The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-03
A SITE FOR THE CREMATORY.
The Conference Committee Held q Meeting
Last Evening.
THEY WANT 1T ON ST. PAUL STREET.
All Of the Members Were Present and the
Question was Much Discussed. but They
Believe Tint TO he tho Rest Place.


confer zith the Committee on Health and the
Board of Health to select a site for the Gre
matory and recommend the same to the
Council held a called meeting in the Council
chamber last evening.
Messrs. Cary, Taylor. and Jeter we're APP
pointed members Of the committee from the
Board Of Aldermen. and Messrs. II. L. Carter.
Christian. Mann. Thomas, and w. l.. White
represented tho Common Council. All the
members were present az tho meeting.
Tho Committee on Health was represented,
besides Chairman Christian, by Messrs. Davis
and Grimes. The Board of Health was also
fully represented.
Colonel Cary, who was elected chairman Of
the committee, had the resolution read by
which the committee had been created.
Mr. White in an eloquent speech, moved
that the committee recommend the site on
St Paul street, which had been previously de
| cided upon by the Common Council. He ex-
planned the advantages which he thought the
site in question had over the almshOuse site,
and added that in his opinion the erection of
the crematory on the 81. Paul street-site would
III the end prove 70 be a boom for Jackson
ward.
on BUCHANAN STREET.
Mr.. Mann expressed himself in favor Of the
site on Buchanan street, which he thought
! would be in the interest Of his ward. He
claimed that the other sites mentioned would
not be so desirable. for the reason hat access
10 them was more difficult. The only OBJ
j~ections raised sgainst the site on Buchanan
street had come from people who were III
terested in the building boom in that
locality.
Mr.. Carter next arose and stated that he
did 50 more for the sake Of obtaining infor-
nation than for anything else. He did not
quite understand for what reason the CON-
mittee had been appointed. The Common
Council had already selected a site. the one
on -. Paul street, and had asked the Board
OF Aldermen to concur IN the same. In lieu
OF that the Board had asked for a conference
committee. whomthey expected 10 recommend
"A site. He then related the history Of the
struggle over the selection Of a site from its
beginning. He said he would like to know
whether this conference committee WAS au-
thorized 10 undO what had been lone before
and could recommend another site no.with-
standing the fact that one site had already
been selected by the Common Council.
Colonel Cary explained that the committee
had no right 70 select a site, but could only
make a recommendation.
Mr.. TAYLOR.
Mr.. Taylor thought that Mr.. Carter was
laboring uniera wrong impression. As he
understood the matter, the. almshouse site
had been agreed upon by both branches II
the City Council after the Buchanan-street
site had been defeated. II was then rejected
by the Mayor and passed over his veto by
the Board Of Alderman. but it failed TO pass
IN the Common Council. II the latter body
had cOncurred in the action of the Board.
in all probability the crematory would by
this time be ready for operation.
Mr.. Christian thought that the whole mat
ter had been misunderstood all around. and
he advised now that the Council should do
either one thing or the other. The city would
either have to erect "A furnace for which il had
TO pay or 10 would have 10 pay for a furnace
which II did not erect.
Mr.. White once more submitted his origi-
nal motion. that the 81. Paul-street site be
recommended by the committee.
DR.. orPENmMHR's VIEWS.
Dr. Oppenhimer was then called upon 10
give his views as president OF the Board II
Health. He urged that decisive action be
taken by tho Council as soon rs possible.
The board vas anxious % have the creinatory
erected. but were not looking for a particular
locality. Since this struggle began diphtheria
had appeared IN this city and was spreading
TO some extent. IL was extremely necessary
10 find a place where garbage as well as
materials infested by diphtheria could 10
burned. for u was against the city ordinance
g burn tue latter III the back yards. The
board hsdl first picked out the Buchanan
oiitrb 04Ars DNt Wien ODIttllblN were raised
against the ssme the operations were SIS
pended out OF Difference 20 the wishes Of tho
Board Of Aldermen. As n COMPROMISE
the almshouse sito was selected. but
II the crematOry was erected on the same II
would require a smoke stack 1877 feet high.
with p base Of probably thirty feet square.
Ihe city was at present paying at the rate
OF S4O6 per month for the removal OF the
garbage by the contractor. which Was done
only III an imperfect manner, but even If tho
sustaining and operating Of the crematory
should cost 81 600 per month the city would
be benefited by 1t.
AcOLoRED RESIDENT.
At tho request of Alderman Jeter. of Jack
son ward. a hearing was granted to n colored
resident or 'hat ward by the name Of Hayes.
The latter mentioned the serious objection
raised by the property owners adjacent to the
81. Iaul-street site, who were cOlored citizens.
owning their homes, valued at from $500 10
sl,2OO. The second precinct OF the ward,
where the crematory was about to be located.
was more densely populated than any other
part of the city. If the crematory was TO
be erected on tho almshouse site
not a single property owner within the city
limits would raise an objection. In the i'm
mediate nelghbOrhood of the ~. Paul-street
site fifty new houses had been erected by tax
payers during the past four months. II Jack
son ward was bound TO receive this boom"
~ 4 IuA bStu Atslkuhlcu ny DIT. W Hlle. us
residents would much rather see it erected on
the almshouse site than on ST. Paul street.
NOT 4 NUISANCE.
Mr.. White thought the argument brought
by the preceding speaker was without
The property near the ST. Paul
street site was unavailable and could not be
improved. The crematoTy would not be A
nuisance but a boom for jackson ward and
for the city at large Il 1t was placed on st.
Paul street, whereby a saving Of AZ. 900 over
the almshouse location could DO secured.
DR.. Oppcnhimer nsstsd that the financial
question should not he considered. but all lie
was the selection of a site. which
should be made by a unanimous vote.
Mr.. Christian stated that If the furnace was
30 be erected ON the almshOuse site this would
be done near the Baker road and not in the
rear of the almshouss. However,
he thought the st. Paul-street site would in
every respect better answe r the purpose.
TIE A%LMsHoUsE sITK.
Mr.. Taylor offered az n substitute that the
almshouse site be selected for the location of
the crematory. The substitute was lost by
the following votes.
Ayes-}iessrs. Taylor, Jeter-2.
Nays-Messrs. Mann, Christian, Thomas.
White, Cary-6.
Mr.. Whites motion was then adopted by /
a similarly divided vote OF G 10 2.
The committee will at the meeting Of the |,
Council next Monday present a re-
port recommending the selection of the st.
Paul-street site.