Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-24
CITY COUNCIL.

| cullen, e. Robinson, J. Bosher, ]. M. Caring
| ton, w. Goddin, S. D. Denoon H. Exall. ]. NJ.
| Talbot, l.. w. Chamberayne and d. ]. Saun-
| ders.
| report was presented from the Committee on
Light recommending contract with F. L. WAL
thall, for brick work, exclusive of the gas holder
tank and stack
And the contract was approved.
| Present-R. o. Haskins
The following resolutions of the Committee on
| Light were also submitted:
heSotoed, That the propositions Of Messrs Cotton e.
G yo ana Messrs Lane q Co, for supplying $50 me-
Tres each OF such number OF lights each as the Engineer
may suggest be accepted and recommended to the City
| Council tor approval
Res0tred, That the proposition of Mr. W. P Cres-
son. for furnishing 300 lanterns be accepted and recon-
mended to the City Council for approval
=, Resolged That the proposition OF Messrs. Morris,
lasker Morris for furnishing service pipe and fit
tngs, be accepted and recommended TO the City Council
for approval.
Resolued That the proposition of Messrs j. w &
J.f Starr for furnishing gasholders, be accepted and
recommended to the City Council for approval
Resoolped, That the proposition of Messrs Daven-
port Allen d 20, ior furnishing the cement, atter the
approval OF the Engineer be accepted and recommend
| ed TO the City Council for approval.
ResotDed, That the proposition of Messrs Vancleye
& Mchean forurnlshlng set OF condenser apparatus
| per drawingl be accepted and recommended 10 the
City Council for approval.
Resoloed, That the proposition OF Messrs. Vancleve
d MeKean for furnishing the iron for the roof Of the
Retor House. be accepted and recommended to the City
Council for approval.
The resolutions having been read, the several
contracts recommended by the Committee, were
approved by the Council.
The bond of Davenport, Allen & Co. was ap-
! proved, and their auction license renewed
| The Petition of Y. s. Rust respecting the as
| sessment on his real property, on motion of Mr.
TAFT, was referred to the Committee of Equazers
The report of the Committee on Culverts TO
whom was referred the petition of A. Richards
and others, for the construction of culvert in
Franklin street, between ] 18th and 18th streets,
which was laid on the table the 18th March last,
was taken up: and the resolution of the commit
tee having been amended was adoptee as follows:
Resolued, That the Committee on CuIyer,s be au-
thorized to cause culvert TO be constructed from
ShoGkoe Creek to 18th street, Franklin street,
less than two feet wide by three feet high in the clear
with openings at each crossing and syphons each
opening and from nine to ten feet the Sutace cost
not exceeding the sum of $775.
Mr.. Denoon presented report from the same
Committee on the petition of J. o. Steger and
others, for the construction of cuvert from the
Shockoe Hill Market which was laid on the table,
He also presented the following report from the
same Committee
The Committee on Cnlverts, to whom was re-
ferred the estimate of the City Surveyor, for the
extension of the culvert in Grace street. from 18th
to 18th streets, together with the accompanying
resolution, have had the same under considerations
and deeming the said extension both necessary and
expedient, recommend to the Council the ad ption
of the aforesaid resolution.
And the following resolution, as recommended
by the Committee, was adopted:
Resolued That the City Surveyor be- and he is here
by instructed to cause the culver now in course of
construction from 18th the Eastern side of 18th street.
to be extended to 18th street ProUided the cost there
OF shall not exceed $780, estimated by the Surveyor
On motion of Mr.. TAFT,
Resolped, That the Chairman of the Committee on
Light place in the hands OF the Attorney for this City
the necessary information to enable him. without DELAY
to prepare such contracts for the construction of the diff
teren portions the Gas Works as have BEEN or here
after may be. approved by the Council or entered into
by the Committee on Light.
On motion of Mr.. TAFT,
Resoloed, That the City Surveyor be authorized to
employ, temporarily competent assistant at a salary
not exceeding the of sos per month"; to aid him in
making out the ordered estimate of work done in the
several Wards OF the city during the last ten years and
also IN laying out grades OF and experimenting
the execution OF work ordered by the Council The
services and pay Of such assistant be continued not
longer than the LIST of November next.
MIR. Carrlngton presented a reportfrom the COM
mttee on the Old Market, which was laid on the
table.
DR.. Chamberlayne presented the following re-
port:
The select committee, to whom was referred
the memorial Of the Fire Association have had
the subject under consideration, and beg leave to
report, that the present Fire Association was Or
gained in 1888; and an appropriation of $1,000
was then made by the city TO defray the ordinary
expenses of said Association. The zeal and et-
fciency with which the firemen have performed
the responsible and burthensome duties devolyinp
ON them is universally acknowledged; and the ex-
pense, including all sums appropriated for hose,
NC, is much less than it was under the old sys-
tenn, the inetficiency of which laid the ground
work of the present. 1t may be urged against an
increased appropriation, that the Fire Association
is an Insurance Company, and that out of the
profits of policies, the expenses should be paid
large number of the tiremen are holders of but
one share of stock, which, at Is per cent, YIELDS
So, the shares being 800. The whole income,
then, OF such firemen, is but So per year each an
amount too inconsiderable to pay for one nights
labor, and from this pittance is often deducted
large part for fines.
The expense of the insurance department is
borne exclusively by ITSELF nor does the memo
rial ask for any appropriation on that score, but
solely for the expenses of the fire department
proper. which during the last year were nearly
$4,000 greater than the amount received from the
city and the Mutual Assurance Company COM
bined The appropriation by the city, was, as
heretofore stated originally intended to cover the
expenses of the fire department. and at that time,
probably, was sufficient for that purpose but, al
this time, the great increase in the number of
houses, has of course increased the number of
fires; and with the gradual increase of the city,
and increased number of fires, the means for ex-
tinguishing the latter, and the necessarily auen-
dant expenses have also increased, and in much
greater ratio: the engines and apparatus being
now three times as large and effective as when
the former appropriation was made. The whole
cost OF the city, on count OF the Fire Associa-
ton, has averaged, per annum, for the last twelve
years, 81 $3.50 81, inclusive of the building of en-
CINE houses and the purchase of hosea sum far
less than is paid by any city of equal extent and
population. 1t appears to the committee to be
sound policy to foster and encourage the contnu-
ance of system from which the city has derived
such incalculable benefits. hv an animal ammo