The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-19

WHICH Cne TlBnG o. way LII itS sIroeeo 40 hAou'osSs
to horse railroad company, is that it shall
keep 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.
THE SHELL ROAD
Has occasioned, through il-advised plans, O
large outlay to the city. tits, however, nearly
finished, and when completed, and the proper
ty along its line comes under city taxation, as
il will in another year, the advantages OF It's
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 fanciers 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
city's progression.
THE PLANK ROAD
Around the depots, giving good continuous
drive from the Battery up 10 the ''SlX 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 good arguments il any ls needed, 1or
moro improvements Of the same kind in some
other localities.
LIGHTING THE STREETS.
The city is paying nearly, it not quite, s4, OOO
per annum for lighting in q very poor manner,
its streets, which have no hesitation in say
ing is an eyorbitantlv eXtravaSant. expense;
The streets of this city can be equally as well
lighted by other means than now employed, 81
an expense of $40. 900 less.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
is in excellent condition, and deserves COM
mendation as a very efficient organization ; b It
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 onpanies, 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
keeuing these drains in proper order has been
reduced from $40 600 to $500. During the
past four months, some twenty sand pits have
been built, which so far appears to operate
most admirably, saving to 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, and there is some
prospect that it will be completed, and that an
income will accrue to the city.
THE ORPHAN HOUSE.
OF this expensive but excellently intentioned
institution it may be unpopular to speak plain
ly and openly, but l feel it my duty 10 40 So;
The objects Of this institution-to care and
provide for the orphans or the children OF poor
and destitute parents--to educate and fit them,
male and female, to enter upon and to battle
with life's trials, cannot be too highly COM
mended. But from information, through
various sources, am led io the following con-
clusions: That the rules OF admission are TOO
loose, and that many children are admitted
whose parents can aud should take care OF
them-that the education given them pertains
more 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 them to be good anu
Industrious, rather than young ladies' and gen
temen-something within and not above their
station.
The cost of sustaining this institution the
past year was $4S, ,6r6, exclusive Of the interest
on the cost of tie buildings and grounds.
The average expense of each orphan was quite
three dollars Per week.
A portion of this community, besides bear-
ing their equal proportion OF taxation to sup
port tLis costly establishment, sustain, sup
port and educate through their own private
energies and resources over one hundred destl.
titute children at an expense Of one half OF
what it is costing the city for the same num-
ber. This expense, if not borne by them,
would, under the present system, fall upon the
CITY. I refer to the Catholics-to the "Sisters
of Mercy"-who have these children IN charge.
Now, it does seem to me we should be lust
before we are generous" In justice 10 our
selves strong and successful effort should be
made by all concerned to economize extensive
" in this institution, and in justice TO thai
mentioned most worthy and excellent portion
of this community, some amount should DC
donated by the city, so as to repay or asslss
said parties in the great relief, in the care OF
poor children, that they have and are affordlns
to this city.
CITY ENGINEER.
This Office cost the city, directly and indi-
rectly, during the last past year, unnecessarl-
ly, not less than $40, 600. Under some clrcum-
stances, with prosperity and full city purse,
with large permanent Improvements going on,
it might be advisable to be elcumhered with 4
GOOD city engineer; but situated as We are,
struggling against adversely, any yearly salary
expended in that way is just SO mu:h too much,
in my opinion, for o luxury Of that kind.
THE CITY BUILDINGS
Are generally in good Co dition; a few repairs
might not be out Of place. The City Hall
needs 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. I am firm believer that the laborer
is worthy Of his hire.
PRINTING.
The printing of the city is necessity, but q
large percentage of that expense can be saved
by confn,ug ourselves by contract to one
paper.
POLICE OR MAYORS COURT.
This is relic of old times-and not in &C
cordance with modern ideas. The duties OF
nresidinc in this Court should be borne, not
BY the Mayor, but by Judse-by the Recorder
for instance, who now, although drawing un-
der State laws, and for life, salary OF two
thousand dollars, has, to my knowledge. no
duties that give to the city any value received.
Some change here would not be out OF place.
FIRE LOAN ACT.
Ivould respectfully call your attention to an
ordinance ratified 2S.h day of August, 1856, to
aid in rebuilding the burnt district and waste
places of the city. This ordinance, like many
others on our books, is imperative. l would,
therefore, recommend that il b. 80 amended as
TO allow the erection OF wooden buildings in all
that portion OF the burnt district west OF King
street.
The object OF tho ordinance is to aid in re-
building such places as above stated. How
can this bo attained when two important
features in the bill illustrates the whole plan
Unless these obstacles are removed we need
not expect to see any good arising out OF it.
1t has failed to accomplish that for which II
was intended. Knowing this to be the real
10 fhn vvIth