The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-06-15
LOCAL MATTERS.
CITY COUNCIL.


:. CITY COUNCIL.
Referred proceedings at the regular monthly
meeting on Monday evening last.
Markets Committees ON the w. Markets werc
authorised to enquire into the ezpediency Of pur-
chasing land adjacent to the present market pre-
misses for the purposes OF fish market.
| The Engineer of the city was also authorised to
| draw up plan, with specifications, for the i'm
proyement throughout its whole extent OF the first
market.
| James Riper improvement The following inter-
esting report from the committee having charge of
| this subject, was read aud adopted:
| The committee on the improvement of the james
| River report that the surveys and soundings are
progressing steadily under the direction Of the able
officers of the u. s. Coast Survey, and the construc.
ton of the work has been placed under the super
intendence OF one OF the most distipg and
peienced officers of TIE U. s, engineer corps, Col
| X E. De Russey. The committee have obtained
from the Engineer officer late in charge of the i'm
provement, an estimate Of the probable cos, of OBJ
tanning fifteen feet water at ordinary high tide, up
to the wharves of the city, from which, II appears
that this can be accomplished by dredging by the
expenditure of only seine S3l ,0C0 and there re.
mains of the appropriation by Congress applicable
to this object about SIG, 600.
In view OF the vast importance to our city Of
Fastening this improvement, and of the uncertainty
OF future appropriations by Congress, your com.
mittee unanimously of the opinion that the city
should supply the means required to complete il, If
necessary, even were the sum many tunes greater
than they have to expect it win be from the
| above estimate. Now when our State has, at the
last session OF the Legislature, appropriated some
| twelve millions of dollars towards the completion
of great system of railroads and canals, much the
greater portion of which converge in the direction
of our city; when own people have voluntarily
submitted TO municipal taxation In addition to the
large proportion they already contributed to the
State revenues in order to grant farther aid to the
completion of these great lines; when in very
short time we may expect our city to have connec
ton by railroad and canal with the Ohio River;
with the Mississippi by the South Western rail-
road; ALSO with the heart of Kentucky by meanss
of the Cumberland Gap Road, and with the rich
valleys of the Yadkn and Catawba, by The DanviIle
Road to say nothing of the wide extent and bound
less resources of our own great State, an empire
| within ittef, which these improvements and their
numerous auxiliatles will open TO our market.
| Your committee of opinion that no time
| should be lost in obtaining an improvement which
| is all that remains to give Richmond advantage
| In position over all other Atlantic cities for much
| of the trade of the West and South west, and to
| place her prosperity upon sure and enduring ba-
| sis They therefore recommend to the Council the
adoption of the following resolution:
Resolred, That the Council regard the deepening
of the channe! of the river that vessels drawing
| fifteen feet of water may come to our wharves-an
object of paramount importance to the trade and
| the growth of the city.
| Resolued That to supply deficiencies that may
exist in the appropriations of Congress the Com.
| mi.tee on the improvement of the James River are
| authorised to draw on the Chamberlain for sum
not to exceed tor the present Sl2, 600, which may
| be placed by them in the hands of the L S Engi-
neer officer, In charge of the improvement of the
river, and applied to the purchase of dredging ma
chimes, or in such other way as in the opinion of
the committee will best promote the object in view
| All OF which is respectfully submitted by
JOSEPH ANDERSON,
THOMAS w McCANCE,
Il O HASKlNS
Delinquent Tares-The list of delinquent taxes
| amounting to $500 ST. was authorised to be put
under the control of a collector, who should be en-
titled to a commission of thirty three and third
per cent
| Fire AssociatiOn.-A resolution from the Finance
Committee, authorising the payment of $500 to
the Richmond Fire Association for the purchase of
leather hose, recommitted with instructions to
obtain farther information on the subject.
Finances Of the City-The annexed important
report aud resolutions from the Finance COMMITTEES
were adopted:
The con- mittee considered the Chamberlain state
mens of the receipts and disbursements of the last
year. and his estimates of the receipts and dsburse
ments for the present year. with his statement of the
city debt, and submit the following report:
1t will be seen by the statement of the Chamber
lain herewith reported that notwithstanding the ag
gregate receipts from all sources have largely exceed
ed the estimates fer the past year. yet the dsburse
ments have exceeded the receipts and the fiscal year
temporary debt of 35683 81, an excess OF expen-
diture over revenue to that amount
The Chamberlain's estimates of receipts from all
sources for the year commencing LIST March, 1885, is
1852 926 80; his estimate of disbursements
time is S55 225 showing deficit afc riding to esti-
mate of $l02 98 81 for the present fiscal year. ending
made during the yesr. :.
The city debt according to the statement of the
Cham he tiscai
1st March, 1885, is 438 s32 g.; to the LIST March,
1852, the Chamberlains statement showed debt of
1872 81, being increase of the city funded
1858.
1t will be seen by the above synopsis of the city
finances that at the close of the last fiscal year the
venue short the expenditure 1856 688 6 that the
funded debt was increased SIP ZOO showing aggre-
gate deficit OF income to meet expenditure of $l47,
1888 81.
The examination of the CHAMBERLAIN estimates of
income and expenditure for the year induces the be-
lief that the present fiscal year will close with
much larger deficit than the last thus early the
"ate OF income Is short the estimate OF expenditure
$lG2 1913 81.
In addition to the appropriations included in the
timates for the Gas and Water Works, sound policy
indicates that early steps should be taken the
enlargement of each of the above works. that contr
butte much the health and safety of the citizens
as well as producing revenue to the city
By vote the freeholders have determined to autho
rise the Council to subscribe to the stock of the Vr
ginia Central Railroad Company account of the
city sum not exceeding $4,000 So much of the
subscription tine Council may will have to
be provided for and accordingly increase the expend-
itures for the year
With several other pratons that will have to
be made during the year, small in detail, yet in the
aggregate amounting to considerable sum- the COM
mlttee in financial view feel bound earnestly TO urge
that prompt and decided action be taken to secure an
outlet for the vast trade tnat the city inviting with
in her borders, by liberal subscriptions to works of
internal Improvement which subscriptions can only
be made valuable and In short time produce reve.
by the attraction of the cheapest and most direct
channel of communication with the ocean,
The present funded debt of the city is represented
by stock In the james River and Kanawha Company
| the richmond and Danville Railroad Company and
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad CompanyScost-
ing S9l6, 80O-and by valuable improved and unna-
proved real estate The stocks bring in no direct re-
venue at this time but of the real estate the city
| receiving considerable revenue from the market
| the Gas Works.
lnylew OF the present debt of the city and the
tam large increase that must be made during the
year 1t becomes matter for serious consideration in
what way the expenditures be esened, until
some OF the stocks which the city holds become pro-
ductve or the ucreas I'd value of property by
the Influx OF business the improvements teri-
mating in the city, increases the revenue to meet ex
pendltures
The enhanced value of property is now being rear
ized and will be sensibly felt after the next re-
meut of the city prooerty The prospect 1or income