Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-17
BECK TELLS OF WORK
ALONG sHOCKOE CREEK
II Funds Are Provided Entire Under
taking Can Be Completed
by 1920.
CITY HAS SPENT s475,2s .os
Contracts Recently Awarded Cover
e About One Mile OF Bacon Quarter
= Branch and Total $2S7 ,747.1S.
Main Section Yet to BE Walled In.
ny HENRY p. BECK,
.mber Of Adm,n,,,rot,yc nonrd.

Member OF Administrative Bonrd.
publication Of tho richmond Chamber Of
Commercc)
Ever since the day william Byrd
founded the city OF Richmond. In 1852.
Shockoe Creek has been a physical fac
tor that had to be reckoned with in
city affairs: first. In the carly days OF
the city, as a stream separating the
lower part of the town from the upper
section az the community commenced
to grow and spread from the lower
part OF the town adjacent to the river.
westwardly to and across Shockoe
Creek At first It became necessary
to bridge this stream 30 that country
msn and others wishing to visit the
new town could cross the creek In
times OF high water. but as the city
continued to grow. what was at first
a country brook became the drain.
and finally the main sewer of the city.
AS the population increased, 1t be-
came necessary very early in the nine
tenth century TO carry the streets
across Shockoe Creek by more sub.
stantial structures than at first pre-
vailed. and the remains OF some OF
this work may still be seen spanning
the present channel. AS the city con-
tinued to grow westwardly, the trib-
utary OF Shockoe Creek. known as
Bacon Quartet Branch. became also
main drain and sewer for the new
west end section. Early In the seven
ties, the walling-in Of Shockoe Creek
and Bacon Quarter Branch. IN order
to facilitate the use OF these streams
as sewers. became an important prob
lem with the City Engineers Office,
SO much SO that the late Colonel w.
E. Cutshaw, formerly City Engineer
rs early as 1873. caused 10 be made
a complete survey OF the Shockoe
Creek and Bacon Quarter Branch wa
tershed. with view 10 determining
the necessary width OF channel which
must be built in order 10 fully accom-
MEDIATE this stream with It's added bur
den OF city sewage as we'll as take
care of storm water during heavy
rains Under his direction, the work
of wall!ng-!n and building this chan
nelway was commenced and prosecuted
as far as the means OF the city would
permit. and although the appropN-
atoms for the Improvement OF these
streams, prior TO 1912. were very
meager and spasmodic yet under the
able direction OF City Engineer Cut
shaw the work was started in mum
Der OF the worst places. and the
strengthening Of these streams was
commenced.
FULL AND COMPLETE
SURVEYS HAVE BEEN MADE
During recent years, with an In
creased engineering force. which was
able TO make fuller and more COM
pletc surveys in order 10 determine
the work that was necessary 70 be
done. the work OF improving Shockoe
Creek has been proceeded with in a
more systematic manner so that at
the present time the creek may he said
to be fully improved from the in
tersection OF Seventh and Hospital
Streets. where Bacon Quarter Branch
forms a junction with Shockoe Creek
to the headwaters OF Bacon Quarter
Branch above the Hermitage Road.
after the present contracts which have
just been let by the Administrative
Board. shall have been completed,
which viii, probably he some time in
the fall OF 1917. That norton OF the
Bacon Quarter Branch sewer for which
contracts have just been let will be
provided with a REINFORCED concrete
top or cover throughout its entire
length, and as a good portion OF the
work already done has also cover.
only that portion OF the creek from
mbardy Street 10 the Hermitage
Road will be left without a cover, and
this top Will he provided as soon as
funds are available for that purpose.
Up to date the sum OF S4T5.234. o3
has been expended in this work OF
Improvement. the amounts by years
being as follows:
. In 1852, ss6o4.a1. 1883. soo.1es.o2:
1892. sS273a: 1894, SIPS; 1897. ss,lS5.-
So: 1902. sll,723.O3 1908. s9,9a9 % I:
1904. sl0.ooO3.6o 1905. s5,S94.99; 1906,
s24,417.49. 1907. slo,5090S; 1907. sl9,-
ss214; 1905, se.63S.73; 1911, sn,26o.75;
1912, s20.376.se; 1914, s75.27sl4: 1915,
$1s6.2766+: 1915 Ito June -. $40
s2s.0l. Total. s475,234,o3.
CONTRACTS RECENTLY SIGNED .
FOR Scs..747.1S OF WORK
The contracts let an June oS 1o76
by the Administrative Board for that
section Of the Bacon Quarter Branch
sewer between Second Street and Sledd
Street. involves an expenditure of
s2s7,747.1S, which. together with the
spasmodic expenditures as shown by
the above table, will amount to $780,
9s1.21.
The section Of Shockoe Creek remain
ing to be improved will be that por-