Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-10
LIGHT ON CONDUlTS.
CONFEDERATION POSTPONED ny
rur Committee on STREETS.
THE STATUS IN OTHER CITIES.
~ VIII he Asccrtnined Before steps
Arc Takcn-WunicipaI Ownership
Third station Not Yet Accepted
WON'T work on Sunday.

The subcommittee OF the Committee
ON Streets appointed to consider the
conduit question met In the city Hall
last night The petition Of Mr.. T.. J..
Willis and others asking for franchise.
and resolution from the Council re-
curing facts and figures with view
10 municipal ownership were submitted.
The City Engineer said that no one
doubted that the time had come FOR con-
QUITS. The question OF ownership. how
ever, was a very large one Baltimore
had been considering the matter for
some time. and had not yet decided
whether the city should undertake the
work. which would entail a very con-
siderable expense The wires would only
he put down in certain localities; the
extreme end of church 1Inl and Clay
Ward and the North Side would be eX-
cluded. No company could undertake TO
do more than this. nor could the city
even If it had the money. lie suggested
that Richmond should have the benefit OF
the experience OF other cities. He did
not think the committee was prepared TO
discuss the matter at present. or to so
into the question OF city ownership lie
suggested The appointment OF sub
committee 10 gather the necessary data
from other cities.
Nr pollock made a motion 10 this
effect and suggested committee of
three.
MIR Bloomberg advocated municipal
ownership lie thought il would obViate
disarrecments between different com
panies that would have to enter the
conduits. Mr.. John King spoke along
the same line.
a POSSIBLE CONTINGENCY
Mr. Ebel suggested that the City Engi-
ueer should confer with this sub-cOmmit-
zee. 1t was an important point. he
thought 10 ascertain whether the city
could compel companies to so into the
conduits IL they were owned BY the
municipality.
The motion was carried and Messrs.
Bloomberg, Pollock and Ebel were
named as the subcommittee, the last
named at the request of Mr.. Pollock.
Colonel CutshaW stated TO the cOrsmit
tee that six years ago the conduit Ques-
lion was raised on application for "a fran
chise by Colonel McCluer who then rep
resented the Bel Telephone Company
The necessity of these conduits has
since been emphasized by the passage of
an ordinance September TO- 1896 Still the
Engineer now deems it necessary 10 OBJ
tain further information on this subject.
10 seems TO Zoe the consensus Of opinion
among the members OF the committee
and the citizens generally that the con-
dIit system is an urgent necessity,
whether II Is put down by the munich
palty or a private corporation. and there
IS no room to doubt that definite action
will soon be taken by this committee.
Third station Not Accepted.
The Board of Police Commissioners and
The Committee on Police met at the
new Third Police Station at 4:3O o'clock
yesterday afternoon. for the purpose Of
receiving the building from the hands OF
The contractor. Mr.. Il. j. Gilmore. On
account of the absence OF the City Engi-
Beer. however. the formal reception had
90 ha deferred until 11:30 o'clock this
The building has been entirely com
Iet.l. and the Third District force has
occupied r.. The building is handsome.
substantial and comfortable.
Refused to Work ON sunday.
The Committee on Health met last
n.-h- ana received interesting reports re-
a-re 20 vaccination. Several men were
reported TO the committee for refusing
t1 work on Sunday. February 18th. under
the extraordinary circumstances then eX-
ting. The men We're severely criticised
all the sanitary officers were instructed
notify the men that cOsniZance had
peen taken Of their action The action
OF the sanitary officer in suspending VIII
liam Malone was sustained.
An ordinance requiring the registration
of births was recommended for adoption.