The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-25
TURNS DOWN PLAN
FOR new LIGHTS
Administrative Board Does Not
Favor Illumination Of
Main Street.
OTHER DEMANDS URGENT
Hearing on Street Cleaning De-
partment Set for Next
Tuesday Afternoon.
OTHER DEMANDS URGENT

The expenditure of 600 for installing
ornamental lights on Main Street was
rejected by the Administrative Board
yesterday on divided vote. the ma
jority holding that, in view OF pressing
demands on the city. such an outlay
would be unwise at this time. Ihe
matter was brought up by Mr. folkes.
who moved that the superintendent or
the Electric Plant be instructed to in
cIude in the annual budget requests for
1913 an item OF SIS 900 for ornamental
lighting of Main Street from Seventh
to Eighteenth Street. The discussion
was general, the resolution being de-
feated to 3, as follows: Ayes, Messrs.
Foikes and Hirsehberg; noes. Messrs.
Beck Mccarthy and Whittet. In
favor of the lights there was presented
a petition from merchants and property
owners or Main Street, and several adj
Joining cross streets desiring the i'm
provement.
Don't Want Streets Torn Up.
Opposed to the plan was the fact
that, being in the underground district
the work OF installation would mean the
tearing up of the paving on both sides
of the street to install additional con-
Quits, believed by some citizens to be
more OF d drawback than the small ao-
vantage that will accrue. Others were
of opinion that there should be addi-
tional arc lamps placed on the bust
ness part of Main Street, affordins
ample and brilliant illumination, with
out what some regard as rather IN
dicnifed and tinsei effect of rows OF
ornamental lamp posts. giving but little
light The board took its action after
hearing from a large number OF citi-
zens who are almost housebound by
muddy streets From the debate
which ensued. it would appear that a
majority of the members of the board
are of opinion that Richmond's most
urgent needs are for street improve
ments and more systematic street
cleaning, and that until those are pro
vided. luxuries in the shape of orna-
mental lights may be allowed to wait
Hearing on Clean Streets
The Board fixed next Tuesday after
noon at 80 o'clock for a hearing OH the
physical and financial condition of the
Street Cleaning Department Super
intendent Henry Cohn will make an
earnest plea for more men. One mem
Der of the Board said yesterday that
he thought that more men were needed
but that what was more urgently
needed was the employment of more
capable gang foreman TO give intelii-
gent direction to the work. and the
purchase of more modern and up-to-
date machinery and appliances. The
instead of dump wagons, and the lack OF
modern flushing and sweeping machin-
cry are said to be sources of weakness
in the department.
Among the suggestions under con-
sideration is the Introduction of chart
system showing by daily record just
how often the various streets are
swept, and how frequently ashes and
garbage are removed from various
localities. The filthy condition OF Main
S treet in the post office section through
out this winter has been notorious
cause of complaint. the old style
sweeping machines in use serving
merely to smear the black mud over
the surface of the paving stones,
making them slippery until dNS
ing wind changes the mud into dustS
To Grade Park Avenue.
The Administrative Board yester-
day ordered the grading of Main Street
between Dooley and Auburn Streets.
providing abutting property owners
grading being s470.s0. The petition of
property owners on Park Avenue for
the grading Of that street from the
Boulevard to Roseneath Road was
referred to the City Engineer for an
estimate of the cost of grading and for
laying the road bed with bituminous
macadam. The condition of this street
one block west of the Boulevard proba-
ably presents the most dangerous place
in the city. the cross street having been
graded before a sewer was built Adult
ting property owners on Park Avenue
were paid last year the amount of dam
ages assessed for the grading, but be-
fore the Assessor of Damages got
through this work. the old Street Com
mittee had spent ALI of its money, and
the city found itself in the attitude of
having paid for the right to make an
improvement it had no funds to pro-
coed with.
Light Fulton Hill.
The Superintendent of the Electric
Plant reported on the cost of INSTALL
ing number of new street lamps. all
of which were ordered. the list includ-
ing twelve incaudeseent bulbs on Full
ton Hill around CARRIERS Grove, the
wiring and installation OF which will
cost SAT-.
The Superintendent OF the Gas
Works was instructed to renew all ser
vice connections on Broad Street be
ween Third and jefferson. at cost
of 81 800, preparatory to the repa ving
of that portion of Broad Street dur
ing the coming spring