Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-29
CORPORATION CASH.
SUGGESTIONS rs TO ROW IT SHOULD
BIZ SPENT.
City Electric Plant-Ths Exposition Debts
Street 10 LOGON motive-Works-River-
side Park.

Street 10 LOGON motive-Works-River-
side Park.
The Finance Committee had a busy time
yesterday afternoon.
For over two hours they listened to gen.
tlemen who were accorded the privilege OF
appearing before them on different matters,
and then after closing the doors TO all out
siders, even TO newspaper reporters, they
adjourned without taking action upon any
matters brought to their attention.
DoTNG'sHlLL PAaK.
At 5 O'Clock tho Committees OF Finance
and Grounds and Buildings met In Joint
session 10 consider the advisabllity OF ac-
curing some additional land on the east side
OF Oong's,Hiil Park to enlarge the same.
Thls land was recommended 10 be con-
demned.
ELECTWC-LIGHT PLANT.
After this matter was disposed OF the Fl.
nance aud Electric-Light Committees met TO
hear the report of the subcommittee, con-
siSting Of Messrs. liargroge, Murphy, and
Courtney, 10 report upon the sdvissbility OF
the city purchasing 40 eeciric-hght plant.
Messrs. Hargroye and Murphy reported
that such an acquisition would be inexpe-
dent at the present time.
Mr.. Courtney moved as substitute for
this report that The Council be recommended
to appropriate 500, 900 to purchase such
plant.
Mr. Bowden wss opposed at this time 10
such an acquisition, which ne admitted
would be a good thing, but the funds neces-
sarv, he said, were lacking.
In this view the members Of the Finance
Committee Concurred.
WANTED TO NEGOTIATE.
Mr. Bowden moved ss n substitute for the
two reports that the committees recommend
TO the Council that such a plant is desirable,
and thst negotiations for it bc begun, so that
when the city finances will permit the plant
can be secured upon the most advantageous
terms.
His idea was to give plenty Of time 10 find
out what such property would cost and what
would be the expense OF maintaining the
same.
READY WITH FACTS AND FIGURES.
Mr.. Courtney said be was prepared to give
| theapproXimate cost Of an eectric-light plsnt,
and after considerable Investigation be felt
! certain that 500, 900 would be sufficient He
| claimed that the receipts from the gS.-works
were on the decrease, and that II the city
owned an elcctric.Iight plant $4,000 a year
| would be saved.
| CITY ENGINEERS OPINION.
At the request Of Mr. Courtney Colonel
! Cutshaw was invited TO give his opinion on
! the matter.
Toe Colonel said that for the city to have
| her own plant would be wise thing. lie
| thought prompt action should be taken. or
| some dag the gas.works might he found to
| be an elephant on the hands OF the city.
| Mi. Courtney SAID the gas-works had cost
at the lowest estimate Sl,5)0,0O0, and he
thought it very unwise to risk this sum for
the small amount OF 100000.
| TIE VOTE.
Mr.. Bowden's motion was rejected.
| Ar. Courtney's motion was also rejected
| By the following vote:
AYES MessTs. Carter aud Courtney.
NoEs.-Messrs. Hargroye, Murphy, Hill,
Steel. Anderson, Christisn, Bowden, Mann,
and Taylor.
The majority report was then adopted.
Mr. Courtney will present a minority re-
| port to the Council.
RIVERSIDE PARK.
The Committees on Finance and Grounds
and Buildings again met 10 ioint session to
consider the appropriation Of $4,000 for
Riverside Park.
The sum Of s3,j0o WAS some years 400 ap~
| propriatcd, but proved TO be insufficient
! The Grounds and Buildings Committee IN
| formed the Finance Committee OF the i'm
! poriance Of the work, aud the latter COM
mlttee took the matter under consideration.
! EXPOSITION FUNDS.
The Finance Committee then took up the
application Of the Virginia Agricultural and
| Mechanical society for loan OF $4,000 to
relieve the society from debt.
Messrs. AshtOE Starke, y. '. Randolph,
Jonn F. Branch, and Joseph Bryan were
present on the part OF the society, and were
accorded the 1oor
TIE PRESIDENT TALKS.
Mr.. Starke was the first speaker. He said
| IL was q fact that unless the money was ap-
propriated the Exposition property would
have TO be sold. The creditors are in need
Of their money and will take action 20
| recover it Immediately II their claims
| are not satisfied. lie wanted 10 know
! il the city Is ready for such humilia-
ton as to have the property sold. Lynch
burg and other cities had wanted 10 see
the Exposition n failure. and now that II
was such a grand success they would point
the finger OF scOrn ST Richmond If she did
not relieve the society Of debt. He and his
| associates did not come 10 tie city ~ beg
cars. for the concern is bY no means bank
rupt. The Exposition property Is very
valuable. II was but right and just that the
city should lend the money TO pay of the
Indebtedness. or else 1t would he many years
before sny pubic-spirted citizens would
dSre get up Fair or Exposition.
Mr. Starke spoke Of the labor given by
citizens. some Of whom left their own busi-
ness for seven or eight months to work up
this great exhibit, and some Of them received
not cent IN reward. As 10 the good done
by the Exposition no said twas unnecessary
for him % speak-it was evident 10 all. lie
had letters on his desk at bis Office now. be
said, from northern gentlemen who had
seen our great exhibit aud tbunk OF coming
here 70 start up factories.
Mr.. Starke spoke very plainly, bat said his
idea was not by any means to bulldoze the
committee. II was such a plain case he
could not possibly SEQ how the request
could be refused.
THE BANKING BUSINESS.
Mr.. Branch endorsed every word Mr..
Starke had said. lie msde some very PLAN
statements Us 10 how the city had been bene-
fted bv tue Exposition, and spoke 10 par
ticuar OF the increase IN the banking buSl'
ness. which was TO a large extent due to
this great movement. He reminded the
committee OF how anxious Manchester was
to have the Exposition on The other side OF
the river, and offered 10 put up $4,000 10
get il. Mr.. Bryan also spoke OF the advan-
taces the Exposition had been to the city.
The committee took the request under
consideration.
OPENING SEVENTH STREET.
Mr. +. Il. ID. Myers, Jr., representing the
Richmond Locomotive and Machine Works,
"A