The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-26
LOCAL MATTERS.
MEETING OF THE ITY CoUNr IL.

| The recommendation of the finance COM
mittee that the Richmond, fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad be released from
certain city taxes was adopted.
Tho finance committee report an over
expenditure of appropriations of e34,0lG.-
"a, to which is to be added certified cul.
vert claims, $500; estimated work in
progress. $1,000; total, $3S,2l6.74; and
recommended that the appropriations to be
made cover the over-expended appropria-
tons, and that all further appropriations of
every kind and character, except those of
absolute necessity, which necessity shall
be made apparent on the application,
be suspended until after the 18th of Janu.
ary, 1873. The committee report that
they find that the statements Of the Audi
tor and Treasurer for September agree,
and that they have approved the official
bond of Mr.. Page, Gas Inspector.
The report of the committee was
concurred in.
The joint committee on water and light
reported an ordinance leyying tax of five
cents front foot on ground, whether i'm
proved or not, fronting upon water or gas
mains said taxes to be in addition to the
taxes on the assessed values and other pub
III Siiii SSo opOu thS PlopSityS w NC
collected as other taxes are collected. The
will come up for action at the next meeting
of the Council.
The Council made an additional appro.
priation of $4,000 to the construction &C.
count OF the water works for the current
fiscal year.
Mr.. W. II. Scott, from the Committee
on Public Schools, in the absence of the
chairman, j. j. English, made the follow
ing report concerning our city schools:
RICHMOND, Nov. %, 1872.
To the President and Members Of the City
Council.
Gentlemen--Your Committee on Public
Schools have the honor to report that on
Thursday, the 21st instant, the entire day
was devoted to an inspection of the school
buildings, furniture, &C., and to an exami-
nation Of the methods of instruction and
discipline in the public schools of this city.
Your committee were accompanied by the
School Board, the Secretary of the Board,
several members of the Council, and the
Superintendent of Schools.
We are of the opinion that the money of
the city has been wisely and eco
CAPSiliSa Ill tlc
of buildings and the purchase of furniture
and apparatus. The buildings are admit
rably adapted to the purposes for which
they are used, and the furniture is neat and
in good cond On. The Madison school,
corner of Madison and Clay streets, seems
worthy of special mention for general
adaptability to school purposes. The
neatness and cleanliness of the interior of
the various buildings was such as to excite
our surprise and commentator.
The necessity for more extended accom-
modations in the extreme eastern and west
ern portions of the city was apparent, and
your committee think that the necessarr
means should be furnished to enable the
School Board to meet the wants of our
citizens in those directions.
The methods Of instruction and disci.
pline observed in tho various schools, ex-
tending from the lowest grade Primary
through the Grammar, and ending with the
High School, were very gratifying and sat-
isfactory to your committee, and our only
regret was that we had so short q time to
remain in each school.
The training in both white and colored
schools excited our surprise and admira.
ton. Music and calisthenics seem to be
receiving careful attention as means of
rendering school attractive and pleasant to
the scholars.
The zeal, earnestness and industry of
the officers and teachers connected with the
schools impressed your committee very
favorably.
The following statement shows the in
crease in attendance:
June 80, 1871, scholars enrolled, $3.50
!" 80, 1872, (" 1919
Nov. !, 1872, 4,5l0
Your committee would earnestly COM
mend our public schools to your fostering
care and protection. We regard them as
one of the most powerful elements of per-
manent growth and prosperity to our city.
1t was resolved that the public schools
Of the city of Richmond, being the property
Of the city, and used by it, are included in
the privilege of free gas in the same man
ner and to the same extent as other public
buildings owned and used by the city, and
the gas inspectors was instructed to cancel
all claims on account of gas or gas fitting
now charged against the School Board or
any Of the public school buildings. The
sum of 900 was placed to the credit of
the gas works for current expenses.
| The committee on elections reported that
they had ordered the payment of 90 per
day for seven days to registrars, judges
and clerks, and So per day for two days to
judges of election, and % per day for two
days to the commissioners and messenger
of Board of Commissioners-all amount
ing to s2,e75. The committee have also
allowed for house rent, fixtures, &C.,
S502.90, making a total of s3,237 80.
They asked for an appropriation of 5000
to meet deficit. The report was adopted.
A petition of the registrars for more pay
was laid on the table.
The sum of 81 500 was appropriated to
pay off the flremen; the dog law was
amended so as to allow citizens or visitors
to keep their unlicensed dogs in the city
for period not exceeding ten days; $3.50
the pension for six months of J. M. Gard
ner, disabled policeman, were appropri
ated Mr.. 2. Snellings was elected weigh
master at the Second market, rice w. c
. Prosser, resigned; Mr.. James ALFRED
| Jones was elected Councilman from Madi
) son ward, rice A. Y. Stokes, resigned
$3.50 were appropriated to pay off stree
hands.
. A resolution was introduced by Mr.
Scott, of Jefferson ward, requesting th
committee on finance to consider the ex
pediency of exempting all property use
IN fha acfohl;nbYoo,,k of $3.50, ~ q