Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-03


pump-house been commenced. The New
reservoir was completed in 1856. and the
new pump works and steam-pumps were
brought into service In 1873 These two
additions naturally increased the annual
expenses OF maintenance. therefore the IN
crease OF expenses in 1885. The fact that
the expenses I'm 1895 are less than in lss5
is due 10 not having to make the usual
annual repairs on pumping machinery.
The number OF taps have more than
doubled since 1894, thereby giving a much
larger number Of water-takers, causing a
large increase In revenue although the
ordinance rates for water were reduced
IN 1889
The bettermcnts 10 the plant in the
past twenty years. given under the head
OF betterments. consist OF additions 10
distributing mains. l9S.17B lineal feet OF
cast-iron pipe 20 fre-hydrants. and 9.l6S
taps or house connections
The Mechanics Institute.
The following explanatory information
regarding the Mechanics institute appro-
prlations was given the Dispatch by cap
tain Thomas Elicit, secretary of that IN
stitution:
In reply to your request OF the 1st. thnt
we explain why the appropriation Of the
city towards the maintenance Of the Nir-
gina Mechanics Institute was raised from
S926. in 1856 regularly and gradually each
wear as the necessities OF the institute re-
onired to sc 900 IN 1896 ] beg leave 10 say:
The institute was started In the fan OF
1851. with very few facilities for impart-
ing instruction and as a new enterprise.
The number OF instructors was small the
scholars few. and the curriculum Of the
most meagre kind. To-day the institute
has corps Of twenty instructors, among
them being some OF the foremost men IN
their different departments in the state,
r. not in the whole South; the number OF
scholars IS i'm excess Of some institutions
that are ranked as universities, and its
course of instruction is very complete. as
far as the present funds Of the institute
will admit This consists Of complete
mathematical course embracing the whole
OF arithmetic algebra, plain. solid, ana
descriptive geometry, trigonometTy' ana
applied mechanics a course Of drawing
embracing elementary and advanced me
chanical: elementary, advanced and
skctching architectural and free-nand; a
course of natural philosophy embracing
elementary and advanced chemistry elec-
tricity, and physics; manual course IN
modelling and wood carving, and course
Of bookkeeping suitable 70 the varied re-
quirements that a large establishment
calls lot.
Even the appropriation Of @ce
which the city appropriates annually TO
the institute, although supplemented by
other funds is not sufficient for its needs
but the institute has TO turn off yearly a
number of applicants for admission to It's
course.
The other Departments.
The great increase in the city's appro-
,rfo+iore IN the Police and Health De-
rartments and to private charity institu-
lions. is due. IT IS claimed, TO the en-
plovment of more men in these depart
ments and to the increased appropriations
bv the Council to these charity institu-
tiOns.
The Council Committee on Retrehch-
nent and Reform meets AT o'clock TINS
evening when il is probable that the
question Of continuing or resuming It's
work of retrenching in the various de-
partments of the city will be considered