Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-14

the past two years the SuperviaolS nnd
inaugurated scheme for road improve
ment. and had purchased. and paid for
s. 90 worth of teams, and had also
erected and paid for the new jail, which
had cost the county the sum OF $500.
NV tust this sort OF business system the
hoard had contemplated erecting the new
Courthouse
Mr.. Hechler spoke OF the city's attitude
I'm the matter OF encroachins upon the
county's territory, and said that only a
fcv wears ago the city had taken in
mart of the Lee District, and thereny
taken away $500 OF the taxes OF the
county annually. IL would soon be
stretching out Its arms, and gathering III
Barton Heights and other suburbs there-
hv reducing the revenues OF the county
The new courthouse should be puht now
while the county was in position 10
erect y.
The board here moved from the room
OF tho Supervisors into the court cham
Der. the crowd Of spectators having grown
80 large
A STORMY SCENE.
Mr.. Ruehrmund. the architect. was
called upon 10 explain his drawings ana
he had hardly begun this woik "hen
quite an interesting incident occurred
Mr. Ruehrmund was asked as 10 'iie sum
for which the house could be constructed
nnder his mans. and replied that Mr..
Gibson n weu-known contractor here,
rod said that he could erect IL for about
so zoo Air Chafiin asked him If Mr.. Glib
con had seen the plans and specifications.
and 10 this the architect explained mat
no specidcatiOns had been made up yet
lie had only had seven or eight days
40 work upon the drawings, and had not
bod the time TO make up the specihca-
tons.
IIere Mr.. Chafiin jumped 10 his feet and
said. excitedly: How on earth can
man make a bid on house like that with
ont having had plans and specifications
to go by? II IS absurd. and Is abso-
lutelv impossible" The architect en-
8eavored TO explain. but In the mean
time Major Dooley also commented upon
the absurdity of such thing. Mr.. Ruehr-
mund went on to say that Mr.. Gibson
had made no bid, but had simply made a
rough estimate upon the house as whole
The chairman called the attention or the
body to the fact that Mr.. Ruehrmund was
not 10 get the contract to build the struc-
ture. but was to be paid for his drawings
In the event the building could be erected
under contract with some responsible Dld-
der. who would be required TO give bona
for the sum of $4,000.
DIR. PATTERSON AND LEE DISTRICT
In the course of his remarks about the
annexation of the Lee District the chair
man had referred TO the fact that Dr.
Patterson had favored that scheme, ana
the Doctor. gaining the floor. said that
he did not see why the chairman should
have singled him out in that manner. He
stated that he had approved the an
nexation of the Lee District, because ne
believed it TO have been for the best IN
terest Of the city. DR.. Patterson tneh
went into the question at issue, and as
serted that the taxpayers OF the county
had twice been before the board, and
had left 1t with the understanding that
the new-building idea had been aban-
doned. The idea held by the SUPERVISORS
was an absurd one. he declared.
Mr.. Frayser replied vigorously 10 Ut.
Patterson's insinuation of secrecy against
the board. He said that false impress
sion lad been created with regard 10
the matter. and denied thai the body had
held a secret session. He asserted that
he had been opposed to building new
court-hous, but that the board mad peeh
conducting Us affairs with which 1t was
charged in an honorable and business-llke
way.
SHOULD BE KEPT CLEAN.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan had little TO say
concerning the plan TO build n new court
house. He was out-and-out opposed 10
such move. The old courthouse, II was
true. had long been a reproach, but thls
vas NOT because the walls were rotten
but because the place had been horribly
kept. lie believed in the county's cfedit
being held up. and in her having every
facility for the transaction OF her Dusi-
ness and the convenience of her oihcers'
but in this time of panicky conditions In
the money markets of the world I was
ursafe to launch out upon such scnen->
as would involve the expenditure of thoO-
sands and thousands of dollars.
The question was then raised az 20 the
authority of the Board of SUPERVISORS III
the premises, and it was stated that the
body did have the right 10 build the
courthouse with or without the approval
Of the taxpayers. Mr.. Chafiin here said
that he would stake his reputation as a
businessman that in case the super
visors did take such step in opposition
TO the wishes of the taxpayers and an
Injunction were sued out the injunction
would hold good. He would be willing.
he said, to pay his part in such proceed
inss. and so notified the Board of Super
visors.
Major Dooley had some further re-
marks to make concerning the increased
expense TO which the county would be
nut in the event of erection OF new
courthouse, and referred to the City Hall
here as an illustration.
Mr.. William II. Beverage, who Favored