Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-07
ABOUT THE COUNCIL.
More Concerning Cheap Gas-Carrington-
Cu,shnw Controyerxy-A Hard Case.

Cutshnw Controyersy-A Hard Case.
The following is the full text of the
report of Chairman w. X. Bowie, Of
the Committee on Light:
Your committee beg leave to report
that they have for some time past been
considering the advisability of reducing
the price of gas. and have only been de-
TERED heretofore from taking positive
action in the matter because We knew
that the reduction we contemplated
would seriously decrease the annual
revenue of the city and probably neces-
state an increase in the general tax
rate.
Whether you will dispense with
the very handsome income now derived
from the City Gas-W Works, and provide
for the deficiency by the imposition of
tax on property which shall be sutfi-
cient to meet your necessary demands,
is the question upon which your COM
mittee desire you to take immediate ac-
ton. We believe that the tax now inn
posed upon the gas-consumer is ineqult-
able, and should be more properly dis
tributed; and we therefore submit for
your adoption the accompanying ordl-
nances, feeling assured from our expe-
riencc of the past year that we can mot
withstanding the proposed reduction of
90 per cent? fully meet all the require
ments therein contained"
The ordinances alluded to places the
price of gas, after the lSt of February.
at 81 per thousand feet to the city and
sl.50 TO consumers, and at this rate the
gas-works will yield the city more than
6 per cent. on its investment in the pro-
perty.
CARRINGToN-CUTsHAw.
The committee appointed to investi-
gate the Carrington-Cutshaw culyert
controversy have finished their labors,
and the following is an extract from the
same
As the result Of such examination
your committee would say that in its
opinion the trouble was occasioned bya
series of unfortunate misunderstanding
between the Mayor, the City Engineer,
and the chairman of the Committee on
Light. Your committee is of opinion
that there was no agreement on the part
of the Engineer to be bound by the ac-
ton of the Committee on Light. nor was
there an understanding Tin the sense
that both were parties to it) between the
City Engineer and the Committee on
Light. or its chairman, that on reaching
any further like obstruction it would
be arranged to the satisfaction Of and
on conference with the City Engineer.
The latter did not so understand.
"Your committee is further of opin-
ion that damage or the risk of dam
age has resulted to the city from the
cutting of the culyert and the passage
of the gas-main through it. The cul-
vert itself is weakened and its area con-
siderably diminished. The committee
would recommend that this evil be cor
rected. and that the necessary amount
(about s300) be appropriated for this
purpose. BY the expenditure Of this
sum one source of the many damage
suits which are being constantly brought
against the city would be removed.
$ In regard to the arrest of Mr.. W.
r. Bowie in his effort to carry out the
directions of the Committee on Light.
your committee would heartily deprc-
cate such. The Council, through its
committees, is charged with the carry
ing on Of the city's work, and is re-
sponsibIe to the people for non-feasanee
or malfeasance, and when such commit
tees have adopted, regularly and for
mally, q certain plan of action, any
reference by the Executive with their