The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-11

| Under q special resolution passed by
the Council two months ago the Ad
ministrativc Board began work on
that part OF Shockoe Creek and Bacon
| Quarter Branch, but unexpected aim
| property owned by the city-parttcu-
~ the section west OF Sicdd Street. An
ordinance authorizing the purchase of
the property needed for the straight
| eEing and covering over of the re-
maindcr OF the open sewer eastward
L Broad street WIS passed by the
Common Council. hut was referred by
| the Board of Aldermen 10 the Street
Committee.
MOULD CONSTRUCT
SIXTY FOOT STREET.
When the Street Committee met to
consider the ordinance City Engineer
Boiling proposed that instead of mere
ly STRENGTHENING and covering over the
sewer the city acquire sufficient land
on both Sides Of the stream to con-
1truct on top OF the covered sewer a
siNty-foot avenue or driveway running
the whole length II tho valley fc"rn
E,oad street to Tho Hermitage Road.
The proposal o. tho City Engineer
met Win ma.keG favor. nnd he was
authorized by The committee To nre-
pare rcport showing plats tf the
property that VIII have TO be acquired.
together with thai- approximate cost.
After several weeks OF work, in which
ne was assisted by an expert title cX
hniiner. Mr.. Boiling reported TO the
committee that lie task OF establish
nr the metcs and bounds. as well "a
| the ownership of the valley tracts. IL
| complicated by the difficulty of OBJ
tanning accurate records, and that he
was not ready TO make II report
WILL. PROCEED WITH WORK
SECTION ny SECTION
The driveway project has been wide
~ approved. and the Street Committee
has deferred It's report on tho SHOCK oc
| Creek Improvement ordinance passed
! hS the Common Council to hear from
the city Engineer on the cost OF nm
piiiNing the Improvement TO include
the siXty-foot highway
Under the modified plans now Of
fered by the City Engineer and CITY
Attorney. 1t IL proposed to improve
The valley section BY section. Suf-
hdent data has been gathered ty the
/ CITY Engineer TO open negotiations for
tho purchase of II portion of the proD-
erty needed for the driveway, and the
Council VIII be urged to authorize the
authorities to begin the Improvement
without waiting for the completed
, survey.
1t is pointed ont by the CITY A.
torncy That his department would find
| u impossible TO conduct condemnation
| proceedings against all of the prop
cr'y involved simultaneously, and tina,
! inc property needed would have TO he
acquired In separate lots. on Tho h,s,s
OF INC surveys and plats already nrc-
pare" bY Tie city Engineer the legal
! department. could, II authorized bv th,
Council hcEin at once proceedings to
".uuire part OF the property. and the
! WORK OF Improvement would not 1,o
| DELAYED until tho conpletcd rcnort O.,
! ready. :"
WANT GREAT IMPROVEMENT
TO GO FORWARD At ONCE
under the amended plan. the i,u-
provemcnt. II is pointed out, could pro.
| coed without Interruptions While one
sec ti"n Of the creek bed Is being inn
| pro:cd. negotiations could he under
way Tor the purchase of property need
ed for the adjoining section. In this
manner The STRENGTHENING and covcrinu
over Of the creek and the construction
OF The driveway would begin AT an
early date, ana continue until the work
IS complete.
tontractors for out-of- town work
point out the desirabll!ty of utilizing
the summer and autumn months. which
are best suited for the kind or work
the valley Improvement will call for
/ The street Committee will be asked to-
| day to report the Shockoc Creek i'm
provement ordinance In time for ac-
! ton by the Board OF Aldermen at its
meeting tomorrow night.
The ordinance before the committee
merely directs the acquiring of such
property as is needed for the straight
eninS and covering over OF Shockoe
Creek and Bacon Quarter Branch, with
out provision to the manner In
which the property shall he acquired
whether all nj one time or in separate
parcels The driveway project will
require separate ordinance. The OBJ
)cct could be accomplished also by in
cooperating ia the ordinance which
was passed by the Common Council
an amendment simplifying IT to provide
FOR the proposed driveway.
TIE HOPE or ENGINEERS
FOR MANY YEARS PAST
The construction OF a Shockoe Creek
boulevard has been the dream of city
en- Gucers for half Il century. The late
Colonel Cutshaw recommended il. and
| city Engineer boiling has long ureed
It's construction. In his first message
to the Council. Mayor Alnslie gave the
project strong Endorsement Such n
! driveway, stretching from the depot
section in the downtown district to the
hermitage Road. would provide Il new
easy grade highway for through
voh'cular traffic, and redeem for manu-
iaciurinE and commercial purposes
large tract now practically UNIT for
usa.
West Broad Street Merchants and
residents III the Grace and Laurel
Streets neighborhood have on file with
the Street Committee a petition asking
that the Council revoke the ordina nee
permitting the railroad siding on the
south side of Broad Street between
Shafcr and Laurel Streets. Objection
is made also to tho presence of The
side tracks in the lot bounded by
Broad. Laurel, Shafer and Grace
Streets, because OF the day and night
shutting OF freight cars which, citizens
complain. amounts To Il nuisance.
C0lorcd Nurses to Graduate.
The commencement exercises of the