Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-07
MORE SALARIES CUT.
PARK REDUCED AND
CIrN-HtLL EMPLOYEES DROPPED.
PLEA FOR THE CITY NURSTRYHAN.
A subcommittee Appointed 20 Fur
thcr Investigate the Health De-
Observation-Disclosures Cemetery su-
pcrintcndcnfr salary Restored.

The Retrcnchmcnt and Reform COM
mittco. which met in the city Han last
uight. was occupied chiefly with the
consideration OF the duties and the needs
for City Nursoryman. After the ne
costly had been emphasized by Colonel
CushaW. who made long and interest
ing statement On this connection. the
work o. retronchmcnt was taken up.
TIE most sweeping reductions were
made in the salaries OF the park-keepors
which were subjected to cut Of more
Than 80 per cent The position OF head
tan.tor OF the city Hau was dispensed
with. as also was that OF oiler. but it was
decided that there was need for
another assistant engineer. and the COM
mittoe recommends that such an office
shall be created. the remuneration OF
which viii exceed that Of the oiler
The vexcd question OF how to deal
with the Health Department was again
preached bit the difficulty was over
come by the appointment of a sub-com-
mt,ec TO further investigate the de-
partmcnt. and formulate report
thereon.
THE CITY NURSERYMAN.
when the committee was called to
order there were present Messrs. Allen
chairman. Ebel, HARRISON, Noble,
Eountree. zimmerman Captain StarNe
sent his regrets for unavoidable absence,
having been called ont Of the city.
After some discussion as TO procedure.
,fr zimmerman moved that Colonel
Cu.shsw should be heard in relation TO
.sc city Nurscryman. The motion was
adopted.
colonel Cutshaw. I'm reply to a question
put by ar. Allen. said there was no
question AS 10 the economy in employing
d nursorymaD. as opposed to the putting
out the work by contract. Further ne
stated that the incumbent Of the office
was thoroughly skilled. The defects that
are apparent in the large trees now on
tte streets "a the city were caused by
neglect before the city engaged nur-
~eryman. colonel Cutshaw related the
plans pursued IN bringing the trees here
from an parts Of the country, and ~tn-
unasized the need for a large number OF
seedlings in order that the good may be
operated The nursery is not only sup
plying the needs of the city. but all the
public parks. and such associations as
thc Hollywood and lakewood. I'VE have
nearly every variety OF Forest
trees" said the Engineer land In "A year
OF 80 10 would be found impossible 10
duplicate them for thousands OF dollars.
Most OF the trees on the streets now are
TOO close 10 each other and have not
been properly attended 10 hitherto. The
outlay is a mere song compared with the
good that is done"
THE PLAN OUTLINED.
Colonel Cutshaw then outlined the
plan followed I'm the fostering and plant
ing OF trees. in "a year or two, he said,
the city would be planting 1000 trees
a wear which would Doe an immense ben
eft. and a really great thing. The en-
ployng OF Mr. Hans was the wisest and
most economical thing. and he urged
The committee to visit the nursery, when
be felt sure they would realize that II
would Dee "a most unwise thing to dis
rense with the services OF a nursery
man. In large northern cities associa-
lions OF citizens were formed TO carry
out the same idea That is being followed
hy tho city government.
Iu answer 20 a question put 10y MY.
HARRISON. Colonel Cutshaw said that
trees We're planted before the residence
OF any one who made the request. The
EXPENSE Of the nursery and an the EN-
u.oyees dld not amount 10 $500 "a year.
Mr. Allen said Richmond was a south
ern city. and absolutely needed shade
trees. and the services Of practical
nurseryman are really essential 10 lhe
proper growth Of the trees
colonel Cutshaw then spoke Of the
raids of insects upon the trees, and par
tcularly of the "borer' which is dong
so much damage TO the trees Of the city
particularly TO the elms. The necessity
of "a man TO watch and cope with these
nests. he thought would be apparent
close watching Is the only thing that can
minimize the results of these lnIoads'
The trausp'anting Of trees. ana MT
Hans's success IN this particular were
also commented upon.
TALK OVER THEIR REPORTS.
The question as TO when the committee
should submit q report TO the Councll was
then discussed. Mr.. Rounuee SAID ne
understood that the committee would re-
port 10 the Council from time 10 time
Mr. Allen said It had been decided tnat
general report should be made.
The proprety Of printing the evidence
iu the BrOad-street investigation was
mooted but no decision was arrived at
Nr Eountree again urged that the com
mlttee should make reports frequently 10
fh. Council. He had committed hlnlseH
I'D members OF the Common CouncH 10
produce a partial report at the last meet
INK and much disappointment Was eA-
pressed at his failure 10 do so.
Mr. Zimmerman said the partial re-
uorts were most unsatisfactory, ana theIe
lad been great difficulty in getting them
aJ0pted lie expressed the belief that the
rYhiic wanted the whole scheme OF re-
frerchment presented at one time
Mir Harrison said the best thing 10
DO ~ the committee wanted 20 get re-
nor, before the Council. was 10 stop ar
guing side issues and get down to Work.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Mr. Ebel moved 10 take up the urfin-
ished business. and when this motion pre-
vailed. be made d motion 10 the erect
that tie salaries OF President on the
BOARD OF Health. 81 200 d year iva mem
beers OF the Board Of Health SiW each
four physicians 10 the poor, 500 each,
ana Inspector Of Plumbing, Si1ooo should
remain as at present
Nr Noble opposed this
Mr. Rolntree cOntended that THIS was
the most important department IN the
cifv Government. lie did not think there
was time 90 90 into "a proper discussion
az the many points at issue. II Was IN
possible 90 DO the department justice De
fore the public with a mere desultory dis-
cus-ion. lie moved, as SUBSTITUTE 10
nfr rheps motion. that a subcommittee
should be appointed TO investigate the
deDartment and make a report 10 the com
iaittec. Mr. Ebel said nothing could be
gained by this means. as Subcommittee
could not gain any more information than
was at present before the committee as
whole
Mr.. Rountree's substitute was adopted