXcava-
ton work If convicts would be used.
About 100 able bodied prisoners would
pa sufficient to undertake the work.
and he recommended that short term
prisoners and those working out fines
be tho ones employed. In addition TO
tho great benefit to the public, the
working of city PRISONERS on such
work, he thought would have 4 salu-
tary effect. and would tend to lessen
DcttV crime