The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-28
Local MATTERS.

Cny CouaciL-A called meeting Of the Council
Vas neidsat the City Hall yesterday afternoon at
q Q cs'ock, Messrs Mills. McCance, Snead, Crutch.
Sn;,, ncott, Butler. stearns, sinton, Quaries and
on1iIh being present.
itfportof the Finance Committes-The Council
emg sSng called to order, Mr. McCance presented the
.o;.pp"Ing .;,p report from the Finance Committee
statements of variou, officers upon which it
5no .oas' eo' which was read, laid on the table, and
o copies ordered to be printed for the use of citi
Aens. ms Ihe report reads thus:
Ane annual stateDlents of receipts and dsbursa-
las couia Iie hseai year commencing the lst March
nan, .: pot oe presented to the Council at the
aaai nine, owing to the accumulation of business
ton " m on the Ill health and subsequent resigna
o om 9i the late Cham berlaln, w P Sheppard de-
eessea s l.. w. Elicit ESQ rendered his services tn
T tS as Chamberain pro tenn some time preyious TO
ned =, OF the late Chamberlain and contin-
snabct act until the appointment of the present in
Inossiht, declining to receive compensation for his
is; t: services, or the appointment of Chamber
aih, winch was rendered to him by the CouncI In
~ @ nose circumstances, when Thomas Lawson ESQ
was appointed Chamberlain large alnount of bnsii
ness nad accumulated, which, with the current busi
ao 10 oe regularly entered the books in the
ofder IN which the transactions took nlace So mrI
tine elapsed before the books could he written ~,
a II " as thought best, with the concurrence of the
LUNCH, 10 let the statements of receipts and djs
for the year ending the 2sth of Febrsry
1902 and the year ending the 10Th of February I95
ana the estimates of receipts and dlsbursementv Co.
the fiscal year commencing the lst of MARCEL 1as6
stand and be reported after the st of March
instant as practicable.
a
showing the aggregate receipts from all sources
amounting to 282 069 48, including the bslence nt
SS92 10 on hand the LIST of March, 1884, for the past
two years, commencing the Ist of March 1854 srd
ending the 29th of February, 1856. Also statement
B showing disbursements for the time amount.
ing in the aggregate to s. ,266 72I 28 leaving bsi
of l5 343 20 in the Chamberlan's hands m tba
18th of February, 1856.
The Council warned by the large deficit of s2IO..
All o. exhibited by the Chamberlans estimates of
receipts and disbursements for the year ending the
29th of February, 1855. adopted resolution soon sE
ter organizing, declaring that the best interests of
the city required rigid economy in appropriating and
expending money, until income, by reasonable taxa.
ton, would Justify liberal expenditure
Another statement fCl exhibits the total amount of
appropriations H4 $3.50, for the year ending the
10Th of February last, of which amount there has
been expended $Sl 0T.S9. Included in the appropri-
alton is $4,000, tof which amount $14, 4s257 has
been expended,) to pay for the new pump-house
commenced more than two years ago.
Statements ID and f the Chamberlaius esti-
mates of receipts and disbursements for the fiscal
year ending the S8th of February 1851 The estina-
ted receipls from all sourceE other than taxes,
amounts to 54 548.20, meet estimated disburse-
ments, amounting to 4if, ,S55 65 shelving deficit of
S272 S0745 to be raised by assessed taxes. Included
in the disbursements is SS7, ,596 of city debt which
has or will mature within the fiscal year
Instructed by resolution adopted by the Council,
the Committee submitted ordiusnce concerning
the assessment of property having for its object an
ad patorem system of taxation, which passed ON
the 9th of January last.
The design of the ordinance s that every citizen
shall contribute in just and equal proportion what
he wsrth to defray the necessary expenses of the
city government. The practical working of the or
dinance will show in what way ought to be amend
ed to enforce correct returns If the soemnity of th
oath and the fines imposed does not accomplish that
result. The Assessor is now collecting the lists of
property, on the aggregate value of which, the ne
cessary per centum of tax be laid to meet the
deficit shown in the Chamberlans estimate and
T.. Also to provide the sinking tnnd.
