The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-08
ALDERMEN FACE
BUSY SESSION
Library, Free Bridge and City
Hall Annex Chief Problems
for Consideration.
OPPOSED TO MORE PATCHING
Strong Sentiment Favors Taking
Bull by Horns and Erect
ing New Bridge.

sue, ana the puDlc library ana .\Iltn
street Free Bridge agitations, Will hold
the centre of the stage at the meeting
OF the Board OF Aldermen to-mor-
row night. With the S1.500.0o0 bond
issue disposed OF and the Shockoc
Creek Improvement fairly under way,
these three enterprises have succeed
cd as the big issues before the city's
lawmakers.
In the case of the proposed munich
pal building no hitch in the proceed
ings Is expected Tomorrow night. y
resolution Will be reported to the Board
for It's approval appropriat.nE 81, 900
with which to employ consulting
architect, whose first duty 1t will be
to make a survey OF the hotel lot and
prepare a rough statement of the space
that will be needed by the several
departments which Will be domiciled In
the new building.
Tho resolution has the unanimous
support of tho special Joint commit
tee appointed to inquire into the ncccs-
sity for 4 new municipal building on
tho Ford Hotel site. While the COM
mittcc has so far not committed itself
on the necessity OF the proposed build
ing. its recommendation that $1,000
be appropriated for consulting archi-
/ tcct is taken to indicate its convic-
| ton that the building is needed.
COMMTrTEE'S ACTION
WAS MIsCONsTRUED
the committees action heard Satur-
day and yesterday that the purpose Of
! the resolution recommended by 1t Is
not altogether clear. The committee
! was criticized. for example, for recon-
mcnding the employment OF nm Rrchi-
| tcct to prepare preliminary plans to
which architects entering the nnal
competition Will havo to conform
closely In submitting their designs.
1t was pointed out MS more desirable,
in this connection, that competing
architects be permitted TO follow their
own fancy In the preparation OF plans
for the building.
The criticism is founded on r mis-
understanding. Tho architect employ
ed by Tho city IN an advisory capacity
VIII merely collect data on tho space
needed by the several courts and tho
auditorium and library. He will con-
suit for this purpose the Judges and
clerks. rs we'll as the local authorities
on the proposed library and audito-
rum With this information tabulatcd
ne VIII prepare a working program,
! which Will be furnished to each com
/ petinS architect as Information upon
which to base independent designs
me practice OF employing an ad-
visory architect In enterprises OF this
character is well-establishcd. IT would
he nothing short of Impossible for an
architect In Chicago or Boston, for
example. to secure this Information
without Il personal investigation on
the lines Indicated. Without such In
! formation to work upon. architects
from II distance would be unable 10
make proper provision In their designs
for the various courts. for instance
each requiring different treatment of
the space, destined for courtroom and
record space.
LIBRARY QUESTION
STILL UP IN THE AIR
The success OF the Ford site build
/ lnE project will have an important
/ bearing on the public library agita-
/ ton. More than any other one fac
| tor the movement for Improving tho
/ vacant lot on Broad Street IL delay
! Ing final action on the several public
library plans now pending before the
/ Finance Committee. The most discuss.
| ed Of the public library measures, pro-
posing an appropriation OF $4,000
/ for the purchase OF the letter Memorial
/ Hall property belonging to Richmond
/ College, is for tho present in mort
/ bund condition.
/ n possible alternative plan is fore
shadowcd IN a resolution introduced
[ last Monday night In the Common
| Council by Councilman Powell, direct
/ Ing an inquiry into the feasibility of
converting tho old high school. now
I occupied AS headquarters building
by the School Board, into municipal
! library. The resolution WAS passed
/ by the Common Council by q vote Of
/ II 10 .. under a suspension OF the rules
ana VIII come up tomorrow night be-
fore the Board for concurrence
NINTH STREET HRIDG.:
COSTS MUCH FOR PATCHING
/ The Ninth Street Free Bridge is again
I'm the forefront as Il Council topic.
with the $4,000 proceeds from an
appropriation in the bond issue nt its
disposal for u reconstruction OF tho
! bridge. the Administrative Board has
/ awarded 10 II. l.. Matthews 81 condi-
/ uonal contract for repairs TO cost $53.-
600. The contract cannot be signed
until the Council appropriates enough
money 10 make good the difference
between the contract price and the
amount available from tho bond issue,
and Jus; here occurs the hitch.
y resolution asking for an addi-
tionai appropriation OF $1,000 was
sent to tho Finance Committee by the
board. This amount would enable the
board to sign the Matthews contract.
and would insure tho keeping open
OF the bridge for traffic during re-
pairs The Finance Committee, how
ever, recommended mn appropriation
of $500. pruning off about $1,000 on
the ground that II was not necessary
to keep the bridge open for traffic
( during the reconstruction.
Tie Virginia hallway and Power
Company filed "a strenuous protest with
The hoard. asserting that If the Ninth
/ street bridge is closed, street car traffic
/ VIII he demoraliZcd. Chairman Whit
/ tei, of the Administrative Board, has
| given his verbal assurance that IN.
bridge VIII not he closed To street car
traffic, and has indicated tina, he will
appear before the Board of Aldermen
tomorrow might ana ask that the
resolution recommended by the Finance
,rH TO
mcnt.
Independent or this feature OF the
bridge problem, there has developed
sharp division OF opinion among city
/ authorities as 10 the deSirahility of an
extensive reconstruction OF the bridge
city Engineer Hollng and 4-cnry Il.
Beck are openly opposed to expanding
$4,000 more, or thcrcabouts on re-
pairs 10 "A structure which must in
tho not distant future give way to a
new bridge. and are In favor Of maxi
Ing only such repairs As are rendered