The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-02

favors among us who happen to be in
power. They have to be regarde as
places Of duty, trust, and responsibility.
The officers should be selected because
Of their fitness-their ascertaiHed fitness
for the places they are to flI. When
we find good officers in place their
honest zeal should be confir med and stimu-
lated by the assurance that they will always
be cared for according to their merit. The
important of all. After instituting the
most diligent inquiries I find that no one
ever brought 10 the discharge OF his duties
more purity OF character, more earnest
ability. His friends defy any one to find
upon his record single thing that will be
= blot on his character.
Mr.. J. Taylor Ellyson, the newly-elected
member from Monroe Ward, in seconding
the nomination Of Colonel Cutshaw said /:
1t gives me great pleasure to second the no.
minatlon Of Colonel Cutshaw. We are to
be congratulated upon having the opportu-
nifty to reelect so faithful n public officer.
In the present stage OF our city's growth
we need a man OF wise and liberal views,
who shall be able to provide not
merely, for the wants OF to-day, but
for the uncertainties OF the future. The
rapid growth OF our city during the past
|
prosperity in the near future.
Mr.. Ellyson then went on to speak OF the
faithfulness and ability with which Coone!
Cutshaw had discharged his duty, and the
improvements made under his eye, helping
to make Richmond take the position among
the leading cities OF the country.
MIR. James NJ. Talbot, who nominated
Mr.. Washington Gill, characterized him as
"an old, wcll-tried engineer OF this city
an engineer for fifteen years-a man who
gave during the fifteen years universal sat
| isfaction; man, sir, who has had practl-
cal experience OF fifteen years who has
had the advantages not only OF fifteen
wears here, but OF eight years in one OF the
western cities-in the city OF St. Louisa
city OF over half million people,"
Mr.. Talbot then went on at some length
to speak Of Mr.. CLIPS qualifications, laying
particular stress on his practical experience.
He urged that as this city is about to be
graded it is absolutely necessary for it to
have good engineer, and he pointed to MT.
Gill as the man for the place. He did not
think Colonel Cutshaw had given general
satisfaction.
Mr.. Williams, member OF the Board from
Marshall Ward, spoke warmly in favor OF
Colonel Cutshaw. He denied the charge
|
Justice by making certain grades and cuts;
and inasmuch as he came from portion of
the city Union HilD where these cuts had
been made, he thought it right that he
should say word. He then contended that
the City Engineer was not to blame for the
grades.
He read from the city ordinance (chapter
81, section 21) to show that it is therein pro-
yided that the engineer shall report to the
Committee on Streets Generally and the
Street Committee to the Council such plans
Of proposed grades and cuts as are before
them, and that at the same time they SHALL
lay before the Council a profile OF such pro-
posed grades, subject to the inspection and
approval OF the Council. This law gave
the Council unlimited supervision over the
matter Of grades, and every member OF the
body had an opportunity to vote for or
against such grades, and the Council could
refuse or adopt them.
The speaker then at some length showed
that the value Of property had been greatly
enhanced on Church and Union hills BY
the improvements in the way OF these
grades and cuts. He said that when these
improvements were first begun there was a
howl from property-hoIders all on the line,
but they acknowledge now that these grades
are Just what were needed. He paid high
tribute to Colonel Cutshaw's engineering
skill.
He said that when Colonel Cutshaw was
first elected City Engineer there was but
one avenue to Oakwood, and now people
from the lower portion OF the city can
reach it by almost any avenue. lie alluded
to the public spirit that had always ami
mated Colonel CutshaW in all his projected
Improvements.
Mr.. King followed. As Mr. Williams
had said something about the East End, he
proposed to speak OF the West End. lie
commended that il anybody was to blame for
the grades it was Colonel Cutshaw. lie
said the Street Committee never went
against the City Engineer, but agreed to bis
recommendations. He believed that the
majority OF the people in his ward wanted
Colonel Gill, and he intended voting for
him.
He had nothing to say against Colonel
Cutshaw. He knew he was an honest man,
but the people OF Clay Ward did not intend
having their property ruined because Colo
mel CutshaW was an honest man.
Mr.. Talbot spoke again, and said OF Colo
mel Cutshaw, He is getting worse and
worse. He is worse to-day than he was
when he first came here. [Laughter.] He
never can be practical man. He did
not commence engineering until he
was thirty-fve years OF age, and how
can he know anything about it? lie is
too old to be educated. [Laughter.] He
gives less satisfaction than he did on the
| first year he was elected" Mr.. Talbot said
that Mr.. Gill was willing to guarantee that
he could do the work at less cost to
the city than it had been under Colonel
Cutshaw's administration, and he was
willing to give up the whole OF his
(Gill's) salary il he did not do it. In other
words, he would not draw his salary II he
did not do the work for less than what it
costs the city now. He then dwelt at some
length on what Colonel Gill had done in
the way Of engineering, and spoke OF the
almshouse and the Old Market hall as spe-
cimens OF his work. Then he contrAsted
what Colonel Cutshaw had done, saying,
"Look at this military armorv out here
(HowitzersD. would like for some OF you
to take likeness OF 1t. That is not Gill's."
[Laugbter.l
Mr.. Todd, who has been for some years
chairman Of the Street Committee, replied
at some length to Mr.. Talbot. He said
nearly every statement made by Mr. Talbot
was wrong, and he deemed it his duty to
yindicate Colonel Cutshaw. He said the
expenses OF Slr. Gill were about the same
as those OF Colonel Cutshaw, although
during the. term of the latter officer the
reservoir had been built and many other
public improvements made. He said Mr..
Talbot makes another statement, that the
Street Committee has never failed to adopt
Colonel CutshaW's recommendations. Why,
sir, in the gentleman's own ward can call
three instances-on Tenth, Ninth, and
| Eiohfb cf bor tho fniIoI