The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-12

LOCAL NOTES.


christmas will arrive in two weeks.
The fine weather brings the ladies' and
children to the streets.
The amount Of the public debt funded
up to this morning was S2S ,069, ,457.52.
Dennis ID. Sullivan, an old and highly
respected citizen, died yesterday evening.
The Catholic Beneficial Society of this
city will meet tomorrow morning to bury
q deceased member, ID. d. Sullivan.
The Rev. DIR. Hoge, on Sunday, for
mally declined the call rendered him by
the First Presbyterian church Of Nashville,
Tenn. ef9
The Governor yesterday appointed
Arthur w. Knapp, of the city Of New
York, commissioner Of deeds for Virginia
in that State.
The monthly meeting of the Methodist
Sunday School Society was held in Centen-
ary church last Sunday afternoon. The
monthly meeting of the Baptist Sunday
School Association was also held on Sum
day afternoon at the Second Baptist church.
The JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT
II Comes Before the Council-Mr. Bos-
sieur Smells Nice, and Think,s there is
Cat in The Meal 7'aJ.-Some time ago
we stated it as our belief that money ap-
propriated by the city for the James River
Improvement, had been squandered by
mismanagement or otherwise, and cited
one instance wherein there was consider
able leak. The case was, in paying Albert
rdway from % to 80 per cent. more for
coal than the same article could be pur-
chased from other parties; but because the
statement came from US, no notice was
taken of it, and for what we know the con-
tract still exists. If this charge had been
investigated at the time, we have no doubt
other and more important useless expendi-
lures would have been discovered. Last
night, at q meeting of the City Council,
Mr.. Bossieux gave it as his opinion and
directly charged that the money Of the city
had been squandered and but little i'm
provement made in the work.
We think the occasion upon which he
agitated the matter exceedingly inappro-
pirate, as it was decidedly in bad taste for
Mr.. Bossicux to refer to the subject as he
did when resolutions of coincidence were
before the Council over the death of Capt.
Minor, late City Engineer.
With this exception, Mr.. B. was right,
and now that he has shifted the breeze
..r off, we trust he will keep the track un-
III he traces to its den the corruption. if
any, which has been connected with this
enterprise. f 4
Mr.. b. will doubtless meet with consid-
erablc opposition from certain parties, but
he has only to press hisi inquiries to be sus-
tanned by the honest men of the Council
and community.
4 L.. orA IL. Ill
Turpin was placed before the Council for
confirmation as Chief Engineer of the
W, rx, Mr.. Bossieux asked that action OF the
report be delayed. 1t was his opinion
that the James river improvement had been
grossly mismanaged. More than 800, 900
had been expended without material bene-
fit TO the river or any body else. Complaints
were constantly being made by captains
and pilots of vessels of the lack of water.
He had the printed report of the james
River Improvement Committee which he
did not know was the original report, as
the manuscript had been frequently taken
from the hands of the printer. He would
not assert that the report had been nanlp-
ulated, but he was sure of one thing, the
eity's money had been squandered by mis-
Management or otherwise. It looked sus-
picious TO him.
Mr.. Bosseux stated that the sum appro-
priated for the improvement by the city
was $780, 900 nomnalIy, OF which SS3 300
had been paid as bonus to those taking the
loan-nearly forty per cent. of the entire
amount. OF the net proceeds, sl62, 800
at least 100000 had been expended IL
some way, leaving still to be gotten rid O
s62, 800. He would call up the subject al
another time. r.s