The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-03
RirI,nontl 1ispatth.
sATURDAi'....... .FEbhoAhi o. i'"'
PETERSBURG.

PETERSBURG.
s.,r CoUSC1I. GEET3NG-A SITE 10 NE poNAthp
ro, THE CENTRAL LUNATiC ASfLUM-AN-
a-prp PETITION TO RETAIN RICHARDS
r,ru OF 4 rETERSBURGER IN FI.oRIDA-lS-
rrprsT ON CITY BoNpS--EPrSCoPAI. CHURCH
urrrrS6-sEST TO THE AsYLUM-AN OLD
nrRY1SG- GROUND, &C.
rr.r-csrondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
FEBRUARY 2, 1877.
The Council at its meeting last night
amended its taN-ordinances so rs to make
them conform to the amendments passed by
the General Assembly to the city charter on
tho 18th and Goth OF last month. The time
~ the sale Of property for delinquent taxes
was changed from January to June, ana
tho penalty for non-paymcnt OF taxes was
fxcd n. five pcr cent, with the addition OF
six Der cent. per annum until paid. The
collection, which was stopped temporarily,
was again commenced to-day.
The Council also had before 1t the ques-
tinn of making bid for the location OF the
Central Lunatic ASYLUM in Petersburg.
The matter was discussed ut length, the
general drift Of remarks being in favor OF
having that institution here. Senator Him
ton. OF the committee appointed to select
and report site, was present, and, by lnfl-
ta,ion addressed the Council, setting forth
the advantages that would result to the
community in having the asylum here, and
urging that action should bc taken IN the
premises. The Council adopted resoiu-
ton expressing the sense OF the oody that u
suitable site should be donated to the State
for the permanent erection OF the asylum IN
this city, provided the legislative commas
sion desire TO locate it here.
There arc n number OF admirable sites for
all asylum OF this kind on the suburbs OF
Petersburg. 1t is understood that the le-
pislatiye committee will visit our city in q
few days for the purpose Of visiting them.
They Will be received and entertained by q
committee Of the Council.
Another petition Is in circulation to-day,
and receiving the signatures or number
OF our merchants, asking the President to
retain Mr.. George S. Richards as collector,
on the ground Of his acceptability as busl-
ness-man. This petition will be forwarded
to Washington tonight, so as to be placed
in the hands Of the President tomorrow,
with the petition OF the tobacco manufactu.
rerS, which has already reached him. 1t is
said that the President is holding the mat
ter in abeyancc, and that there is proba-
bility that Richards will be retained this
month. -. ,
Intelligence has been received OF the
death, in Florida, Of Mr.. stephen q. Led
better, formerly 4 citizen OF Petersburg.
He was an engineer on one OF the railroads
III that State. 4 few days ago his train was
thrown from the track by the removal OF a
rail. and one or two persons Killed and
others wounded; among the latter was Mr.
Ledbettcr, whose injuries were OF so pain
full nature as to result fatally. The de-
ceased was about thirty-one years OF age,
and a son OF the late Captain Charles Led
better, OF this city. -..,
The City Treasurer has been busy since
early yesterday morning paying the Febrl-
ary interest on the bonds OF the city OF Pc
tersburg. This interest amounts to about
s26. 900, and money Is in hand to pay the cou,
pons, which are redeemed as fast as pre-
scented. In August a like amount Of in
terest will fall due again. The city promptly
meets all its obligations.
The two Episcopal congregations or this
city will meet together at st. PauPs church
on Sunday night, when addresses on the
Church work in Virginia will be delivered
by Rev. j. Peterkin, OF Richmond, and
Rev. f. c. Murdaugh, Of Fredericksburg.
The Festival of the Publication was OBJ
served to-day in the Catholic and Episcopal
churches.
Thomas Connally, white citizen, re.
Gently adjudged lunatic by a magisterial
commission, was Yesterday sent to the
asylum at Williamsburg. This is the second
time he has been confined there. Our jail
to-day, for the first time in long while,
has no lunatic Inmates.
Human skulls and bones are very COM
mon spectacle in Pocahontas. A great
many years ago there was a battle-ground
for colored people in that village, which
finally became SO populous with the bodies
OF the dead that further interments stop
ped. and Blandiord was substituted as q
burial-place. This field in Pocahontas wa;
discovered TO contain a white sand OF valua
bic quality, which has been used by the city
for street purposes. In the digging Of this
sand many skeletons and parts Of skeletons
have been thrown up to the surface ant
left exposed to view. ROBIN ADAIR.