Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-14
FROM THE CITY HALL.
MIR. ADAMS EXPLAINS THE COKE
AND GAs-BILL QUESTIONS.
Finance Committee and the Electric
Light PIant-NcgrOes Fined for
Embalming without Having Been
Examincd-A Charter Granted.

Mr.. w. c. Adams. Superintendent OF
the City Gas-Works. was seen by Dis
patch reporter yesterday concerning the
allegations of Mr.. Boykin In the Board
of Aldermen on Tuesday night that Ben.
Townes. a negro, was selling coke got
ten from the gas-house at 81 for twelve
and a half bushels. and that there was
much complaint as to the enormity OF
gas bills for January. With reference
to the first matter, Superintendent Adams
said that Townes had been allowed to
remove the ashes from the gas-house.
his compensation being such bits Of
coke as he might get from these ashes
by sitting them after he had removed
them from the premises. Mr.. Adams
remarked that he had investigated gene
rally the alleged increase In gas bills.
and that, from some comparative figures
complied in the gas office, II did not APP
pear that there was any unreasonable
increase in the quantity OF gas SHOWN
by the meters to have been consumed.
He said that gas consumed In the Third
District for January, 1891, was 6.Sl9,yO
cubic feet; number of consumers, 1903:
gas consumed III ioSo, o,ovi,oVV,
number OF consumers. 2,5I.
In the First District the amount OF
gas consumed In January, 1884, was
S.23s,s2O; number OF consumers. l,lH. In
January, 1895. the consumption was 1885,
go; number Of consumers. LIS.
Superintendent Adams, speaking OF the
alleged bad quality of the gas. said that
the severe weather had seriously AZ
fected the manufacture OF the commodity.
and that it was hardly reasonable to
expect the same light that could lie
gotten in good weather
THE ELECTRIC PLANT.
Yesterday Mr.. Charles w. Hard wicke.
chairman OF the Council Committee on
Finance, was asked by a Dispatch man
IL he would call a special meeting OF
that body to act upon the electric-plant
resolution. The chairman said that the
paper had not yet reached his commit
tee. and that, as there would he regu-
lar meeting next Tuesday afternoon. IT
would not be necessary to have a special
session to take up the matter. The
general impression OF those in touch with
members OF the Committee on Finance is
that that body will not agree to ap-
propriate dollar OF bonds at this time
for anything save what Is absolutely ne
cessary.
FINED FOR EMBALMING BODIES.
Robert and James Brown. two negroes
charged with practicing the art OF EN-,
balming without previously having stood
an examination before the State Embalm-
ing Board. were fined $50 each in the
Hastings Court yesterday. These were
the first cases to arise under the new
statute concerning embalming. Neither
of the accused was in court. but their
la Horny ('r1fchGpld (cOIor.
ed, came in after the cases had been
disposed of. He said that his clients
had good grounds for injecting the fluid.
and will ask that the verdict be set
aside and a new trial granted. The ne
groes were indicted by the grand jury
upon information furnished by Captain
Long T. Christian.
The other cases tried in the Hastings
Court Yesterday were as follows:
Joseph Clarke. charged with stealing
shotgun, the property of w. o. Arnold.
Sent to Jail for fifteen days
/Powhatan Nicholas, charged with rum
ming q policy game. Sent TO jail for one
day and fined s..
Thomas Smith, charged with stealing
watch. the property Of Hampton RAN
dolph. Sent to Jail for thirty days
John Cooley. charged with petit lar
ceny Jailed for thirty days.
A RECEIVER APPOINTED.
Judge Lamb of the Chancery Court,
yesterday appointed Sol. Cutchins re-
ceiver to take charge of the affairs OF
X. b. Lee, piano and musical instru-
ment dealer, who made an assignment
last week. The receivership grows out Of
the suit Of s. II. Harris. &c. against X.
Z. Lee and others. Major Cutchins was
one Of the trustees. He gave bond yes
terday In the sum OF $4,000 as receiver.
Annie l.. Goodwin qualified as execu-
trix of the estate OF Charles d. Goodwin.
and Gustav Parkinson qualified as adj
ministrator Of the estate of Minnie T.
Parkinson.
The Law and Equity Court was en-,
gagged yesterday in the trial OF the sui,
OF w. l.. Walton against Hargrave. &C.
Suit was instituted by the Baldwin
District Fair Association against A. T..
Mosby for 500.