The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-11
The Improvement of James River to
Be Urged on Congress-
Traction Company Wants an Opporiu-
nity to Bid on Thcm-COuncil or
dinance TO Take Appointing
Power From Supt. of Water
works i Showed Under
in the Board.

President Mckinley and his Cabinet VIII
be invited by a duly authorized deies tton
from the Council and Board of Aldermen
10 visit Richmond at the time oil 'he
launching OF the torpedo boat shuorlcA'
This was agreed TO last evening. when
Council resolution was concurrcd in. pro-
Nidin- for tho appointment of "a committee
from each branch to so 10 WASHINGTON
and present the citys invitation.
no appropriation was attached to the
measure and Major Otway Allen called
attention TO the fact that no provision
had been made for paying the expenses
of the committee. nor for the entertain
1nent of the President and Cabinet IL they
accept the invitation.
VINO ENTERTAINS?
President Turpln thought the invitation
carried no obligation TO became host, but
Major Allen held that 10 did.
With that the matter was passed.
While this committee Is i'm Washington
ID will also present 90 the President ana
the Secretaries of War and Navy set OF
resolution adopted by the Board. Inc
resolutions were quite lengthy
The preamble sets forth that the project
OF 1881 contemplated the Improvement ol
James river To give a depth of twenty
TWO feet at mean low tide from Richmond
10 the seat at a cost of $i5O00 10 was
pointed out that a depth of only sixteen
and a half feet had been secured ana
81 772.5Go expended. and that at the present
rate OF progress it would Doe forty years
before the plan is carried ont
Since 1866 it was stated the city has eN-
pended EHcf1Q and former Chei OF
Tnrineers. Colonel w. T. Craighill. was
quoted as saying that the money was ai-
ways spent in accordance with the views
OF the Federal authorities.
recital of the Importance of Richmond
as a port and its value as naval station
followed.
TO sEND COMMITTEE.
The resolution provided that committee
consisting of the president and seven
mombers of the Common Council and The
president and five members of The Board
of Aldermen be appointed and requested
TO present the resolutions To the Pres dent.
the Secretary of War and the Secretary
OF the Navy.
A petition was presented Co the Board
bv Major Allen. by request. from the
Richmond Traction Company and was
referred Co the Committee ON Streets
with authority Go report 90 either branch.
WILLING TO BID.
The petition states that the Traction
Company is willing to bid ON franchises
for the street railways either in whole
on in part. con- such terms and conditions
as the Council may see ht
Tho petitioner understands that 1t Is
not the desire of the city 10 dispose OF
part of lhc franchises under which the
Richmond Railway and Electric Company
is operating. and that it is the sense di
the Committee ON Streets that the iran
.rf Id OF H...u .H la. .NHI.|N
The petitioner SIS informed that the
street Committee understands the opinion
of the city Attorney TO Dee that the fran
chisos cannot Doe disposed of by the pres
cnt Council without the consent of the
Richmond Railway and Electric COM
pany.
The petitioner IS advised that tho opin-
ion of the City Attorney is that the
Council has FUN power 10 grant the
franchises.
The Traction Company asks that the
Council take up the question of granting
tho privilege OF constructing tracks and
operating cars under franchises TO date
from January lst 1901.
CONCI-RRED IN ORDINANCES.
The Board concurred in the following
Council ordinances:
Restricting the building Of awnings on
sidewalks
Tmpowering the American Tobacco
Company 20 lay conduit across Cary and
seventeenth streets connecting factories
of the concern.
Allowing the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road 10 lay tracks from IT'S terminus ON
Canal street between Tenth and Eleventh
streets. down Canal street and across
Eleventh
Approprating SigS00 TO pave The side
-
between Harrison and Morris streets
Apnropratug $500 for a sewer ON
Twonty-iourth and Twcnty-hfth streets
south OF Clay street
Approaching S29Io) for paving an alley
between Fifh and Sixth and Grace ana
Broad
ApproprIating s9S9G0 for constructing a
sewer on Twenty between o and
T. streets
lnsructmg the Auditor TO return one
third of the Slot machine tax 10 those
who paid it.
CAPTURED CANNON
Transferring $500 from the contingent
fund 10 the captured cannon fund TO pay
Tor placing cannon captured in the war
with Spain and loaned Co the city by the
government. in one OF the public parks.
Authorizing the employment OF a steuo-
grapher ai a cost not 90 exceed 500 10
Of One Gauego NILS sewer suit
Amending the rules governing the Aims
iousc They require among other things
that the ambulance surgeons shall wear
o uniform 60 he supplied by the city;
regulate the duties Of the steward.
Appropriating SlSf75 20 pay costs In
which city property r. involved by the
'1and-rrabbers law was adopted with
che understanding that the city will be re-
imhurefd in due process Of law
SO CHANGE IN APPOINTING POWER
An ordinance from the council transfer
ring the appointing power Of certain
clerks messengers. inspectors hremen and
helpers from The Superintendent of Water
Works 10 the Committee ON Water was
lost Messrs Turpin and Bahen alone yot-
Ing IN favor Of h.
proposed amendment n the anti
spittine ordinance requiring. the printing
end postihs Of ne ordinance in elevators