Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-27
IN COUNCIL CIRCLES.
MR.. DAVIS TO REVIVE THE ELECTRIC
LICHT.PLANT MATTER.
Tho Broad-strset viaduct and tho Cars on
That Thoroughfarc-Tcn Moro Police
mcn-Other Gossip.

mcn-Other Gossip.
No matter what else may be SAID OF
the Council OF the city OF Richmond, IL -
at least a working body. In 1t have lived
and died many big schemes OF public
importance. and. although most OF the
measures OF magnitude have fallen
through. many good resolutions and ordi-
nances have received the signature OF the
Mayor.
The topics that have recently engaged
the attention OF the city fathers,
either In committees or the ses-
sion Of the CouncfE have been the
repeal Of the franchises OF the Southern
Bell Telephone Company In this city.
which was promptly done; the petition
OF Samuel REGISTER and associates for
,elephone privileges here, which nov lies
on the table OF the Committee on Streets:
the electrfyng OF the Broad-sireet horse
car line, which proposition is now before
a subcommittee from the Committee on
Streets, awaiting the views or the city
Engineer and the city Attorney; the ap-
propriating OF $1,000 for increased water
mains. which the Board Of Aldermen put
its foot down upon; the appropriatlng OF
$4,000 for the proposed eiectrlc-Ilght
plant, which proposition met It's rate
before the Committee on Light 1ew
evenings ago: the building OF viaduct
over Broad or some parallel street. con-
Meeting the two hills which failed TO
receive the approval OF the Street Com
mittec and the appropriating of $500
in bonds for additional purifiers for the
gas-works. which measure was adopted
and has been carried out.
ALL ABOUT LIGHT.
The new purifiers are ali put in, and
are working satisfactorily TO the Super
intendent Of the Gas-W orks. who says
that no more bad doors Will issue from
the sas-pipes unless there be leaks In
them.
When the Common Council meets on
the evening OF the first Monday In Feb
ruary, 1t IS understood that Mr.. George
l.. Davis will again bring up the question
Of the city purchasing and operating an
electric-light plant. 1t is said that he VIII
offer resolution providing Tor a JOINT
special committee, TO look fully into ms
subject. obtain. as nearly as possible. the
exact figures that would be involved in
such an expenditure, and make such
recommendation 10 the Council as 1t may
deem proper 1t is a foregone conclusion
that the plant proposition cannot be got
ten through the Committee on Light. and
friends of the scheme hope to succeed
through the special committee referred
to.
THE VIADUCT AGAIN.
Ii is claimed that another proposition
IS soon TO b. made TO the Council TO
erect a viaduct from Church llill TO
Shockoe HILL Mr.. Julian Bryant,
member of the Legislature who IS taxing
n lively interest in this matter, said yes
terday that il was only question or
time when such a bridge would be built
Speaking of the subject. he remarked:
"The men who Will ask for the fran
chise and | think IL will be done very
soon. are in close touch with northern
capitalists, who are ready to furnish al
the money necessary to put up hand
some structure. equip a line Of cars, and
put the whole thing into operation IN
the shortest time possible, provided they
are granted the right 10 go over Broad
street. And IL seems 10 me II the city
itself intended 10 build Naduct be-
tween the two hills. IL would have TO
20 on Broad street: there We would
have a straight and direct route. starting
at Twelfth street and landing at Twenty
third street; the very hearts OF the two
sections would be brought together
Church Hi would then be within ave
minutes walk Of the City Hall: the route
would be clean and free from all OBJ
tect.onable surroundings And these men
propose 10 do this without putting the
city 10 any expense. All they ask is The
exclusive right 10 run cars across the
visduct. The cars will run in the centre
Of the viaduct ard be elevated above the
driyeways and walkways.
Mr. Bryant seemed 10 think Broad
street would be the only thoroushiare
over which it would be at all practicable
70 build the bridge.
BROAD-STREET CARS.
In this connection. It may be al1ei
that the Broad-street merchants are very
anxious TO see the viaduct erected. They
have already petitioled the Council To
extend the franchises of the City Railway
Company in order that the Broad-street
horse-car line may be electrified. and
the company Is willing 10 put in the
electricity II It gets a reasonable eX
tension of its exclusive PRIVILEGES on that
street II IL generally believed that II
is only question now Of a short time
when electric-cars will be running on
Broad street
THE ADDITIONAL POLICEMEN.
Another question which is now engag-
ing the consideration Of some % the
councilmen ami Of the Police Commits
sioners is that of az ling ten more police
officers to the regular force OF the city.
Mr.. Joseph Wallerste.n, at recent meet
Ing Of the Committee on Police. offered
q resolution providing for sucl an in
crease. ana the matter IS 10 be taken up
at u Joint meeting OF the Board Of PO-
lice Comm ssiOners and the committee,
when the views Of the members o. those
bottles can be had upon the proposition.
Major John Poe, Jr., Chief of Police.
! thinks ten additional police would do no
good. He Is in favor OF having fifty
more because the public could then gee
the benefit OF the increase. Speaking Of
| this matters yesterday, the Clief SAID
! there was no extraordinary prevalence
of crime IN Richmond calling for more
| guardians. The spa smolic intervals in
which a large number OF petty thefts
occur. and TO which was doubtless due
| the incentive for the present movement
| 70 enlarge the force had no great sign.i-
canoe. The offenders were always cap
! turel finally, and when the depredations
| that had caused so much excitement were
| summed up they amount to very little.
4 dozen robDeries. for instance, were
perpetraied in rapid succession. Tney
! occasoned a considerable sir for few
| days. and It was reasoned out that the
| force was not large enough to guard the
| city AGAINST the thieves. II was found,
| however. that the extent OF the who'e
series OF thefts was probIbly 500, oftener
/ less. ana Invariably the perpetrators were
/ captured and convicted. Ten men. the
! Major went on 10 say, would certainly
! hn Of no avail towards preventing the =
! offences; fifty would. The Chief will ap-
pear at the meeting and oppose the pro-
! urositon to make an increase Of ten
/ men.
| -x1,- n.a.. n.nalr I'll AAnAlc