Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-07-04
OH Uinditatur.
Friday Morning, July 4, 1873
Local.


Tuesday night LAST, prssent-President Bickle,
and Messrs. Bagby, Burke, Evans, German, Guy
Ker, Nelson and Witt.
THE STREET LINEs-ENcRoA CLEMENTS.
The account of the city engineer for $l04 sal
airy, gave rise to a long and general discussion
about the improvements of the streets, which was
initiated by remarkable proposition from Mr..
Evans to defer the payment of the engineers ac-
count, because some curbing had been put down
on the wrong line and would have to be reset at
at the city's expense. It was shown afterwards
that the curbing spoken of was put down under
the instruction Of the street committee, of which
Mr.. Evans is = member, the chairman Mr.. Ker,
explaining that the engineer had misapprehend-
ed the directions Of the committee. The account
was allowed though Messrs. Bickle, Bagby and
Evans voted in the negative. 1t was stated in
the debate that the engineer had advertised for
contracts for the city work, but had received no
bids A communication was received from Mr..
Allen in which he states the amount of grading
necessary on the following streets, before any
permanent i'm provement can be proceeded with
TO be- Fayettest., 2,4l8 cubic yards of excava-
J
making a total of g. 1873 yards, also, on Lewis
ST., excavation of 1878 cubic yards, and Spring
Lane filing in of 2o2s yards-a total of 3,606
cubic yards gross total of IL, 739 yards which
at the price paid by the Valley Railroad would
cost about So, 347 Sc. The engineer says he
has advertised for bids on work on the streets
and has received none, and suggests that the
city employ some energetic man and give him
a Der cent on the cost.
After some talk over Mr.. Aliens report the
members seeming to be afraid to countenance any
undertaking in the street line more than, as Mr..
Evans graphically expressed it, mot to inter
fere with the road bed, but only to fill up hol-
low here and there" the consideration of the
Engineers report was postponed till some future
meeting. In the mean time, the street improve
ment is at stand STILL
Petitions were received from Misses Baldwin
and McClung of the Augusta Female Semina-
~, and Mr.. R. H. Catle tt, calling attention to
the damage done their property in New street,
by the city improvement there, and asking the
Council to repairit. The petitions were referred
to Special Committee, consisting of Messrs.
Bagby, Hoge, and German.
Mr. EVANSTON ought, at the same time, to
refer the petitions of the same parties, sent here
asking that the Improvements be made and the
street cut down. While the committee is con-
sidering the damage, they ought also to consid-
er the profits.
Mr. Bickle-All know is, that every member
of the council, except me, voted for the improve
meRt.
A communication was received from Mr!Stu-
art on the eve of his departure for the White
Sulphur Springs, calling the attention of the
council to an improvement which he considered
necessary, near his warehouses;
THE FIRE LIMITS.
The Safety Committee reported favorably to
allowing NJ. A. Miller to retain the frame bath
house, built where the question Of whether it il
within the operations of the fire limits ordinance
is debatable. The report adopted, and Mr..
Miller's bath-house will remain. Permission
was granted to J. A. & Y. NJ. Bickle to erect
shed over some lumber in the 'lmts''
HEALTH IMPROVEMENT.
Mr.. German offered a resolution providing for
the cleaning out of Lewis Creek from Spring
about expense, the matter was referred to the
city engineer to estimate the cost.
BUILDING ON THE cITY's GROUND.
Mr.. Ker called attention to the fact that Mr..
Picker was putting up building after being
notified that it was on the city's grounds, which
fact had been ascertained and shown by the city
engineer. Mr.. Ker said if the city intended to
maintain it's rights against encroachment, it
should be begun now. Mr.. Picker was clearly
in error and was being guided by a line which
was two feet out of the way. Upon examining
the ordinance it was found that the only penal
ty against an encroacher was one fine Of $50 to
$50, and then he might go on. 1t was further
stated that the police had taken no notice of the
encroach ment, though the matter had been one
of public discussion, and had not reported it to
the mayor.
Mr. Bickle thought some one ought to be given
the authority to get out an injunction and stop
it,
Mr. Guy wasn't satisfied that it was en-
croachment. He thought the street committee
wanted another survey.
Mr. Nelson-I never wanted it. 1t was some
Mr.. Ker-The street committee was perfectly
satisfied with the survey.
Mr.. Nelson Offer ed resolution which was
adopted, requesting the city attorney to ascertain
the proper remedy against these encroachments
and to take the necessary steps to prevent the
encroachments of Mr.. Picker.
THE CITY POOR.
ar, \ HILL of
the poor, was received and accepted, and Mr..
Geo. Harlan, city jaor, was elected to fill
the vacancy. Mr.. Burke, chairman of the COM
mittee on the poor, made q preliminary report
relative to his efforts for their removal to better
quarters. He reported that the cost of sending
them to the county poor house would be 81 per
month without clothes and doctors fees besides
that the Superintendent of the county poor house
would charge for his services in caring for them
800 year for ten paupers, $40 year each,
and the same amount if there were less than ten
President Bickle thought the proposition one
that should be accepted by the city. Mr.. Burke
will make final report at the next meeting
The reports of the city overseers for June showed
that for that month the city spent $l95 for the
poor
ELECTION OF CITY OFFICERS.
The election of officers Of the city for the fol-
lowing year, was gone into and the following
elected Chief of Police J. T. Parent Police
men, Chas L. Gregory, S. Quick and E. Law
ton inc. R. Kurtz was elected messenger of the
council with the powers of a policeman. Jas.
F. Patterson clerk of the council, Geo. N. Hud-
IL,
engineer and David Taylor, superintendent of