The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-03
PETERSBURG.

MEETING OF THE COMMON CoUNCT.--INTHRRsT-
ING rRocsEDINGs--RECEIrTs AND ExrENDI.
TURes OF THE CTTY--IIABiI.rTIES AND RE-
souRCEs--THg CONTEMPLATED sALE OF THE
PETERSBURG RAlIR0Ap-DEATHs OF WELL
KNOWN CITizSNs, &C.
Correspondence of The Richmond Dispatchi
July 9, 1880.
The Common Council was IN session last
evening from until $3.50 O'Clock, The
greater portion Of the time was consumed
in the election Of officers and employees OF
the city for the ensuing two years. In these
elections party tines were strictly drawn as
between the founders" and 4" Resdiust-
crs" Of the body, and the candidates nomi-
mated by the former were elected in every
instance, The relative vote OF the two par
ties is IS and Q.
Mr.. winism +. Spotswood was re.
elected president OF the Council. a position
which be has well filed for several years
past. The election Of officers over the re-
gular business was proceeded with. The
Tressurer's report showed that the cash re-
ceiPs Of the city for the fiscal year
amounted 10 SS69.6s7; the total eXpend'
lures, S2l9.4l6; and the cash remaining on
hand July LIST. Sl50.262. In the receipts
are included the proceeds OF the sale OF the
city's stock in the Petersburg rsilroad,
large portion of which is ncw on hand
awaiting the presentation for payment OF
the bonds falling due on the LIST OF August.
The annual report Of the Auditor gives a
hattcring account Of the financial condition
OF the city. lie SAYS: "The municipal
finances have been mansged with such
marked success as not 10 require the issuing
OF siagie note 10 meet any obligation for
the past twelve moaths, aud all bills cen
tracted by the various departments have
been so far audited and paid that nothing
OF any moment remains unadiusted."
The liabilities Of the city, as stated by the
Auditor, consist OF its bonded debt, and is
classified as follows: SOuihside railroad
bonds, 6 per cent, due 1880, Si42,500;
SoUthSide railroad bonds, per cent, due
1885, S7l.000; Southside railroad bonds, 8
per cent, due 1890. S291,600; Southside
railroad bonds, s per cent, due 1895, 1884,
GOO; fOating-debt bonds, 8 per cent, due
1896, Sl0O, 900; school bonds, per cent,
due 1903 $4,000; ciiy-iund and floating
debt bonds. s per cent, due 1908. $4,000;
Appomsttox river bonds, per cent, due
1911, Sl65. 600. Total, sl,1G0,70O. The re-
sources are reported ample TO meet all liza
bilities.
The following preamble and resolution,
coming from member OF the Finance
Committee, was unanimously adopted:
Whereas this Comet is Informed that IL
is in contemplation OF certain parties 10 ask
the Circuit Court Of the United States for
the Eastern District of Virginia for decree
for the sale of The Petersburg railroad and
whereas il Is believed by this Council that
such sale would be not only ill.advised and
destructive to the interest OF this city as a
stakeholder, but, in view OF the fact that
the road is likely 10 prove self-sustaining,
snd therefore a sale would be unjust and
inequtsble; therefore be it
Resolved. That the City Attorney be and
is hereby instructed TO prepare and present,
on behalf Of this city. to said court proper
petition asking that such sale be not made,
and that he take all such other legal pro-
ceedings as may be requisite to prevent the
sale OF the said road.
IL is reported that the decree OF sale will
be asked for on the 10Th OF this month.
The condition OF the road has been greatly
improved under the management OF Re-
ceiyer Pegr1m, and the annual report to be
made 10 the court will show that its receipts
for the past year were largely In excess OF
those al the previous year. This may be
one reason why the parties mentioned in
the resolution wish the sale TO be ordered.
The Improvement and enlargement OF
our harbOr is Just now exciting much In
.erest and discussion 10 the community. A
petition signed by some six hundred citl-
Zens, embracing all classes and professions
and persons Of both cOiors, was presented
TO the Council last evening asking that some
action be taken looking to this end. The
matter was referred to a special committee
of five, with instructions TO make inquiry
and report as to the cost Of deepening and
widening the harbor as will hit it for the ac-
mediation OF vessels drawing twelve feet oil
water, and also as to the feasibility and cost
Of DETECTING the water into the old channel
and marshes beyond POcahonas.
Mrs. Jane c. Van CortlaDdt died at heI
residence on High street last night. IN the
eighty-second year OF her age. She was the
daughter Of Robert Maitland, who was
many wears ago a prominent merchant oil
Petersburg, and subsequently OF New
York. On her mothers side she was
descendant q the old Harrison family OF
Prince George county. Her husband be-
longed to the Knlcker6OckeTs, Of New
York.
Mr.. Robert Cousins, prominent citizen
and farmer OF Chesterfield county. died
Yesterday: aged about sixty years. lie wa:
Tor a long while a merchant OF this city.
Mr.. William Har.well Harrison, county
superintendent OF schools FOR Prinet
George aud Surry counties. died evening
before last OF congestion Of the brain; ageC
about thIrty-five years. ROBIN ADAIR.