The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-07
COUNCIL DELAYS ACTION.
They viii Consider The CFemat0ry QueS-
ton One Week Longer.
ANOTHER SITE WILL BE- SUGGESTED.
Mr.. w. T.. White VIII Make His Ideas Known
Next Thursday Night-Msjor N. ". Ran
dolph Speaks Against tho Scheme.

A special meeting Of the Common Council
was held at 8..o'clock last evening in the Coun-
Gil chamber 10 take action in regard 10 the
resolution providing that the cremstory should
be erected on the site owned by the city on
north Second street. in the rear of the city
almshouse. The resolution had been passed
over the veto Of Mayor Ellyson by the Board
of Aldermen on last Tuesday evening
Barton Heights was very largely represented
among the audience and quite a number of
residents from the various parts of the city
were also present.
The meeting WAS opened by President
Campbell soon after o'clock. and City Clerk
August at once read the minutes of the special
meeting of the Board OF Aldermen the veto
message of Mayor Eilyson and the resolution
passed over the veto
b Tho re reading R hid. hardly been completed
by the president. Mr. White stated that with
some difIidence. but no reluctance he had
stood up TO ask that the matter be postponed
for one week. He had been in favor Of the
adoption Of the site selected by the commit
tee until twenty-four hours ago. but since
:hen he had visited the Surroundings of the
city and thought that he had found a point
which he hoped would satisfy everybody.
He therefore asked that decisive action be
postponed until next Wednesday, August 18th,
at 5 Z. M.
Mr.. Stratton stated that he did not intend
to make an argument about the crematory
nor about the financial advantages which its
construction might bring forth Ii was only
a question Of site with him. and for this reason
he was heartily in favor of the motion to post
pone action for one week. Several weeks ago
= large body Of taxpayers had asked for
chang, Of the site and it had been granted by
the Council. This time an equally as large
body of taxpayers asked only for post
pOnement for one week. which he thought
should not be refused.
Mr. Carter said that while a Tostponement
might be important with Some people, 1t
would certainly not be of any advantage
TO the city. He did not know whether the
Common Council was read, TO adopt the
site: lie himself was in favor OF referring the
whole matter back TO the committee.
Mr. Ferguson moved that Major Randolph
be heard on the subject. but on motion OF
Mr. Guigon this motion was amended 30 as
to give Dr. Oppenhimer, the president of the
Board Of Health an opportunity to explain
his views.
Dr. Oppenhmer remarked that he only
wanted to protect the city, yet ne did not
want to appear hasty. He could assure the
Council that the crematOry was not a nuisance
and that it would not cause any damage 10
the surrounding property. II the decision OF
the question was postponed 1t would only en-
tail grester,eXpenses to the city. which were
growing from day 10 day. Only few hours
ago a complaint had been lodged with him by
Mr.. Frank l.. Montague. of o01 north Twelfth
street, who had been ANNOYED by the bad
smell coming from one OF the dumps in his
vicinity.
Major Randolph was then granted the priv
ilaOa If tho floor Ia intrO6upaI himself ma "A
representative of the officers and five hundred
employees Of the Richmond Locomotive Works
and Of eight hundred business men of this
city. He took the ground that the location
selected for the crematory would entail great
lOes to the property in the vicinity lof the
elmshouse site. He spoke about the north
siGe improvements and the large amount Of
money invested. He added that not one
dollar OF profits had as yet been drawn out.
He felt confident from the remarks which he
had heard that the Committee on Health and
the Board of Health had gone into al under
taking of which they did not know anything.
DR.. Oppenhimer did not have the remotest
idea of the cost Of running the crematory.
for il was impossible 20 run such furnace
with two tons of coal day. The almshouse
site was located on virtually the only street
which connected the county with the city. If
the question was again taken under consid-
Grafton, and it was not possible to find another
site, the present opponents would certainly
surrender with much better grace.
Mr. Stratton asked that Dir. Robert Routt.
an employe of the Locomotive Works. be heard.
This was granted, but Mr. ROutt did not
materialize: neither did Mr. Fisher for whom
Mr.. StrattOn called next Mr.. Thorn stated
that il had been rumored that there was an
intention of forcing the site of Browns Island
on the Council. against which at least equally
as serious objections would be raised He saw
no use IN further delay and thought it would
1 l.. l. l..11 Ill
vote on the subject.
MIR. Grimes wanted Mr.. White 10 name the
site which he had in view and which he
thought was 50 far superior to the one IN tho
rear of the almshouse.
Mr.. White replied that while he was very
willing to disclose it's location ne would not
90 so. for If he did the owner of the lot would
at once raise the price of it.
Mr.. Grimes rotorted that site within two
squares from the almshouse site had been
mentioned. but that still greater objections
would be raised against its selection.
Mr. Christian refuted the assertions made
by Major Randolph in regard to the cost of
maintaining the crematOry. The committee
had gathered their information from the OK
perience of other cities and in Jacksonville.
for instance. the cost OF cfemating the refuse
was thirteen cents per cubic yard, while IN
Savannah It was still lower. only about nine
cents
Mr.. Guigon spoke against further delay. and
asked the members to show the public by
their vote that Mayor Ellyson had been in thu
wrong aud that they were in the right.
Mr.. Glover spoke in favor Of delay. while
Mr.. Christian urged prompt action.
1.-THE motion TO POSTPONE decisive action until
uoxt Wednesday at +. III. was finally adopt
ed by the following vote
Ayes.-Messrs Carneal, Courtney, Fergus
son. Gaines. Glover Houston. jackson
Layne, Steele Stratton. Thomas. J. W.
White, Royal White W. L. White. Camp
bell-15.
Noes-Messrs. Brauer, Carter. Christian
Curtis. Diacont, CARRIER. Grimes, GuigCn
Mann. Seay, Thorn. Trower-l2
The meeting then adjourned.