Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-10-02
Local,
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THE STREETS.

THE STREETS.
The SUBsIDING OF THE EXCITEMENT
PROGRESS OF THE WORK-STAUNTON
TO HAVE ONE GOOD STREET.
&C., NC, NC.
The mast week has been one Of grievous
excitement in Staunton, and the minds of
residents n Main street have been torn
with uncertainty. At breakfast time a
citizen would look with pride on the soon
to be completed promenade, while at din
ner time he would be tearing his hair at
the discovery that the march of improve
ment would engulf his cellar cap OF sWal-
low up the door step, over which his fore
fathers had stepped for generations. Inc
rain which set in on Monday was hailed DIS
Providential interference, similar III de-
sign to that which put a stop to the rover
of Babel, and it was earnestly hopeo Ilal
when it cleared off it would be found uhat
the Common Council, and the City Engl-
neer. and the Richmond contractor with
his mules and carts, had been swept Off by
the flood never to return But Providence
had not so ordered it, and the moment the
sun shone again the mules and carts were
going, and the wicked Engineer was going
about boasting that the rain had done
good deal in settling the ground and now
he could go ahead. The last meeting-it
is to be hoped the last-of the City Coun-
ell on the subject was held on Saturday
last.
THE MATTER BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
On Saturday morning at the ringing OF
the bell, the city fathers strolled up to the
Council room and answered to their names
as follows: Messrs. Abby, Bagby, Bickle,
Burke, Echols, Evans, German, Guy,
Hoge, Kayser and Ker.
Mr.. Bagby said the meeting had been
called to consider the propriety of change
of grade on Beverley street, and the sub
ject of the width of the pavement.
Mr.. Bicl1le thought that the City Engin-
eer ought to be here. This thing of call
ing the Council together every day OF two
began to look like childs play. They had
employed all Engineer to do the work OF
the city, and it seemed only reasonable
that they should have enough confidence
in him to let the work go on.
Nh. Echols said he had voted for the
City Engineer as man OF capacity In his
profession, and WAC would be influenced,
in the discharge Of his duty to tn city, by
no private motives OF consider ations, and
he thought the present officer had filled
his expectations. He had made a report
to the Council, and with much trouble and
labor prepared and submitted profile of
the street, all of which had been inspected
and approved by the Council, and he
thought these We're reasons conclusive,
that he should not be interfered with The
matter did, indeed, begin to look like
childs play. AS the streets looked in the
confusion of the work 1t was impossible to
tell anything about them. The OF her
morning Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Weller
thought their property on the line was
ruined, and to-day Mr.. Abby tells me Il l..
Weller is quite satisfied with the improve
ment. I was sent for yesterday morning
in haste, as a member of the Street Com
mittee, to interfere against the work. but
delaying my coming down till about ten
O'Clock, found the feeling had quieted, and
people thought things not so bad as they
had appeared. And now here the Council
is called together again. 1t is almost i'm
possible to attend to private business with
these interruptions. Nor. are these in
busy in the faithful discharge of his duties,
is also harassed by the clamor from The
outside.
Mr.. Bagby said that he was one of the
members who signed the call for this extra
meeting, and he had been Influenced by no
outside clamor, but looked at the question
in a practical way. He thought the curb
ing had Better be changed now if it was to
be changed. He said Mr.. Hoge's building,
one of the finest in the city, would be part
lily under the pavement at the present
grade.
Mr.. German said the work ought to be
carefully considered. If it is a failure the
Council will. get the odium, and if it is a
success the Engineer will get the credit.
Nh. Evans said he was ready to endorse
all General Echols had said, but it was
now question of expediency. Any effort
to run a straight line along the street
would give, at some points, no pavement
at all. He was prepared to vote for an
average of feet width all along the line.
Mr. Bickle-Mr. Allen says we have a
45-100 now.
Mr.. Evans-That is what he starts with
but that doesn't hold out; and besides
never understood that the City Engineer
was to have entire control Of the matter,
and not be under the supervision of the
Council. If that was to be the case, we
had better make him the Guardian Of the
City. But this isn't a matter Of conteL-
tion with the City Engineer; he has moth
ing to do with it, it is a matter of eXpedi-
ency about giving wide pavement. The
Engineer will bear me out, that the street
as now being constructed with the new
guttering, will bear one foot more added
to the pavement.
MI. Echols-We have adopted the plan
used by all the Engineers in the large cit
leS-the result of their scientific investiga-
lions and experience, and yet when two or
three Councilmen differ with the Engineer
meeting OF the Council is called, and all
get into confusion again.
Mr.. Evans-Do you think it is matter
Of science-the difference between I and 8
feet in pavement.
Mr.. Echols-That is just the question
that has been settled by all the City En-
gineers i'll the country, who are educated
IN the profession, which we are not. 1t is