The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-01

| a CALLED MEETING OF THE CITY CoUN-
GIL was held yesterday afternoon, at which
| were present Messrs. .Macfariand (presi-
dept), Crutchfeld, Smith, Epps, Tinsley,
Saunders, Scott, Harvey, Lee, August,
Taylor, Clopton.
The proce eedings of the last meeting we're
read, approved, and signed.
Water Works.
Colonel August, from the Watering
Committee, submitted the report of the
Superintendent of the Water Works,
| which showed that the receipts for water
rents for the fiscal year had been S43,-
098.l8; disbursements, 29,694.92; excess
of receipts, sl3,403.26; and that the Wa
ter Works were in good condition.
The report was accepted, and one hun
dred copies ordered to be printed.
NeD Reservoir.
Colonel August, from the same commit
tee, submitted a plan of Messrs. William
Gill, City Engineer, and James NJ. Davis,
Superintendent Of Water Works, for the
construction of new reservoir.
The plan proposed is that the new re-
servoir shall be constructed upon the east
ern side of the present one, the water
level of the new being six feet higher than
the old. It's capacity shall be 100000
gallons, its dimensions $50 feet long by
$50 feet wide measured at its surface) i,
and its depth &c feet.
The capacity of the present reservoir is
about 1O,OOO,0OO gallons-the two. COM
bined holding 5O,OOO,OOO gallons. The
average daily consumption of the city is
about 100000 gallons. With the new
reservoir, there will be afforded capacity
for thirty days supply and as the freshets
never suspend the operations of the
pumps more than ten days at time, there
will never be any lack of water for many
years to come.
The raising of the new reservoir six feet
higher will allow of full supply of water
being sent to the highest parts of the city at
all times, no matter how great the draught
in the lower parts of the city. The in
creased storage will permit of the pumps
being idle when the river is in swollen or
turbid condition, thus affording clear
water at all seasons. A double reservoir
also offers complete facility for cleaning
and repairing, which cannot be done while
the works remain in their present state.
The cost of the work, estimating labor
and material. at present prices, and inclu-
ding all the pipe connections, etc., will
not exceed the sum of 100000; and if the
work is promptly commenced, it can be
completed in the course of the present year.
The committee then reported that they
found upon investigation that to use con-
vict labor upon the work would be quite
as expensive as any other; that they
deemed the report of Messrs. Gill and Da-
Wis too vague and general in regard to the
cost Of the reservoir; and that, in their
opinion, the cost would exceed by at least
thirty or forty per cent. the estimate Of
that report. The committee then offered
a resolution providing that the City Engi
neer be instructed to advertise for sealed
proposals to build new reservoir accord
ing to the plans and specifications pre-
viously prepared by him, and that such
plans and specifications, together with the
proposals, be laid before the Council at the
next meeting.
The report was received, and the reso-
luton adopted.
The Poor.
Colonel August, from the committee for
the relief of the poor, submitted report
which states that the amount expended for
the support of the poor during the year
was s24 4,522.77; that the city, though in
straitened circumstances, may point
with just pride to the alms-house as af-
fording the most gratifying proof that it has
met with becoming liberality the respon-
sibility and duty of providing for its poor
and destitute.
In regard to the alms-house for the CO.
lored people, the report says it is now COM
plete, and has been placed under the con-
troll of the officers Of the white alms-house,
and subjected to the same rules and regu-
lations as govern the other. In view of the
increased duties of the perintendent, he
has been provided with an assistant. AS
the duties Of the physician have been much
increased, the committee have fixed his
salary at 81, 200 per year, to commence on
the lst of April.
In conclusion, the report urged upon the
Council the necessity of making an appro-
priation for the poor who could not be ad-
mitted into the alms-house. 1t Is stated
that the United States Government had
provided for them during the winter, and
doubtless would continue to do SO, but
help. The report was adopted.
1t was agreed that the subject of appro-
priating $4,000 to meet the expenses ne
cessary to provide for the poor for the fol-
lowing year should be passed by for the
present.
Mr.. Saunders, from the Committee on
Finance, reported that they had selected
the following named gentlemen to collect
the delinquent tax bills: John b. Baptist,
Jefferson Ward William J. Allen, Madi-
son Ward; and George A. Hughes, Mon
roe Ward. The report was adopted.
A resolution of Mr.. Saunders to appro-
pirate Sl00 for the repair Of the station
houses was adopted.
A resolution providing that the Com
mittee on the City Jail be instructed to in
quire into the expediency of establishing
q house of correction was adopted.
Elections.
Mr.. Lee submitted the following resolu-
tion adopted at meeting Of the City
Conservative Committee held yesterday:
"Resolved, That the City Council be re-
quested to solicit General Schofeld to
sub-diYide the various wards of the city
into election districts by boundaries, so as
to insure the completion of the election in
one day. It was referred to the President
to communicate with the General"
= A petition of the citizens of the IAN
nexed district" asking for an appropria,,
ton to. construct pavements and good
streets, and that more policemen be sent
to preserve order and to keep the drivers
of teams from driving off the "so-caled
streets upon the "so-called !" paVements,
thus depriving pedestrians from navigating
either on payements or streets, was re-