Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-10

The report of the Chief Of Police
for the month OF March was read and
fled. The arrests for the month were
Felony, 8; misdemcanor, q; ordi-
nance violations, total, 35.
The report of the Finance Committee,
recommending the payment Of bills to
the amount OF s47.30, was read and
adopted.
NEW FIRE-BELL.
Mr.. Ely, from the Committee on Fire
Department, submitted report recon-
mendipg the purchase Of new ire-bell
Of the weight Of $50 pounds, and in
order to place the said bell securely
and properly they recommended that
the roof of the engine-house be
strengthened by putting in two trusses,
and that new belfry be erected.
The puschase of this bell and the
completes. of the work above men
toned will require an appropriation OF
s425.
Accompanying the report was reso-
luton appropriating 1926 for the pur-
pose of purchasing a bell, repairing
the house, &c.
Mr.. Pilson wanted to know the size
and cost Of the bell.
Mr.. Ely replied that the bell with
all necessary fixtures would cost slS5
delivered in Richmond; and that the
Fire Department Of Richmond liked
their eight and ninc-hundred-pound
bells better than the heavier ones.
Mr.. Jones desired to know if this
bell would be large enough, considering
the future growth of the city.
Mr.. Ely thought it would be.
On motion of Mr.. Moore, the report
and accompanying resolution were
adopted.
MORE TIME GIVEN.
Mr.. Pilson, chairman Of the Commit
tee on Light, asked for further time in
which to make a report. lie said that
anumber Of propositions for lighting
the streets are now before the commit
tee, and he had been officially notified
that the Council of Richmond would at
an early day make proposition for
lighting them with gas. Further time
was granted.
OPENING COWARDIN AVENUE.
A communication was read from
City Attorney William |. Clopton in
response to a resolution Of the Council,
in relation to the opening Of Cowardin
avenue through the estate of the late
William Gray. In it he says; | am
of option that the condemnation made
in 1876 cannot stand, as the proper
persons were not made parties defend
ant, and that you will have to COM
mence de moro"
Accompanying the communication
was a transcript from the record of the
Hastings Court when the condemnation
of this property was in progress; also
a list of taxes paid on the land by Will
liam Gray's estate and the interest on
$3.50, the amount assessed for the con-
demnation from 1876 July lst) until
April e, 1856. THE amount of taxes
paid by the Gray estate in the ten
wears was sl47.9S; the amount of in
terest paid by the city on the $3.50,
the assessed value of the condemned
property, during the same length of
time was e2S2.40.I
The City Attorney recommended the
adoption Of the following resolutions !:
|. Rtsolred, That Cowardin avenue
be extended and opened, sixty feet wide,
from cambridge street through the
lands belonging to the estate Of William
Gray, deceased, to Hull street oppo.
site the centre line Of the Richmond and
Petersburg turnpike.
2. That the City Engineer ct once
survey and plat said extension Of Co.
wardin avenue.
3. That the City Attorney at once
take the necessary and legal steps be-
fore the Hastings Court Of this city for
the extension and opening of said Co
wardin avenue and the condemnation
of the land necessary to be taken there
for.
On motion of Mr.. Weisiger, the
resolutions were adopted.
PAVING STREETS.
Mr.. Ely, from the Committee on Ordi-
nances,, presented an ordinance pro-
viding for paving the sidewalks and
guttering the streets Of the city, the
expenses of same to be borne by those
whose property is directly benefited.
In other words, person owning real
estate is to bear the expenses Of paving
the sidewalk and guttering the street
on which his property fronts those
owning corner lots to bear the ex-
penses Of both front and side.
After considerable discussion the
matter was recommitted and the CON-
mittee directed to confer with the City
Attorney on the subject.
FRIENDSHIP HALL.
Mayor Taylor (presidenD, Rev. Deca-
tur Edwards (treasurer), and a large
number of other gentlemen interested
in the Friendship Hall Company re-
Gently chartered by the Circuit Court
OF Chesterfield were present and were
accorded seats in the chamber.
On motion of Mr.. Ely, Mayor Tay-
lor was also accorded the privileges of
the floor. This gentleman presented
a petition signed by the officers of the
Friendship Hall Company asking the
city to give the company the market
hall lot for the purpose of erecting a
large hall thereon. Messrs. Taylor and
Edwards each spoke in favor of the
petition setting forth the intentions of
the company. After brief discussion
the matter was referred to the Commit
tee on Public Lands and Buildings.
NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Mr.. Moore callet up his resolution
appropriatipg s25, 900 for building two
new school-houses. He was in favor
of erecting the houses at once and be-
lieved the city as able now as it ever
will be to build them.
Mr.. Jones was in favor of new school
houses. but did not think this proposed
appropriation was surrounded by suffi-
Gent safeguards.
Mr.. perdue MIR. Weisiger in the