Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-07
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
CARRIYGTON VERSUS CUTSHAW'
The Mayor and the Gas-main War-a
New Telephone for Riehmond-A screw
Dock 10 he uuiit-Sow Engins-fsouse.

|
mon Connc,l was held yesterday evening.
| Present. I TAYLOR El,yson, president, and
| the following members Messrs. Ammons.
Archer. Baben. Bowie, Bryan. Cabeil,
CamnbelI. Curtis. Cutchins, FrischkorD.
Grifith. Gunn. Guy, liargroye, Hughe>,
Jones. King, Lewis. Mcdowell, Parater,
Phillips. Pizzni. Rankin, Redford, Rid
dell. Eobiuson, Siraus, and Turpin.
MIR. Pcarman was absent on account OF
| death IN his family.
Tho clerk read the minutes OF the pre-
yious meeting, and they were signed and
approved.
MAYORS MESSAGE.
The sergeant-at-Arms presented the FOL.
lowing communication from the Mayor. IL
had been written for the called meeting OF
the Board Of Aldermen. but had misclr.
rled. The Mayor said:
"As your special meeting Is called ut my
suggestion, you have a right to expect q
statement Of my reasons for so doipg.
A few days since the City Engineer re-
ported to me officially that in laying the
gas-plpes along Broad street the hands were
about 10 cut through sewer near Seventh
and Broad streets. and thereby diminish lis
area, or TO leave its space too small to carry
of the sewerage, make ii liable 10 accumu-
mulatc a sewer-gaS that would prObab Y
produce explosion and end1Dger lives and
property in that vicinity. and entail
heavy expense on the city TO remedy
the damage by rCarranginc the sewer.
lie Appealed TO ne 10 intcrpOSe and pre-
vent such results, and OF course iet it my
duty 10 act in such an emergency with
promptness, until the City Engineer could
rectify or act upon the matter. just as |
would feel bound TO protect any OF the city
property from damage, at any hands about
TO damage it. | took the precautionary
steps 10 ask the presidents OF the two
branches OF the Council TO meet the Cts
Engineer and myself on the ground and
inspect the premises. From the statements
OF the City Engineer and our examination
all OF us agreed the sewer ought not
10 be disturbed. and ! directed further
work to be stopped, which | was promised
should be done by Mr.. Sherry King, who
was in charge OF TIE halGs, and who kept
the promise until required by his superior
officers to proceed. Without my know
ledge the work did proceed beyond the point
Of alleged damage 10 the culyert. on learn
ing OF this early in the morning, | again
called the CITY Engineer TO consultation.
to advise me 10 what point arrangement
Of pipes would be necessary ii the Council
ordered the culvert to be replaced,
and | directed the police TO see that
the pipes were not covered 20 that
point. with a view that any further
action or change might bc at the least pos
sible expense and delay. The hands, under
orders from the chairman OF the Committee
on Light and the Superintendent OF the
Gas-W ork-, attempted to proceed with the
woIk and were arrested. Being advised
bv the City Engineer OF the damage and
expense stated. and that other like damage
would occur at other points on the line, !
deemed il my duty to Invoke the action OF
the Citv Council. and 70 that end at once
asked the presidents TO call their respective
branches together. Thus stands that part
Of the affair, which | leave TO your iudS-
mcnt for consideration.
Since the trouble referred to, | have
learned other facts OF which | was not
made aware before, and which | did not
have time 10 learn, aud 70 which deem II
nv duty 10 refer. | an informed that the
CITY Engineer bad agreed TO be bound by
the action Of the two committees on
"Light" and Streets" and 20 make no
further objection. The two committees
did meet. and in joint meeting agreed 10
proceed and cut the culyort. | knew OF
this meeting, but was not informed by the
Engineer when he asked my intervention
that he had agreed 10 abide the
decision OF these committees with
which he asked and advised me to inter-
iere, / am further informed by the chair
man OF the Committee on Light (hOn. VI.
| X, Bowel and Colonel John III. Knowles,
Superintendent OF Gas Works, that ii was
understood that on reaching any further
like obstruction it would be arranged 10
| the satisfaction of. and on conference with.
the CITY Engineer OF this also was not
| informed when complaint was made, OF
| would have been relieved OF appre-
| bension from further like trouble aud
! damage. From tie same officer. | am
| Informed that the CITY Engineer has
been asked, but had failed 10 furnish,
information Oi Instructions by sewers,
| water-pipcs. &C.. in their line Of pipe-lay-
| ing, so that they might prepare to meet
| the difficulties: and that failure 10 give
| this inforIEltion-sOught more than once
| caused them To- come upon the sewer at
! Seventh and BrOsd streets without pre-
pairing the grade or other cOntrivance tC
| pass it.
| II it be the neglect or fault OF any depart
| mcnt &c give information to another, which
| causes damage to city property, | suSgcs
| that il is a matter for gOur rigid investlga
| ton. and the passing OF such ordinances a
| will enforce such cooperation OF officer
! and departments that will prevent the city
from department conflicts. or resultn'
| damage. In the present work OF pipe-lay
| inc on the gas-lIno-as the City Enginee
| and the gas department do not seem 20 hay'
| harmonious UNDERSTANDINGS t) futnr
| L no ~ 40
suggest that the matter IS OF such grave
moment that YOU may wisely now guar'
against any further conflict.
am informed 10y several experts tha, NJ
| such danger or damage rs was predicted b.
the City EngincCr would result from In
| breaking into the sewer at seventh an
| Bread streets, and that the sewer has ampl
| area for the demands on H.; yet such posi-
| tive assurance Of these probable results ol
| the part Oi the city Engineer demand sue
| prompt action and investigation rs vii
| test the CORRECTNESS Of his assertion. ana !
he i correct will guard the property an
citizens against the danger oi winch D
! warns you. and the city against the loss L
| come FROM insufficient sewerage al TN
| uoint named. and the line il drains.
I regret the emergency was such coul,
| not refer the matter 10 yOu Tor declsip
before took any action. but tbc issue VA
forced upon me, and | was 30 impres'c
bv the assurances Of the CITY Enginee
that | deemed / would be guilty of dc
rilction Of duty il | suffered such daH
aye to be done city properly WithoV
seeking 10 protect it,
On motion Of Mr.. PiZzini, the cOmmlln
cation was received and filed, 10 deDa'
being had.
THE ARMORY BUILDING.
ON motion o! Mr.. Paratcr, the c0mmun
cation from the Mayor yeioing the resolt
ton which passed the Council ana "hic
restricted the use OF the Fir.t regiment
arnory to military purposes and placed
under the control Of the Committee o
Public Grounds and Buildings wss take
from the table.
| Mr. Pizzini moved that the reaiihg
the veto be dispensed with, saying IL WON
only be ga waste Of time and OF the clerh
breath to do so." ..
The Council then passed The resolulio
unanimously, notwithstanding the mayor
veto.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
StreefS.-From the Committee on stree
Mr.. Campbell presented q report Tor opel
ing number OF alleys and streets III VI
city and the widening OF First street irol
Broad TO Grace. The condemnation prop
siuon was. on motion Of Mr. Guy, relerre
| 10 the Committee on Finance ana tne Cit