Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-23
PUBLIC MEETING IN RICHMOND.

PUBLIC MEETING IN RICHMOND.
a meeting of the citizens OF Monroe Yard, VINO
aye in favor OF removing the Richmond, frcdcricks-
burg ard Potomac Kali Road from Broad Street was
held ar Saunders Tempcrancellal Saturday night last
Mr.. Thomas Burlaln called the asscniJla@o 10 or
der, and on his motion Mr.. Fleming Griffin WAS called
10 the Chair, and Mr.. VIM. Undertake appointed
Secretary.
The Chairman, on taking his seat, briefly stated the
object of the meeting, and announced his readiness TO
proceed TO business.
Mr.. David j. Saunders, n member Of the City
Council from Monroe Ward, oficrd the following re-
solutions. prefacing them with remarks i'll which he
declared tIlat he felt no hostility to any one connected
with the company. The resolutions read thus:
Resolved. Isl. That the streets of the city of Rich
mond arc designed for the Use and benefit Of all the
citizens, and cannot lawfully On justly be approprlh-
ted 10 the use of any private company or corporations
or individual.
cannot he made lawful. and neither the Legislature
nor the Council OF the city of Richmond. has Il right
10 authorize my man. company or private corporn-l
zion 10 cree; or create n nuisance Ill our streets.
3. That whatever ubStructS the free use ut Il stree!
alike by al the people, or renders the use Of it dam
ecrouS, is Il nuisance: II Is the duty 81 the city
authorities 10 ahatc the same.
q. Tina: the usc of steam engines on Broad street,
bv the X. +. and 7. X. r.. Company, is Il. uuisance.
dangerous to the lives and persons nj the people VIII"
use that street, and injurious 10 the property on that
and the contiguous streets, As described in the petition
TO the City Council, which Is her2t" annexed, anu
which we here repeat and ~rc-atiriE.
5. That the use of Broad street rs u depot, III which
its cars arc left 10 stand, for the purpose of loading
and rnloadin. them, is Illegal and II nuisance. for
which no justification ur excuse can be found in the
resolutions of the Council, authorizing :hc said rail-
road company 10 enter Broad street. and i, ouSh; {" be
abated forthwith, us the Commissioners of streets by
resolution have declared.
t.. That the said Company has 10 right 20 cover aS
IL has done, and thus render unii; io: ether Use, Il large
portion of Broad street with lis fixtures i"r turning
cars, nor has it any right 10 extend It's road below
Eighth street, or erect scales in the street, or "'s;ruc:
il otherwise. us they have done below Eighth street
and such acts are nuiSanceS, which it Is the duty nt the
city authorities forthwith 10 abatc.
:. That the said Rail Road Company have no claim
10 anv compensation for removal from Eroa,l street.
as the CnmnGu Counsel IT, llS" 1. rctiioircbbs such wron,c
and oppression upon thns' people. III order L" pro,cc:
III" city Golfers and we ctnnu. perceive WHY, If the
said company may use Il public stree; ~ =; d":iot. eve
~ merchant and mechanic i'll tho city Should No: be al
lowed 20 do 50. That they arc not aud c;.i!iIat. rycryi
one knows. and we protest against this unequal. ul1
1aIr, unjust, and oppressive administration of the law!
Let the ltail Road Company pay for its dop"ts as
the banks, the merchants the manufacturers du. ar iii
n" citv inli@t elevate above all Others, and furnish i'll
with Il depot, we protest against the imposition of tilcl
whole burden upon the people Of Monroe Ward, Us:
IL ROW is.
). That the representatives from Monroe WarlSbcf
anu they are hereby instructed. as far Us we can in-E
str'ic; them. 10 lay these resolutions before the Cityi
'"uticll' anc procure, II they can. the passage "i slclis
ordinances ~ may be necessary 10 relieve NJ of ,hes
wrong and nuisance of which we complain.
9. Resolved, That in the opinion Of this mcctipc.E
~ l. the duty ot The Mayor o! the city 10 scninrcr ;htE
law r1%idly until he abatcs the nuisance Of which wei
complain, rs far us may be in his power.
Mr.. james Lyons spoke Mt length in favor Of thcE
resolutions, and after givin. a full history o: thck
rights OF the company, and The various points nj
which they had been transcribed, proceeded To showk
;lc wrongs the people Of Broad street were now suf.s
ic'in@ from The passing oftlc locomotive along il al nNE
hours. and the lse Of the street as n depot for carsE
and II weigh table. Mr.. Lyons made out Il veryk
strong case agains. the road, and his remarks wereE
warmly received. Z
Inc question was then pat and the resolutions wcrcE
unanimously adopted. B
On motion the meeting adjourned 10 hc caSscmLlcds
q, the call of the Chairman. after the Citv CnunriIE
sliall have taken action on the resolutions above. 3