The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-23
SUBMITS PLAN OUTLINED
FOR UNDERGROUND WORK
City Engineer Offers Suggestions for
Better and More Systematic Sub
tcrrtneun Construction.
DEPARTMENT HEADS CONFER
Recommendations Embodied In De-
tailed Report - Administrative
Board Returns 1t for More Con-
else Statement.

Carrying out an order entered by
the Administrative Board on August
"a. directing him TO call - conference
of department heads for the purpose of
formulating general plan for the bet
ter and more systematic construction
Of underground work especially as il
AFFECTS the city sewer, gas. water and
electric systems. City Engineer Boil
ing yesterday presented Il draft of suE
gestions adopted by such q conferences
The suggestions were drafted after
conference between T.. w. Trarord
Superintendent of Electricity; T.. e.
Davis. Superintendent of the Water
Works: w. l.. Knowles Superintcnd-
ont of the Gas Works: c. e. Boiling.
City Engineer: j. s. Stribling. super
intendcnt of distribution. Virginia
! Railway and Power Company: r c.
Walden. district plant supervisor. and
c. II. Harris. division plant engineer of
the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company.
The important recommendations are
First. that the depth of trenches
| for gas and water connections to lots
from mains in the streets. should be
thirty Inches below the curb line.
CONDUITS SHOULD BE
THIRTY INCIr13S BELOW
| Second. that the depth OF all conduits
TO be laid in the streets should be such
that the top of the conduit shall be
| thirty inches below the curb.
Third. that whenever the surface Of
! the streets are to be improved with
! modern pavemcnts all connections to
vacant lots, and conduits of private
corporations. should he extended to
| the inside Of the curbstonc line prior
to the construction of the surface OF
! improvements The rule, 1t is recon-
mcnded. should apply to all existing
| connections that require enlargement
! or renewal
! Fourth. that whenever and wherever
| II can be done, couduits carrying high
power currents should he placed on the
| opposite side OF the roadbcd and az
! far as possible. from the gas mains.
Fifth. that all repairing and replac-
ing OF surface paving, and reflling OF
trenches, brought about by conduit or
pipe installations under the direction
| of either the city departments or
private corporations, be made by one
and the same contractor, who shall do
! the work subject TO the specifications,
| requirements and acceptance of the
City Engineer
Sixth. that the Administrative Board
notify In advance the heads OF DEPART
ments under It's control which are ar
fected. and the superintendent of the
| Interested private corporations. OF its
determination To improve any OF the
! streets OF the city, In order that these
officials may make proper preparations
| for their share OF the work.
PURPOSE OF BOARD TO
| MAKE CHANGES SUGGESTED
These recommendations were en-
bodied In report outlining the sug =
Eestions in great detail. The board pre-
ferred a concise statement OF tho points
upon which the conference agreed, and
returned IL TO tho City Engineer with
the instruction that the suggestions be
embodied In n formal resolution signed
by the heads OF all departments taking
part In the meeting. 1t is the purpose
OF the board, the City Engineer was
Informed. to make the changes sug-
gcsted. the future procedure In this
work
The suggestions of the conference arc
regarded as OF the first Importance
At present there is no fixed rulo fol-
the installation of subterranean pipes