The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-26
storing water, and both must soon be 10.
TIE GAS uErAarXESr. Z

- ~ f''' ..A' st t1 3a' 3AaAAtS tsss
f.. TEE GAS DEP fsEsT.f ffs.'s,ss5 ~
The private consumption df igas during
the psst year amounted TO 1855, 40 eubicta
feet--an increase of nearly G, 100000 ever thatt
Of the preceding year, and the largest ipro- j.
portionate increase for many years and the Z
financial result is in tile highest degree graft
flying. Excluding S67, COO paid for tile holder g
and i4,44i for construction the reyenuatofai,
the Gas Works exceeds the expenditure,
S25, GOO. and IL, ,TGS, ,251 cubic feet liaye been
consumed BY the city without costing her 3
cai1t--a consumption which, at the rate
charged ordinary consumers, would have
cost sSS, ,594. Except during brief interval, y
when, on. account Of suspsnacd navigation g4
from ice, our supply Of the Lest illuminating,
coal was eShaustcd, ,the sag has, been @ @uneS-
anlpfed in quality. ~ :" .i's'''Hf'f''
By the opening of summer thesnew holder
one OF the fjnestin tla country viii be inope-a "
supply beyond the. hazard of freshet, aud eE.
abies Us, " storing large quantities, TO secure
more thorough p0riticatien and greater reg ~
tllarity aid economy in reproduction. WeSi,
have ;hirty-ninef miles six hundred and fly,
feet of gas mains, thirteen thousand AID
seventy-six metres, and one Thousand, and
forty-six public lamps. 10y a''''@'s. s.s'.' ~
TIE ALMsnoUsE. =
This department of the city government is,
believe, conducted as satisiacto torily us could
be expected. During'tie fiscal year ending
February 18th, 1872, there were admitted to- Z
the almshousc Al white and go 4colored :,
inmates. y thorough examination Of this,
army Of 9I7 inmates was among the earliest
measures Of the present city government
and resolution soon communicated to thet,f
inmates that while every, case demanding q
public charity should Ce received, 10 able. i;
bodied applicants who had youth and health
would be admitted. The effect Is shown In
| the fact that during the past year headrilis."l
| sions have been 149 whitefand 191 colored. q
| The superintendent Of the almshousc has i
| not been required to keep as detailed Il state.
ment Of the business Of his department as
was desirable, and the accounts have hitherto
bcen ascertainabe only Mt the Auditors Office.
| Hencefortb, beginning with the first Of the .
| present year, q different system will bsr,t
adopted.
M, able to sneak from, frequent personnel
observation ct the admirable manner in which
| both the white and coiored almshouses are
conducted, aud the humane treatment Of the !,
inmates. But one complaint reached me
during the year, and that against subordi-
nate officer. The Committee on the Relief II
the Poor at my request promptly inyesti-
gated the charge, and found it substantially
without foundation. recommend that every
guard be thrown around the issue of rations,
or what is called "out-door relief" To
prevent imposition in the applicant and
to ensure economy in the administrs-
ton Of this charity to the worthy, should,
be the most jealous care ofthe Council. Whfn q
the present city government took charge
of the issue of rations to the poor, the issue
was 250 per cent. in excess of the present
issue, and was in u large measure bestowed, !,
on unworthy parties. The sOup-houses asta- /,
biished hy the Frcedmcn's Bureau, how
ever lencyolently designed. were, for lack
of discrimination in the disposal of their q
charity, in great measure nurseries Of;
pauperism, aud upon thcir suspension tic.
city was unduly burdcncd for like pur.,
poses. In January, 1869, the claimants
on this relief were rs white and ,G52a
colored person.. The average daily rations
for the past year have been: to whites, lS5;
to colored, 107. .s..sI ...s. 4. .nss
THE POLICE DEF ErARTIEST. f....s-. .,.
/ take grea. pleasure i'll bearing testimony
TO The genera! order, good conduct, sobr:ety,
and efficiency Of this deIEgtraen It's high
es; praise is found in tie gratifying Gact that
there is not city on the continent wberc
order is superior, where ErcSS crimes arc less
FREQUENT, where life and limb and property
are more secure, and where public quiet is !,
more conspicuous. III my last message IL.
timatcd purpose to scad Il special message
on the detective system, for,t reason tlat, 1,
had great doubt of lis usefulness, but Mt thas
same time had not sufficiently informed N.Y.,
self regarding it. have required during the
past year detailed monthly statements OF tho.
| -, ~ t1.n Itrn f<
he made for me, and an now satisfied that
as long as they continue in their present, re-.
lation TO the force their services are Of esscn-
tial value, and cauEot well be dispensed
with. ,>..t .sai3>t.. .ssa
There is, moreover, another reason Of great
i force for their continuance. In city ofthis
size it is ncccssaryto to have parties other than
the uniformed police for the DETECTION; Of
crime, especially Of the class Of theft. I
regard it far better that these should be pub
Tic employes, responsible to the city, than
private parties responsible to no one Tho
number OF police is less tlfn wien ourcity
was under military rule, although, our popu,
ltion and inhabited territory is larger bilt
!, the public order II betteg preserved. I think
the citizens generally will concur In the prafse
, am glad to be able 10 bcetow on the foPeea al
large. Under authority of the Council, I
; have curtailcd the length aud number pf,
leaves Of absence, and the police commissions
rrs ore successfully engaged in the 70 fort to
$ make the moral tone as wellas the yigtances
and activity Of the force alltl. the city has
r right to expect from its. liberal dealing With
{ these employees. .s,,,....,
;, Miscellaneous Recommends ttotin.
e HOUSE or REIrGg. i. .ssso,.y iys
II Among the rcforlnatory and punltory,
= needs of the city none Is more needed than q
c. ho,1se of correction for women ana bOys.'
h The majority of the co;ored tenants of;ouri
lie ;ail. who arc sent for short terms, arc women,
le ihrir offences being drunkenness, family
m and neighhorEood brawls, and the keeping
er of disorderIy houses. The great majority OF
X these are Young and able-b0died7 women,
vs. who should be made, to .renlunerate -ey
IN tbeir labor the cost Of ,thcir incarcera.
I'd ton. There Is like need for house o
Ic- correction for boys. a hrge number oi
us boys of both coIois are sent to JUL by h's
TO Honor the Police Justice Reluctantly lbe:
II ,a,,se he is impressed with the III elect q
re y,cb associations as arc there found, but con
T. strained by his sense Of official duty. During
e the six months ending December 81 ! iofl'
ly there were arrested in this city forSarfnus
e. crimes I5S boys of fifteen years and uiieefi
< of whom 1876 were colored. Eight per cent
Is of these should have been sent to,a house o.
lg correctiM. If this subject should engage LIZ
II attention of the CouncilI would be glad ftt
ID furnish it. with some documents showing ti'
e management elsew hers Of such: institution
ct as are here recommended .,s, ~, ;sasess
" afG,ag 7af3 CITY SEAL. h .I3,4ilo q
The city, seal is 20 nearly worn ousby leas
!, use as to be almost jliegible. 7 geeom;i.eni