Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-13
THE BRIDGE QUESTION.
tina; LivoIv Fight at Old Fredericksburg.
fCorrespondencs OF the Richmond Dlspa;ch.l

FRrpERcEsnUEG. VA. April II, 1890.
Last night meeting of tho City Council
on the bridge question was finally obtained
by the bOltCrs coming together, which was
the result Of an injunction granted by
Judge Norton, of Alexandria, enioinlng the
Bridge Construction Committee, Mayor
Rowe. and Treasurer Adams from proceed
ing further with the work OF building a
bridge across the RappahanDOck river, as
the action of the Council discloses. The
Injunction is styled Charles f.. Hunter and
Others against Terrence McCracken and
Others. and was served yesterday, lmmedl-
atelv after which service the boilers signl-
ned their intention 10 attend meeting
whenever called. Accordingly a meeting
Of the Council was called at :
O'Clock, and when that hour arrived
every member was in his seat
and the number of spectators present
greater than was ever before present at "a
Council meeting. a large number OF whom
could not gain admlttance but stood on the
outside.
Promptly at 8 o'clock Mayor Rowe call
cd the meeting TO order, and from the
start a stormy session began, which con-
tinued until nearly Il o'clock, during
which time nothing Of its kind has ever be-
fore been witnessed in the Council cham
her Of this city. Order and who had the
floor were out of the question. Members
sprang 20 their feet without any recog-
milton from the Char whatever, and
some very strong and plain Ian
guape was used. Even tart remarks from
The spectators were heard. At one time a
personal difficulty between Messrs. Mroten
and MoCTacken, in which both Conn
ell and spectators seemed TO want to take
q part was imminent. 1t was during the
discussion on the sitea when MIR. Wroten
openly charged Dir. McCracken and the
Bridge Committee with having had site
surveyed other than the one recommended
by the Council for tho purpose OF making
The cost of the site (Which is the lower one(
several thousand dollars more than would
have been necessary aud for the purpose
of making the upper site (Which majority
OF the committee favor cost less.
DENOUNCED 1T As FALSE.
No sooner had the charge been made
than Mr.. McCracken arose and denounced
IL e., false. This brought everybody. to
their feet and the noise aud hubbu6 that
existed was fearful aud did not by any
means resemble legislative body. Mr..
McCracken had hardly finished when MIR.
Wroton emphatically reiterated 1t IN
strong language. Confusion now reigned
supreme, during which Mr.. McCracken,
loudly speaking, said if the charge was
again made he would use stronger lam
guage. Mr.. Mroten then began TO ad-
vance towards MIR. McCracken, sayin &,
What Is that you say, SIR" This again
created considerable excitement, and in
vain lid the Mayor call for order, which
was finally obtained 10y the police officers,
after which he informed the Council that
no more personal remarks would be
tolerated. but little effect II had and during
the remainder of the debate II was repe-
tton OF the beginning. Finally a vote on
Oh, minority report which had been pre-
scnted and which dissented from the ma
tority Of the report in the selection of tho
site was taken and resulted six SIX. All
ewes were now turned towards the Mayor,
wh0 had the casting vote, and when he
announced il IS against the minority re-
port some little confusion occurred, and
several expressions from the spectators
were very tart.
UGLY LANGUAGE.
Itnow looked as if this almost disgrace
ful ard unprecedented proceedings would
b. stopped, but such was not the case, for
when a vote on the majority report was
called Mir. Gouldman raised the point OF
order, which was the occasion for another
sharp debate. in which ugly language was
again used. but as the police were all pres
ent no blows were INDUCED in, but heavy
battle of words The Mayor decided that
th' point Was hot N'A1 taAVn' "hN WIN
the vote was announced il stood six to six.
The Mayor then again east the deciding vote
and recorded II with the majority report
before, thus deciding so far as the Coun-
cll l. concerned, this all-absOfblng bridge
question which. besides being much agi-
tated. has caused considerable feeling be-
tween It's opponents. The majority report
recommends an election on the question
on the 18th Of April. which will be held and
the question settled
IL vii be necessary under the charter for
the question 20 receive majority OF the
free-holders vote and a majority OF all tho
vote cast before Il is carried. and nom
the Indications now this will not be done