The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-05
The CITY GAS-WORKS LEASE
To be Considered by the joint Commit
tees on Light and Finance.
WILL ASK FOR BIDS And GU RlNTEES
To Report TO tho Council Before Nov. let,
Is9s-The Question Freely Ventilated
Last Might've salary tor the Street
Committee Clerk.

bids and report 20 the council not mfer
than November /. iSs7, the proposition to
lease or scl the City Gas Works.
This disposes OF the matter. at lest
for tho present
Tho Council continued its meeting Of
the night before until ll:20 O'CLOCK. dur
ing which time considerable business
was transacted. and City Attorney Mere
9th submitted an opinion OF vital in
portance involving a legal point bearing
upon the disposition of certain OF the
citys revenues. This opinion will be
found in another column.
THE GAS WORKS MATTER.
Mr. Wailerstcin was chosen president
pro tom In the absence of PRESIDENT
CaslSio The following members OF the
body were present. when the roll was
called. Messrs. Briggs. Cottren. Foster.
HARRISON. Hawkins King. CARRIER. Mil
ler Mosby Pollock. Rountrcc. Stokes.
Tanner. Walcrstoin. Williams, Witte.
Woody
Mcssrs. Allen, Gunst. Nealo and Scott
were reported sick. Messrs Blanks and
'askie were reported unavoidably de-
tanned. Members who came In later were
Mcssrs. BloOmberg. Jones. Ebel. Casklc.
After some routine business Of minor
Importance was transacted. the report
of the Joint Committees on Light ana
Finance was submitted, which was ac-
Companicd by "a report of Superintend-
emit Knowles. setting forth the operation
az the City Gas Works for thirty years
past. The report recommended that the
Joint Committees on Light and Finance
he authorized 10 receive bids for the
lease OF the City Gas Works. the ques-
ton OF leasing same 10 the highest bid
der 10 be submitted TO the vote of the
people.
The report OF Superintendent Knowles
on the receipts and disbursements of the
city Gas Works for thirty years from
1S67 to 1896. was read. This has been re-
Gently published IN The Times.
Mr.. Stokes offered "A substitute &C. the
report Of the Joint Committees on Light
and Finance that the question Of leasing
or selling the City Gas Works for the
most advantageous bid be submitted TO
a vote Of the people AT the May election,
and that 81 100000 be fixed as the mini
mum bid. which viii be considered. a
guarantee bond of $1,000 on the part Of
the successful bidder TO be required.
Mr. Hawkins moved that the figures
s.. 10000 be stricken out in Mr.. Stokes
substitute. and the figures 100000 be
substituted.
Mr. Briggs moved that this be so
amended as TO substitute the figures
81, 500. 90 instead Of s3.OOOO00. Mr.. Briggs
stated that he understood that the City
Gas Works were assessed at between
81. 600 90 and ST. 10000 valuation.
After some further discussion OF the
subject. upon motion Of Mr. ROuntree. the
matter was laid upon the table. with
the understanding that 1t be taken up
later in the evening when larger num-
her Of the members OF the Council was
expected TO be present.
The usual communication from the
Board Of Aldermen. in regard TO the dis
position of measures. passed by the Coun-
Gil and referred 20 the Board for action,
was read and filed.
THE CLERKS SALARY.
The ordinance approved by the Board, /
providing for the appointment of three |
assistant engineers TO the City Engi- |
neers Department, and a clerk. who |
shall act also as clerk to the Street Com
mittee without additional compensation,
brought out considerable discussion. Mr.. |
BloOmberg said tine clerk of the Engi- !
neer's Department had considerable work !
TO do as clerk TO the Street Committee, |
and he received only 500 per annum for |
this extra work The clerk had TO send |
out notices 10 property owners who wish |
cd 10 make allegations i'm regard to street !
improvements and he had to make care |
ful examinations Of the records on such 1
occasions. besides keeping records of the !
meetings OF the Street Committee. He /
moved that the words without addi- !
tional compensation. be stricken out and
500 per annum" be substituted.
Mr. Ehcl argued along the same line.
saying that the clerk had great deal
OF work. Boy reason OF his attendance upon
. d D.. Il. a.. i
Street Committee
M. Jones opposed the amendment Of
Nj. Bloomberg saying that he did not
think the clerk Of the Street Committee ;
had any arduous work by reason Of his
duties in connection with that committee.
and Dee thought that such work as he
did was done during his regular office
hours in the city Engineers Department
Mr. Rountree moved 20 amend by fixing
the compensation of the clerk to the
Street Committee at 500 per annum.
Tie amendment was voted down. aud
ihe motion Of Mr. Bloomberg TO fix the
Of the clerk 10 the Street
Committee at 500. was lost by a vote Of
j. 10 IL.
The ordinance was then concurred 10
By a vote OF % to J. Mr. Ebol voting
IN the negative.
+. b. GRYMES' SURETIES.
A communication from city Attorney |
Meredith was read. explaining that he
had never taken legal action against the
ureties Of T.. b. Grymcs. for the reason
hat no statement Of their Indebtedness
% the city had ever been furnished the
ity Attorney. Such action would be
AIKEN. stated Mr.. Meredith. when such
tatement was furnished
Tho report OF the Jail Commissioners
vas submitted and filed II stated that
he JAN was tn good condition. and recon.
nended that new portico be built IN
lace OF the old one. which was reported
o be in am unsafe condition. The report
vas referred 10 the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings
A petition was read from Join 5 Walk.
n and j. ). Cox. asking that the work
Y street cleaning Doe done hy contract.
nd that there be opened bids for the \
YORK. The petition stated that the work
ould be done much cheaper than Il was
ow costing the city which was foy :
$50, So 80. The petition was referred
o the Health Committee, with instruc.
Ions 20 report on same.
Mr.. Caskie offered a resolution that the ,
um OF Sl0i0 be appropriated to put new
urolns on Broad street between Adams
nd Firth streets. This was agreed 10.
a resolution offered by Alr. Bloomberg I
bat the sum OF 5000 be- appropriated for
ever connections and sewer repairs. was
sferred 20 the Finance Committee.
The Council agreed 10 allow the Com z
littee on Relief OF the Poor 20 expend :
reer amount OF their regular annual an d