The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-07
Administrative Board Takes Over
Unfinished Work OF Old
Street Committee.
ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES
Wll Fndeavor to Simplify Pres
ent Clumsy Method of
Ordering Grading.

Administrative bodfO st9NN'
nut the attendance OF the crowd o.
city employees who hang about the
doors during the opening meetings.
ina boars held a lengthy conference
yesterday morn ne with City Engineer
Boiling. learning much OF the present
status Of city improvements ordered
ar ~ contemplation As result %
This conference the City Eng neer was.
.,,.bor.zea - continue 10 completion
certain contracts for street work
ordered by the old Council committee
on streets and not completed when Il
went out OF Office. The total OF ~o'A
outstanding. which includes a number
~ Items % paving ana other iorins
- street improvements. Will amount 10
"a rs % which amount the board oo- ,
Ngates itself 10 pay ont OF the 1919 /
appropriation for streets. thus carry
ne 20 completion those undertakings
~ tie stree, Department which are
slready under way.
Building Inspector Butler was IN !
srructed 20 make certain repairs at the
rifv JAN hospital. requested by Jail
PHYSICIAN Gordon. including padded
ce..s 1or detention OF insane persons
Grading Dnmages-
After conference with city Aftorz
O.
a. II o'clock as special order for
consideration OF tne vexed problem OF
qradins, damages. II is conceded inaI
nothing has held back the growth OF
The citv IN recent years. 50 much as
me construction placed on certaln
clauses in the new Constitution In
reference 70 damage 20 aoui(g prop !
e-rr by reason OF changes in the graoes
Of streets or ALLEYS To meet TINS
condition. the Council some ears ago
obtained from the General Assembly 1
authority 70 employ an Assessor OF
Damages. whose duty II would be 20
20 upon the grorn1 and make an as /
sess,nent Of the damages. his report 1
after allowing time for an appeal. haN-
ing the effect OF a judgment against
the city. The system has not worked
yVAil in practice Both OF the asses (
sors employed b. the city have failed
10 take into consideration the en- /
hancernent 10 the value OF the prop !
ertv by reason OF the contemplated /
city improvements. as result OF "hlch /
the city has paid actual 1amages 10
owners OF Old fields 10 be allowed 10
cut streets through them
Has Led to Endless Delays.
The system has also led 20 endless
DELAYS. not ..1e altogether 70 the as
SCISSORS The reports are made by the
Assessor 10 the Council and referred
20 various committees. one report nav
ing now gone 20 record IN the two
branches Of the Council and various !
committees as many as thirteen times 4
In some cases where the street Com I
n,ittee asked for an ASSIGNMENT OF /
damages. the delays were so great tnat
before the final report was confirmed
the grading money FOR the Year hao
been expended. and IN the case OF
Park Avenue beyond the Boulevard
the CITY g now in the somewhat Tif1c-
ulous position of having actually paio
g. 800 10 abuttinE property owners 1or
the right 10 grale the street In 'front.'
OF their houses. and has not an avail /
bic cent with which 10 do the grad !
ing. nor is there any promise "Aen
the work will re begun.
Attorneys hold that should any ot
this property change hands. innocent
purchasers could collec, new damages
before the street could be actually |
graded.
II was a constant complaint Of the 1
old street Committee that Il had /
tlder the present system no way OF
Knowing what proposed improve
-tcrt would cost. and whether II was 4
a,t!G~d bv surrounding values. EST I
mates could bc secured on the cost o. !
tire grading. but the report OF the /
assessor Of Damages went. not 20 the !
street Coru-uitfcc. hut 20 the Commit !
-... on Fi-ance. and was made n each 4
Instance she basis o. a special appTo- /
u-.atlon IT, ordering the grading o.
a-., street. Therefore. the street. Com /
...ftee worked entirely IN the dark as
.o.uhaf tne ultimate cost would be.
BOARD May Act.
Through che Intervention of CITY
.,rfo.uav Pollard = special act was .
passed hy the last General Assembly 4
which. j. IS hoped. viii simplify this i
t.--...tgre T. enables the AGministrs-
tso Board. sitting as board. 20 as I
~-,- damages. subject 20 appeal - the |
..dee o. tie Hastings Court. whose
decision i4 final After the thirty days 3
allow - for appeal has expired the
rla-G may pay such damages ont 90
.t- General street FUNDS. and proceed /
.-.rn fhr work with a fuu knowledge I
e ,,f.t tis. entire cost viii DO. The
question ~ whether che board viii
.-r-.rr. 90 Employ an Assessor %
Damages. er whether this work. sub
...- 20 -re acton - the board .gself.
r I'D hereafter n- done b. an Assistant
Dtr Erg rrer. wiu cc discussed 20 .
f.nrrow.
81 a special meeting - TIRE board
Yesterday afternoon h4cxsferr from
-nr second Market were heard a.
length ln regard 90 fre sale % live
poultry rr vegetable stalls clerk
team Dfar0nf. - fae second Market. .
.af 20 suggestion 90 make. ard al 4
90 .rfrd frar DO knew i-ffe ~ nothing
. o. clio conc rf = uarFs.r The board