The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-20
CITY HAS MONEY
FOR IMPROVEMENTS
APPROPRIATION OF s12s,ooo HAS
MAYORS SIGNATURE
AND rs LAW.
TO GIVE MANY WORK
THROUGH EACH DEPARTMENT OF
CITY GOVERNMENT FUNDS WILL
BE EXPENDED FOR GOOD
OF WHOLE CITY.
TO GIVE MANY WORK

When Mayor George Ainslie yester-
day officially placed his signature
upon the ordinance appropriatinG
L25.oo0, adopted by Council Friday
night, ne made possible the early
realization Of the dreams of many
of the unemployed In Richmond, and
also put into practical operation the
preachment that when times are dull
and people are out of work a city
should make necessary improvements
and relieve the unemployment sItua-
ton. The Administrative Board will
be in direct charge OF the expenditure
of the appropriation.
The first work under the ordinance
will probably be the first OF the week.
and the Christmas prospects that were
dull for a number OF men will be
considerably frightened. A large num-
Der Of laborers and others were at
the City Hall yesterday, in anticipa-
ton OF the ordinance receiving the
mayors signature. to put in their ap-
plication for work. Some three hun
Idred men are now ready TO go TO
work. Il Is said
Not only to the workingman, but to
the city itself. does the appropriation
mean much. Under the plan of the
Administrative Board, drafted as a
guide in carrying on the work author
lied. the appropriation will be dis
trihuted in specified sums through the
several organized departments of the
city government, approximately as
follows:
Engineers Department. 100000:
Street Cleaning. $4,000: Water, si0,-
900: Gas, $4,000: Parks. $4,000;
Cemeteries. $4,000. and electrical,
$4,000. Under the boards plans,
money set aside tentatively for one
department may be transferred,
should the necessity arise, to use in
another
Contemplated improvements.
Among the contemplated and de-
sfrable improvements suggested In the
boards plan are:
The filling OF Grace Street from
Twenty-ninth to Thirty-second Streets,
bringing that street to grade and fun
width and connecting it with Chin
borazo Park
The construction of new road Tn
the southern part Of Byrd Park, con-
Meeting the finished portion Of Byrd
great natural beauty which has here
Itofgore been inaccessible to the pub
lie.
The graveling OF the roadbeds and
the grading of sidewalks In the newly
opened streets between Beverly and
Ashland Streets, extending from
Meadow Street to William Byrd Park.
and the graveling of the roGdb+ds of
all the recently graded streets in that
section lying between Grove and
Monument Avenues, and extending
from the Boulevard westwardly to the
Roseneath Road.
The gradual development of the
plans adopted for the complete i'm
provement of Shields Lake.
Prepared for Snow.
In the Street Cleaning Department
the Board will endeavor to meet the
most critical demands Of the public
with reference to the condition and
clea nliness of the streets. and, as far
as the means allotted will admit. will
apply the most modern and effective
machinery obtainahie to clean the
principal avenues. streets and alleys;
and. in the event of snowfall. suf-
ficlent to obstruct traffic or travel. Will
be prepared for the prompt removal
OF the obstruction.
In the Water and Gas Departments
the Board will be able to employ a
large force in the digging OF bitches
for much needed extensions OF tho
facilities of both Of these departments
In those portions of the city where
said improvements are contemplated
or even under way
The parks and cemeteries OF the
city are two items which will absorb
as much means as the city Is able to
provide for their improvement, there
being opportunity for the expenditure
Of money practically ON every item
which enters into the beautifying and
completion Of these properties.
In the Electric Department there Is
instant and insistant demand for the
extension Of wires and tho erection
OF lixhts and the Board is in possess
sion OF facts which demonstrate that
n large amount OF money might be
judic.oualy expended in this depart
ment at once. especially by the loca-
ton Of an ample number of lights In
the recently annexed territory.