The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-04
IS MAYO BRIDGE
PUBLIC STREET?
Question Is TO Be Determined
in Friendly Litiga-
ton.
BOARD HOLDS DULL MEETING
Members and Clerks Come Leis-
urely to Work-Dunford
Is Kept Busy.

Recommendation TO the Council OF
adoption of the resolution drawn oy
city Attorney Pollard regarding con-
struction of street railway tracks on
the new Mayo Bridge constituted the
most important action taken by the
Administrative Board yesterday. The
resolution heretofore recommended by
the street Committee. is in the nature
of a compromise, securing prompt
construction work and reservlng all
legal points for later determination.
The Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany has a franchise TO operate cars
over the bridge--in fact. il could remove
its cars from the old bridge only when
that structure was condemned. The
question now arises, who shall pay
.Cr the construction Of tracks? In con-
aection with their bid for the bridge
itself, l. J. Smith & CO., offered TO con-
struct them at sl5.500 City Attorney
Pollard holds that the bridge is d
private structure: that the city should
construct and pay for tracks and road
bed. and would thereafter have the
right 10 charge such toll as might be
reasonable for the use of the bridge
by street cars.
MAY lie Public ThOrOuShfare.
The street Railway Company con-
tends that the new bridge Will be a
public thorOughfare, having the same
status as all public streets; and that
having a franchise to use il, il is in
cumbent on the Street railway COM
pany not only to construct the tracks.
but to pave the roadbed between and
for two feet on either side, as In the
case OF all streets.
Within "A few weeks the bridge con-
l. ~
where work should be done on track
construction. IN order not to aelay
construction. Nj Pollard proposed. with
consent Of counsel for the Virginia
hallway and Power Company. q joint
resolution providing that !. J. Smith
4 Co. bridge contractors. shall lay
the tracks IN connection with otlsr
work at the bid price Of sl5.50O, the
work TO be of standard construction.
subject to supervision OF the CITY En-
gineer, and to be paid for on compile
;lon by the Virginia Railway ans Pow
cr Company Thereafter the matter Is
10 he submitted 10 friendly litigation
to determine whether the bridge is a
private or public thorouthfare, II
the city wins it is 10 reimburse the
street car company with interest and
thereafter charge toll for use OF
the bridge. ii the company wills II
Will receive no reimbursement for the
amount so expended. but will be re-
uuired TO maintain the paving be
tween its tracks, paying no other toll
Dunford Does All the Work.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning
the announceI meeting hour-only
three; commissioner were present
Nessrs Beck Foxes and Hirschbers.
In.the absence of Chairman " hittet.
Vice Chairman Hirschberg raped the
meeting 10 order and began the rou-
tine order of business.
Later Mr.. Whittet entered. and was
followed by Bookkeeper Charles Il.
Shepherd. who. although n regular at
tendant at ~ formal meetings, has
not begun any duties in connection
with his position. the three clerks en-
ployed having left practically all OF
the work so far TO w. W. DunfOrd,
clerk to the board. who. without the
assistance of stenOgrapher. mas been
kept constantly busy with vOluminoUs
minutes and correspondence of the
five board members and three clerks
Mr.. Dunford IS the only one who yet
boasts a desk or a definite occupation
outside Of formal meeting hours.
". p. Knowles. superintendent OF
the Gas Works. was before the board
in reference 10 extension of certain
gas mains. which were ordered.
City Engineer Boiling was before