Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-31
Local Intelligence, City News, &c.
CITY COUNCIL.

The President submitted the following communlca-
ioo:
70 the President of the Council
SIR--As shall probably BE- absent from the city on
professional business until tia meeting of the Legisa
tue and the legislative duties likely to occupy ms
dung the residue oil the term Tor which have been
elected to the office of member of The Council il seems
Ito me mos proper that should now cease to hold
THAT office; and hereby resign H.
In asking you TO lay this resignation before the
Couuci,I caunot forget the important measures ac-
compshed 10 that body, during the pas, year by the
imulual cooperation OF it3 members | shall still
feel interest in the ordinances that have been passed
land be anxious for them to be carried out in such
manner will beat conduce to the cred. Of the city
land promote its we fare.
remain, respectfully, yours,
CON. ROBINSON.
RICHMOND, December u, 1851.
The letter was read and laid on the table,
Mr. Allen, tin The absence of the Chairmau0 report.
ed The following resolution from the Commissioners oil
Streets generally:
Resolved, That the Commissioners of Streets gene
rally, recommend to the Council to pay to the Com
ree on the Square, the of one hundred and for
by dollars. for $500 cubic yards Of earth deposited on
Marshall street, between 18th and COLLEGE streets from
the Capitol Square.
The resolution was adopted by the Council
Mr.. Allen also reported the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Commissioners of Streets ce.
|nerally recommend to the City Council to authorize
he employment OF thirty hands and 10 carts for
Ira Impro"emens,-gradng paving and grayrlHop
;hands and Jour Carts Tor The separate purpose oil
cleansing the streets, lanes and alleys of he city.
The resolution and accompanying statements from
he Superintendent of Streets of the expense of the
present. and the probable expense ofhe increased nun
3ber Of hands carts, &c, having been read
Mr.. Allen moved thai they be laid on the table,
(which was neeativsd.
motion made by Mr.. Sheppard to amend the
resolution, by striking out the following words"thir-
;iY hands and len for general improvements
igradng, paving and gravellng the streets ard public
grounds OF the city; and the amendment agreed to
And the ayes and noes having been ordered, the vote
Twas follows.
AYEs-Messrs Denoon, Drnmoek, FRY, Mills
Myers, Saunders and Sheppard-7.
N0Es.-Ales re. Allen and Hill-2.
The resolution then amended by striking our
eight" and inserting twelve" and striking out -four"
3and inserting "siy;" to read"tweye hands and
six carts for the purpose oil cleansing the Streets lanes
agreed 10.
Ga motion of MIR. Allen, the Council agreed to
dIourn tc "Wednesday next at Jour o'clock, p M, tor
he purpose of taking up the claim Of Henry Exali;
(which was postponed to that day.
The election OF overs4ef OF til, city hands was, for
sthe present, postponed.
The Couac then adjourned,
At meeting of the City Council, December 23d
1851, the following report presented and aprov-
The Committee the Capitol Square respectfully
report as follows:
This being the termination Of The period for which
jthls Committee appointed, under the ordinance
L concersng the Capitol Square,, passed January Is
s)S5l5 10 deemed proper to report TO The Council th
proceedings OF the committee, that it may appear
= kstshas been done and what 1t is proposed to
hereafter, IA peFectng the contemplated improve
snents on the Square Such 1eoo.t being made a.
tine end Of each year, will enable any succredjno
committee 10 continue the work accordance with
the same deslga and thus render 1t, when completed
uniform and consistent, As a whole.
