Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-04-04
Ihe Uindilat0r.
Friday Nsorning. April 4, 1878.
Local.

Cry CouNciL.-The City Council held its re-
guar monthly meeting on Wednesday evening
last Present Messrs Evans (presiding) Burke,
English, German, Guy, Hoge. Nelson and Stu
art
PAYING FOE CONDEMNED PROPERTY
The matter of pay ing for the property con-
demned for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
shops was brought up, the hardship of keeping
the parties waiting for their money being the
cause 1t was stated that party, Mr. Menifee
was now willing TO pay $4,000 to DR.. McChes-
ney for property taken from him at valuation
of $1,000. resolutl on was passed for the issue
of city bonds to be sold at par to an amount
sufficient, at eight per cent. interest payable Sc
miannuaily redeemable in 20 years, and exempt
from city taxation. These bonds will be offered
first to the Chesapeake h Ohio R. R. Co.
MONTHLY ACCOUNTS.
The monthly accounts passed to the
amount of Sl6S3.C4 including $675 for school
expenses Quarters rent of school houses &c. in
cluded and $40 to Dr. FAuntleroy for post
mortem examination.
THE POOR HOUSE.
The accounts CT the overseer ofthe poor, Mr..
Hall, for $lll.l3 for March and $ll5 for April
and Mr.. Hudson Sl7s. 81 for March were allow
ed Mr.. Burke, chairman of The committee On
the poor, made q strong appeal to put an end to
the present system of tending the poor, which
cost on an average, $3.50 per.mont or $4,000
per annum and was verJ inefficient. H" urged
the establishment of an aims house Mr.. Evans
said the city already owned a vacant house on
Craw ford 8 lot which might serve to commence
with Mr.. Stuart offered a resolution instruct
ing the committee tie poor to devise and re-
port some plan for the establishment of an aims
house.
PRESIDENT BCKLE AND THE VALLEY RAILROAD
MATTER.
Mr.. Evans produced the letters and kilograms
President Bickle sent to Baltimore about the
Valley Railroad matter and MI Nelson made an
explanation. He said the remarks he had made
at former meeting of the council, were under
misapprehension, that Mr.. Bickle had in bis ca
pacity as President of the council, written to
Baltimore that that body would resist by legal
means compliance with the city's obiga-
tions to the Valley Railroad Co. He had since
seen that President Bickle had only said that
the council would resist payment Of the city
bonds if the terms of the subscription were not
strictly complied with.
Mr. English said without the slightest person
al feeling in the matter, he could notsee any i'm
propriety in President Bickles telegraphing to
Baltimore to delay action until his arrival
he had been appointed by unanimous vote of
the council 10 represent Staunton's interest
there As for the letter, he at first entertained
the same view that Mr.. Nelson had started with
but like Mr.. Nelson. had been convinced that
Mr.. Bickle only meant strict compliance with
the terms of subscription. Mr.. Burke thought
Mr. Bickle was qnite justifable in signing his
kilograms in his official character in order that
he mi sht show what weight they entitled
to. Mr. Stuart thought MIR. Bickle had acted
within his authority and that his communication
had not affected the action of the Baltimore
council which had already been taken Mr..
German said that mig BIT be SO butt did affect the
action of the Finance Commissioners TO whom
it was communicated. The letters and tele-
grams of Mr.. Bckle were received and filed.
RE-ASsEssMENT OF CITY PROPERTY.
Mr.. Hoge call ed attention to the new law for
re-assessment.
Mr.. Stuart-If we want to get an increase
while other people are asking for reduction OF
assessment we will ask for new one.
Mr. Nelson gave some examples Of the inc
quality of the present city assessment. His es-
tablishment was assessed at $4,000, when
couple of blocks of most valuable property, in
Guiding large machine works, were not altogeth-
err assessed at that sum. There was plenty OF
property assessed at 81, 0CO which would sell at
any moment at $1,000. Such inequality drove
bond holders, who were taxed On the face value,
out of the city
Mr.. Burke thought the present assessment was
most unjust.one He himself had sold piece
of property for So, SOC which was only assessed
at $500. The present assessment look off the
burden of taxation from some and laid it unjustly
on others.
Mr.. English had just heard of place assessed at
500 which sold for $4,000.
Messrs. Stuart and Nelson resisted the idea of
another assessment, the former saying the State
assessor would thus be enabled to take the city's
book and raise the State assessment Mr.. Patter-
son, the clerk, informed the Board that the
States assessment was made IN 1870, and its
assessor had no access to the city's books.
A resolution was adopted instructng the FL
nance Committee to examine into the propriety
and legality of ano ther assessment and report
thereon.
MISCELLANEOUS.
An appropriation of SIS was made to j. Stu
art for The city use Of his spring during the
drought.
The Committc on Streets were authorized to
repair holes in the pavements and charge it to
the property owner.
Mr.. Nelson reported that the gong to be used
for fire alarm could not be found. Mr. Burke
and Others thought FIRE bell was badly needed.
The petition Of Chas. Gadke for permission to
add to frame building within the FIRE limits
was rejected.
1t was agreed to allow the use of the city
water to Maj Thomas shumate, for the purpose
of making brick, at 500.
The petition of Messrs. Grubert, Watson and
Others, for curb and pavement near the Virg inia
Hotel, was referred.
The petltica of Joseph N. Gibbs for the remis
sion of water tax was referred.
Mr.. Stuart, Zone of the Staunton Acadamy
arussees,) said they had not yet considered the
proposition of turning that building over to the
city.
Some complaint made tat the newly
elected city engineer had not appeared and as
sumed his duties 1t was explained that he was
in til South and was likely to be here to-day or
tomorrow.
The matter of whether the city 'capi tat:on ta1