The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-17
UEsDAY MORNING, DECEMBER II. 1867.

CITY CoUNcrL.-A, called meeting Of
the City Council was held last evening.
Present: Messrs. Macfarland (presi-
dentl, August, Maury, Lee, Harvey,
Smith, Scott, Epps, Saunders, Taylor,
Clopton, Mason, and Crutchfeld.
Reduction Of Taxes.
The action of the Council in regard to
Messrs. Butler s. Son, imposing tax Of
$3.50 on that firm in respect to imported
goods, was recohsidered.
Mr. Saunders, chairman of the Finance
Committee, stated that he had investi.
gated the subject, and ascertained that
under the laws Of the State the Council
was not authorized to assess a tax on i'm
ported goods. He moved that the Coun-
Gil reduce the tax levied On the Messrs.
Butler & Son to fifty dollars. Agreed to,
Lumber Inspector.
A communication from General Scho.
field was read recommending the appoint
ment of either Albert G. Millspaugh or Ed.
J. Crump as Measurer Of Lumber for the
city Of Richmond.
The communication gave rise to some
discussion, and Mr.. Lee offered the follow.
ing; which was adopted:
ResoIred, That the public interest does
not require the appointment Of a Measurer
Of Lumber.
Petitions, dc.
A petition from Ellen Cullen asking per-
mission to put up swinging sign on Frank
lin street between Mayo and Fifteenth
streets, was referred to the Commissioners
of Streets for Jefferson Ward.
A communication was read from the
City Assessor informing the Council that
he had been engaged one hundred and
twenty days, from the hours of A. NJ. to
?. M. each day, in assessing the taxable
property within the limits of the district
within the recent extension Of the corpo-
rate limits. Referred to the Committee on
Finance.
An order of the Hastings Court calling
the attention Of the Council to the neces-
sity of employing the chain-gang for the
number of hours stipulated was read, and
referred to the Committee on Police.
The petition of W. S. Mccarthy, for the
payment of certain bond, was referred
to the Committee on Claims.
Relief for the Poor.
On motion of Mr.. August,
Resolued, That the Committee on Fuel
for distribution among the poor of the city
be instructed to appoint as many visitors
as may be necessary to insure proper
distribution of fuel among the deserving
and worthy poor of the city, including the
territory recently added to the corporate
limits.
Richmond and Do1sille and York R5Ue1
Railroad Connection.
On motion of Mr.. Lee, the resolution
passed at previous meeting in reference
to the connection of the York River and
Danville railroads., was reconsidered
whereupon
Mr.. Lee moved to amend the said reso-
luton as follows:
Res0lUed, That the proposal of the Com
missioners Of Streets in reference to the
connection through the city between the
Richmond and panville and the Richmond
and York River Railroad Companies, adopt
ed on 4th November last, be amended SO as
to read that no discrimination in the trans
portation of freight and passengers or
otherwise against or to the prejudice OF
the city Of Richmond or its business in
favor of any other market or point, shall
be made by said companies, or either of
them; and that the Council shall be free
to revoke or modify the license herein
granted at its pleasure at any time, upon
one months notice to said companies.
Adopted.
The question recurring to the original
Droposition as amended, it was left open for
discussion; and Colonel Coalter Cabell, in
behalf of the james River and kanawha
Canal Company, was granted the privilege
of giving his views. He urged against the
connection on the ground that 1t would be
seriously detrimental to the business of
the James River and Kanawha Canal
Company, passing, as the track would,
along a good distance Of the canal dock.
With railroad track passing along tho
dock street at one of its narrowest points,
upon which trains drawn by steam would
pass at any hour during the day, the work
of loading and unloading vessels could not
be done, and the property would be serl-
ously damaged.
Major Darlington, President of the James
River and Kanawha Canal Company, fol-
lowed Colonel Cabell, seConding the OBJ
iections made against the connection, and
appealed to the Council not to allow q
work to proceed which would operate so
much against the business Of his company
Mr.. Morton, Treasurer of the York River
Railroad Company, arose to demonstrate
that the track would not damage the dock.
IF the directors of the companies had
thought such damage would ensue, they
would never have thought of asking the
privilege. He proposed that if any damage
should be done, in the opinion of the
Council, the track would be taken up in
six days.
After some further discussion, the whole
matter was, on motion Of Mr.. Clopton, re-
committed to the committee.
The Council then adjourned.