The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-28

uc oI uetsrns foui buT40miu
and Thomas Nowlan Relative to the Pro.
posed Change OF Grade-No Action Taken
The Matter 20 be Considered at Another
Meeting.
A called meeting OF the Common Council
was held yesterday afternoon to consider
the petition Of certain Main-street property.
holders relative 10 the alteration OF grades
on Main street. The following members
were present Messrs. Manson (president
pro ten.), Curtis, Davis OF Madison, Davis
OF Marshall, Edwards, Elicit ElIysoD, Fer
gussoD, Forester, Foster, Gum OF Mar
shall, Hayes, Higgins. King. Lubbock, Phil
liDs, Pizzini, Taylor, Warren, and Weisiger.
Messrs. Clarke and Mcdowell were una
yOidably absent.
Mr.. Pizzini presented the petition OF
Messrs. Paul B1rgamin and Thomas Now
Ian, OF which the following is an abstract
That the said Paul BargamIn and Thomas
Nowlan are the owners in fee Of the tene-
ment southwest corner OF Main and Tenth
streets and the one adjoining. the former
tBar gamin's) building occupied by Thomas
Nowlan, and the building OF the latter lad.
joining) occupied by Knowles. Cabel II
Co. The former lot is 20 feet inches, the
latter 10 feet 9 inches, on Main street. The
petitioners say the buildings on their lots
are valuable and costly, and were erected
with reference TO the grade 10 vogue for the
past seventy-tive years. 1t recites the pass
age OF the ordinance appropriatiDg 10000
to pave Main street with Belgian blocks,
and complains that the City Engineer,
under the Supervision and direction
of the Committee on Streets, is chang
ing existing grade eight inches) at
the point above named so as to
seriously injurc their property. They al
lege that said change OF grade has never
been authorized by the Council OF the city,
and is an arbitrary and Illegal assumption
of power by the said Committee on Streets.
Petitioners say The said change OF grade Is
entirely unnecessary, and does not and will
not, il completed, add anything to the SYM
metry Il the street, or its utility to the pub
lie. Petitioners further state that by lower
ing the said curbIng three inches. and by
adapting the grade OF the sidewalk To the
grade Of the curbing so lowered, no injury
or at least no great iDiury-will be done to
the property OF petitioners, while the pub
lie interest aud convenience in the street
and the symmetry and regularity OF the
street will be as great as II the proposed rad
ers allege that because OF the state OF the pave
ment between Ninth and Tenth, on south
Main street, that the modification OF the
proposed grade, which petitioners have
sought in vain at the hands OF the Street
Committee, may now be made without cost
TO The city.
Mr.. PiZzini then offered the following
resolution, and asked that the rules be sus-
pended 30 as to allow its immediate con-
sideration:
RESOLVED dhe Board Of Aldermen con-
curring). That the Committee on Streets be.
and it is hereby, directed that in paving
Main street with Belgian blocks 1t shall so
regulate the .rade OF the said street that
the curbing on the south side OF Main
street, near and at the corner OF the south
side OF Main street at its intersection with
the west line OF Tenth street, shall not eX'
ceed five inches in height above the former
grade OF the curbing.
Mr. Curtis moved that the petition be re-
fsrred 10 the Committee on Streets Gene
rally, and read from ordinances Of the city
in support OF his motion.
Mr.. Pizzini did not see what could be ac-
compli>hed by a reference 10 the Street
Committee. The whole question had already
been thoi oughiy discussed before that CON-
mittee, and they had refused TO grant the
request OF the petitioners. and the Council
was the proper body TO dispose Of the mat
ter.
Mr.. Higgins was in favor OF Mr.. Curtis's
motion to refer, but moved that it be laid
on the table temporarily in order that the
petitioners might be heard.
Mr. EIlysOn was in favor OF bearing the
gentleman, but by that did not wish 10 be
understood as expressing any opinion on
the main question.
The motion of Mr.. Higgins was adopted.
Mr.. Lubbock suggested that the Council
ought to have the benefit OF the views Of
the City Attorney, in view OF the fact that
the petitioners were represented by counsel.
Mr.. Curtis suggested that the petitioners
be heard by counsel, and that the City At
torney be sent for.
Mr. Taylor moved to adjourn. Lost.
The Council here desiring the presence
Of the City Attorney and the City Engineer,
sent for those officers, but failing to obtain
their presence, Mr.. Ferguson moved that
the Council adjourn till Monday afternoon
at O'Clock, and that tue Sergeant-at-Arms
be directed to request the presence OF the
City Attorney, City Engineer, and the
chairman OF the Committee on Streets at
that time. Adopted.
The President declared the Council ad.
iOurned.