Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-30
STREET COMMITTEE.
THE USE OF TELEGRAPH POLES AND
RAILWAY FRANCHISES DISCUSSED.
Sidc-Track Privileges Must Be Paid For
Outswinging Gates-Contracts for
Feed Awarded.


Engineers Office at 7:30 last night. Chair
man Capers presided.
In addition TO the members Of the CON-
mittee there were also present Superinten-
dent J. b. Tree. of the Western Union
Telegraph Company superintendent Me-
Cluer. Of the Bell Telephone Company;
Superintendent Traylor, Of the Traylor
Electric Company; ex-Judge A. l.. iolla-
day, counsel tor the two companies first
named; City-Engineer Cutshaw. and City
Attorney Meredith.
TELEGRAPH-PoLEs.
The first question considered was the
matter of the Traylor Power Company
running T. wires on the poles now used by
the Western Union Telegraph and the
Telephone Companies. The Iraylcr Com
pany has already obtained permission from
the Council TO run its wires. The .Clty
Engineer told them to use the telephone
and telegraph poles. These companies
objected to this, and it was attempted To
settle the matter by conference, but 1t
could not be done.
CITY ATTORNEYS OPINION.
City-Attorney Meredith submitted an
opinion on the matter Us requested by the
nances now stood the telephone and tele-
graph companies could not be made to
allow other wires on their poles.
Colonel Cutshaw suggested 10 the COM
mittee that IN view of this they should re-
commend to the Council the repeal of the
present ordinances and enactment OF
others giving the same privilege TO all
companies for proper compensation.
= Mr.. Meredith suggested that as MAJOR
Stiles, the senior counsel of the telegraph
company. was absent. the whole matter be
postponed for one month.
Mr.. Iraylor explained to the committee
that it was impossible for his company TO
serve its customers on Cary street, rs that
and all streets running at right angles
thereto are taken up by telegraph ana tele-
phone poles.
CAN THEY STAY!
Mr.. Stratton wanted to know OF the tele-
graph aud telephone companies II they
would interfere with wires now on their
poles authorized by the City Engineer.
The City Attorneys opinion showed that
these wires had no business there. but he
thought as the matter was postponed
through courtesy To them they should re-
cipTocato and not interfere with these
wires for the present.
Judge Holiday replied that the execu-
tive offices of the two companies were IN
New York. and that he was not authorized
TO say.
Mr.. Stratton moved that the matter be
postponed until Major Stiles returned, or
until the telegraph and telephone compa-
MES proceeded against the wires now up.
BAD OPINIONS.
Mr.. Gray inquired of MIR. McCluer by
what right the telephone company put
its wires on roof-tops without permission
Mr.. McCluer said he did not.
Mr.. Gray replied that he was certainly
mistaken, as four of his houses had wires
| on them and one of them had leaky roof
from that cause. As to the telegraph com
pany he did not have much opinion of II
anyhow. He found that they charged
pretty high for very poor service, AZ h,
/ had Just received telegram that ought &c
/ have been delivered Saturday.
After some further discussion Mr. Strat
/ tons motion was adopted.
FIFTH-sTREET RAILWAY.
Mr.. Norman V. Randolph appeared be
/ fore the committee and asked permission
| on behalf Of the Northside Niaduct Com
' pany to run a spur-track from the moutt
/ of the viaduct 10 Baker street, where 1
will connect with the Union Passenge
street railway. The company desired e
run this piece of track, he said, as 1t wa
/ benehcial 10 It's interests.
MIR. Gray inquired what benefit the cit
would derive from this.
Mr.. Randolph replied the expenditure O
about $50, 900 among Richmond people
The contract price for the viaduct wa
~72. 900. and the extra work would bring |
up TO the figure named.
The committee decided TO recommen'
the granting of the application free of Ia.
so long as IT shall remain an independent
line.
Mr.. Randolph said his communication wa
not written by lawyer. lt contained onl
common sense. lie thanked the commit
tee and retired.
CLYDE TRACK.
The application OF the CLYDE Steamboa
Company for an additional siding at thei
wharf was referred TO the Ward Commit
tee and City Engineer for report as Z
what would be a fair compensation.
The committee were of the opinion tha
it was time % charge for all street fran
chises. As soon "a a man puts up "a hous'
he is taxed on the Improvement so VIII,
should railroad be exemptg
Being called upon for an opinion. Mr.
Meredith said he did not think IL was in
tended to tax an Improvement of this kind
which was an additional mercantile
facility. Still the Council had the right &
charge if it wanted TO. There had beer
much complaint in the past about the de
probation Of property on the water-fron
and II had been decided that additional
railroad facilities was the best remedy
The selling of franchises for the use o
streets was intended 10 apply TO local IaIl
/ ways.
OBsTRUCrTSG STREETS.
The City Attorney called attention 4
the fact that the ordinance 70 allow certain
parties 20 swing gates outward on the side
walk was illegal. The Council had n
right. he said. to allow any obstruction o
the streets. He had the same opinion o
the ordinance also drawn by him at the di
rectiOn of the committee allowing genera
privileges of the same character.
A motion was made to lay the ordinance
on the table.
Mr.. Carter favored an ordinance re
qulrlng all Ou,swinglng gates now up Z
come down.
FFED CONTACTS.
The committee awarded the contract TO
feed as follows:
Savage. Beyeridrc e Co.-Hay, S13.s
per ton: Oats. 40 9-lO cents per bushel
straw, ils4 cents per bushel; salt, Sl.4
per sack.
Alvey Brothers-Corn. go cents pc
bushel; shipstuif. S2l.5O per ton; brown
! stuff. 800 per ton.
The sub-committe 10 which was referre,
the application Of the City railway asking
leave 10 extend its tracks made repor
recommending that it be rejected. and th
Street Committet adopted their report.
Other Committees.
The Committee on Schools met in tn
Council chamber yesterday evening an'
paid the bills of the Mechanics Institute
The account Of Colonel Burgwyn recon-
mitted for investigation was returned will
the statement that Colonel Burgwyn Wa
engaged by the year and paid in MONTH.
! instaiments.
The Committee on Accounts and Print
ing met and paid bills.
The sub-Committee on Relief of the Poo
met at the colored almshouse in conjunc
tion with the Committee on Streets. an
decided to allow the last-nsmed eommitte
% widen Fourth street ten feet by en-
croaching upon the coIored almshouse
grounds.
Hastings Court, Yesterday.
Arthur Stewart, charged with highwa
/ a 4 4