The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-22
Mr.. MEREDITH WILL SERVE.
He Writes to Mayor Taylor Withdrawing
His Resignation.
RETRENCHMENT And REFORM REPORT
The Board of Aldermen VIII Again Con
slider IL Next Friday Night, and VIII
Probably Adopt Ito Improve
the City Water Works.


On Thursday last Mr.. c. V. Mercdith'
OF whose services as City Attorney. the
Council has shown such high appreciation
by refusing to accept his resignation, ad-
dressed a letter 10 Mayor Il.
NJ. Taylor. Withdrawing the res
ignation and declaring his will
!ngness to continue TO serve the city.
In his letter. Mr.. Meredith takes occa-
sion TO express his high appreciation OF
the action of the Council, and returns
thanks to those who paid such high
tribute TO his ability and worth Mayor
Taylor yesterday turned the letter over
the City Clerk Ben. T. August. and it will
me laid before the next meeting OF tho
Common Council.
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.
President w. NJ. Turpin. Of the Board OF
Aldermen, yesterday issued a call for -
special meeting OF that body. 90 be held
next Friday night 20 act upon the report
Of the Committee on Rctrenchmcnt and
Reform
AS viii be remembered. this report,
which recommended the reductions OF tho
salaries OF a number OF city officials. was
some time ago approved by the Common
council. but when IL reached the Board OF
Aldermen that body by decisive vote.
turned IL down. The committee was
much aggricved by this action, and each
and every member declined to serve any
further. The matter did not end here,
however. for the Council showed its dis.
satisfaction az the action Of the Board.
and al the same time clearly exemplified
the condition of the city's finances. by re
fusing 10 make appropriations for ABB
solutely essential purposes.
The reasons given by members Of tho
Board for refusing 10 adopt the report
were various. Some would not vote for
60 because they did not approve OF tho
portion dispensing with the services OF
the harness-repairer at the city Stables.
" no receives $lj a month. Other mem-
ber5 favored certain portions or the re-
PORT and were opposed TO others. Con-
sequenuy, between them, the whole re-
port was killed.
Now, however, since II has become So
apparent that economy IS absolutely es-
scntlal i'm city affairs. there IS little toubt
that the majority OF the recOmn. enda-
tons Of the Retrenchment Committee will
lC adopted by the Board. The city Of
fetal most affected by the adoption OF tho
report will be Colonel W. l.. Cutshaw,
whose salary Will be considerably re-
duced. The salaries Of assistants viii
also be cut down. The total saving per
year to the city will be between 5000 and
$4,000.
IMPROVE THE WATER-WORKS.
A number Of members OF the FinaDee>
end Water Committees met at the City
Han yesterday afternoon at noon and
In. a
Eump-Houscs. Those who took the trip
were Messrs. Hardwioke. Zimmerman.
Wallerstein and Rountree from the
Finance Committee and Messrs. Briggs.
G.. K. Noble. Stokes and Montgomery
from the Water Committee. Superin-
tendent Of the Water-Norks Charles =.
Boiling also accompanied the party. and
Messrs. Ruskell and Davis.
The committeeman were first driven to
the Old Pump-House, where a careful In
srection was made All of the machin-
cry az this pump-house IS out Of date.
s,me of it having been in service for six
ty-siX years
Superintendent Boiling ploted the party
through the works and pointed out TO
them the nature OF the improvements
needed. 10 is his desire 10 remove tho
Old water wheels and substitute for them
q new sot of turbine wheels.
This work Mr.. Boiling explained, Will
cost about $500 and will result In an in
crease of power Of p per cent IL will
cost more than 5000 10 repair the old
water wheels. and no increase Of power
will be gained.
Tie committee were OF the opinion that
the recommendation of the Suporintend-
cnt was an ominently proper one.
More than an hour was spent at the old
Pump-Housc after which the committee
men went out 20 the New Reservoir 10
examine the workings of the steam-pump.
4 force Of hands IS employed here put
ting I'm now valves. and consequently tho
whole Of the machinery IS not at work
The part in motion, however is doing
superb work. While here, plans We're ex-
amincd setting forth the location OF tho
rev turbine wheels for the Old Pump
House.
WATER SUPPLY IMPORTANT
on the way back to the city the two
committees discussed informally the best
way to improve the city's wator-works.
Mr. ROuntrce expressed the opinion that
t. would require the expenditure OF at
least half million OF dollars to give the
city a perfect system.
And" he added, there Is no better
way in which the money could be spent"
Mr.. Briggs said that the first step was
10 stop inc great waste or the city water
and tnat this could only be done by put
ting a metre in the house OF every con-
sumner. Other members advocated the
expenditure of $4,000 per year until every
house IS supplied with metre.
There e. fffffo doubt that immediate ac-
tion viii be urged upon the Council. so
that the city may be put beyond the
reach of n water famine. The difiicuIty
now IS that there is no money for such
"A purpose. and the Council will hardly
take any action before the beginning Of
another fiscal year.
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