Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-16

City council. The. report contains sta
tistical data from every department
The Mayor makes few recommenda-
lions. declaring that the needs of the
departments for the year, as We saw
presented the annual budget, and their
tate was decided then. Nothing would
bcgained by repetition here"
However, the city's executive tells the
needs which Will be presented TO the
Committee on Finance in connection
with the special hearing at which the
late principally to the :cwer system.
the distribution system Of the Utilities
Department and necessary extensions
Enlargement OF the Old Market is rec
commended as is also the construction
OF an additional pavilion at Pine Camp
and fire engine house III Highland
Park.
change in city government. concludes
h!s report as follows:
Believes Dirrctors Competent.
u deem it proper to say, however.
that the directors entered upon the
large and difficult task Of rcorganiz-
ing the governmental machinery. and
have so far managed their departments
In a manner. and with an industry. Il
hdelity TO the public service. and :, CO.
operative spirit. which. 10 my mind
justify the hope that the amended char
ter will produce more convenient and
efficient administration OF the City's af-
fairs. II should be understood. though.
that no form OF government Will. Of
good ones. While some forms may ne
better than others good results are
achieved by the men employed 10 do
the work. Efficiency is the product or
efficient men working under favorable
conditions. believe that our dircc-
tors are reasonably competent in their
wizards. We may properly demand
faithful. di!!gent. intelligent service OF
them, but we should not expect Icgerde-
main. Calling them directors and Civ
ing them considerable authority isn't
all that il necessary TO get the best re-
suits The head OF one of Americas
greatest manufacturing corporations. a
man or inteTnat!onal fame, who rose
from tho ranks Of the workers. Was
recently quoted as saying: i have
never seen a man who could do real
work except under the stimulus OF en-
courEaerncnt and enthusiasm and the
approval OF the people for whom ne Is
working Few sensible People will dc
ny that statement. and. in that regard
there is absolutely no difference be
tween departmental director and the
humhl"st. ditch digger commend
Charles II. Schwab's statement to the
serious consideration OF those who
would really like 10 see the hes. re-
suits obtained from our working force.
Sewers Need Ertcnsion.
regret that was unable TO get
extraordinary labors imposed upon the
departmental directors IN setting up
the new machinery and getting II in
working, order delayed their reports
and made It impossible. The report
Of the public health had 10 he made
up by our former chief health officer,
and his illness and the demands upon
him by his new position in State health
work prevented his report from reach
Ing me until last week On account
- me abolition Of the Administrative
Board. which formerly reviewed the
" ~
there was no one to do II but myself
and considered that a badly delayed
review would be better than none at
all
The needs o, the departments for
the year, as We saw them. were pre-
scented 20 you when We presented the
annna! budget, ana their fate was de-
clded then. Nothing would be gained
by repetition here. There are other
large general needs Of more pcrma
nent, character which shan Sc, out
in detail 10 your Finance Committee
At special hearing this month. to
supply which city bonds in large
amount viii have TO he issued. Suffice
II TO say here that the sewer system
the distribution; system OF the Utilities
Department and the Gas Works need
considerable extensions and improve
meniS. The old Market needs 10 be
enlarged and improved. If we intend
10 continue IL 10 the best advantage
an additional pavilion is needed at
Pine Camp and the Bureau OF Santa
end stable. The Fire Department needs
an engine house in Highland Park"
Much Statistical Dntn.
The report in the main contains
only figures for 1918. and the follow
ing matters OF interest are taken from
The year showed an increase in all
business activities in Richmond except
in building operations. where there was
a decrease Of s2.2So,074.
q
death rate of Richmond increased. he
ing 1895 against 2.o36 during 1917.
There was notable decrease in the
death rate from other diseases. The
typhoid death rate was next to IN.
lowest record in Richmond's history
There We're 3,S+S births in 1915. the
and 1918. There was. comparatively
speaking. IN excessively high death
rate among the negroes, but not so
high as in former years.
The report transmits certain recon-
mendations OF the retiring chief health
officer. DR.. Roy *. Flanagan. as fol-
lows:
Increased salary for next chief
venereal clinic. close affiliation be-
tween the State and city laboratories.
installation of a modern filtration SyS-
TEN for Richmond water. city abattoir
and meat inspector. rules for storage
and sale of meat products and closer
inspection for water supply pipes upon
installation.
Tribute to Police Department.
Addition of another nurse to staff.
development of the Richmond Health
Bulletin. establishment of district tn
berculosis and child welfare clinics.
Reference in considerable detail is
made to statistical matter in the re-
port Of the Superintendent of Schools
and the report of the Board of Fire
commissioners. Attention is called to
the fact that the Board OF Fire Com
miSsioners went out of existence on
January ], 1919. Figures show that
since the hoard took charge of it's
work in 1883 the department has been
greatly increased and improved. In
1888 the department had twenty eight
stationed men and l01 called men. IT
now has eos stationed men. The prop
erty Of the department has increased
from SI4,S17 in value to s44l.930.
a tribute is paid to the work of the
Police Department. the report declar-
ing that the records show great ac-
tivity in the enforcement of laws
against immortality. liquor. gambling
and for the protection of children.
Much statistical matter is quoted