Minutes 11/14/1922 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 1~, 1~22 The following is the report from Mm.~Haug~ "General J. P. Jervey, City Manager, Oity. "Octobe~ 16th, Dear Sir:-- gin the following, I respectfully submit a report of my activities and ob- servations as representative of The City of Portsmouth at the National Convention cf the Ameri~ can Society for Muni-cipal Improvements held in Oleveland, October 2nd, 3rd, ~th, 5th and 6th, My train was five hours late reaching Cleveland and I arrived at One P. M. Monday, October 2nd. I attended all sessions of the Convention with the exception of the Tuesday afternoon session which I p~ssed up in favor of attending the meeting of the commit- tee on revision of. sheet asphalt specifications. I left Cleveland at One P. M. Friday, October 6th. The Ohio State Oonference on City Planning was in session during my stay and I attended their sessions on Monday. Most of the time was devoted to City, County and State Park systems. The most interesting feature of this conference was a law which they voted to present for adoption by State Legislature which would empower a Plan Commission to reserve for future purchase any lands which would enter into their plsns. This land could not be improved or platted. The law does not soun~ reasonable and was being fought by the Real Estate Board. In the Oity Planning sessions of the American Society for Municipal Improve- ments there were many reports covering Planning, Traffic, Parks mud ~oning, very little of which would be applicable to Portsmouth. These features are things which are paramount in the minds of City O~ficials of the large, rapidly growing Northern Cities and a visit to any of these cities will m~ke anyone appreciate their importance. Men with whom I talked, from the smaller ,cities, claimed they hmd simple zoning laws which g~ve them ~ittle trouble and had the support of real estate men. Not$ing radlc~l developed in street paving and sidewalks, .hut it was the opinion of everyone ix a long discussion on curb radii that corners should have 10' radius minimum in residential neighborhoods and as long~ a radius as possible in congested districts, p~eferably a compound curve with 30' radius in the center. The leading lights in the asphalt business were on the Sheet Asphml~'Com- mlttee and ~he specifications were discussed for over four hours. The ~se of heavy rollers was~u~animously msked for and a 10 ton was put in specifications. Hemvier traffic calls for greater compression of surface, Other minor changes were made, but the discussion was worth a great deal to the writer. The sessions on sewerage and~aimmge were given ~. la~gety to sewmge disposal w~ioh is, of course, vital to practically all inland communities. These discussioms covered everything from screens to the dmying and use ef sludge for fertilizer. One thing ef interest which came up for much discussion wms the use of ~tch basins with sumps. The mmJority of the sewer ~xperts were strong for the elimi~tion of catohbasins in favor of ~he inlet even .for combined systems. Such men as Folwell of New York, and Homer of St. Louis were among the men who condemned the catch basin as a mosquito and odor breeder and of not much use in protecting the sewer mains. For Portsmouth I cannot agree with these gentlemen imms- much as web, ye such smmll grades and consequent low velocities coupled with the fact that we h~ve miles of loose, sandy roads which w~sh badly in sto~ms. The inlet mmy be the prope: thing in cities where all streets a~ve paved and the wash eo~is~s of sweepings and paper. From the various reports and ,~iscussions on g~rbage and refuse disposal, I readil~ sono!uded that Portsmouth h~s theoorrect idea in the mixed burni~ng of all garoage ~d inflammable refuse~ ~ost citieswho hmvet trie~ the reductions, plants~ ~tc., have andened them after 6 or 7 yea~S use. I was s~prmsed to learn that over 80~ of our cities do not collect ahses but ie~ve it entirely up to the property owner to dispose of sams. Was ~rised to learn that a poll of a large number of cities showed that.the property to care for individuml garbage collection, in 21~ ef the total. In the above I have not mttempted ~o cover any of the many lengthy paperScussions.which were read. I have merely meted the intsresting~things which arose in the dis- . Talked with many men en subject of fi~ncing improvements and found that Portsmouth was a cu~ieslty in this respect. S~ecial assessment against benefited pro- perty seems to be the universal practice. Even hear~ of one ~n (Rochester, I believe) where cost of street c~aning is by special assessment. Imagine a~ initiml cash assessment of $2000. per fromt foot for street widening and improvements. This is contemplated by Chicago for South ~ater Street project. The convention was well attended and representative. I met men from Montreal, Oauads, PCrtlamd, Oregon, Birmingham, Alabama and points between. ~espeetfully yours, M. E. Hmug, Assistant City Engineer.~ ~nf:motion of Mr.Esleeck, the report was ordered to be filed, copies of same ~o be furnished ~, Recommendmtion that a special appropriation of $25. bemllowed to cover estim~tsd dam~es to wagon Of C. N. Boyd, which w&s caused by striking an overha~ing tree on Olifford street, near Court. onmo~ion, the recommendation was referred to Finmnce Committee. Sth. "The members of the Friends' Church have appealed to me ~n regard to an indigent