The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-17

cation more IN keeping Win our m2ans anu
| the times.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
During the past Eve months a large amount
of repairs have been, at comparatively small
expense, put upon the streets, and now both
| they and the sidewalks Of the city are in
quito good and passable condition. The i'm
provemonts in this respect Is very apparent
and marked.
wish to speak at this time of the Temporal
w manner in which all repairs and works on
the streets have been for know not how
leng back conducted.
IL would be ultimately less expensive for
this CITY to build brick trunks Or drains, in
place of wooden ones, to place brick or stone
cnrbing to it's sidewalks instead Of wooden
ones; the immediate expense would be greater,
but '.once done always done, Is the cheapest
policy.
STREET RAILROADS.
While recognizing all the many advantages
| to the public derived from this comfortable
and pleasant means OF transportation, can
not forbear expressing regret that SO few
restrictions and requirements were imposed
upon this company previous to the granting
OF it's charter and the laying down OF It's rails.
In some cities one of the conditions upon
which the right Of way in its streets is granted
| to q horse railroad company, is that it shall
keen the streets through which it runs in per-
| feet order and repair. Some arrangement
similar to that should be yet made with this
road, else such taxation should be levied upon
it as will enable the city to do the repairs at the
railroads expense.
l. THE SHELL ROAD
Has occasioned, through ll-advised plans, a
large outlay TO the city. IL ls, however, nearly
| finished. and when completed, and the proper
ty along it's line comes under city taxation, as
| IL will in another wear, the advantages Of its
inception and completion will be manifest.
The satisfaction afforded the numerous farm
ers on the neck and beyond the limits OF the
city, and also to the fanciors of good morse
flesh, and to all desirous OF at least one good
drive out Of the city, is, to large degree, quite
| pleasing to all who see IN improvements
| citys progression.
THE PLANK ROAD
Around the depots, giving good continuous
drive from the Battery up to the s'Six Mile
House" is finished. The pleasant and smiling
countenances of our one thousand draymen is
our best answer OF its worth and benefits, and
also a good argument, if any is needed, for
more improvements of the same kind in some
| other localities.
LIGHTING THE STREETS.
The city is paying nearly, il not quite, sA 900
per annum for lighting, in very poor manner,
| its streets, which I have no hesitation in say
ing is an exorbitantly extravagant expense:
The streets of this city can be equally as we'll
lighted by other means than now employed, at
an expense Of $40, 900 less.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
is in excellent condition, and deserves COM
mendation aS very efficient organization b 1T
it is much larger and, consequently, much
more expensive to the city than it should be:
I do not mean to say that too much is paid
any one company, but that there are too many
CO npanies, and, also, that the companies
attached to the different steamers are composed
Of too many members.
TIDAL DRAINS.
By the employment OF parties confined in the
House of Correction. the annual expense OF
keeping these drains in proper order has been
reduced from 10000 to $500. During the
past tour months, some twenty sand pits nave
been built which SO Iar appears to operate
most admirably, saving tJ the city large
amount of labor and money.
ARTEsIAN WELL.
The expense of operating and caring for this
we'll has been advantageousy stopped to the
city. 1t has been leased, hnd there is some
prospect that 1t will be completed, and that an
income will accrue to the city.
THE ORPHAN HOUSE.
Of this expensive but excellontly intcntoned
institution it may be unpopular to speak plain
| ly and openly, but feel it my duty 10 do SO.
The objects OF this institution-to care and
provide for the orphans or the children Of poor
| and destitute parents to educate and tit then,,
male and female, to enter upon and to battle
with life's trinls, cannot be too highly COM
mended. But from information, through
various sources, am led to the following con-
| clusions: That the rules OF admission are TOO
loose, and that many children are admitted
whose parents can and should take care OF
them-that the education given them pertains
moro to an independent than dependent class
that they are educated more for the parlor
and the stage than the house and the appren-
tice shop-that they are taught to be waited
upon instead OF to wait upon themselves. With
studies they should be taught to labor. The
intent should be 10 teach thom to be good and
| industrious, rather than young ladies and gen.
| tlemcn-something within and not above their
station.
The cost of sustaining this institution the
past year was s48 COG, exclusive OF the interest
on the cost of the buildings and grounds.
The average expense OF each orphan was quito
| three dollars per week.
A portion OF this community, besides bear
| ing their equal proportion OF taxation TO sup
port this costly establishment, sustain, sup
port and educate through their own private
energies and resources over one hundred desti-
titute chIldron at an expense Of one half Of
what it Is costing the city for the same num-
ber. This expense, if net borne by them,
would, under the present systom, fall upon the
city. I refer to the Catholcs-to the 'Ssters
of Mcrcy"-who have these children in charge.
| Now, it does seem to me we should be ''just
before we arc generous" In justice 10 our
selves strong and successful effort SHOULD be
made by all concerned to economize extensive
| ly in this institution, and in justice 10 that
mentioned most worthy and excellent portion
| of this community, some amount should be
donated by the city, so as to repay or assist
said parties in the great relief, in the care OF
poor children, that they have and are afording
to this city.
| CITY ENaINEER.
This Office cost the city, directly and indi-
rectly, during the last past year, unneccssari-
~, not less than $40 900. Under some circum-
stances, with prosperity and full city purse,
with large permanent improvements going on,
it might be advisable to be ehcumbered with =
GOOD city en2iuecr; but situated as we are,
struggling against adversely, any yearly salary
expended in that way is just so mu III too much,
in my opinion, for luxury Of that kind.
THE CITY BUILDINGS
Are generally in good condition; few repairs
might not be cut OF place. The City Hall
neods thorough painting inside and outside;
still it will answer for another year as it is.
THE SALARIES
OF the city officials deserve some change
| Some can be lowered and some ought to be
raised. l am iirln believer that the laborer
is worthy Of his hire.
PRINTING.
TIE printing of the city is necessity, but
| large percentage Of that expense can be saved