Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-16
GRADE TO REMAIN.
WILLIAMSBURG AVE. WILL NOT BE
CHANGED At PRESENT.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT CRITICISED.
Mr.. Ebcrs Spirited Rcpiy-spcrini
Session of Council Called to Com
slider Gns-Worl.s' Qucstion-Supcr-
intcndcnt Knowles Report.

The Council Committee oh Sbe''5 VIC
clded yesterday afternoon that it is no
expedient az this time to take any steps
J towards altering the grade OF Williams
burg avenue. A good deal Of outside pres
sure was brought TO bear on the commit
tee before this decision was reached and
though the work Is suspended for the
present. IT is only tacitly understood that
il has been abandoned.
Representatives OF the Young Mems
Business Association were present, and
protested against the grade being changed
On the ground that IL would drive away
an important enterprise that prospectors
were prepared to establish here
The City Engineer presented the re-
verse side of the picture. and made out a
very strong case for the Improvement. If
It were not carried out, he said. the Clyde
Line might not continue to send its boats
up to Richmond. 1t was necessary that
not Williamsburg avenue only, but Lester
street. also, should be raised.
In the course Of the debate 11r. Robert
Lecky, Jr., stated that a representative
of the company that proposes 10 estab-
! fish itself in the Kings Mills had been
approached on the floor Of the maritime
exchange and advised not to come to
Richmond. because the city was misman-
aged by the City Council. Mr.. Ebel Gid
not mince matters in replying TO this
criticism. and attributed it to yankee
trickery."
ELECTRIC COMPANY REPORTED.
| Nfrojyfo Electric IpoilUsa,r and No
velopment Company was reported for
| falling to comply with the terms Of it's
| franchise in not beginning work on the
river within the prescribed time limit,
and upon the representations Of Mr..
Philip Il. SHIELD. Of counsel for the COM
pany. the city Attorney was instructed
10 draw up an ordinance extending the
| time.
A very important session Of the Light
Committee was held at 6 o'clock. when
the report Of Superintendent Knowles. as
TO the improvements necessary To place
the gas-works in hrst-rate condition. was
submitted. The report outlines changes
that will cost in the neighborhood Of $21.-
COO The committee has signed request
for q special meeting Of thu Common
Council. TO be held tomorrow evening,
to take up this report and al the time a
resolution will be introduced providing
for an appropriation Of $4,000. which,
with the funds now at the disposal of the
committee. will be sufficient TO cary out
all the Improvements suggested. The
Committee on Cemeteries met and took
action looking to repair work In the seve-
raj burial-grounds under its jurisdiction.
The Street Committee met at o'clock
and in the absence Of the chairman and
sub-chairman. Mr. Ebel presided over the
deliberations of the committee. there
being present Mcssrs. Bahen. Burton,
King Pollock Whittet Peters. Woody.
and Lawder The City Attorney and City
Engineer were also present. and a large
delegation Of citizens including repre-.
sentativcs from the Young Mems Bust
ness Association.
GRADE OF WILLIAMSBURG AVENUE
Under suspension Of the rules the COM
mittee took up the question of raising the
grade Of Williamsburg avenue from the
York River railroad to Nicholson street.
Mr.. King. as chairman Of the sub-com-
mittcc appointed TO look into the ques-
ton. reported that his committee had
decided. after investigation, that the
work would eventually have TO be done.
but on account of lack Of money. re-
commended that nothing be done at pres
ent. Mr.. King further said that IL was
the life of this Council
Mr. y. W Bowe was given the privi-
lcge of the floor. He said that the report
was unsatisfactory. and not calculated
To allay the fears of those who cOntem-
plated making improvements there. lie
feared that it would drive them else
where. He suggested that i'm lieu of rails
ing the grade of Williamsburg avenue,
Lester street be raised.
Mr. Julian Bryant. of the committee
from the Young Mems Business Associa-
ton. said that Messrs. Laidaw. McKil
& Co.. who had purchased the Kings
Mill property, had come here unsolicited,
and would employ many hands. and gem
orally benefit the city. The raising of VIII
liamsburg avenue, he said would drive
this industry away. He endorsed the sue-
gcstion o. Mr.. Bowe that Lester street
be raised instead. should the City Engi-
neer decide that it was practicable.
a FALSE RUMOR
Mr.. George j.. Peasants said that II
had been rumorcd that Laidlaw. McKiH
& co. desired to remove from Richmond
and were simply using the proposition 10
raise the grade as "a preteXt. This he
said, was entirely incorrect Mr. Pleas
ants then spoke of the money being spent
here by the firm. and impressed upon the
committee the necessity OF keeping them
here.
Mr.. King again spoke. and said that
only two members Of his committee had
visited Williamsburg avenue. If il was
10 be used as a thorOughfare during high
water. it would have to be raised. He
thought. however that Lester street
would be better than the avenue. At any
rate he said. Williamsburg avenue would
probably not be touched for years, If
ever.
Mr.. +. f. Greenwood. of the Chamber |
Of Commences Committee on Business
Enterprises. urged the committee to be |
careful. and not To do anything calcu-
lated to drive an enterprise from the city. |
CRITICISE THE CITY ADMINISTRA- |
TON
Mr.. Robert Lecky Jr. said that he had !
been told by Il gentleman who was duly |
informed that the representative Of the |
new firm had been warned on the floor |
Of the Maritime Exchange, in New York. |
not to locate in Richmond on account Of |
the unbusnessike administration Of pub |
Tic affairs.
Mr.. Lecky then went on to speak OF |
the benefits TO be derived from the pres |
ence Of the Laidlaw-McKnl Company. |
and urged that sacrifices be made 10 |
keep them here. The people Of Fulton. |
he said. would rather do without the |
road than see the enterprise turned aside. |
MIR. EBEL'S SHARP RETORT.
Mr.. Ebel as soon as Mr.. Lecky took |
his seat. promptly challenged the state
ment that unbusinesslike methods pre- |
vailed in public affairs here He daufaI a. |