Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-24
CLAIMS TO HAVE SAVED
S734. 1873 IN THREE YEARS
'Cont1nued from TIrst PageD
is made for the superior paving laid
under the committees direction.
NOT CONVINCED THAT

BLOCK rs SI'PERIOR

h'b'h Is SUPERIOR
Under the recent 100000 bond issue
the board awarded contract for an
proSimately 10000 square yards OF
aspha1tic concrete at about $40 TO one
concern. The same amount OF asphalt
block paving would have cost approxi-
Hiately $4,000 more
The board is by no means convinced
that the block paving is superior" said
MT. HlrschberE yesterday, when his
attention was directed to this feature
OF the statement. The best we can
do is TO get a fve-year guarantee from
the company that LAYS tho block. We
set the same guarantee with the
asphaltic concrete. While il is true
that the last named paving has been
tried by the city for not more than
two or thre years. our observation
leads us TO the belief that in the long
run 1t Will he more satisfactory and
cheaper than block For that reason
we regard the statement OF savings in
this matter fair"
LARGE SAVING CLAIMED
IN CoNCRI:TE SEWER WORK
Next In Importance to the saving in
smooth paving, the statement. claims
a saving OF s112,29l.02 in concrete
sewer work. The committee. according
10 the tabuiation. paid AN average of
81 cubic yard for this work, while
the board has paid only s413.
In the award of property damages
the board claims. II saved the CITY
sa7,2l2.Sl. Under the committee sys-
TEN, IT is shown. 5l,046 front feet we're
assessed at unit cost of So cents a
foot, while the board assessed 2S4o4S
front feet at a unit cost Of only -
cents.
d. Among the other important savings
effected by the board in the three years
OF Its life. according to the statement
are: granite spall paving s75,6I6.17;
earth excavation for sewers. s34.029s0:
cement, s2s.741.99. and grading, sI9,-
99o.61.
Mr.. Hirschberg was asked last night
to what extent the accuracy of the
statement would be affected by the
fluctuations In the price OF material
and labor during the two administra-
tions compared. He was of the belief
that. while there have been minor
fluctuations which would slightly mod
ify the figures. they were not marked
enough to affect the general accuracy
OF the statement.
OTHER COMPARATIVE TABLES
ARE BEING PREPARED
Il will say also" said Mr. Hirsch-
berg. that this table covers only such
work rs was administered under the
direction of the old Street Committee.
we are preparing similar statements
showing the savings that have been
erected In the other departments under
the boards direction-notably, the
Water. Street Cleaning, Gas and Elec-
trio Departments. I am confident that
the grand total of savings which may
safely be credited to the boards
administration will approximate ST.
100000"
The statement was presented with
such short notice that accounting .ex-
perts of the antiboard factions last
night had no opportunity to look into
Its claims, and no one was willing to
question the accuracy OF the figures
presented. II the statement stands up
under the fire that will certainly be
directed against It, 1t will leave to on
ponents Of the board tho difficult task
OF >tustifying the abolition Of an adj
n1inistrative body which has saved the
city approximately 100000 n year Mt
an additional expense OF about $4,000
annually.