The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-16
.Danville Council Assesses
/. Club Members.
TEN DOLLARS FOR EACH.
The Ordinance Will Be Contested in
the Courts-The New Hospital.
Good Prospect for Fine
Z Tobacco Crop.
-. -
(specinl to The rimes.Dispn tch.)


DANvILLE, VA. August 15.--At a
meeting Of the City Council held on Tues
day night a license tax Of ten dollars per
member was imposed upon each member
or a social club in the city which dis
penses liquors to its members. Since the
town has been dry and under authority
of the Mann law, there have been q NUM-
Der OF social clubs orga ni9ed that have
membership numbering from few to
several hundred. The object Of the Coun-
eli is, obviously. to stop, the operation Of
these clubs, and the ordinance Imposing
the tax was framed and passed. &
The matter will be taken to the courts,
and the contention will be primarily that
if there is a license imposed upon clubs
which dispense liquors. and those which
do not are exempted, 1t Is licensing the
sale OF liquor III Danville, which. BY a
vote of the people, is not allowed. The
Mann law allows The clubs, and the Cor
poration Commission grants them IL
cense. A fee IS required from each mem-
Der, and they are within the require
ments Of tho State laws In every par
tlcular. If there were licensed saloons IN
the city, the Council might grant them q
license, or rather rnlght impose tax
upon them, but as they cannot license
the sale Of liquors here, 1t 10 not thought
that the ordinance will stand The flues-
tlon Is one that Is coming In for great ,'
deal OF comment. and Its decision ny the
Supreme Court is awaited with great
deal OF interest.
NHW HOSPITAL
The new hospital which is being built
b,y a cIhScriptIDn Mt COST OF
ahout $4,000 Is nearing completion. ana
it is expected It. will be ready for use
by the first OF September One OF the
greatest needs OF the city has been q hos
pltal, and when this IS completed, IN
addition to the old Home for the Sick.
1t will give Danville splendid hospital
facilities.
Farmers from all sections coming into
the city report the prospect for Il large
crop OF tobacco tho best Il. years, The
leaf Is said to be larger and better than
1t has been at this time, Of the year for
a long time This Ia not considered very
favorable for the prices. There Ia a great
deal of tobacco In the different storage
warehouses that has been bought at ad-
crop, and when this Is turned loose on
the market 1t will have tendency to
lower tho prices. The better grades Of
wrappers will be very plentiful, from tho
present Indications,
WATER SUPPLY,
The operation OF the Dan River Power
and Manufacturing Company near the
city and the erection OF the new dam
above the intake for the city's water sup
ply has caused great deal of discus
sion. A. special Water Committee was ap-
pointed by the City Council. and they
rendered very exhaustive report, show
ing that there should be some change In
tho present supply, but did not make any
Recommendation as to what should be
done. The Dan River Company has re-
Gently made the city proposition. which
1t is understood carries with 1t a propo-
sition to allow them site for the pump
ipg station. and allow them to get the
water from the center of the new dam.
and in addition to lhis to pay them the
sum OF ten thousand dollars. Tho com-
mIttee have not as yet taken action on
this proposition.
Danville has been unusually quiet from
q social standpo!nt during the vast month