The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-29
THE TUNNEL ONCE MORE.
COMMITTEE ON STREETS DECLINES
TO ACT WITHOUT LEGAL ADVICE.
President Reid, of the Richmond and Cbe.s.
peake Railroad Company, Promises to
Raise the Money and Pay Judmepts.

monthly meeting In the Hastings Court
room last evening. SubChairman Tur-
pin was in the chair, and Messrs. Allen,
Bahen. Brauer. Joseph w. Carter, r.
t. Davis. Gray, Thomas, and Royal
White were the other members present.
complaints having been received as to
the grading Of the alley between Plum
and Pine streets, and Grove avenue and
Floyd street, by hands and carts OF
the Engineers department, the matter
was referred to the ward committee
me matter in regard 10 the Eighth
Street tunnel was next taken up Mr.
harry NJ Smith, Jr.. counsel Of the
Richmond and Chesapeake Railroad Com
pany, appeared before the committee
and stated that Messrs. Mason and Hoge
were In New York at present and ex-
pected TO soon make ARRANGEMENTS 10
close up the contract for the compile
ton Of the tunnel. Mir. Birdseye. prom
inent lawyer Of New York, who repre-
scented trust company who are willing
TO build the tunnel and the railroad.
had been here 10 look over the grounds.
is satisfied with the situation, but there
being some defect i'm the ordinance which
granted the franchise, it would be
necessary 10 secure a new charter. The
trust company was ready to advance TO
Mr.. Reid, the president Of the enterprise.
all the money necessary TO complete
the tunnel as far as the excavation
goes, and In the next ten days. or
certainly the next two weeks, the iudg
ments Of Messrs. Woodhn, Peticolas, and
Boisseau would be paid IL the ordinance
had not been defective, the money would
already have been secured. Mr.. Birds
eye, who represented such well-known
financial concerns, as DreXel, Morgan &
Co., Morton, Bliss & Co., etc. had declar-
ed that his clients had so much faith in
the enterprise that they were willing
to advance $4,000 To pay judgments and
brick up the tunnel In view Of these
facts, Mr.. Smith asked for an additional
two weeks 10 enable Messrs. Mason q
HOge to execute the contract He added
that Mr. Reid owed Messrs. Mason a
Hoge the sum Of $4,000 on the work done
by them in the tunnel, and in order to
secure them he had given them mort
gage on his property on Staten Island.
Mr.. Reid had already invested $4,000 in
the tunnel, and was ready TO put IN
another $4,000, which amount the clients
Of Mr. Birdseye were willing TO loan
him on his collateral.
Mr.. Reid. the president Of the COM
pany, who was present, stated tnat he
had never appeared before the Council
with a statement which was not true at
the time, although he had at various
times subsequently been disappointed by
people whom he had relied upon. About
a year ago he had s2,7O0.0O0 in the hands
of a trust company, and $4,000 OF TINS
amount was in the possession OF a solicit
tor In London. who on March LIST skipped
the country with that amount.
Mr.. d. c. Richardson was next asked
his opinion, which he expressed very
plainly He thought that the tunnel was
a scheme in its inception. The city gave
the franchise and one party had unloaded
upon another. lie desired to know what
guarantee had the residents whose pro-
perty had been damaged by the tunnel
that their claims would be satisfied.
If Mr.. Reid wanted 10 show his good
faith, he should come before the commit
tee with his collateral, showing that
he intends to satisfy the judgments.
After some further discussion Mr..
Rahen moved that no action be taken by
the committee for the next two weeks, 10
give the company an opportunity 10 pay
the judgments. After due consideration
Mr.. Bahen withdrew his notion ana III
order not TO obligate the city III any
way. the committee decided not 10 take
any action WITHOUT TIC ""ftN~
City Attorney.
MIR. Stratton moved that the committee
meet again on December Attn, AT r.
NJ. and that the City Attorney De re-
quested to be present at that time.
Allegations were then heard Tor the
onening and grading Of the alley between
and Twenty-third and
Marshall and Clay streets. The COM
nittee decided to reject the petition for
the opening OF the alley a petition for
the opening Of an alley between Twenty
eighth and Twenty-ninth streets and
p and Q streets was referred to the ward
committee. -, ,,.t.+,,
on motion Of Mr.. Davis the committee
decided 10 make the present grade on
Madison between Main ana fEalhih
streets the temporary grade.
4 good deal Of routine business was
disnosed OF. and number Of ohis were
ordered 10 be paid. - .,a
The contract for the grazing oI 'ue
alley between China and Holly streets
and pine and Laurel streets, was gwen u
" II. Ford. as the lowest bidder ,.
Mr.. Stratton requested that the cle.H
notify the property owners on noi -
Ninth street to appear before the com com.
mittee i'm reference TO the grade Oh th"t
street. AT the next meeting. THIS WAS
agreed TO.