Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-16
ALL HANDS LAID OFF,
no FUNDS TO MEET THE STREET
DEPARTMENT. PAYROLL.
Committees CRAVE PREDICAMENT
A Protractcd and Busy Session Last
Night-thc Traction Company Gem
portancc Discussed.

The Street Committee was in session
Tor over six hours last night. and was
chiefly occupied with one Of the sravest
pronlems that has 50 fag confronted that
body,
The fund available 10 meet the pay
roll Of tho hands employed by the de-
partment has not only been exhausted.
but "a demand will be made upon II to-
dev for SN % IN. excess Of the amount
concentrated by the Council 10 cover the
exrenscs 20 July lst The question arose
as to whether the committee could en-
ploy money from the appropriation for
streets generally. or whether the hands
would have TO be discharged pending the
oction of the Council. After "a lengthy
discussion 80 was decided TO refer the
matter 20 a special meeting OF the Coun-
ell and In the mean time, 10 lay OFF al
hands except those absolutely necessary
10 take cage Of the mules, until that
body takes some action.
Inasmuch as there is not sufficient
money in the Treasury to meet the pay
rou I'm fun to-day, It was decided 10 pay
the men of pro rata. The committee
also censured the Traction Company for
having cross-overs at First and Broad
streets without authority and the COM
parv was ordered to take them up.
.,h-rommittee was also appointed to
look into the franchise lately granted the
Traction Company. and see whether 1t
could be construed TO permit the laying
of double curves from Broad TO First
street.
Many other matters of less Importance
were also discussed and the session was
the busiest that the committee mas
passed through for many months.
The Proceedings in Detail.
Tho committee was called 10 order
shortly after . O'Clock. with the follow
ing members present: Chairman Allen
ana Messrs Ebel Woody Burton
BIoomberg. Foster. J. NJ. King. Law
der. Pollock. Garter, and Bahen.
A resolution to the effect that the
Traction Company should replace the
FLAGS that had been torn up AT flne
and Broad streets was referred 10 the
civ Engineer. and Cne granting right
Of way TO the Richmond Railway ana
Electric Company across the tracks ol
the Traction Company was referred 10
the subcommittee composed OF McssIs'
Carter Pollock. and Ebel
re-ition was submitted by Mr.. frede-
rick Lauterbach praying for relief in the
matter of sewers and water supply
The work of the Traction Company on
q street has blocked of the water ana
the petitioner. representing the house,
holders I'm the vicinity. asked that some
action be taken i'm the premises. Seye-
raj of the aggrieved parties had already
made representations 10 the city authorl-
Ties through their attorneys. and the
matter was referred 10 the city Attor-
ney.
WANT TO CONNECT LINES.
The petition from the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company for power
10 extend their Barton Heights line 10
connect with the Lakeside Park Rail-
way Company, by the way OF the Her
mltage road 10 Main street, along Broad
and Lombardy 10 Main street, was,
nnon motion of Mr.. Ebel. referred to the
sub-committee formerly appointed 10
consider "a similar petition from the
Traction Company. This committee is
composed of Messrs. Foster Woody, ).
J. King. J. NJ King, and Bahen
4 letter from Mr. McGTanahan. who
had contracted with the city 10 do GER
tain paving on Twenty-siXih street ana
whose work had been interrupted, was
read The contractor asked that the
tent and urgency of the work was dis
cussed at length. and upon motion Of
Mr. Bloombcre the matter was referred
TO the Ward Committee, City Attorney,
and City Engineer
Miss Kane pe;itioned that the sewer
On the south side of Main street should
be extended so as 10 connect with the
two stores Nos 2i05 and %0I The pc
titloner offered TO advance the money
ian cf
the prospect Of being repaid in the
future This procedure would have been
irregular. and the matter was deferred
until the next meeting. when allegations
will be- heard. and the regular course
viii be- pursued
A petition from the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway Company for the right TO
run "a track along Twenty-eighth street,
across the tracks Of the York River Di-
vision of the Southern railway was re-
forred 10 the Ward Committee and the
City Engineer.
A resolution adopted at a former meet
ING OF the committee. requesting the
Richmond Traction Company 10 put the
roadbed and Sidewalk i'm order on Beech
and Beverly streets which are In an Un-
desiratCe condition. as a result of the
LAYING Of the tracks Of the company
along that route. came up for considera
ton anew. A communication from the
city Engineer was read stating that
The company were under no obligation 90
put the street In order. but were under
obligations 10 repair the roadbed only.
A lengthy discussion Of the question ana
a statement OF the city Engineer de-
yeloped the fact that the company coud
not legally be forced 10 put the sidewalk
I'm order. or even the street. other than
two feet on either side Of their roadbed
The franchise granted them made no
further demand than that the roadbed
should be put in order.
IL was moved that the city hands and
carts should DO the work a substitute
was offered by Mr. Pollock that let
ter should be directed 10 the Traction
Company from the committee requesting
them 10 do the work. The subs dilute
was loss and the motion prevailed.
The monthly bills Of the Street De-
partment were ordered 10 be paii.
The petition OF the city Railway Com
many for rights TO extend their sine on
the north side. OF the city, 70 connect with
the Lakeside Park Railway Company,
WIS then rcconsidered Gni In order 20 have
the petitions from both railway com
panies acted upon al the same time. IL
Was moved by Mr. Bloomberg tnat
uc,g committee Of seven should be ap-
pointed by the Chair 10 undertake the
consideration OF the propositions The
motion was adopted ana the Chair ap-
pointed the following: Messrs Foster.
Ebel Burton. Carter, Pollock }. j. King,
and Lawcer
SHOULD INSPECT THE WORK
Mr. Rloomberg moved that hereafter
no new street work shall be ordered
unfn the Committee on Streets shall IN
. to1, ,,icf, and inspect the locality of