Statement shows the amount of the city debt to
be So 060 1908 the lst of March, 1856, being sn
increase of $685. 67 III to the permanent debt of the
T. TWO tha IstO Of Marc
1854, and ending the 29th of February 1856.
Immediate measures should be taken to provide for
portion of the city debt maturing in 1857 and 1853
800 of the city debt is for subscriptions to the
James River and Kanawha Canal, the Richmond and
Danville, the Frginia and Tennessee, and the Virgi
mia Central Railroad Companies, all of which is un-
productive of direct revenue to the CITY,
Statement q is schedule of the real estate owned
by the city, prepared by Bates Superintendent of
city Sl99 l57, whilst the estimated value exclusive
of large portion of the cost of the fixtures and build
inRs of the Water Works, and all the fixtures and
buildings of the Gas Work is S4 $685. without addi-
on for the valuable water front the South side of
the Dock the Quay on the North side of the Dock
The claim against the Richmond and York River
Railroad Company for S15,794 II, balance due on land
purchased of the city for depot is still unsettled
but the account presented by the Committee, wi it
is believed be acted on at the next meeting of the
Board of Directors of said Company.
The James River and kanawha Company has been
in possession and use of the valuable quay the
North side of the Dock for several months without
consent compensation to the city for the of the
same. At The request of the President of said COM
pany statement of the right of the city to the quay
Streets to be laid before the Board of Directors,
which it is expected will induce speedy settlement
of the matter at issue.
Whilst it does not become the committee to make
suggestions to the policy of the Council and
mittee, take the place of the present Council
and committee, they cannot close this report without
testifying to the wholesome effect of tie resolution
adopted after the Council organized, declaring
rigid economy necessary to promote the best interests
OF the city. Such a will be found absolutely
necessary during the present fiscal year.
Fire Association The Chamberlain was direct
ed to issue to the Richmond Fire Association, city
bonds bearing interest from the lst of January,
1856, to the amount of So 72l 81, in settlement OF
the annual appropriation of 81, 500 due January
lst and July ls 1855, with interest TO the 1st Of
January, 1856.
Fire Dspartment-The Council confirmed the ap-
pointment of the following officers appointed by The
firemen of the city: John j. Fry, chief engineer;
John c. Page, jr., L. L. Barnes, V. Bargamin and
Thos. G. Eppes, fire wardens
Doe Ordinaace-Mr Scott moved to reconsider
the Dog ordinance lately passed, in order TO make
some amendments
The question was taken and the motion lost.
Street ObsrucfiOa.-Mr. Butler presented the fol
lowing preamble and resolution, which were
adopted:
an encroachment of about four feet on 18th street,
between franklin and Grace streets, very much IN
convenencng persons passing along that street and
whereas, by agreement entered lnCO DeLWecn w
son Williams and the City Council in the year 1900,
that the Council would have the said 18th street open
ened curbed and paved sidewalks provided the said
Wilson Williams would cede to the city of Richmond
piece of property then situated in the street on the
corner of Grace and 18th Streets which property was
ceded to said city, and yet the encroachmens ON said
18th street still exist. Therefore be it
Resolved, That the Superintendent of Streets
be instructed to the said nuisance encroach-
meuts of fences in the sidewalks of said 18th
street to be az once removed and wakway properly
opened.
Wagons, Drays. efc.---Mr. McCance reported an
ordinance concerning wagons, drays and carts
which was read three times, passed, ordered to be
published in three Of the daily papers and 500 CO.
pies printed in pamphlet form.
RrPcrts.-Mr. Sinton presented the reports of
Superintendent Of Streets Commissioners of
Streets and City Engineer, which were laid on the
table and ordered 10 be printed.
City HGil.-A report from the City Engineer
shows the cost of alterations and repairs to the
City Hall, amounts 70 SIS, ,6eO74-being an excess
Of S5,3s074 over the appropriation made to pay
for said alterations.
Gas OrdiRance--An ordinance concerning the
gas works was taken up and considered at length.
After which the Council adjourned
SaoIc !Sorn.-From present appearances. old
winter seems bent on reminding MS that he has not
yet taken his departure, and does not intend to do
so in hurry. Yesterday morning our city was
until ,.-- n =