The committee, very soon after its appointment
ommunlcated with his eXceency, John B. Floyd
Govenor Of Virginia, in regard to the extea 10 whct
ne committee would be allowed to make alterations
IN The existing plan OF the grounds, al to which the
state would contribute means towards efreting suci
alterations and improvements mi ght be- deemed I'D
'lsabe The plan Tor altering and improving the Can.
ol Square prepared BY John Notm an ESQ Architrni
md Landscape Gardener, which had been previously
'rocured by the Council and cory Of which hao
,een delivered 10 Governor Floyd, by order of the
Council, was approved by him and adopted by ia.
committee, as the best which could be obtained anc
'Xeculed, IN view OF The existing form and character
u me grounds and buildings and OF the means which
could be confronted by the committee
Governor Floyd promptly conferred upon the com
n!ttte very liberal authority to do what mlellt
hlak proper III carrying out the contemplated altera-
Sons add improvements, and tor that purpose PLACED
at It's disposal much of the convict n from the
Pemteniary might be required and could be far
lshed consistently with the interests of that institu-
ion. and also authorised an expenditure OF money fo
the purpose, not exceeding three hundred dol
'ars, which sum was deemed by the committee sufi-
client tor present purposes,
The laudable design of the Council, in behalf of the,
;lty OF Rchmend, to render the public grounds more
istiul and attractive and m worthy OF the publ
buildings which they surround, has hus been me1.
IA behalf OF the State, by present Chief Magis-
rate. with an enlightened hbeIaly winch wilt, NJ,
loubt, be equally evlnced by his successor In office
The commter, with the means thus furnished b,
the State, and the of five hundred dollars appro
prated annually by the ordinance for the purpose o.
he part OF ne city, considered thar they might safely
commence the work of Improvement, with the assur
tnce that II would be completed in accordance y i'll
he plan which had been adopted.
IL was asceItalned that Mr.. John Morton, a very
competent ana ettlcent gardener, was already in the
Employment Of the Governor. as gardener on the
grounds about the Governors House and CAPITOL anc
the committee appointed him Keeper of the Capito
Square,, under the 2nd section OF the ordnance above
mentioned, and allowed for his services the sum oil
-four hundred dollars per annnm; thus leaving, of the
annual sum appropriated by the CouGc, one huqdred
ldoilars Tor such other expenditures as he committee
might find necessary.
With the aid OF part of the convict labor. and
inder the superntendeace aod direction Of Mr.. Nor
on me keeper OF The Square, the committee caused
trees TO be planted along the side walks entirely around
/. and TO be protected by boxes required by the
third section OF the ordnance. Oar native fores trees
i~ere selected Tor this purpose in preference to all 9th
3srs, because they were considered more beautif bet
Fer adapted to our soil and climate, and Therefore more
ikey to attain to good SIZE, aad endure for ore
sWnlie he forest trees selected are tho Maple the
3Willow Oak. the Tulip. Tree, Tor Poplar as it ii
acalled and the Aeh, being those which il was tbouy
would thrive best in the situations in wa ch il vas
proposed to place them; and they were 10 be liant
se1 IN rows and to form avenues along the Streets
was c9nsdered proper that rees of The species
iihonld be planted along each street With this view
13e mape trees wefs planted aong Capitol street. the
Wl.ow OAK along Bank street. the Tulip tree along
Ninth street, and he Ash along Governor street In
Consequence OF The necessary delay attendant on th
arrangements which it was required to be made IN the
3commer cement OF the work The PLANTING of some OF
lsheee Trees was probably delayed 10 100 late period
tha spring; bat not withstandng this, and the Sc
ere drought experienced daring part fthe summer
Itha panting has been remarkably successful and ow
Ing 10 the Kill and with which MI Morton
lpAnted and nurtured th9m nearly all Of the trees
lived, and it is believed that The places of very few
comparatively will have 10 be suppl ed in the sprng
The committee have reason to believe therefore, that
!ths work has been accomplished successfully and
"i!h as little cost TO The city could have been ex
9eced; and to hope long its benefit will be mani
Fest in the dsp aY of iuxariant foliage and the enjoy.
nent OF shaded walk entirely around the Capt1
Sqnare. tharto the most exposed and disagr, cable
walk in the whole cry The effect OF this Improvement
viii be greatly inoreased in the opinion OF the commit
nd . 10 ns,41ip f,.r>,,