Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-25
.E|CHT-HOUR DAY FOR
GAS WORKS EMPLOYEES
Threc-Shift System to Be introduced
On and After DC.
tober I.
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD ACTS
Council to Be Asked to Provide AID.
ditional Funds. Though Balance in
Hand Will Care for Added Cost
Through This Fiscal Year.

An cight-hour workday. with opera
tives working in three shifts. will be
introduced by the Administrative
Board for employees of the water-gas
and coal-GaS plants at the Lower Gas
Works. commencing October l. This
action was definitely decided upon yes.
terday by the board. in keeping with
the recent recommendation of Super.
intcndent w. p. Knowles, who was di-
rected by the board in an order &c
make the necessary arrangements 70,
the change in the method of operation
at the plant.
The board considered the matter last
week. but requested Superintendent
knowles to give the plan further con-
sideration before taking final action
The board was informed yesterday by
Mr.. Knowles that he had carefully
checked the payroll account Of the
Lower Gas Works and found that suf-
fcient funds remained to care for the
additional expense. If the change was
not introduced until October l. The
remaining funds. of course. only care
for the added cost Of operation for the
three months OF the present fiscal
year.
Once the plant is placed on an
eiGht-hour basis however. 1t is ex-
pected that sufficient funds will be
future to continue the plant on such a
basis. Following the report yesterday
OF superintendent Knowles. Chairman
HirschberG offered motion. which
was unanimously carried by tho board,
directing that the change from a
twelve to an eight-hour day he made
October /.
MEMBERS OF BOARD
GO IN FOR ECONOMY
Members Of the board expressed
their belief in economy yesterday. in
the face OF the present critical sit
uation facing tho country. believing
should be prevented. In keeping with
this sentiment, the board rejected two
acquisitions filed during the day for
extras" to municipal automobiles. The
Health Department had requested an
electric starter for the Medical In
spectors automobile, and Assistant
City Engineer ]. N. Eubank requested
shock absorbers for his machine. Tho
aggregate cost OF the two extras" was
only S110, but they were refused by
the board.
City Engineer Boiling and Superin-
tendent Eugene E. Davis. of the Wa
ter Department, were instructed to
conduct an inspection and report the
best method for protecting the water
main in Fourteenth Street, where II
crosses the dock. Assistant Superln-
tendent Lawton had told the board
that a concrete slab base under the
main would be of little value unless
piling were driven to afford a solid
foundation for the slab. This work
would have cost approximately $3.50
The two department heads will report
at once an estimate Of the cost for
the protection Of the main.
The board directed City Engineer
Boiling to advertise for bids for the
construction OF sewer In Clay Street
between Sheppard and High Point
Streets. The bids are returnable Sep
TENDER z. Bids for the lowering Of
a six-inch sewer about three feet at
its present terminus in Tenth Street
between Semmes and Railroad Streets
South Richmond. will also be received
by the board September Z.
The Superintendent OF the Street
Cleaning Department was directed to
clean out the cutters and cut down
all weeds on the 1900 and 1000 blocks
of Virginia Avenue. while the sidewalk
on the south side Of Linden Avenue
between Woodcliff Avenue and Stuart
Road Is to be graveled at once.