Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-28
THE CITY'S STREETS,
THEIR CONDITION SEVERELY cRSx~
lcIsED By HEALTH COMMITTEES.
NAY WEED OUT THE FORCE.
strcet-cieaning Department 0rdl~
nance opposed--rhc Free-watsH
List TO Re Reyised-Amount CoI-
Iected for sanitary TAX Last Mesths

The Council Committees on Health
water. and Second Market met IN the
City Hall last night. The only discuss
sion of any interest occurred In the meet-
ing OF the Health Committee. where tho
nresent condition OF the streets and tho
pavements was severely criticised. The
ordinance creating department OF street
cleaning was considered, and returned
10 the Council, with tie recommendation
that it should not pass. For the rest
only routine business was transacted.
The Health Committee was called 10
order shortly after o'clock by Chairman
Hobson, there being present Messrss
Hawkins. Moore. Rountree, snead, ana
williams.
The President Of the Board Of Health
was instructed to advertise for bids 10
furnish the department With steam coal.
The committee also instructed the
President of the Board OF Health to pur-
chase a pair of horses. TO be used In
cleaning the streets.
DR.. oppenhimer suggested that 1t would
be a good thing for the COMMITTEES to pre-
mare an ordinance requiring each family
TO provide a measure, composed OF cast
iron. or some other material, Of a sizo
that could be easily lifted by one man.
TO receive the ashes and refuse. ha
called attention TO the fact that II now
reo,ired two men to lift the barrels In
use which are extremely unsightly. ho
EXPRESSED the opinion that these mea-
sures could be secured for about ND
apiece and that they would not ne stolen
II a suitable penalty were imposed.
DIR Opnenhimer was instructed TO loon
further into the matter, and report az
the next meeting.
BAD CONDITION OF STREETS.
The condition of she streets was then
discussed. and Mr.. Hobson said that no
was i'm favor of the whole street force
being kept employed. When all are
at work" said Mr.. Hobson, there are
hut seventy-two men--about one 10 every
100 inhabitants Some of these men
don't do work worth $50 day. and 10
do this work successfully we must ges
rid OF some of these men and get others.
Mr. Snead said the city could not ap-
proprjate money enough for the Reaith
Department to keep the streets clean IN
the present condition of the paving. he
went on 10 call attention to the very bad
condition of affairs existing In certain
quarters.
The ordinance providing for the
creation Of a department Of street ciean@
ing and removal of ashes. which has been
pending in the COMMITTEES for some time,
was taken from the table, and Mr.. Will
liams moved that It be returned to the
Board OF Aldermen, with the recom-
mendation that IL be rejscted.
After a long discussion, the motion OK
Mr.. Williams was adopted, only Messrs,
Rountree and Hobson voting In the mega
tive. The committee then adjourned
COMMITTEE ON WATER.
The Committee on Water met last night
in the City Hall, with the following mem-
bers present: Messrs. Briggs tchairman).
Tanner. Noble, CARRIER. Carter and
Hawkins.
THE pav-roll of the department. TO tha
amount OF 81 2O26S and bills aggregating
sll5. were approved and ordered to be
naid. Several applications for rebates
on water bills were received and acted
upon.
The entire free list was referred to the
subcommittee on Free Water, with
power 10 act
on motion Of Mr.. Tanner, IL was decided
10 pay the sum of so extra compensation
for the transfer Of the meter books. Ihis
work generaliy ocCupheS "'oes
nights. Applications for connections
with water mains were received ana
acted upon. and one exte2sion on New
orleans street was ordered, after wnicn
the committee adjourned.
SECOND MARKET COMMITTEE.
The Committee on Second Market met
at 6 o'clock last evening, with sub-Chair-
man zimmerman presiding and Messrs.
Brock and Noblq present.
The clerk reported that $3.50 had been
collected on account or TIE sanitary tax
for the month of December. The pay
roll was approved and the committee adj
journed.
The following committees will meet To-
dav: subcommittee on Retrenchmenr
and Reform, 10 A. NJ; Streets, r. M;
Third Market, $50 p. NJ; ST. Jonn5
f3,,r,,ino- -Cronnd < u. M