Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08

1t Is therefore recommended that tf
inc water Department IL to DO retained
as separate department tho force DO
reorganized In accordance with tho
recommendations contained In the text
or tho report. Ic the Water Depart
neht Is to be consolidated with the
TWO other utilities departments Il re-
organization. such as Is recommended
In the discussion OF the proposed de-
partmont OF public utilities, should bc
effected.
Condition of Gas Works Excellent.
The general condition of the ga,
plant Is excellent. Attention Should
be given, however. TO the need for in
crcaslng the capacity Of tho pIant to
meet me increasing consumption. Con-
decentralization shoa'a or ne iSo giysn TO tho
In favor of, the installation of an I'm
proved type OF coal gas plant with YER
ing and coal storage facilities at the
gus works should he improved and OK
tended. ~
The same criticisms that were ex.
pressed regarding the repair and con
struction forces, In the Water Depart
ment apply TO the repair aud construc-
ton forces In the Gas Department.
The general condition of the store
yard OF the Gas Department is good
more carefully supervised. What tho
city needs is a central storeyard for
TIC three utfitieS departments.
I;icctricnI Department..
The electrical plant Is kept I'm good
condition but the control over supplies
iS rather loose. This is another arEu-
inent for the consolidation Of the stores
ana supplies OF the three departments
OF water. gas and electricity In 4 single
storehousc under Il competent store
keeper.
The force employed in the electrical
inspection is inadequate. The depart
inent should inspect outdoor electrical
construction AS well as interior install
No fees are charged for electrical in
sspections made by the department..
electrical inspection constitutes "A lcsi-
innate charge against the property In
for this service similar to sthe scale
prevailing in Chicago and Detroit. If
city's revenue by, approximately $4,000
annually and make the division OF in
spection practically self-supporting.
to the construction of a hiEh:voltage
feed line within the city limits despite
The The nrotsS. Of the r ssnperintendent OF
to criticism
In general. the lighting OF streets in
mcnt Avenue and Franklin Street.
which arc subject 20 heavy traffic, the
lighting is decidedly inadequate. This
ing with the requests of owners and
residents along those streets regarding
the location and intensity of the street
lights. This policy has been objected
TO by the superintendent OF the Flee
trical Department. Ii is recommended
that il be abandoned and that tho city
install adequate lighting facilities
along these streets without reference
10 the personal preference OF the resi-
dents
Standardization of Salaries md Wngcs.
The methods of appointment Ia en-
ploynent in the service OF the city OF
Richmond are defective when Judged
by conditions prevailing in other cities
which cnjoy the benefit of system
OF civil service control 1t IL desra-
bic that there should be an agency OF
the government for the recruiting OF
employees and that there should be
uniformity in methods OF advancing
and promoting employees. Such uni
formity can only be secured through
n central employment agency. BY e%-
tending the functions OF an existing
department OF the Go|ernmcnt--thc
Public Employment Bureau--to include
the recruiting. promotion and record
keeping OF municipal employees. Rich
mond can obtain the benefit of civil
service system. II i:' recommended
that this bureau be given the powers
listed in detail in the test of the re-
port.