Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-25
CITY GOVERNMENT ENDS
YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT
Will Carry Over No Floating
Debt, Mayor George
Ainslie Says.
WATER GAS PLANT COMPLETED
lire Department Motorized and the
Too-PlatO0n Sybtcm Inaugnrntcd
for the HcncHt OF tho Men-Bank
Controversy Ended.

for the Hcncht OF tho Men-Bank
Controversy Ended.
In Statement; prepared at the rc-
quest OF The Times Dispatch. Mayor
Ainsiie yesterday gives brief ac-
count OF the achievements OF tho city
government during the year drawing
TO close. II shows that the city
again lives within its income FOR the
year. notwithstanding several extra
ordinary expenditures in emergency
cases, and IL indicates a continuation
OF policy which produces results
far beyond the expectations OF the
most ardent Councilmanic optimist.
The Mayor speaks briefly Of the work
in the various departments. lie says:
u. The city Will again live within
its income for the year and viii carry
over no floating debt unless some
thing unforeseen happens between
now aud the end of the year.
Death Rate Lowest on Record.
80. The death rate, white. colorcd
and total, Will DC the lowest ever
recorded. The total rate will be
about las per thousand, The lowest
previous rate G?lD was 1867 Pine
Camp received an appropriation OF
$4,000 for the enlargement OF it's
facilities for handling tubercular
patients, which work will be com
pleted early in the next year.
%. The year marked the compile
ton of the new water gas plant, the
new two million-!eet gas holder and
the general rehabilitation OF the Gas
Works proper. There now remains
TO be done, which is in progress, the
renewal OF some OF the old mains
which are too small for their load.
and the extension OF mains into un-
served territory. Funds are available
for both. and the work is progress
ing favorahly. Both the Finance
and Utilities Committees OF the City
Council have approved our bond is
sue proposal for sl.500,OO0. the pro-
ceeds or which will provide water
filtration plant. largo additions to
the pumping capacity OF the water
works. and considerable additions to
the distribution system. The matter
is now before the Council, and the
appropriation will give us as pure
water as human endeavor can make
IL. and an ample supply at all times
at the high points and in the high
value district for fire. hgh,inE. 1t
will also eliminate practically every
dry closet in tho city limits. Dur
ing the year $4,000 was expended. on
extension OF water connections.
Fire Department. Motorized.
-. The year witnessed the com
ple,ion OF the motorizat!on OF tho
Fire Department. and also the in
stallatlon OF the two-platoon system
for tho men. which gives them the
hest working and living conditions
Richmond firemen have ever enjoyed
Late in tho year the Council author
ized the purchase OF movable Wa
ter tower for the Fire Department,
which will enormously increase our
f'ro lighting capacity. The United
states government classes Richmond
as the second lowest city in the
street accidents This is n very high
compliment to our traffic regulations
and the success with which they are
enforced.
"5. Tho entire rcpaving OF Hull
Street and n new lighting system
thereon, the new concrete brids.
over the canal which crosses Hull
Street, near Mayo Bridge: the widen
ing OF Bank street from Ninth 10
Twelfth. and the paving and reopen
ing Of West Broad Street and Pat
terson Avenue, are six outstanding
items o. public Improvement done
during the year. During the year
the Department or Public Works laid
1881 l!neal miles OF hard-surface
paving, practically all or which is
the entire width of the rondhcd In
addition TO this hfty-flvc miles OF
Craveled streets were rcsurfacrd or
rebuilt. eighteen railrs Of dir; streets
were rebuilt, and --clGht miles Of
streets were oiled. our s3.oOOo00
bond issue proposal for general sew
"rs TO y. spread over four years was
approved by the Council. and we have
already started work on the 1922 In
stallmcnt. This Improvement Will
give great rcliet to old territory as
We'll as open M new.
80. The settlement of the c!ty's
controversy with the banks over tax
alton Of bank shares ended iitiEa-
tion Of several years, which promised
TO continue for many years. and
saved the city several hundred thou
sand dollars