The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-02

O. LOCAL MATTERS.
t5t.s CITY COUNCIL.
A called meeting Of the City Council was
called in the City Hall yesterday. Present I:
Messrs. Macfarland (president), Saunders,
milford, Clinton, Smith, Clopton, Gregory,
Taylor, Sharpe, Crutchfeld, Van Lew, Kent,
Ordway, Miller, Yale, Pelouze. ...r
| DELINQUENT TAXES.
The meeting was called at the instance
of the Finance Committee, which had in
| view the Offering Of resolution in regard
to the advertising Of delinquent taxes due.
Mr.. Saunders offered the resolution which
provided for the authorizing Of the City
Collector to advertise the sale of delinquent
lands once week for the four weeks pre-
ceding the March term of the Hastings
Court in all the city papers. After some
discussion, on motion Of Mr.. Sharpe it was
resolved that the publication mentioned be
made in the, Wing and State journal at
rates already contracted for with the pub
fishers of the Whig.
THE Dispatch and Enquirer have refused
to publish any advertisements for the city
at the price contracted to be paid for the
publication of the delinquent tax lists
| JAMES RIVER INSTRUCTIONS.
| Mr.. Saunders offered the following:
| ".Whereas it is essential to the commerce
of Richmond that James river should be
improved so as to admit vessels drawing at
least sixteen feet of water, and the fnan-
cial condition of the city not being such as
to make the outlay for said improvement,
therefore
Resozued, That committee be appoint
ed to pare and report to the Council a
memorial to the Congress of the United
States asking an appropriation by the
| General Government for said improve
ment." Adopted. The following commit
tee was appointed Messrs. Saunders, Ord
way, Kent, Sharpe, and Mulford.
CITY GAUGER.
The committee retired, having obtained
permission to sit during the session of the
Council. The appointment of Captain B.
c. Cook as City Gauger was officially an
nounced to the Council. A recommended
ton of Captain Cooks for the appointment
of Mr.. E. Rawdin as deputy was adopted
| by the Council, and Mr.. Rawdin chosen.
A communication from number Of tax
payers complaining Of onerous charges for
gas for the month of December was read.
Mr.. CIopton, in defence of the Superin-
tendent of the Gas Works, explained that
| he wss not to blame, and that consumers
could save gas by relieving the pressure
from the metres by partly turning off the
gas-cocks.
Mr.. Smith suggested that special COM
mittee be appointed to investigate this mat
| ter
After some discussion, Mr.. Maefarland
offered a resolution appointing committee
of investigation, to consist of three, to report
at future meeting, with such suggestions as
may secure the consumers Of gas against
| abuses. Adopted.
The following committee was appointed ::
Messrs. Kent, Yale, and Sharpe.
THE MEMORIAL.
The committee on the memorial in re-
gard to distractions in James river hav-
ing returned, made the following memorial; !;
To the Honorable Senate and House Of Representa-
tires: #..n.
| The memorial of the Council of the city of
| Richmond respectfully represents that prior
to the year 1850 the depth of water in the James
river had been much increased, and It's nari-
CATION greatly improved. The city Of Rich
| mond is situated at the head of tide water,
| and the river Is a succession Of long and deep
pools, in nterrupted by rocky reef Immediately
| below the city, and in three or four points oy
| deposits OF sand and mnd called !" bars" 4"
| These deposits can be easily rer1oyed by the
simple OF dredge- boats. The improve
| ment Of the river had so far progressed rs TO
| afford the well-founded hope that perma-
| nent depth of sixteen feet of water could be
| secured. Under the influence Of the nayiga.
tion thus afforded, a large and at that time q
| wealthy city had sprung up here the trade
Of large portion Of the State began to centre
| here; a canal afording ample facilities Tor
/ transportation and water power for manufac-
| lures had been constructed two hundred miles
| in extent, finding its terminus at Buchanan
| and Lexington, in the heart OF the rich Val
| ley OF Virginia. A system of railroads judi
ciously planned and faithfully carried out had
| their departure from this city, and some OF
| our citizens, ayailing themselves OF the mag
| niflcent water power afforded by the falls OF
| the river, and the coal existing contiguous 10
| the city. had established here extensive and
varied manufactures.
| To show the advantages, the growth, and the
| general estimate of the prosperity of the city,
| we present extracts from leading periodicals
| published at that time: .-I..
The growth Of this beautiful city and its
L
| opulence must be subject of just pride; and
1--we may be justified in expecting her to be-
| come one Of the great, If not the greatest,
| cities Of the southern States.
"Let Richmond, therefore, enter the neid
| in earnest. It Is in her power to conduct a
| large importing and exporting trade. Her rail-
roads are stretching In every direction where
production and wealth may be controlled.
"The amount Of capital invested in manu-
factures in Richmond is estimated at over
| 81. .000, 900, and the product IN the last year
reached bout s2o, ,oo0, 900. The population now
reaches in the vicinity Of Al, 900. The assessed
value OF real estate in the city is Sls S2, S44 OF
| personal estate, S9, ,s7S, ,37l.
&"The total export Of four In 1855 was 4s7,oss
barrels. The celebrity Of Richmond. manu-.
| factured hour is world divide. In all foreign
markets 1t commands higher price than is
/ paid for any similar article from other ports,
especially in South America and the Austria
iian markets, whittier the exports from this
city are chiefly made. Twelve thousand
seven hundred and fifty-sk hossheads OF to-
bacco were In 1888 exported directly to the
Eports Of Australia, Bremen, England, France,
/ Holland, Italy, aud Scotland3'
/ Such was the position 10 which our city he'd
1 ad 40 1sGD-War with It's n