Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-07
A B0ND0R NO I RAIL.
THE MANCHESTER COUNCIL DE-
MANDS A $40, 900 GUARANTEE.
II Not Given the southside Company Can
not Continue to Lay Its Tracks
on Perry Street.

luc sndututstcI OOuuci ho' f"''o -
breezy session of over two hours last night.
The discussion. while confined to some
what dry subject. was very spicy at times
and personalities were more largely IN
duiged in than is usually the case at the
meetings of this body.
There was very little display of temper,
however. and while some Of the members
very fatty denied the assertions of Others
there was no disorder and comparatively
little feeling. 1t was a hard fight between
friends
The meeting was called 10 consider mat
ters relating to the Southside Land and
Improvement Company and their street.
railway track on Perry street. The peti-
ton asking President Perdue To convene
the body was signed by Messrs., beatte,
Weisiger. and Bradley. All OF these ana
the following other members were present :
Messrs. A. c. Jones. Rolin, Hart, Browder,
Fair, and O'Brien. The only two absen-
tees we're Captain Morris and Alr. G. A.
Jones.
THE REAL OBJECT-
While it was never so stated in ss many
words. the real object Of the meeting was
to rescind the resolution adopted at
called meeting held Friday night before
last providing that before the Southside
Company could proceed further with
the construction of their railway on
Perry street the president thereof
should give $4,000 bond with
approved security to guarantee that
when the road is completed If the
rail is not found to be entirely satisfactory
it will be taken up and another laid that
does meet all requirements. 1t was also
f.,~t 4. a tl..t ha nvay
gravel between and for two feet outside OF
its tracks and keep that part of the street
IN order hereafter.
This resolution, il will be remembered,
was offered by AIr. Beattie n substitute
for one which Mr.. Rolin presented looking
to the paving of Perry street with granite
spalls so as 10 force the company to lay
fiat rails. Mr.. Beattie's proposition, which
was adopted by large majority vote, was
intended as a compromise.
He then thought that the company
would consent to give the guarantee which
his resolution provided for but when the
stockholders met here August I'd, and the
form of the bond which Clty-Attorney
Clopton had prepared was laid before the
meeting, it was decided not TO give 1t.
This was what led up to last nights ses-
sion.
WHY HE SIGNED.
Mr.. Weisiger said, as soon as the call was
read. that he really did not know the OBJ
iect of the meeting. He had been ap-
preached by Mr.. Beattie, who asked him to
sign the petition for a meeting. as 1t was
desired to go on with the work which had
been greatly impeded, at once.
MR.. BRADLEY TALKS.
Mr.. Bradley. who was out of the city
when the last meeting WAS held, made q
motion TO reconsider the action then taken,
and prefaced his motion with brief ex-
planation of his connection with this en-
tire matter. He did this because he thought
some of the remarks made at the last meet
Ing put him in rathera false light, i'll that it
was represented that when the right to use
the L rail was granted the only members OF
the Street Committee who favored II were
he and Mr.. Beattie. both of whom are IN
terestod IN the company. tie denied that
such was the case. Unfortunately the
minutes of the committee and Council
both failed TO show that permission had
been granted 10 the company 10 put down
this kind Of rail, but 1t was clear in his
mind that the permit was granted at a
meeting of the committee when there
were four if not five members present. tie
said others remembered the meeting and
called on Mr.. Hart. who said he was sure
that when the subject was discussed 1t
was the sentiment of the committee 10
sanction the y rail and he thought such a
vote was taken.
Mr. Bradley said there was only one
thing for which he could possibly be- cen
sured, and that was with reference to dis
pensing with the use of stringers. When
work was about to begin on the track he
made it his business to see Mr. Seddon and
told him that the road could not be put
down without stringers unless guarantee
was given that if the road was not satisfac-
tory it would have to be- made so even If 1t
necessitated laying au entirely new track.
Mr.. Seddon very readily gave him letter
containing such guarantee. lie handed
this TO the CITY Engineer and the work was
begun. He acted as he thought was
right in the matter. and If his course was
an improper one he alone was responsible,
though his acts were known to other coun-
cilmen and were not kept at oil secret.
The Manchester Railway and Improve
ment Company had been allowed to put
down their track on Decatur street Just
this way. and some of it OF very Indifferent
material.
RECoSsIDERED.
Mr.. Rolln raised the point that the action
of the last meeting could not be recon-
No. SO. The Chair ruled the point not well
taken, and Mr.. Rolin appealed, but the
President was sustained.
Mr.. Bradley said he would like the opin-
ion of the City Attorney as TO whether the
Council had any right to interfere in this
matter until some difference should arise
between the city and the company. He
did not press this, however, and the opin-
ion was not given.
The motion To reconsider the Beattie
resolution prevailed, and Clty-Attorney
Clopton. by request. gave his idea as to
whether or not the letter OF Mr.. Seddon
would be aguarantee. The Judge said he
had told the Engineer that IN his Judgment
the letter was a sufficient guarantee, and
he still thought 1t would be If II was re-
corded as an agreement, so rs to be bind
ing Oh the company's assignees.
MUST GIVE THE BOND.
Several propositions were made and
withdrawn and there was a lively discus
sion, in which nearly every member pres
ent participated. Messrs. Rolin and Brad
ley. however, were the leaders. The
former was foremost in the tight against
the L rail. and Mr.. Bradley argued 10
show that the city had abundant guarau-
tee without bond and that the company
had authority for all it had done or con-
templated doing so far as he knew.
Finally the subject was brought to q
focus. Judge Clopton prepared a memo
randum of agreement in accordance with
Mr. Seddon's letter, and that gentleman.
who was present. said he was prepared to
sign the agreement, as he considered this
letter part of the contract and preferred
that it should be recorded.
Mr. Rolin wanted TO introduce resolu-
ton to pave Perry street, hut this was
voted by the Council to be out of order,
and then Mr.. Weisiger moved that the
resolution which had been reconsidered
be readopted. and it was by the following
vote: Ayes-Messrs. Jones, Rolin, Hart,
Browder, Fair, and Weislger. Nays,
Messrs. Perdue, Beattie, Bradley, and
O'Brien.
At 1895 the Council adjourned.
Mr.. Seddon was accompanied by Mr.
Roosevelt Page and General-Manager John
C. Robertson, and there were number OF
interested citizens at the meeting.
OTHER MANCHESTER NEWS.
Miss Mamie A. Kelsall has gone to Balti-
more to spend the remainder OF the sum-
mer.
Miss Ellie Robinson. who has Just re-
turned from Virginia Beach. VIII spend the
rest of the summer at Otterburn Springs.
On account of the inclement weather
the Meade Memorial Sunday school ana
not have their picnic at Forest-Hill Park