The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-17
THE NEW CITY HALL.

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THE FIRST STEP TAKEN FOR THE .EREC-
TIoN OLA NEW BUILDING-THE AUDIT
oR's PLAN FOR PAYING OFF THE DEBT
THE SUBJECT IN THE HANDS OF THE
COMMITTEES ON FINANCE AND GROUNDS
AND BUILDINGS, &C., &C. 80 ,..... >,
At the Council meeting on Monday after
noon the first step was taken in the direc-
ton Of the construction OF q new and splen-
did City Hall, to be erected upon the site OF
the old building, corner Eleventh and
Broad streets, which was condemned and
pulled down few years ago. Even this
limited action will be welcome news 10
many, but to none will it be more welcome
than to the Judge Of the Hastings Court,
whose quarters are so contracted ana un-
pleasant. E t
The ordinance introduced by Mr. Taylor
Poyster, the very intelligent; careful, and
indefatigable Auditor OF the city.
THE BONDS TO BE ISSUED.
The ordinance provides .-...
1. That there shall be appropriated in
bonds Of the city having thirty-four years
to run from the 1st day Of January, 1878,
bearing interest payable semi-annualIy at
the rate Of six per cent. per annum, the
sum OF S25O,000, or so much thereof as shall
be necessary to build and furnish new
City Hall.
9. The issue asd sale OF said bonds to be
under the direction and control Of the Com
mittee on Finance, and the proceeds thereof
to be applied exclusively to the payment OF
demands incident to the building and fur
nishing said City Hall. ...--...
8. The Engineer Of the city, under the
direction OF the Committee on Grounds and
Buildings, to have control Of the construc-
ton and furnishing said building; said
committee being authorized as the work
progresses to issue warrants on the Auditor,
certified by the City Engineer, for the pay
ment Of contracts and claims on account OF
the same. .... 80.
... PLAN FOR PAYING OFF THE DEBT. -
4. There shall be set apart in June, 1873,
one half OF one mill per dollar Of the as
sessed value Of that year OF the real and per-
sonal property OF the city, and like sum in
December and June thereafter OF each an
nual assessment, and so continued until a
sufficient sum shall have been realized (less
q reserve for interest and redemption) to pay
off and retire an amount OF the siX-per-cent.
bonds OF the city equal to the issue made in
pursuance Of this ordinance.
5. The sums to be set apart rs men,
toned in section to be deposited to the
credit of the commissioners OF the
sinking fund, who are empowered and
directed, in June and December OF each
year. to set aside three per cent. for pay.
ment of the semi-annual interest on the then
existing issue of bonds, and one half OF one
per cent. Of such issue to be held as re-
demption fund, the residue to be used anC
applied exclusively to the payment and re-
firing OF any OF the outstanding siX-per.
cent. bonds OF the city on such terms as they
may deem most beneficial to the interests o.
the city, and to continue so to do until tht
siX-per-cent. debt shall have been reduced
in an amount equal to the bonds issued il
pursuance Of this ordinance.
6. The fund reserved semi-annually TO
redemption to be invested by the commits
sioners OF the sinking fund, and the aggre
gate of such reserve to be used as Tina
payment in iquidating the debt authorize
| in section /.
7. The said commissioners are hereb
required to report to the Council semi-ar
n,lally in - and - their operations j
pursuance OF the provisions OF this ord
nance. -......- -...
| WHAT THE AUDITOR SAYS.
The Auditor, in communication eA
planning his estimates, says that an additio
| of ten cents tax on the one hundred dollal
of property would retire the amount OF tn
debt in eight and half years; or an impt
sition of five cents additional tax on th
one hundred dollars would retire tn
amount in seventeen years. He furthe
states that the present issue Of bonds leave
q margin under the charter limit Of SIT, Al
So that there is no legal impeachment to til
proposed new issue.
MR.. CHRISTIANS VIEWS.
After the ordinance had been read, MI
Christian, Of Clay Ward, said he had bee
preparing a resolution bearing upon th
yerv subject contained in the ordinance
that he himself believed the time had com
when steEs should be taken for the erectio
OF a new City Hail.. He then sent to til
clerks desk the following resolution, whlc
was read:
"ReSolvea (the Board of Aldermen cor
curring), That the Committee on GROUND
and Buildings and the Committee on +
nance be appointed joint committee, VIII
instructions to report to the Council
soon as practicable as to the propriety
steps being taken by the Council for tf
erection Of City Hall, with such recon
meadations in relation to the same in prir
as said Joint committee may deem proper.
Mr.. Christians proposition was aceepte
by Mr.. Taylor, and the ordinance, aeeon
panying documents, and the resolutio
l were referred to the committees named.
The Board OF Aldermen will have to col
slider the subject at their meeting next MOI
day, and If they concur it will then go
the Mayor. 49, =. u ~.
DR.. BAIRD's CASE IN THE HUsT1SGs CorR'
The preliminary steps to the trial OF Re'
E. T. Baird, D. D., late secretary OF tt
trustees OF the Presbyterian Committee
Publication, indicted BY the grand jury