The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08
THE STREETS OF RICHMOND,
A Member OF the City Council Replies ia
Major Dooley.

To the Editor Of TuE TIMES:
| Dear Sir,--Major James II. Dooley. in hi
address at the Young Mems Christian Assc-
citation hall, on Thursday evening, upon the
wants Of Richmond undertook TO criti.
cize The City Council in regard to its appro-
priatons for street improvements and du-
ring his remarks said: ''rhe amount appro-
pristed for streets last year was only $S0.WO.
This year the appropriation was cut down
TO $4,000, and from that $4,000 had to be
deducted for a special appropriation, and
for money spent last year in advance
ofthe adoption Of the budget, leaving ool,
S2,,0D to be divided amongst six wards Of
the city. making 81. $50 for each ward
consider that this statement is orrore.
Gus and is calculated 10 mislead the public
because OF its incompleteness. and to bring
censure upon the council, in regard 10 =
matter, which ifproperly understood, would
not be the case. |, therefore. as a member
Of the council, and also Of the Finance Com
mittee, whose duty 1t was TO apportion the
city's receipts, among the various depart
ments, feel 1t "A duty in justice 10 the other
members of that body. as well as to myself.
to ask for brief space in your paper, 10
state few facts.
In the ordinance making appropriations
for 1890 we have the following: Streets
Engineers department, pay-rols, Sl2, 800:
generally, $1,000; hands and carts, ex-
penses, $1,000; hands aud carts, pay-rolls,
$4,000; paving sidewalks, $4,000; paving
alleys for owners. $1,000; extension OF
seventh street TO city limits, s. goo; total.
sg7, 500
IL will be seen that Major Dooley took
only one item Of the above, namely, the
appropriation for streets ''generally," when.
"a "A matter of fact. SoI.sOo was appro-
priated TO the street department
The fact that some special appropriation
came out OF the $4,000 appropriated TO
streets "generallyr has no bearing on the
question since every appropriation is in its
nature special. or has to be made so.
before the work can be dsne.
and, whether special or general, il
is made upon tue recommendation OF
the street departments. The ordinance
commonly called the Budget" making
appropriations for 1859, appropriates to the
street department in the aggregate Sl2l 200,
and under the head of streets generally"
$4,000, and if Major DOoey intended to
take this head for 1889 as his basis, as. he
evidently did for 1890, he has either added
special appropriations. which were made
subsequent TO the adoption Of the
budget, or something else. i'm order 10 make
it $4,000. II special appropriations were
Included in the latter i'm making the COM
parisOn, this should also have been included
in the former for there was a special ap-
contained in the budget for 1890.
Of 5000, TO extend Seventh street, and the
Common Council. at its last meeting, passed
a resolution appropriating $4,000 to cul- |
yerts, besides other special appropriations |
for streets.
Major Dooley says further: "The demands |
for street improvements this year amount 10 |
between $500. 900 and $i0a, 900" &c. Why wa
this amount not appropriated? The city has
two methods of raising money. First, from
the current incOme-frOm taxes. &c.; and, |
second. from the sale of bonds. The entire |
estimated receipts for 1890 were appropri- |
ated in the BUDGET.
At the beginning Of the fiscal year of |
lSJj. the difference between the city's bond |
ed debt, and the limit allowed by the charter |
was about Sjl7,jji (the uncertainty being |
iue to few bonds which were on the mar
ket and uns0ld). IL we take from |
this the floating debt, of that date
IF $3.50, ,26j,2I, we would have as
the difference between the debt and the |
charter limit, Sl62, $50. Should the COun- |
I'll have further encroached upon this |
narrow limit by issuing bonds for the |
Improvement Of streets, and left the city |
with no means Of raising money, let the |
smergsncy be what it mayy
the Street Department could have been
raised The Council thought 1t best to wait
until it had more funds at its command,
which the increase in values under the new
assessment would give.
Ii is not denied that the general policy OF
improving streets should be adhered 10 as
far as possible. That there is great need
for street improvements in the city il not |
denied, hut does Major Doolcy solve the
question! JAMES l.. ANDERSON.