Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
NEWS or THE CITY HALL.
Proposition to Lease Gns-Woriss-
Clerk Lawfon's OG.ce.

1t is understood that a proposition will
shortly be made 10 the Council Commit
tee on Light for lease Of the City Gas
Works for a term OF years. A wealthy
northerner. whose name has not been dis
closed. even TO some members of the
committee, Is said to be anxious to rent
the plant. On more than one occasion re-
Gently a member Of the Light Committee
has stated that IL Ee could control the
citys water and gas-works he could pay
or the city's debt in sixty days. Il has
recently come to the attention of the
committee that the product OF the gas
plant has not yielded the great profit
to the city that IL was claimed IL would,
and that the gas. instead Of costing about
- cents per 1870 really cost about 20
per cent. to say nothing of interest on
the investment. \ number of members
Of the Council admit that they have
heard that a proposition TO rent the gas
works will soon be submitted. probably
at the next meeting OF the Committee on
Light. but none OF them appear to know
anything as to names or details Of the
proposal. The northern man referred to
has been here and carefully looked over
the plant, and IL IS claimed, has ex-
pressed himself as very much satisfied
with it.
REPORT UPON THE CLERKS OFFICE
Colonel George Wayne Anderson. Cap
tain L. II. BOssleux, and Mr. OVertOn
Howard. who were on the 10th appointed
by judge witt to examine the affairs
OF the Office of the Clerk Of the Hastings
Ciurt. have concluded this work, and sub
mitted their report. This step was made
necessary. according to law, by the death
Of Mr.. William p. Lawton In their re-
he at,,fa fair cfn a
pliment very highly the late Clerk, and 10
say that the condition Of the Office shows
that he performed his duties well. At
tention is also called 70 the fact that the
Code requires the Council TO furnish
maps OF the city and of the wards in this
office The Council has failed to do this.
The process-bOOk, the Textbook the
court dOckots, the Order-bOoks, the index
books, the MARRIAGE register, the witness
and jury-bools, the delinquent land-tax
books, and the account-boOlSs are, the
examiners say, Kept as the law requires.
They note that tho court papers and
some or the recOrd-bOOk from 1852 10 1853,
inclusive. are stored away in dry-gOOds
boxes in Room No. II. fourth floor just In
the condition in which they were when
the move was made from the old 10 the
new City Hall, and suggest 10 the court
that shelves be put I'm that room, 50 as
10 make the papers and records more ac-
cessible.
This the City Engineer win no doubt at
tend TO. as the space allotted 10 the
Hastings Court Clerks Office proved 20 be
inadequate TO accommodate all the books
and papers belonging TO this court from
its foundation to the present time.
They also call attention 10 the fact that
In making an examination Of the mar
riage registers they find that many
ministers OF the Gospel have failed to
make return Of marriage-licenses, and
consequently there is no record proof OF
those marriages. The preachers have TO
give bond in the penalty of 500 for the
performance Of this duty, and those bonds
could be forfeited IL the Court saw fit.
CITY-HALL COURT NEWS.
The Circuit Court has adjourned for
this term.
The following suit was instituted in
this court: Nixson II. Weiskepf against
Montague e Beadler in the sum OF $500.
In the suit of Catlett Brothers against
Wesley, Signaigo & SatterheId. judgment
was rendered for slO559, amount admitted
and case continued as 10 residue.
Judgment was confessed by the de-
PENDANTS attorney In fact for g331.D In the
case of Waller r. Staples against Agnus
c. Cabell.
The Clerk Of the Hastings Court issued
a marriage-license yesterday to Charles
@. Jones ard Emma j. Dowdy.