Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-09

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amount of work this year. both in the
city and in the county outside of the
city limits, than in any previous year
in the history of this board. This de-
,artment is fully equipped with modern,
up-to-date roadbuilding machinery, and
curing the year the committee on pub
lie works has put into use four motor
trucks for hauling purposes, and this
Has proven to be d wise and economical
,eparture as each truck does the work
nf eight teams and drivers. n steam
shovel has also been put into service py
Iha committee, and this has enabled the
department to largely increase the
amount of work during the year as the
shovel does the work of approximately
forty men.
Herewith ] give you a detailed. tabu-
1ated report of the work done by the
public works department of the county,
both within the city limits of Atlanta
md in the county outside of the city
limits, The total estimate of the work
done by this department amounts to
S-66S4OT7 and the tabulated statements
below show the number of miles of roads
Graded the number of miles paved,
he number of miles resurfaced, the
number of miles oiled, the amount of
bridge work done, general road repair
work and sewer work, and the separate
cost thereof.
=
lj, works during the past year, | have
POSSIBLY been in closer touch with the
workings of this department than other
members of the board, and L RaVe had
abundant opportunity to judge of its ef-
dCiency.
| commend the ability and work of our
siIperintendent of public works, Cap
tain T. j. Donaldson, and his assistants.
His force is well organized and under
good discipline. l commend very highly
The method of promotions from the
ranks. The majority of these assistants
have been with the county many years
and without exception they are loyal
tn the interests of the department.
The convicts are well fed, housed in
comfortable and sanitary quarters and
we'll clothed. The sanitation of all the
camps is carefully looked after by Dr.
Paul Mcdonald. County Physician. AS
an evidence of the health of the .pris-
uners | call your attention to the fact
that of a total Of $40 prisoners con-
fined for the month of December, there
were only four in the hospital under
care of the physician.
The engineering feature of this de-
rartment is under the direction of Mr..
w. r. Wilson and his work has been
high class and efficient.
RECOMMENDATION
In view of the splendid work OBJ
,ained this year by reason of the steam
shovel and the motor trucks, Wish
10 recommend that the board for 1914
purchase one duGlllOlldl Stedui SilONtl,
a fleet of eight or ten Baker automatic
dump wheel scrapes and two to four
additional motor trucks. | believe that
This additional equipment Will be worth
far more to the county in extra work
done than any other investment that
could be made. | also wish to recommend
hat the county either buy "a new trac-
ion engine or authorize the superin-
tendent of public works to have the one
now owned by the county put in first
class order. as this outfit as a means
of transporting stone in large quanti-
ties is indispensable, the tractor and
the eight cars being equivalent to no
less than thirty-two double teams.
! believe the board will be willing to
admit that the services during this year
# the asphalt expert. Mr.. A. E. Christ
Hiif, proved very beneficial, and while
his service with us only covered the
short period of three months. | believe
that ii justified the action in emplOyin g
such man. Therefore, in view OF the
services of the expert. both in purchas-
ing and in the construction department,
! recommend that the public works com
mttee of 1914 employ another man to
ill this place.
| wish 10 further recommend that
The board authorize the police commit
Tee of 1914 to install a telephone call
system in the police department, same
TO be used by the patrolmen as well as
the public. Such a system has been
worked out and we can get forty-f five
call boxes at suitable locations in every
part of the county that will be accessi-
bic to the police and the citizens. and
| believe that such a eYStem would in
cease the efficiency Of the department