Source:Lang-asks
"Lang asks more funds for street work: Retaining wall unreckoned by engineers who drew up plans: Sentiment is divided over Knoxville street names: Oppose opening of Edby [sic] street." Pittsburgh Post, Jan. 4, 1927, p. 2. Newspapers.com 86806382.
Inability of the city engineers to fully reckon conditions again led Director Edward G. Lang before council yesterday with measures for increased appropriations for work already contracted for. Some weeks ago the director presented legislation increasing the Grizella street improvement from $32,000 to above $70,000 to take care of a retaining wall made necessary by a slip.
Yesterday he presented ordinance increasing the estimate on the Breckenridge street improvement between Reed and Morgan street, from $66,000 to $84,779.38, and on the Cooper street improvement between McClure and California avenue from $24,000 to $26,016.51.
NEEDS RETAINING WALL.
The increase on the Breckenridge work is due to a needed addition to a retaining wall, council was informed, and that on Cooper street work to a condition of the sub-grade, which could not be predetermined. He states that it will be necessary to increase certain estimated quantities in items of work to place the sub-grade in suitable condition for paving.
Communications received yesterday by council show division of sentiment in Knoxville over the change of street names. William Grimm in a letter advocated the renaming of Charles street, Grimes avenue in honor of J. F. Grimes, a founder of the borough. H. C. Connelly presented an opposite view to those to [sic] believe streets should be renamed to accommodate the new conditions. He states that as mail is addressed for Knoxville to the Mt. Oliver postoffice, no confusion should result on account of Knoxville streets having names the same as other city streets.
WOULD HIRE SOLICITORS.
City Solicitor Charles A. Waldschmidt submitted a resolution authorizing the employment by the legal department of Vincent P. Walsh, former Knoxville solicitor, J. Boyd Duff, in the same capacity for Carrick and Harry A. Porter, in the same for Westwood, the three annexed territories. The solicitor gave no explanation for the employment.
Council sustained the veto of Mayor Charles H. Kline on an ordinance changing the zoning classification of two lots on Wightman and Hobart streets from residential to commercial to permit the erection of a drug store. There was no opposition to the mayor's attitude which was that the change was inconsistent with the zoning of the district and would prove disadvantageous to the community.
The Eighteenth Ward Board of Trade petitioned council for an improvement of the street lighting on Beltzhoover avenue between Warrington avenue and Climax street. The West End Board of Trade also petitioned for a number of local street improvements, making an urgent request for cinders to be applied to a number of streets in bad condition.
F. W. Moore presented a claim for $516.50 for damage done to his automobile when it collided with a sewer manhead at Sims and Chess street which he contends was unprotected.
The Yellow Cab Company requested permission to erect a telephone stand at South Aiken and Liberty avenue. George H. Muse, a fire captain presented a claim of $120 for nurses' charges for services rendered to him when injured by a fall from a roof while on duty.
LANG ASKS ELECTRIC PUMP.
Director Lang presented an ordinance authorizing the expenditure of $110,150 for a centrifugal pump and other equipment for the Howard street pumping plant which it was decided some time ago to electrify.
W. B. Laufman complained to council that property on the Undercliff road, which he conveyed to the city as an addition to Frick's woods, was being used as a dumping ground by residents of nearby streets.
Ordinances were presented for the sale of lots on Homer street to the German Reading Society for $1,000, and to Caroline Mills for $1,200.
STREET OPENING OPPOSED.
The city planning commission communicated a disapproval of the ordinance opening Edby [sic] street, Fourteenth ward. The commission states it believes the opening of streets into main arteries such as Beechwood boulevard, at intervals of 150 feet, is wrong and that such practice should give way to the general and carefully studied plan of development covering the district affected. An ordinance for the acceptance of the dedication of the proposed street was introduced. The conveyors are Harry Mellon and C. D. Miller, with their wives.
Ordinances were presented for the grading and paving of Viking way to cost $7,500, and Tarpon way for a similar amount; also, ordinances for sewers on Mahon way to cost $1,600 and Fifth avenue at Oakland avenue to cost $3,700.
The request of the West End Savings and Trust Company to have the city assume a charge of $750 for work [in?] adapting the company's new building to the city sewer was not approved by Director Lang who recommended to council that the company [pay?]. The company states it is entitled to the drainage, while the director states, the new building required a deeper cut for the sewer than was necessary to meet normal demand.
