Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-27

rests Mr.. Catlin said II he knew any
thing about the value or real estate ana
landed property-and II he did not. ms
life had been In vain-then Manchester
and Richmond would reap from THIS
change wealth of fruitage. SAID ne;
II may be a little too much entnused,
but tell you, am at my wits end.
am downcast, for things have not gone
my way. | spent all yesterday evening
with businessmen Of Richmond en-
deavoring 10 get up some scheme by
which the thin-clad. idle men OF Rich
mond may have work and hungry chill
dren be fed, and ! say here, that in thirty
days there will start branch
OF work-immaterial with me, whether
the plant is located in Richmond or
Manchester-an outgrowth OF that con-
ference. which will give employment to
400 men and will represent $4,000 OF
capital."
Mr.. Catlins was a strong speech. and
worthy of any man. In closing, he spoke
most feelingly OF the mighty problems
with which the citizens of the two cities
were confronted, and, said he. 1--WE must
be doing something. See you the thin
yisaged men on our streets! We are
making drunkards and tramps of our
men, and the great panacea Is giving
them work, and let us, by all means,
do it."
WANTED A CONFERENCE.
Mr.. Sims then offered second resolu
ton, in lieu of that which he had al
ready offered, that "a committee of three
members of the Council be appointed
with authority to request the legislative
bodies of the city of Richmond TO ap-
point a like committee TO confer in re-
gard to the proposition offered by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
and report back to the Council such re-
concentrations as they deem best for
the settlement Of said proposition.
Mr.. Morton said he certainly did not
think it was at all necessary TO defer
this matter longer. The Council was
thoroughly familiar with the question,
and. though Manchester's financial status
was very gratifying he was afraid Rich
monds was not (smiles around the
house,, and he was sure Richmond could
not get her own consent to place more
burdens upon her shoulders. He offered
as a substitute to Mr. Sims's resolution
the motion that "the Free Bridge Com
missioners be instructed to grant the
request of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Company under the terms of the
contract as presented tonight"
EFFECT UPON PROPERTY VALUES.
Here Mr. Pool said he had not intend
ed 10 speak at ALL but he had been told
that the proposed change would decrease
in valuation the property OF Manches-
ter from % to 80 per cent, and If so, he
would vote against it,. but he would like
to know If that statement could be au-
thenticated. This statement had been
made by Mr.. A. j. Bradley, and that
gentleman was invited TO explain HIM
self, and state his convincing reasons.
4. IN
took the floor and argued against the
scheme. Mr.. Catlin was on his feet in
a moment and discaimed that Mr.. Brad
ley had at all succeeded in doing that
for which he had taken his stand. Mr..
Catlin, said he, with the gentlemen then
present, represented a valuation Of pro-
perty Of 100000 in Manchester, and he
did most sincerely ask Of the Council
Of the city, in which he was so large
taxpayer. that the franchise be granted.
THE PEOPLE WANTED 1T.
Mr. Campbell then followed in a strong
array of arguments for granting the
privilege. He said that during the
whole time in which the matter had
been before the city only one Of his
constituents of the Second Ward. had
come to him and asked him to vote
against it, but he could not count on
his fingers those who had desired him
to lend his efforts TO the enterprise, and
he was going to do so. because he
thought he was helping the people, the
working people Of Manchester, and was
conscientiously doing his duty.
MIR. owens spoke also in strong sup
port of permitting the change, and Mr..
Green spoke against it.
But the echoes of their voice had
scarcely died away, when question"
was called, and the vote taken on Mr..
Morton's substitute And this prevailed
by a two-thirds vote OF the entire Coun-
cil-Messrs. OBrien, Randlett Morton,
Owens, Patram, Campbell Pool and
Hart voting AYE" with Messrs. Sims,
Green, Nelson, and Utz voting mo"
The announcement of the vote was re-
ceived with almost a shout of suppressed
excitement, and when the motion to adj
journ came, Immediately afterwards, IL
vvae carried uuanimOuslV