The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-24

hlCnNlOND, "a,
| tects. and builders who recently examined
the City Hall in response to resolution oil
this body. This report has already ap.
pearcd in the Dispatch.l The committee
ask further time in order to more fully ma
the report. The report was received and
adopted.
| BROAD STREET.
In response to resolution Of the Council
in reference to the proper width OF Broad
street east Of Mayo, and whether the street.
curhs on said portion Of Broad street are In
proper position to give the proper width to
all parts of Broad street, the City Engineer
reported. through Mr.. English of Marshall
| Ward, that the map Of the city made by
Richard Young in 1877 gives the course OF
3 cad street east OF Eighteenth streetas south
53 degrees 30 minutes east. The old corpo-
rate stone which marked the line extended
| to Bloody run has been oblitcrated, and
there Is not sufficient information to find it;
put the stone which marked point in the
line at the northwest corner of Broad and
E!ghtcenth streets, which is still standing,
ana being nine feet in Broad street from the
true northern line Ofsaid street, gives stand.
ing point; and as the two maps referred to
! give the same course for both the county
and the corporate line 1t is fair to presume
| that the old line ran parallel to and nine feet
from line running through this stone with
this same course, south 53 degrees 80 min
u,es east, or in other words, was 6e-foot
street extended. Some parties had built
within this street line before the CITY had ex-
tended its jurisdiction so far, and the CITY
Engineer can only say, in regard to the curb.
ing, that when it is known to what line the
city can lly claim then he can define the
true width Of the street and the proper posi-
ton of the curbS for all parts of it.
| The report was received and ordered to
he printed.
| NEW BUSINESS.
| Mr.. English, Of Marshall Ward, presented
n petition of citizens asking Improvement OF
| Orleans street. Referred.
| By Mr.. Chestermln: Petition Of Captain
W. c. Wilkinson, captain of the chain gang,
asking slis bit increase in his pay. Petition
was granted.
| By Mr.. Davis: A motion TO enlarge the
present Committee or Grounds and Build
ings to five members. Adopted. The
present number is three.]
THE CITY pgEr AND THE NEW CHARTER.
|
| BILE and resolution requesting the city's re-
personalities in the Legislature to vote
against any proposition 10 amend the city
charter so as to restrict the Council from in.
creasing the debt Of the city to 20 per centum
| of the assessed value Of the taxable real
estate.
| Mr.. Newberry said that he was sure that
the Council did not know what was going
on. If the body did it would not submit to
such limit. He was sure that the step was
unauthorized by the Council.
Mr.. Talbot thought that the gentleman
was premature in his remarks.
| Mr.. Newherry said he was not-that the
matter would not be officially made known
to the Council until it was was thrust
down their throats.
Mr.. Starke said the matter was before the
Legislature; that the m,ttcr had come from
u higher source than the Council--it had
come FROM the people. Three thousand
names were obtained to the paper, and it is
said that the gentlemen who obtained these
names = all il one day-had said that they
believed that they could have gotten fifty
| thousand names.
| Mr.. NeHberry desired to know what it
would avail the city if the city had no bonds
to sell:
Mr.. S!arke said that contingency could
never arise, for if the c:ty's bonds are issued
to a less amount than the real value Of the
city's property they would sell readily, but
| if they are issued to an eighth more than
the assessed value, why, nobody will buy
| them.
| Mr.. Wagner had read from the clerks
desk similar resolution TO that presented
| by Mr.. NeWberry. He said he had been ap-
preached by several citizens on this subject
| who believed that the scheme had been got
ten up in the Council. He was willing to so
before the people on this issue.
| Mr.. Talbot said that he didn't need
guardian, but that he believed there were
some in the Council who would. He ap-
proved heartily Of the proposition TO prevent
an increase Of the city debt.
Mr.. Waguer's resolution also provides for
the appointment of committee to confer
with the ty'S representatives in the LeslS-
Iature, and consider the whole subject.
Mr.. Newbcny accepted the resolution Of
fcred by 0lr, Wagner in the nature Of IN
amendment to his resolution.
| Mr. Newherry said that the "puO!ic meet
ing" which was spoken Of had been attended
! hv six gentlemen. two of whom bitterly op-
posed the scheme. He also said that it had
been gotten up by select few, who believed
that the wisdom Of the city was centred in
them. He didn't believe that such was the
case that he wanted to have something for
our children TO pay.
| Mr. Talbot: Did understand you to say
that some members of the Council had got
ten up this matter!
| Mr.. Ne~berry understand they have
| band in it.
The Chair: Gentlemen, you must not talk
across the chamber.
Mr.. Starke said that it might be published
| from the house-top, SO far rs he was con-
cerncd, that he, as a citizen, had hand in
| the matter
| Mr.. S:raus explained bis connection with
the matter, and alluded to the resolution
which was recently discussed by the Joint
Committee on Finance and Retrenchmcnt
and Reform, and said that they had agreed
to report to the Council the recommends
| tion that the Council restrict the city debt
to 16 per cent.
Mr.. Wynne, who had come in, said that
it appeared to him to be an attempt to ignore,
utterly, the committee, and treat them with
silent contempt. Mr.. Wynne said that ne
hoped those gentlemen who had been con-
suited in this matter would hold up their
hands.
Messrs Higgins and Cottreil held up their
hands, but Mr.. Higgins said he refused to
sign it.
| q question put to me.
Mr.. Wynne: No, sir; you originated the
surreptitious scheme, sir, and that's the rcl-
son you don't hold up your hand.
He continued to review the action OF all
parties who had been concerned In the mat