The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-10
WILL NEITHER
LEASE NOR SELL ! |.
Common Council Votes.
for RehabiIitatiOntOf
Gas Works.
WARM DISCUSSION
OVER THE MATTER
Mr.. Brancl1's Public Baths Offer
Practically Accepted--s. A..
L. Earnestly Asked to- I
Bring Their Cen
eral Offices
Here.

The Common Council, Mt special scs-
sion last night, passed Il great many
problems of interest to tile people, the
main one having been the report Of the
special committee With reference to the
gas department. 4
This was by m overwhelming vote res
fcrrcd toathe Light Committee. With IN
structions TO rehnbilitate the works. along
With n resolution declaring against either
the sale or lease OF the plant.
The public baths proposition Of Mr.. John
+. Branch was strongly commended by
tile Mayor III a special messa &c, and vas
referred 10 the Finance Cominittee{ as n
matter Of form though tho vote by.whicll
this action was taken was understood
Ito be an entire endorsementr1and accept
ancc Of the generous offer. 3
Mr.. Pollock got through a strong lcso-
luton asking the Seaboard Air Line Rail
way COmpany&to establish and maintain
4 their general offices In this city. and Mr..
Mills. from the Water Committee. secured
the adoption of a contract for construct
a ing the nlIme at tle&newY Ting basn.+
3rhe member from Jefferson Ward said
the final awarding Of this contract was
I the climax TO the clear water scheme. and
that It meant that the people would abso-
@lutely have clear water hy$ November ] 4
1906 s&55 NJ II 81, " 4 NIX lggs
The Gas Matter.
a resolution was adopted appropriating
$50 to pay the expenses OF Mayor Me-
Carthy to New Orleans to invite the.
Confederate Veterans to hold their l:U75
reunion III RIcl,mnnd. $sS
The gas proposition caused tho only
fiery debate OF the evening. Chairman W.
W. Norton. of tho special joint commit
ice, personally favored lease Of the
plant. but he said he $didanot desire to
press this view upon the Council. Fl e
offered an. ordinance drawn by the city
tor,ler. s,sa,s,it tin 8 ntit trrist the
people for their Judgment. Mr.. Gates
wanted the whole matterEreferretl to the
Committees on Light and Finance, but.
this proposition got only the vote OF the
patron. Tho substitute offered BY Mr..
Pollard was al.nost unanimously adopt
ed. only Mr.. Morton voting in the mega
tive 81. 4
b.. 1t provides for complete rehabilita-
.tlon Of the present works by the Light
Committee. and authorizes that body to-
employ n first class engineer to assist
In the work. II is estimated that the
work OF rehabilitation will cost in the
ncighborhood of ssO0,COo ,.sst *5 sa
Session in Detail.
Ii was exactly $50 o'clock when Presn-
ugntt lcleTS slllc5 o'NSt
and there was pretty full attendance
or members. The first business laid be-
fore the body was the following COM
m,lncation from Fills Honor. the Mavor.
To the Honorable. the Council of the
City OF Richmond:
Gentemen.-It affords me great
pleasure TO forward to you tie
enclosed letter received to-day from
our esteemed fellow -citzen;5, John P. 4
Branch. ESQ: The proposition which
he makes, 1t seems to me should be 4
Instantly and gratefully accepted,
This generous and thoughtful action
on his part. seconded by prompt and
generous response on the part Of the
Council, wlll,2 ! trust Il inaugurate a +
new era In our municipal life. and, in
addition to the direct benefits which
It will confer on our people, will also \
stimulate the benevolent disposition Of
others, and result In further contribu-
f tIons for the establishment of insti-
tutions for the public good. S
Other cities in America and in Great
Britain. and on the Continent, have n
recognized the Importance and great w
value OF bath houses and have appro-
prlated large sums OF money for their
erection, equipment and maintenance.
sIn II some cities as much ms eight hum
tlrcd thousand dollars has been eX-
pended FOR this purpose. Our neigh
lpr tho city of Baltimore, already
maintains two handsome establish
l. N \ ~