The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-18

An adjourned meeting OF the Board Of
Aldermen was held last evening at O'clock
to consider the resolutions Of Dir. Todd in
relation to the proposed scheme to build
the James-Rfver railroad-PresidentM Mere
dith in the chair Present at rollcali:
Messrs. Bass, Beall, Cannon. Gray, Gasser,
Lipscomb, Pickrell, Pitt, Smith, Spangen-
burg, Todd, and Williams.
The Chair announced that Mr.. Gasser he'd
been placed on the Committees on Streets,
Schools. and Health.
THE CITIZENS MEETING-JuDGE LAY PRE-
sEETS ITS ACTION.
The Chair announced that the only busi-
ness for which the Board had been con-
yened was to consider certain resolutions
presented by Mr.. Todd in. relation to q pro-
position for the construction Of railroad up
the James. River canal.
Mr.. Pickrell said that committee
was present, representing meeting OF
citizens held at the Exchange Hotel few
nights ago, to request the Board to recon-
slder its action relative to an appropriation
Of $25, 900 to repair the canal. He further
explained that the committee was repre-
sented by Judge Lay. pa
Mr.. Todd said that IL only one speech
was to be made on behalf Of the committee
he would move that Judge Lay be heard.
Mr.. Cannon objected to the proceeding
on the ground that this meeting was for o
special purpose; that certain gentlemen had
been invited to address the Board on the
practicability Of a railroad along the tow
path OF the canal, and it would be improper
at this time to hear any discussion on SUBJ
iect not properly before the body. He
hoped that the body would not depart from
its rules, at least until the business for
which the Board had been convened was
disposed Of.
Mr.. Williams expressed regret at the re-
marks OF Mr.. Cannon. He thought that
as one citizen had been invited to address
the Board, certainly it was eminently proper
that another citizen should be heard also.
Mr.. Todd said Judge Lay was here SIM
ply to present resolutions OF meeting OF
citizens asking that the Board appropriate
$4,000 to repair the canal. He thought,
out OF courtesy to the influential citizens
Judge Lay represented, he should he heard.
Mr.. Todd thought that debate on the sub
iect should be limited to fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Pickrell read from the Dispatch the
resolutions OF the Exchange Hotel meeting.
Mr.. Cannon said that was matter foreign
TO the object OF this meeting, aud he hoped
that the Board would not entertain 1t until
the question for which the Board had been
called to consider had been disposed OF. z
The motion to suspend the rules in order
to allow Judge Lay to present the resolu-
tions Of the citizens meeting and be heard
on the subject was agreed to.
! Judge Lay was then invited within the
bar OF the Board, and addressed the body.
BE said the meeting he represented had mo-
thing to do with the question whether the
canal had been n failure or not, nor whether
1t was advisable to build railroad along It's
tow-path. He represented q meeting of
citizens, who respectfully asked the Board
OF Aldermen to reconsider their previous
action and aid in repairing the canal. Even
IL the surveys for q railroad had been
made-the money in bank ready to build
1.-THE would still say that it was expedient
to give this $4,000 to give relief until the
road could be built. Judge Lay made q
well-timed and excellent speech, and pre-
sented very iorcibly his views, which were
received with the utmost respect. @''
| .s..r THE RAILROAD SCHEME.
At the conclusion of Judge Lay'sremarks
Mr.. Todd's railroad resolutions were read.
Dir. Cannon moved that BIZ. franklin
Stearns now address the meeting and give
his views on the subject. Agreed to.
Mr.. Stearns addressed the Board. He said
at no time has railroad material been SO
cheap as it now Is. He then gave his esti-
mates OF the cost OF railroad from Rich
mond 10 Buchanan-198 miles-somewhat
rs follows: 80 il..ss
Iron, at s2,772.4s per mLle;.;..".."".s oaassa55s
Ftsh-b1rS and srikes, at &41S,.,..,.... S2,764