Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-04
J, 600 WORTH OF ROAD BUILDING MATERIAL VIRGINIA

event this location Is NOT secured.
the State will be compelled 20 secure
ground and trackage elsewhere. Tho
saving In cost Of rehandling OF tho
materials In and out OF tho oQu!p-
ment division plant would moro than
pay the interest on tho investment
in ground and buildings. The loca-
t'on a. the State pen!tentiary Is also
unsuited for the work. 1t was tho
best the State Highway Department
could do 1t the time the equipment
division was established. MIR. Cole
man states that he has received the
hnest kind Of cooperation from the
state pcnitentiary board and Off
Gals. Certain rules must be fol-
lowed. however. by all those who
are working within the walls OF the
pcnltentiary. For example work
must stop at $40 in the afternoon.
The office men or mechanics cannot
work after this hour or on Sundays.
regardless OF how urgent the case
may be. Equipment can be taken
out only during-certain hours. The
worst handicap is the lack of a side
track and switching facilities. The
big equipment Weighing many tons
must be handled from an outside sid
ing or freight depot by motor truck
involving greatly increased over
head. The State hasn't sufficient
warerooms to place Hll OF the equip
ment which should be under cover.
The ofiicials are doing the best they
can They are using the portable
canvas airplane hangers TO cover as
much as possible.
others Study Operations.
When department of the State
government does it's work go we'll
that representatives Of seven states
visit Richmond to mako a study of
its operation. the reason can only he
that tho personnel In charge OF the
organization is functioninE unusual
~ well. y representative OF the Mon
tana Highway Department visited the
plant last week
Commissioner Coleman determined
a, the outset that the value of this
government equipment must be con
served. Edwin NJ. Evans who was
formerly with the equipment division
Of the United States Office ~ Public
Roads. was placed in charge "a
equipment engineer. y. NJ Green, a
bookkecper Of the state Highway
Department., devised the syxtem Of
accounting. In this connection. the
s"stcm Of record keeping is so com
/ plcte that not only IS a perpetual! in
"cntory of the vast stock always
available. but the record OF tic cos,
and earnings OF every piece OF cqu!p-
ncnt in use is brought up To date
This follows through the branch re-
pair shops at Bristol. Stanton
LvnchburE and Culpeper.
NJ. Evans as equipment engineer
has gathered around him an crEani-
zh'!on the equal. II not supern., I,
that OF any other State. Rose, A
Gary is the general superintendent,
OF all Of the repair shops and SUNNY
d"rots. \. y. Snead Is the purcha I.
ing agent. Wherever supplies or new
| equipment are needed. they are our
}Chased by competitive bids. For ex-
'ample. $4,000 worth OF new road.
| building equipment was purcha ed
/ last month out OF tho earnings nt
government equipment. The pur.
chasing department Is proud Of the
saving which they have made rs
studying closely how equipment anc
! materials can nc bought at the low
est poss!hl" price.
! shepard General Foreman,
II. j. Shepard is the general fore.
man Of tho Richmond shop. II. ha!
under him sixty-odd mechanics ant
laborors. Every class OF automotiv.
work is done In his shop. Batteries
maCnctos. starters. generators an,
other electric Equipment are rebuilt,
I All OF The tops and upholstered worl
is done In the shop. Mr.. Shcpart
stated that the cost OF rebuilding
Dodge car used during the war fl
army service and making out Of 1!
a car which was almost as good a
new, ranged from $3.50 TO 5000 Tn!
includes charge for all parts whe
new a regular manufacturers pricc
and when salvaged from an old ca
at half the list price and ali laho