Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-29
construction Chief Announces
He Will Retire From Public
Life January |, 1915.
RI kMES COUNTY HEADS
FOR PAVING TROUBLES
Majority of Asphalt Streets in
Atlanta Are Beyond Repair,
He Declares.

CAPTAIN r. NJ. Clayton, chief Of At
rnra's construction department for
rora than so years, having attained
tine record Of being Atlanta's oldest city
official to-day in a forceful statement,
which laws bare many unpleasant in
side political facts. announced that Re
.aarB retire from the service Of the
.-s al the end OF his present term,
January l. 1915.
Though council has agreed informal
=, .hs, when Captain Clayton is ready
20 give up the strenuous duties as the
hss. If the city's largest department
f a..r create the dignihed position Of
..ns1.ting city engineer with a COM
..reu- salary for him. he expresses a
strong distaste to the present state Of
things political in the following con-
rr8g.1n to his written statement:
As 10 the merits Of these two forms
ar government referring 10 the agita-
ron for charter changes) it is matter
If utmost Indifference to me, SO far as
am personally conc erned. My only
interest is for the good Of the city, as
pronose al the expiration Of my present
term 70 sever my connections with the
cr, and enter some other field of op-
Grafton"
Raps County Officials.
Though it has been matter of p5-
r.ical gossip for some time that these
had been a break between Captain
CLAYTON and Shelby Smith, chairman
NJ the county commission, Captain
CLAYTON to-day made his first attack
on the county officials. He charges
fhe county government with the re-
,7onsibility for the delay in the repair
y the bad pavement Of Peachtree
street. quoting the promise Of Chair
nan Shelby smith as his authority.
The most important light he throws
on city and county affairs is the assef-
lion that a great many Of Atlanta
.-paalt and bituminous streets are
worm beyond repair but that the ol;I
without funds to provide new pave
meuts He says lack Of FUNDS Is the
whole trouble with Atlanta's govern
ment
Chairman Smith said to-day that the
ountv would begin work on Peachtree
street AT once. the delay having oeen
.aused by bad weather.
The county paved that street in the
7-st place without charging any as
-rssments" ne said. so far as ] know.
me city never has spent anything On
r."
Here il Captain Clayton's reference
70 Chairman Smith and the county
board:
Discusses Peachtree Work.
AS to the condition Of Peach'feo
street. from Sixth TO the city limits
aH state that this pavement was lalo
rz Tie county commissioners, and last
'lr put q gang of men TO work max
Inc The repairs on this street. when the
street was in such a condition that the
repairs would have probably kept II IN
. e1mgarativeIv smooth condition.
Immediately after ] commenced
r.a.U- these repairs ] saw an inter
.i.F In q Ioca! newspaper from Nj.
3 - smith uho represents the com
-..a government OF Fulton county.
..a the county expected To make these
5. anu had contract with War
-a BROTHERS TO furnish the material
fr-- ~ cost. and that the work that ]
WIS doing was an absolute waste Of the
city money.
q Immediately took this matter IN
vi-h Mr.. Smith. and told him that
would suspend any further operations
sn5 leave the street for the county 10
look after. Since that time the county
has done nothing toward remedying the
coalition of this street. and the prop
s-tv owners have been before the street
.nmmittee asking TO have the street re-
E7l-ed
Now Beyond Repair"
The condition OF the street Is now
-.a that il is beyond the stage Of re
..-- and a new pavement should be
laid. and I so reported TO the street
-oanittee when il was in session. and
-s5sted that a new pavement be laid
.1e expense Of the property owners.
This the committee Of citizens on
l.-1a 10. and I understand they hs'-
.-.a negotiating with - county 10 d.
work. with vha, success am rp-
10 say