Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-05
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
Mr.. }. T. ELLTSON RESIGNS.

MR.. J. T. ELLTSON RESIGNS.
Captnin Andrew Pizzlai Elected President
Nc Par fer Wren jail Imprey,ments-Oid
Pump works-statc Assessors.
The regular monthly meeting Of the
Common Council was held yesterday
evening at 5 O'Clock. Present, Mr.. !.
Taylor Ellyson tpresident), and the fol-
lowing members: Messrs. Ammons.
Bowie, Bryan, Cabell, Campbell,
Cuichins, Friscbkorn, Gunh, Hargroye.
Hughes, Jones, King, Lewis, Mcdowell.
Psrater, Pearman, Phillips, Pizzini,
Redford, Riddell, Straus, and Turpin.
The minutes were read and signed by
the president.
FIREMEN's PAY.
The following ordinance was adopt
ed That the foremen Of fire companies
each receive slS7.50; 6remen of steam
companies. each $500; hostlers, s52l;
drivers Of trucks and tillermen, 1921 /;
other firemen, sl25.
STATE ASSESSORS.
The Council adopted the report Of
the Committee on Finance, by which
the clerks or deputy assessors were
allowed - day for Isl days for work
done, and the assessors also.
The petition of Mr.. +. II. Chalkley
was adversely reported from the Fl
nance Committee, the City Attorney
having rendered an opinion that the
Council was not. under law, authorized
to grant pensions.
The committee also reported that the
resolution appropristing $1,000 for en-
largiDg the plans at the Second Market
he rejected. and the report was adopted.
THE CITY JAIL.
HCsTINGs COURT
OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,
October 10, 1855.
The commissioners appointed by the
order Of this court to inspect the Jail
Of this city this day returned their re-
port TO the court, which is received and
ordered TO be recorded, and is as fol-
lows-to wit :
To the hon. Thomas S. Atkins, Judge
Of the Hastings Court:
Sir,-On the % Of October, 1855, at
IL O'Clock noon. the undersigned. jail
commissioners for the city Of Rich
mond, examined the city jail and found
lG0 prisoners, as follows: Twenty-Five
white males, 3 white females. So col
ored males, and AZ colored females.
All the prisoners were in good health
not one in the hospital. We examined
the food and found it healthy and ample.
1t is with reluctance that we refer to
the condition or wants Of the building,
as heretofore all our suggestions have
been neglected yet we feel it our duty,
as officers Of your court, to call the at
tcntion Of the city authorities again to
the following: In case Of fire in the
building. and especially in the women's
department, many lives must be lost,
as the Jail is almost without hose in
fact. the few yards now there are not in
working order, and could not be used
10 any advantage in saving lives or pro-
perty. We have called attention TO
this want in our former reports, and
beg to refer you to them.
In the month Of July Of this year
one Of the City Engineers visited the
jail and made a sketch of the new wing
proposed by the committee Of the Coun-
ell. but up to this time nothing has
been done toward enlarging the build
ing. When it is known that fifty
women have only four rooms to sleep
in. the crowded condition of the pri-
soners can be better imagined than ex-
pressed by us. At this time several
colored lunatics are confined in the jail.
This should not be, as the arrange
ments are not suitable for this unfOr-
tunate class and now that winter will
soon be upon US, they may injure them
selves by coming in contact with the
steam-pipes used for heating the cells.
Several Of the cell-doors require new
iron sheeting; this should be attended
TO without delay.
Eight cells on the white and eight on
the colored side Of the prison are so
damp that they cannot be occupied,
and this dsmpness is caused by the
leakage from the water-closets in the
women's department. The constant
leakage in this place has damaged the
walls, and the safety Of the prison is
endangered and a serious accident
may happen at any time unless this
leakage is stepped and the necessary
repairs done to this section Of the jail.
In our opinion, a new jail would be
cheaper than to undertake the labor Of
restoring the old one to such proper
tions and condition as the present en-
lightened public sentiment require.
Your obedient servants,
CHARLES 5. MILLS,
THOMAS PORTS,
ANTHONY BARGAMIN.
Commissioners.
made an examination Of the city
iail on the 9th, after the first two mem
bers of the committee had made their
report and / approve this report.
A. BARGAMIN.
Mr.. Bryan said the report was not
exaggerated, and be said furthermore
that Sergeant Newton NJ. Lee had
spoken TO him in the interest Of humani-
ty, and he had been down and looked
through the jail, and was personally
informed as TO the fact. Mr.. Bryan
said the jail was not intended as luna
tic asylum, and many Of the cells in
the jail we're too damp for occupancy.
He also alluded 10 the escapes and at
tempted escapes from the jail, and he
really did not think the Jail secure
place for the confinement Of prisoners.
He moved the adoption Of the report;
and DR.. Ridd.ll also, from hygienic
source favored this, believing it proper
for the city to look after such cases,
both from sanitary and humane view
of the case.
A resolution sppropriating $4,000
for the improvement OF the Jail was
unanimously adopted.
OLD PUMP-HoUsE WORKS.
The City Engineer. Colonel W. E.
Cutshaw, having recommended that the
old water power pumps be repaired,
and the same having been endorsed by
Dir. Charles Boiling, Superintendent Of