Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-25
WERNER and CABELl
| DIRECT RELIEF WORK
City Departments Go to Aid OF Those
Rendered Homeless by
Flood.
BOARD MAKES INsp
Summons Is Issued for L. Bluford.
Who Yesterday Stated Conditions
Were Due to Negligence OF City.
Viaduct Found In No Danger

Board to relieve any DISTRESS which
may have been caused among afteen
negro families whose dwellings along
Shockoe Greek, which overlooked its
banks on Saturday and Sunday as tho
result of cloud-bursts. were inundated.
/ Directions were issued by Mayor
.,inslie to Chief of Police Werner TO
order officers TO investigate the cases
of those in want and to render anv
necessary aid.
AT the instance OF the Administrative
BOARD, Chairman HirschberK instruct
ed Or. X. q. Cabell. Jr.. superintendent,
Of the City Home. to care for the needs
Of any persons rendered homeless or
hungry by reason OF the food.
Criticism aimed at city officials at
trihuted to /. Bluford, OF /. Bluford &
20. Fifteenth AID Brown Streets,
caused the board to have summons
issued for his appearance -day. The
paper was served by a deputy sheriff
The board wishes to find out from Mr.
Bluford whether any one in the city
government has been derelict
BOARD MAKES TOUR
OF FLOODED AREA
Yesterday afternoon members OF the
board made tour of the Hooded area
Most OF the water had rcceded escent
in extremely low places. Water stood
several feet deep on the first food of a
| two-story frame dwelling at 5le-5I
North Fifteenth Street. The lower
floor. which had been occupied BY two
colorcd families. had been rendered
uninhabtable. The house had been
built. members OF the board estimated
six feet below the level of the stree,
| They agreed that the owner should
he compelled TO fill in the property. for
which the city ordinance makes pro-
vision. THAT would prevent a recur-
renee Of food as far as this one house
is concerned" said Commissioner Nc
Carthy.
Not until Shockoe Creek. from end
to end. Is incascd in concrete" said
Commissioner Folkes. will floods OF
this character be prevented. Heavy
storms and cloud bursts have always
caused this disaster and always will
until the creek is converted into a
massive conduit" Contract for a sec
ton OF this work nearly mile long
was recently awarded
~ is expected mat the board will
take steps to prevent. in some measure.
further recurrence of the flood by re-
quirng tho owners OF property, which
is leased 10 colorad tenants. To nil in in
all low places
STONE ARCH OVER CREEK
SETTLES OUT OF PLUMB
Members OF the hoard personally in
spected the condition OF the stone arch
over the creek at Marshall Street II
has begun to settle. evidently caused
by the heavy downpours. and the key
stone was found to he nearly a foot
out OF place. The hoard to-day will
probably order tho whole structure
torn down and a new One. constructed
of steel, put In its place. The Marshall
Street Niadnct lis not threatened by this
condition. as it's steel uprights rest
upon separate foundations. or piers OF
concrete which go down to solid rock.
The removal Of the arch will give the
waters OF the creek frcer passage
The statements which caused the
hoard 70 summon Mr.. Bluford to appear
as witness to-day included the fol-
lowing:
This condition Of affairs Is due to
nothing less than the negligence OF the
city of Richmond was here Satur-
day afternoon during the worst of the
| mood and again Sunday, and IL II had
MOI been for the help my force OF men
lrehdered In cleaning away the debris
ana stuff which collected at the Mar
Shall street arch, we would have had
n" conditions In the valley as bad as
last August.
Here these families, some Of them
nad ones. ! admit. have been without
900 since they were driven from their
MONIES. and not single step of relief
mas neen taken by the city. have
ho'ihed both Mayor Ainslie, members
of the Administrative Board and the
'hief Of Police of conditions down
here. and they all said they would in
NeSuSate the matter"
Alter he received the summons to
20 before the board. Mr.. Bluford said
that he would tell exactly of the CON
"itions az he saw them.
because Of the condition Of the
northern portion OF the aroh, a rome
has been placed there to prevent neo-
pc from going too near the edge to
avoid accidents in case OF caye-,n
nun Marshall Street has not been closed
:" traffic IA the condition is not re-
s""cd as serious enough to nreyent
! IL. a. 'i'
- rev letters of complaint reached
the board at its session yesterday as
" result OF choked sewers and damage
- property throughout the city by the
"NE rainfall. and more are expected
,"-"aS. The board is doing all posi-
:" 20 relieve any distress or incon-
e",ehce which may have been caused
~ 'hc abnormal conditions which have
o'er'axed the sewerage system.
Sent On to Grand Jury.