The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-11

certain abuses which were noticeable In { le
criminal business intrusted to them-ablses
for which the police were In some degree re-
sponsible ;and have the satisfaction of know
ing that the suggestions were appreciated by
the magistracy and police aud honored by q
very general concurrence.
"1he duties of this branch Of the city's
| service are discharged under the eye Of the
people, and are exhibited in that very graft
| flying public order and sense of security
| which invariably prevails with fewer excep-
| tons than is usual in similar organizations.
| The Richmond police, officers and men, are
= sober, efficient, faithful, and self-respecting
body, Of whose good qualities the peace and
| comparative freedom from great crimes OF
| our city are complete vindicalion.
"rHE STREETS.
"Tle report of the Engineers depart
ment will be found to consist exclusively of
the tables showing the work and expendi.
lures under this head. They are unaccom-
panied by any suggestions because Of the ILL.,
health of the efficient and faithful officer at
the head OF this branch of the public SER
vice. see no reason to change the opinion
heretofore expressed that unless some plan
is devised to tighten the burden of these i'm
proyements on the public treasury and place
it, where in my judgment it belongs, on the
shoulders mainly Of those whose property
is mainly benefited by them, the cost to the
city will soon be intolerable.
ain the year ending January 81, 1859, the
expenses of this department were $36, ,9S4.
For the past fiscal year they were Sl2S, ,523;
aud this sum will be steadily increased, to
the serious embarrassment Of the finances.
learn there are few cities Of the size of
Richmond In the country which continue
this system of public improvemcnt-so fur as
[ know, none.
"The narrowness Of Clay street from
Thirteenth east is an Inconvenience which
will now be intollerable. recommend that
it be widened by diminishing the foot-way
OIL one side and by dispensing with d gutter.
In other words, permitting the surface to be
graded to the curbstone, and not to point
eighteen inches short Of the curbstoue. l
see no reason for any curvation Of surface at
the point indicated, the grade from west to
east being enough for drainage. In the
heavy traction for which that street is, and
will continue to he, used the relief afforded
10y horizontal line of draft is well worth
securing. The taking off of three feet OF
walk with the improvement of surface, as in-
dicated would add in effect six feet to the
width Of this street-a relief Of the greatest
| service in the busy season.
"THE GAS-woRKs.
"The total receipts of this department du-
ring the gear were $16l, 1888; the total ex-
penditures, S146,002; excess Of receipts,
Sl5,S3l. TO this excess of receipts the Super.
intendent properly adds the public consump-
ton OF gas, which, at private rates, would
have amounted to $l5,57S, and loss by leak
aye, for which the Chesapeake and Ohio rail
road is responsible, amounting to $210. These,
with other proper credits, make the revenue
from this source amount to SG3,SS4, an inter-
est of about eight per cent. on the estimated
value of the works. The works were never
in as efficient condition as at pesent, and
unless some accident interyenes | am pur-
suaded the next report will be even more
satisfactory. There is every reason to be-
Iieve that we shall he able to save u consider
able sum in the cost Of coal, and that the
consumption will steadily increase. The
private consumption for II was nearly six
millions of cubic feet more than that OF 1870
and the private consumption of 1872 was six
million five hundred thousand cubic feet i'll
excess of that for 1871.
"TnE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
"Since my last report the demand for more
school accommodation in the western por
ton of the city has been met by the compile
ton of the Madison school, and in the east
ern portion by the opening of the Nicholson
school. A most eligible site has been secured
for the high and normal school, and TIT
building is now under contract and will b.
ready for our next session. | cOnfidenti,
anticipate at an early day such m extension
of our public-school course as will make ou
system a stepping-stonc to a collegiate cour
| for those who have the means and inclina
ton to seek it. Until this is achieved til
system is imperfcctly performing Its work
however gratifying its results.
al refer to the report Of the School, Boar
for the statistics of progress. In conclusion
gentlemen, allow me to assure you that TIL
rrateful acknowledgements / here make o
the unmerited consideration you have beer
pleased to extend to such suggestions rs
have heretofore made, and the cordial goOt
feeling YOU have been so kind as to manifes
in our intercourse, are not the formal phrase
| of official etiquette, but the very sincere
however inadequate, expression OF sentiment
profoundly entertained by
CIGY ALhShOUScs
The annual report of Superintendent Big
ger, of the city aImshouse, shows the ex
| Denses of the almshouse proper for the yeai
ending January 81, 1873, to have been $2S,
| 5S9.99.
The average number Of inmates for th'
year was 237 they were subsisted at cos
of s42.34 each per year. :,
During the year 429 persons were admit
ted to the almshouse as follows: White De
partnent-Men, 1874; women, "; children
4O-total, 226. Colored Department.-Men
lO5; women, 10; children, 19-totaI, 293
Total white and colored, 429.
Discharged during the year: White; Men,
So; women, 81; children, SO-total, l1o
Colored: Men, 4s; women, S6; children
11-total, 90. Total white and coiored, 265
Died during the year: White: Men, 20
women, 8; children, Total, 80. Colored
| Men. 43; women, 80; children, 6-totai, 81
Total white and colored, 120.
Number of inmates remaining February
i, 1873. 2le.
There have been issued during the yea
9. $50 bushels of meal at O cost OF 81, ,429.o5
| distributed as follows:
Rdtions.-
Whites. are. per ceek
| Men, .....'. coS
! Women. ....5,I23 Ilo
Bows. 1,119 20
Girls. i ,523 ~