Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-06
REFUSES TO EXPEDITE
SHOCKOE CREEK WORK
Council Declines to Suspend Rules to
Vote on Resolution Acquir-
ing Property.
WOULD SECURE EXPERT ADVICE
SeatOn and Powell Oppose Immedi-
ate Aotion-Say Improvement Has
Been Begun From Wrong End, and
Money Has Been Spent USelcssly,

Holding that the widening Of the
Shockoe Creek sewer and its arches to
thirty feet was n project too ambitious
to enter upon without expert opinion
AS to the efficiency of such an improve
ment in the matter of eliminating the
flood hazard. the Common Council.
last night, refused to suspend the rules
to place on its passage a resolution
directing the acquisition of property
needed for such widening
The resolution was prepared by AS
sistant City Attorney George Wayne
Anderson who asked Councilman Pol
lock to Introduce 1t with the request
that 1t be passed under tho suspension
OF the rules. Colonel Anderson point
ed out that the city could obtain con-
siderable property now in the storm
swept valley at n more reasonable
price than it would have to pay II it
waited until the flooded district is re-
built.
WOULD GET Low PRICE
BEFORE SECTION Is REBUILT
Councilman Pollock urged suspcn-
SION or the rules. pointing out that no
concluded action could he taken until
inc price at which the property could
De obtained had been first approved by
the Finance Committee and Council
Inc passage of the measure he said
put the city under no obligation and
vet enabled 1t to take advantage of n
favorable situation to make n much
needed Improvement
Councilman Seaton and Councilman
fowell were opposed TO disposng OF
the matter without injury While both
"a mr. ftNnf
Creek was imperative, the amount and
character of the widening. they
thought, should be determined upon
after conference with the CITY En-
gineer and othcr experts, before any
action authorizing tho acquisition Of n
right or way OF certain width No
economical purpose could be served
they pointed out. IL n strIp thirty
rect wide were acquired. when a wider
or narrower strip than that was found
to he needed.
IMPROVEMENTS BEGUN
FROM WRONG End
incidentally. Councilman Powell re-
minded the Council that he and others
In the body have from the beginning
been convinced that the Improvement
OF Shockoe Creek has been begun from
the wrong end. Tho sewer, he said,
should have been widcned and straight
ened from the river up. instead Of from
hermitage Road down. Had this
course been taken. he said, the city
would have been spared much Of tho
damage that has been suffered through
the transforms of Sunday and Tues
day.
Councilman Seaton held the Same
view. On one two occasions. he
said. no had questioned the City
Engineer about the ability of tho
twenty-foot arches to take care Of
the food waters of Shockoc Creek
If the city is unable TO secure
competent advice from it's own Of
icials. he said he was In favor
OF sending outside to get 1t. At any
rate. he said, he was opposed to rush
Ing into another Shockoe Creek i'm
provement scheme without securing
expert counsel.
Councilman Fuller. vice chairman Of
tho Finance Committee, reminded the
body that it was dealing with 81. Oo0.-
900 project and that an Undertaking
OF such magnitude should have mature
consideration.
The motion to suspend the rules to
place the resolution on It's passage
failed to carry. and President Peters
referred the measure to the Commit
tee on Streets.