The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-02
proceedsnEs or the Courts-.S,hurcsaes-
b TAe Rnnlic schools Bcnevc-
lent Orders. rs IS
Manufacturing and Business Interests.
Outlook for the Future, &C., &c.

manufactures.
The city government has been efficiently
and honestly administered, and life, liberty,
and the pursuit OF happiness guaranteed to
all regardless Of age, sex, or previous con-
dition. 81
The increase liz the church-membership
and in the attendance ut the Sabbath and
public schools Is an evidence Of moral
and religious growth which Is rs much to
be reIoiced Mt as any development we might
chronicle.
March 31st the grading OF the streets as
contracted for by Colonel Edward Vickers
was completed. About LOG, 000 yards OF
earth were removed under said contract.
Although many persons were disposed TO
complain OF the grade, many beneficial re-
suits are already noticeable, and it is conf.
IDENTIFY believed that time viii Justify the
money expended and the temporary incon-
yenience experienced by many by the
grading Of the streets.
During the past year Twelfth street
(Belle-Isle avenue) has been guttered from
Everett to Perry streets, Porter street from
Seventh to Tenth, Ninth street from Hull
to Porter, and the work OF guttering
Bridge avenue from Hull to Porter streets
was stopped by the holidays and inclement
weather.
Sidewalks have been hid on Ninth street
from Hull to Porter, on Porter from Ninth
to Tenth, and on Fourth from Hull to
Stockton and out to Brownsville.
On the 10th of March destructive fire
occurred on the corner OF Hull and Thir-
teenth streets, by which valuable stores md
dwellings, the property OF Thomas E. Gers
ley and the Bradley estate, were destroyed.
There was IA partial insurance on these
buildings, but the fetal loss was between
$500 and $4,000. May 26th Manchester
was again visited by the flre-fend, and again
OH Hull street and at the corner OF Ninth,
where ten frame buildings, owned by
William Heider, were burned down,
and the adjoining building of Henry
A. Jordan was Considerably damaged.
The loss by this fire was not more than
$4,000. One Of the burned buildings was
occupied by Jacob Kell as a bakery. A
building on the same spot, occupied by
Charles McNair, baker, was destroyed by
fire October II, 1870. October 18th, about
$3.50 A. NJ, Hull street was again visited by
the devouring element, the scene this time
being at and near the corner of Bridge ave
nue.. The buildings destroyed were the
property OF Messrs. Thomas 3. Cersley, NJ.
81. Ham, and Claiborne Burnett. The adj
Joining property OF Robert Beattie was also
considerably damaged. The loss by this
fire was about SIC, 900. The combined loss
by these three fires was about $4,000, not
including consequential damages.
The events connected with the great food
of November 25th are too fresh in the minds
OF our readers to call for repetition here.
BY this disaster, in addition to the serious
losses sustained by the city, our lessees, and
many citizens in the First Ward, one OF the
saddest events Of the year occurred. This
was the accidental drowning OF Mr.. Andrew
S. OVERLY while engaged in keeping the
bridge OF the Richmond and Danville rail-
road clear OF timber and other floating
debris. He was worthy man, and left q
large and helpless family.
The health Of the city has been good.
The number of deaths has not been large,
and many Of those were caused by preva-
lence OF diphtheria among the infants in
the summer and early fall.
Mrs. Elizabeth Heider, the oldest resi-
dent. died during the year; as did, at bis
residence near the city,. MIR. William II.
Brander, descendant OF our oldest fami-
lies, and himself the Oldest native-born
citizen of the city. j
There has been marked absence OF cas-
ualty and crime, no murders, deaths by
violence, or suicide being reported. The
dearsh on this line has been SO great that
this chronicle of events appears without
a report from that worthy official and nc
modating gentleman, Coroner 8. l.. In.
gram. There has been an increase in the
number OF our Benevolent orders, in. their
membership, and in their usefulness.
During the past month the new dam be-
ing erected was washed away, involving Q
loss of some $1,000. It has been put out to
contract, and will be completed as soon as
Twelfth street is being graded from Per-
nv street to Semmes. and with good weather
the entire work will be- completed this
month, when it is expected that many
persons will put dowa sidewalks at their
own expense. -,
Arrangements are being made for the re-
building OF Mayo's bridge, and it is hoped
that it will be openfor travel by March LIST.
The City Government.
The most important change in the city
government during the past year was the
resignation Of Mayor L. r. Chiles previous
to his election rs State senator. The filing
OF the vacancy deyoiving upon the City
Council. that honorable body, November
9th, elected James A. Clarke, one OF our
oldest and most respected citizens, who is
now most efficiently filling the position.
The office Of City ngineer was abolished
July list. This position had been acceptably
filed by Mr.. A. Langstaf Johnston. In
December the position OF City Attorney was
declared null and void. 50 In this Office Mr..
Henry w. Bransford had served with credit
to himself aud fidelity to theeity Is interests.
By resolution OF the Council the Common
wealths Attorney is ea+ofcio City Attorney.
The following are the municipal officers, as
now constituted: l.
Mayor, James A. Clarke; Treasurer and
Collector, J. w. Bronough, Jr.; Auditor
and Clerk to the Council, j. B. Walden
Superintendent of Public Schools for the
city, b. A. Hancock Chief OF Police,
James a. Iipseoinb; High Constable, Ed.
b. Fisher; Chief of Fire Department, "a. A.
Waugh: city Sergeant, Henry Fitzgerald;
Commissionef OF the Revenue, A. a. Al
len; Coroner, l.. S. Ingram; Commons
,Yealth's Attorney, a. g. Atkinson.
Board or Police Commissioners.
James "a. Clarke, Mayor te1.o1icio presi-
dept); First Ward, Richard, S. Whitehead;
Second Ward, Nathan a. Eabank Third
Ward. w. Lawrence Moody Fourth Ward,
Ajax Gary. ~ 80 sasfs Nv "a 5sE
THE changes during the yearwere the sub
sti,ution OF Mayor Clarke for Mayor Chiles,
and the election OF Messrs. Moody and
Gary v;ce Messrs. "A. Mentefro and James
I. Craig, resigned. The City Auditor is
ereo6fcio clerk to the Board. y, 81
THE CRY CoUEcIL.-Th e Council con-
sists Of three members from, each ward, one
Of whom Isl elected bit tho annual election In
Lay, and holds Office for three yeafs. The
prsseas E0Hnca is composed as follows:
s1oxrk oi.