The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-21

called meeting of the City Council was
hold nj the CITY Hall on Saturday, at the
instance of the Committee on James River
Improyements. Present: Messrs. Macfar-
land, President; Glazcbrook, Harvey, Styll,
Mason, Epps, Saunders, Taylor, Crutchficld,
Lee, and Crump.
JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Glazebrook, from the Committee on
James River improvements, offered the
following report, which was read and
adopted
To the President and 1nenJerS Of the City
| Council:
Gcntlcmcn,-Th Committee on the I'M
provcmcnt OF James River beg leave to
report that they have caused careful en-
animation to be made by the City Engl-'
nccr, from which it appears that, in order
to obtain a sufficient depth of water at or
dinary high tide for vessels drawing thir
teen feet, it will be necessary for the city
to purchase drcdgc boat and appliances
for the purpose of deepening and impro-
wing this channel at all the bars in the
river below the city, or let the work out by
contract, as the interests OF the city may
dictate.
! Vessels drawing over six feet must lie
over at Richmond bar for high tide-a state
of affairs which is fraught with detrimcnt
| to the business interests of the city. In
deed, some of the New York steamers
have been withdrawn from the line OF tins
river on account of this obstacle, while
large vessels, heavily laden with freight,
must of necessity deliver their freight at
City Point and other places below Rich
mond, to be rcShipped at great expense
upon lighters up to the wharvcs of our
city.
An enlightened policy would therefore
seem to dictate the immediate removal ot
this bar and the improvement Of the chan
mel at other points on the river, so lar as
the same can he done consistently with
| the ability of the city. II we improve our
harbor SO as to bring vessels of large class
| TO our wharves, thousands of tons of freight
destined hereafter to be transported over
our railroads and canals from the Great
West" will he transferred to these vessels
at our city, which will otherwise seek some
other transit to deep water. Your honor
orablc body are aware of the fact that our
sister cities have been using every effort in
their power, by appeals to the Legislature
and otherwise, to divert to their own doors
trade which lcgitimatcly belongs to tins
city. Under all the circumstances, there
fore, it is evidently to the interest OF the
city that prompt and efficient steps should
be taken with the view of improving our
noble river, with as little delay as possible.
The city of Petersburg has recently
purchased dredgc-boat, and has already
| commenced the work of improving the
channel of the AppomattoX.
After careful survey of all the facts IN
| the case, your committee adopted the fol-
| lowing resolution, with the view of com
mcncing the work with as little delay as
possible, viz:
! Rcsolred, That the Committee on the
! Improvement Of the James River recon-
mend to the Council that they be autho-
rizcd to contract, without delay, with
MesSrs. A. b. Cooley & Co., or with some
other party, for dredging out Richmond
bar, or that the said committee, If they
deem it for the interest of the city, be au-
thorizcd to purchase drcdgc-boat and all
the necessary fixtures for the same, to De
used by the city in removing the Rich
mond bar and deepening the channel on
the bars below the city.
And your committee further report that
arrangements have been made by which
the city bonds will he taken at par to carry
out the work contemplated i'll the above
report and to meet the expenditure the
committee recommend the enactment OF
the accompanying ordinance.
The following ordinance was offered, ana,
under a suspension OF the rules, was
passed:
".An ordinance to authorize the issue Of bonds
of the citv of Richmond for tie improve
ment of the navigation Of James r'irer.
"Be it ordained by the Council Of the city
of Richmond, That bonds Of the city not
exceeding ten thousand dollars, payable
ten years after date, and bearing six per
cent. interest, payable scmi-annually, be
issued to defray the expense of the I'M
provemcnt of James river, under the order
of the Committee of the James River I'M
prOvement."
This ordinance shall be enforced from
and after the passing thereof.
POLICE.
Mr.. Saunders presented communica-
ton from Major Claiborne asking that Mr..
Russell S. Belts he appointed an officer OF
police. The communication represented
that Mr.. Belts was most efhclent olflcer
and clerk, and was absolutely indiSpcnSa-
bic to him. The communication also de-
Tended him from any rumors that were III
any way prcjudicial to him. Mr.. Saunders
moved, in compliance with this communi-
cation, to appoint Mr.. Belts an officer OF po,
lice.
Here lengthy discussion ensued, during
which Il motion was made to refer the mat.
ter to the Committee on Police, to be re.
ported upon at the next stated meeting
This motion was carried.
Mr.. Saunders offered resolution pro,
viding that Major Claiborne be authorized
to retain Mr.. Russell S. Belts at his office
until the matter of the appointment o.
another police officer should have beer
decided. Adopted.
Several applications were submitted ano
referred, and the Council adjourned.
THE TOBACCO ExCHANGE.-This hand,
some building, owned by MeSsrs. Harye!
l. Williams, and situated on Thirteenth
street, in rear of Commercial Block, il
nearly completed, and will be ready fol
occupancy about the lSt of the coming
month. The building is three storie'
above ground. and is constructed of the