Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-26

tendent, had a Christmas gathering of the
deaf mutes and other pupils, when old Kriss
Kringle, in appropriate costume, drove up
in huge sleigh filled with presents for
the little ones. The children had known
nothing of the intended surprise and their
establishment was something worth seeing.
The scene was gay one and the children
were quite wild in expressing by signs
their delight.
CITY CoUNcIL.-The City Council held
an extra meeting on Tuesday night last,
for the purpose of passing some accounts
at which Messrs. Abby, Bagby. Burke,
Evans, German, Guy, Nelson and Witt
were present. The accounts were read
and allowed, including one of So to Mr..
John Crow, appointed by Capt. Thos. j.
Crowder, acting Chief Engineer, to watch
goods on the night Of fire at the old frame
building on Main St. This account caus-
ed some discussion, but it was agreed that
the work was necessary and well done, and
it was passed.
THE CITY IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Witt, from the Finance Committee,
reported expenditures to the amount of
S8,597, which, with some work remaining
unfinished on the streets, will aggregate
$4,000. This closed up the expenditures
for the street account, as the winter, he
thought would preclude further improve
ments, and in the Spring the general sys-
tenn of street improvement would be COM
menced, The amount named included all
contracts up to date, and the work near
the PRESBYTERIAN church, and on New and
Church streets.
Mr.. Nelson thought it unwise to stop
work now, if there was any we could have
done. The hands needed work now more
than at any season Of the year. There was
the street debouching into the Waynesbo-
ro' road, which badly needed McAdaml-
izing, and if possible he would gladly Nc
Adamize every street in the city, which
would give the poor work, and greatly ben
eft the city. He knew Of one offer to take
$1,000 of the city bonds, if the work paid for
with it were done in certain quarter, and
he thought that amount alone would be a
benefit to the poor.
Mr.. understood the resolution
adopted by the Council to say that after
the work in handwas finished no other was
to be undertaken without the means were
provided for it's execution.
POLICE OyERCOATS.
A resolution to furnish the police force
with comfortable blue overcoats with met
al buttons, to cost SIS, was adopted after
rejecting an amendment by Mr.. German
to allow the Chief to commute.
SURVEYING.
Mr.. Nelson called up an account Of long
standing of Maj. Jed. Hotchkiss for $71,
for surveying, which he thought ought to
be settled by either rejecting or allowing
it,
In the discussion on it Mr.. Abby said
that Col. Lilley, whose account for similar
work had been reduced one-haf by the
Council, intended to test the matter by
law.
Mr.. Guy said that made no difference,
and if the Council was right he was will
ling for the sake Of the principle to resist
the payment by law. s.-e. .s.,
The account of Maj Hotchkiss was re-
ferred to the committee on streets.
THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM SOLVED.
Mr., Evans of the Finance Committee,
stated that he, in the absence OF the Pres
ident of the Council, as acting President
had directed the purchase Of one of the
bonds issued by THE city in payment for
condemned land for the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad, the purchase to be made with
money Of the sinking fund. The interest
on the city's bond would be paid into the
sinking fund. This astonishing operation,
which in finance is equal to the solution
of that other heretofore regarded as an i'm
possibility-a mans lifting himself off the
ground by his waistband, rather took the
Council aback.
Mr.. Nelson You didn't cancel the
bond
4 Mr.. Evans-No, we will draw the inter-
est and put it in the sinking fund.
Nh. Nelson-Draw interest from our
selves to pay to ourselves
Mr.. Burke-The sinking fund is intend
ed as a guarantee for the payment of the
bonds not for the purchase of -.ny bond be-
fore it is due.
The impression was strong with the spec
tato1s that the vlce-fResident of the Coun-
Gil had gotten ahead Of the historical man
who won thirty-fve cents from himself at
dr&W poker.
Adjourned.
clI,I,e, Of