Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-17

street improvement becomes Il certainty
WHILE condemning it as the establish
w ment of a bad precedent and i'll keeping
with neither the wishes OF the people nor
the spirit of the charter. Richmond is so
gratified over the certainty of having new
streets paved, and old ones repaired. that II
will not censure too severely the Board CT
Aldermen for concurring in the Common
Council ordinance with its ill-advsed Suli-
amendment, providing for mandatory
equal distribution Of the bond issue proceeds
among the four wards. There never has
been any question that each ward stands in
dire need of its pro rata share of the fund
to be derived from the sale of bonds. SO
unspeakable are the street conditions in each
that the full amount can be expended without
cent of waste, and still little less than
start be made. But il is the principle OF
modern, progressive government in relation
10 comprehensive city building that has been
transgressed Let it be hoped that il will
be the last time that the public confidence
in one of its own created departments will
be weak keep it from being en-
trusted with the execution OF a municipal inn
provement program. Now that the moot
question of distribution has been determined.
1t may be AIKEN for granted that there will be
a sufficient coordination and cooperation on
the part of the wards and the Department
of Public Works 10 preclude any Of the old
patchwork street building. and in so far as
tinuohs main arteries of traffic which will
serve as the basic system for all future eX-
penditures.
In the public discussion OF and the decision
as to distribution. one vital particular seems
to have been overlooked That is fund
for the maintenance OF the streets after the
new ones have been paved and the old ones
put in proper condition. Under modern
traihc demands no street will stand up in
definitely. and il requires almost constant
work ii it is not TO be permitted to disn-
teGrate quickly. Horrible examples Of such
neglect are in painful evidence in every part
OF R;ynmond. That such neglect may no, he
repeated. part of the bond proceeds should
he set aside for maintenance, and. following
the ward plan OF distribution fixed by the
Council, II would seem only proper that the
plan be carried out to its logical conclusion
and stated sum for this purpose he named
for each ward
with the immediate question OF street i'm
provement thus removed from debate Rich
mond may we'll devote itself TO the subject
OF future street building and the means there
TO, for il should be recognized that the
So.ooo,ooo TO he made ava liable through the
bond issue is mere drop in the bucket COM
pared with what is urgently needed The
sanest and most feasible plan is the assess
ment OF at least part OF the cost against
AUDITING property owners. To do this the
State Constitution must be amended Every
city in Virginia is laboring under difficulties
similar TO those in Richmond and it is likely
that they will cooperate in pressing the Cen
era! Assent bly, a its next regular session to
submit such an amendment TO the people a
certain amount of opposition may be expected
from the rural communities, but il will be an
easy matter to phrase the amendment so that
II shall apply TO the cities and exempt the
country districts. Such plan would he per-
tectly falr TO every interest concerned. and
not until il Is adopted can Richmond or any
other Virginia city hope TO have streets or
other municipal Improvements that will com
pare with those OF other cities in States where
property pays equitable price for the cor
porate benefits it receives.