The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-02
COUNCIL TAKESUP
BUDGET TONIGHT
Not Likely That Any Effort Will
Be Made to Change Ordi-
nance on Floor.
BOND ISSUE MUCH DEBATED
All Factions Realize, However,
That Shockoe Creek Work
Must Proceed.

The most important matter OH the
Common Council docket tonight is
consideration of tho budget. carrying
appropriations amounting to $685.
$3.50, and the report of the Finance
Committee. recommending n bond Issue
of S1,5o0.O0o for permanent public i'm
provemcnts.
Favorable comment on the budget has
already been freely expressed, and 1t
is expected to go through with hardly
more than passing debate and DO for
warded to the Board OF Aldermen for
concurrence. On the question of bond
ing tho city In Sl,500,O0O there may.
however, be issue, as some of the Coun-
cilmen are known to be opposed to it.
But the stated improvements mentioned
In the resolution for the bond Issue arc
generally regarded as so necessary for
/ the welfare and health OF the city that
/ II will not be lost without hard
struggle.
\ Business and civic organiza lions have
! on occasion recommended that Shockoe
Creek be covered and converted into an
| artificial sewer, especially as all the
sewerage of tho northern suburbs it
| is proposed to annex will be directed
into Its channels. The Shockoe Valley
Is the natural drainage basin of tho
| city: AMI, whether covered or left open.
. necGS-
sarily be used as the main trunk sewer
| of the city.
| Work Easily Accomplished.
Under the plans orally submitted by
| tho City Engineer. the work OF wallinE
and covering the creek from Broad
| Street to Seventh and Hospital Streets
| could be dono with comparative ease,
as much of the material used for ce-
! ment is to be found In its bed II is
| DrODOSoH n
Branch. from Seventh and Hospital
Streets to tho Hermitage Road, and
above all construct Il great driveway.
connecting the northern suburbs with
the business section of the city. This
is a project near and dear to the heart
of City Engineer Boiling and the com
pletion of the work would fulfill one of
his lifelong ambitions. In preparation
for the great work the Finance Com
nittee at its last meeting forwarded
to the Council a resolution recommend
Ing that the City Attorney DO directed
to acquire. through condemnation pro-
ceedings, all the land Immediately con-
| tiguous to Shockoe Creek, from Broad
Street to Seventh and Hospital Streets,
and all the land contiguous to Bacon
| Quarter Branch, from Seventh and Hos
pital to the Hermitage Road The bond
! issue would also contain an appropria-
ton of $4,000 to be used In repairing
tho Ninth Street Free Bridge, and $685.
| 600 Tor the purchase Of a city farm
! Commend Hirschberg Plan
| John Hirschberg. OF the Admlnistra-
! tive Board. has fought hard to have
the city purchase farm, seeing in Il
q practicable means OF reforming inc
/ briotes, Migrants and others of their
| ilk. The plan has been tried by other
cities and found to bring good results
Mr.. Hirschberg impressed the Finance
Committee, admittedly cautious body
of mon, sufficiently to guarantee a ia
vorable report, and hopes that tho
| Council may be brought to see the pro-
| ject In the same favorable light It
has been demonstrated that outdoor
work and fresh air result in n greater
percentage of permanent cures of in
cbriates, force Migrants 10 contribute
TO their owA support. and afford nm
economical means of caring for those
who are not capable. physically or men
tally, OF caring for themselves. Tho
chief criticism that will be directed
against the proposition is that 1t will
entail new and permanent expenditures.
in that salaried positions Will neccs-
sarily have to be established to ope-
rate and control tho farm. 1t will be
on this ground that tho main fight
against the plan will be made
Tho Council has other important mat
ters to come up tonight. and will re-
ceivo reports of various committees.
but the most important veil be the con
sidcration of the budget and the re-
concentrations OF the Finance Commit
tee.