Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-29
FOR BETTER SERVICE.
COMMITTEE CRIrICIsns RAmwAY
AND ELEcTRIc CO.'S SYSTEM.
IMPROVEMENTS THAY MUST BIZ nADg
Mr.. Guison Explains, But Action IL
Taken NevcrtheIess-Fifth street
sewer to De puils-other Improve
ments Ordered.

Five committees OF the Council met ir
the City Hall yesterday evening. The
first and most important meeting was
that Of the Committee on Streets. and ir
three-hours session much useful and
important work was done The dul
monotony OF the routine was relieved by
some pointed criticisms of the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company's road.
bed. schedule. and cars. Mr.. Guigon. at.
torney for the company, was present
and submitted explanations and assur.
ances Of better things in store for the
travelling public. but at times the pro.
ceedings were quite spicy
No further statement was made In re.
gard TO the collapse Of the old sewer by
the Gallego Mills, but the committee
ordered allegations for the building OF
the new sewer on Fifth street. which is
to cost over $4,000, and their action will
leave no doubt in the public mind that
the whole sewer system Is to be COM
p]etely overhauled. Arrangements were
made for a good deal of paving to be
done in the near future, and proposal
to employ the fund derived under the
direct tax law, sum amounting to a
little more than $500. for the paving by
the City Hall, was referred to the City
Engineer for a report.
THE SESSION IN DETAIL.
When the committee was called to or
der the following members were present:
Messrs. Allen (chairman), Ebel. Burton,
Pollock, Woody, Bahen, Peters, and Glib
son.
Under a suspension Of the rules. Mr..
Guigon was introduced by Mr.. Ebel, and
asked leave to withdraw the papers now
before the committee in regard to the
change ofNracks between Twenty first
and Seventh streets. His only object,
he said was to present them again to the
Council for reference to the committee
again, as having been referred by the
old Council. they were practically dead,
as all business unfinished on July 3lst
could not be brought up for action.
Mr. Ebel moved that Mr.. Guigons re-
quest be granted. Mr. Pollock opposed
this, on the ground that the papers be-
longed TO the Council, and the committee
had no jurisdiction over them. His view
was sustained by the chairman
Mr. Gugon said he had consulted the
City Attorney, and that official expressed
the opinion that the papers could be with
drawn. The City Engineer explained how
all papers bearing on unfinished business
at the end OF the Councils term were
filed in his office.
Mr. Pollock moved that the City En-
gineer should be instructed to furnish Mr..
Guigon with certified copies.
After some further debate the difficulty
ed fxrt n
resolution that all papers not acted upon
by the old committee should be returned
to the Council, with the request that they
be returned to the committee for their
consideration.
WANT THE WORK DONE.
complaint that certain work, for
which the same railway company Is re-
sponsible remains incomplete, to the
great inconvenience OF residents was
read by the City Engineer and endorsed
by that official. who said that no attention
was paid to notices sent from his once.
Mr.. Guigon explained that there were
certain difficulties in the way, OF when
the CITY Engineer was aware. The con-
tractors held that the work was well done.
which was condemned by the city and by
the company. He added that II the City
Engineer would furnish memoranda OF
such complaints as were made, ne couid
answer for it that the company he repre-
sented would certainly have the matters
attended TO.
CITIZENS COMPLAIN OF NOISE
Mr. Burton then introduced the follow
ing petition:
To the Honorable Members OF the Council
of the City of Richmond:
We. the undersigned, residents of the
city, living in the vicinity of Madison and
Main streets. hereby enter our complaint
against the Richmond Railway and Electric
Company. and would state that we are an
noyed by the coasting of the cars OF
the said company in both directions In
passing the corner of Madison and Main
streets. at all hours, at unusually hlgn,
and sometimes terrific, rates OF speed.
We would call the attention of your non
orable body TO the grades running east
and west from said corner, as affording
inducement for coasting, which. INDUCED
In. creates unusual noise and raises clouds
OF dust much to the annoyance or your
petitioners, as we'll as increasing the Ia
bility 10 accident TO the children and
people of the neighborhood, and We num-
bly, pray that you will take such action
as will put a stop to this practice. by the
passage of such special ordinances as
may, in your judgment, be deemed neces-
sary. whereby the speed of such cars
may be registered.
Your attention is also called to the
having of the street at this particular
corner. which was improperly relaid,
leaving holes in the street. where. on oc-
casion Of rain, pools of water stand and
mud and dirt accumulate, which. as soon
as dry. is taken up and whirled along the
street and into the houses OF the resi-
dents by the coasting of the cars afore-
said.
we pray that the matters herein COM
plained of may be remedied. Respectfully
William II. Graham. II. p. Gray, w.
Charles Morton, r. Hellosly, l.. w. Nc
Weigh. f. H. Williams, G. c. Barnes,
G. Powell Hill. ]. H. Tompllins. w. 0.
Shelton, Reuben Jacobs. and w. II.
Lucke.
COMPANY PLAYED A TRICK.
Mr.. Burton said the complaint was
nerfectly lust one Cars were run down
the grade at the rate of twenty miles an
hour The cars, particularly those used
on the Manchester line, which passed
early in the morning and late at night,
were nothing better than rattle-boxes, and
created a positive nuisance. He said the
company had certainly played trick in
asking permission 10 relay the Main
street track without concrete. He moved
that the City Engineer be instructed to
write TO Mr.. Fisher and demand the
abatement of the nuisance.
on behalf of his constituents. Mr.. Pol
lock presented a complaint as to the
present schedule.
Mr.. Allen, from the chair. complained
of the switch at Seventh and Franklin