The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-14
Annual Message of the Mayor.
of $4,000 for New School Houses,
&c. de-. &c.

The Free Schools-An Appropria tion
of $4,000 for New School Houses,
&c. de-. DC.
Cry CoUNcY1.-A called meeting of this
body was held last night at 81 O'Clock at the
Council Chamber. Present: Mr.. Perdue
(president pro ten.), and Messrs. Craig, Eu-
bank, Jones, Monteiro, Moles, and White.
head.
The annual message of the Mayor was
read as follows:
MAYORS OFFICE,
MANCHESTER, August 5. 1876,
To the Honorable President and Members Of
the City Council:
Gentlemep,--Atter twelve months of Of
fetal labor, it affords me pleasure again to
communicate with you. In reviewing
your Official action for the past year, it is a
matter of earnest congratuiation that you
have so we'll and faithfully discharged the
duties assigned you. Coming into Office
as you did with tue responsibilities OF q
new and uutried government, with addi-
tional work and increased expenditures,
and the additional Embarrassment OF
depleted treasury, you have by arduous
labor and earnest effort met your
RESPONSE bilities, and according to The report
of the efficient chairman of your Finance Com
mittee have succeeded in relieving our city of
what seemed to be decided financial en-
barrassment. The exhibit Of your finances
shows the city to be in prosperous condl.
ton, and has awakened in the minds of our
citizens hope that you will during the COM
ing year accomplish much in the way OF per-
n1anent Improvement. feel it TO be useless
to speak specially OF the financial condition oil
the city, as the report above alluded 10 sells
forth fully and clearly our tin,nclal status.
Suffice it to say that the thanks Of our people
are due your body for the encouraging re-
port which we have received.
ImprorementS.-1n justice TO your honor
able body / must say that, considering the
difficulties under which you have laoored,
much has been doEe in the way Of Improve
ment. Our streets are in better condition
many of them heretofore impossible have
been to some extent enlarged and improved ;
the water. power has been moreflily utilized,
and still greater improvements are IN con-
temptation which, we have reason to nope,
will soon be pressed TO successful termlna'
tion.
But, gentlemen, while much has been done
more remains to be done. The demand lor
a city jail (urged in u former mc>sage) IS In
creaslng, and demands your immediate at.
tention. The faancsl aspect OF this ques.
ton was fully discussed in that message,
hence needs no further notice, Dut apart
from this, the number in the city chaln-Sang
is greater than at any time previous, and tue
present prison ucco nmodatlons are wholly
Inadequate. The health of the prisoners. as
we'll as a feeling Of humanity, requires that
some other place of confinement should be
provided. Beside the foregoing reasons
there is still another. On account OF the ad-
ditional building erected in rear Of the pri.
son the cells have no other ventilation than
that given through the Mayors courtroom.
You can readily imagine the dlsagreeaole,
not to say offensive, condition OF this room
after the confinement Of large number OF
prisoners for the night.
The School Commissioners of the city have
called your attention to the necessity OF
erecting suitable
Public School -Houses.-This is necessity
long felt. We fnG from the last census as
compared with tue Dumber Of scholars IN
our public schools that great number OF
the children are crowded out OF our schools.
/ doubt not that you will fully appreciate
this necessity and use every effort to secure
for our efficient corps of teachers comfortable
houses, with greater facilities for imparting
instruction. ! find that other cities through
out the State, less able financially, and GER
tainly no more interested in the subject OF
education than we are, are contributing lib
orally to this object.
While do not urge the immediate proVl'
sion of a poor house for the city, deem it
necessary tnat your attention should be call
ed to the subject OF making some satisfactory
arrangement for our paupers. Fortunately,
there are very few OF this class in our
midst but the history of every city proves
that with the increase of population there will
be an increased demand for the care OF the
Door. By an arrangement now existing the
poor Of our city are cared for at tue county
poor.house, the charge for which must say
think is eXorbtant, and feel it will be to he
interest of our city to secure more satlSfac-
tory and less expensive plan of providing
for them. Iweuld respectfully suggest that
the Council consider the propriety of pur-
chasing few acres of land in proximity TO
the city, erecting a plain building thereon,
and securing the services of some reliable
man to superintend it, and thus by the cul,i-
yation of the land make it a "self.suslain.
ing" institution.
Muuo,'s Court-I have the honor to report
that. 10 accordance with an ordinance passed
by your honorable body governing the
MAYORS Court, | advertised that one day in
each week would be devoted to the trial of
civil cases. So far no business of this char
ucter has been brought before the court.
This is possibly due to the fact that very lit.
tie civil business is being transacted.
Chan. Gang.-I regret to announce that
there have been two additional escapes OF
prisoners from the chain gang since my last
Communication. The Board of Police Com
mlssioners, after strict inquiry into the mat
ter, are of the opinion that this was due
rather to the insecurity Of the fasteniDgs than
any neglect on the part OF the, superlDtend'
ent. A new and more secure way oil conhne'
ment has been adopted, and it is confidently
believed that these prisoners ID the future
will be securely kept.
With my earnest wishes for pleasant and
prosperous future for your honorable body,
am, respectfully, &C., L. Z. CHlLEs,
81. d Mayor.
The message was referred to special com
mi,tee OF three, consisting Of Messrs. Mon
teiro, Moles, and Whitehead, to consider the
recommendations contained therein. A com.
mupication was received from the Board oil
Police Commissioners informing the, Council
OF the escape OF two prisoners from the
chain-gang, and exonerating the superinten-
deosfrom all blame in the premises. Want
of pgpper fastenings 10 anklets was The cause
ef the escapes. This esil has been remedied