Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-04-16

\ THE CITY CoUNCIn.-A meeting OF the
City Council was held on Friday evening
last, at which was present President Bic
kle, and Messrs. Abby, Burke, Echols,
Evans, Funkhoqser, Kayser and Ker. The
first matter occupying the attention OF the
members was the report of Mr.. VIM. Kay
ser, who had acted as q Special Commits
! soner to find out how much money was
due TO Abram Simms, the contractor for
THE AUGUSTA STREET BRIDGE,
I and how much was due to other parties.
| The report, which Mr.. K. had prepared
with much care, showed that the city owed
the contractor $1,772, and against it Or
ders had already been given in favor of
the following parties: Alex. Hartman, $555;
e. A. Richardson, $4Ol; J. W. Abby, $473;
w. F. Summerson. $3.50: and II. M. Nell
haney, $l15; total, $1,76l. The claim of
Mr.. IIarman. however, he proposed reject
ing on the ground that it was not for sup
plies and material necessary to carry on
the work of the bridge. With this rejec-
ton, after allowing the other accounts,
there would he $5S2 due Sims. and if $500
additional, which it is proposed to allow
him, We're added there would be 81 ,032 to
divide pro rata among laborers and other
creditors, to whom is due ST, 1923.
MIR. Travers Phillips appeared as coun-
sci for Mr.. Hartman, and said that his
claim was just; the supplies furnished were
necessary to the carrying on of the work;
part of it was for stone now in the bridge;
the contractor himself had made the as
signment for the amount, and his client
now asked the Council to do one of two
things-either to allow the claim, or to
withhold an amount sufficient to settle it
until the matter could be adjusted. II
his was not done the city, which had
been formally notified of the existence of
the claim, would be held legally respon-
sible for it's liquidation, and of this he
rave distinct notice.
Mr.. Echos thought the whole matter
lad better be adjusted in the courts, for if
the Council attempted to settle it now, it
night lay the city open to the final pay
rnent OF bills which it might tonight dis
allow.
Mr.. Evans thought the Council was
bound to see the merchants paid, they
laving by direct or indirect authority fur
lshed their goods to the workmen when
he work would else have stopped.
Mr.. Abby said if he were not an inter-
,sted party he would urge the payment of
the merchants who had given their goods
with the distinct assurance that their
;laims were guaranteed by the city. The
:ase of Mr.. Richardson was particularly
lard one.
The whole matter was referred to the
City Attorney for his opinion.
THE WATER QUESTION.
The committee of four Councilmen and
me citizen, (Col. Harman,) appointed to
effect the sale Of the water bonds at par in
5he city reported their inability to do SO,
tut expressed the opinion that some sales
vt 81 could be made.
MIR. Abby thought it would be better to
set them placed at that, and have it done
broad; it would bring more money into
he city, and the use of that much money
.rought here would more than repay the
oss on the face of the bonds.
Mr.. Evans read a letter from gentle
nan in New \ ork asking the particulars
tbout the bonds in the interest of another
Gentleman who thought of taking them
Il. It was also stated that gentleman
Lynchburg would arrange them, and
Ir. Witt spoke of gentleman in Balti-
uore who said he could place them.
A resolution offered by Mr.. r. w. Burke
nstructing Gen. Echols, who was going
Baltimore, to negotiate the bonds, was
\ ,dopted.
A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.
A propos. ton from Maj Ed. Mcmahon
u sell to the city for the purpose ola school
,ouse, the old Valley Hotel property on
augusta St., for $4,000 in city per cent.
,onds, was read. Maj. Fl. NJ. Bell, Presi-
lent OF the School Board, advocated the
urchase, which, he said, Was recommend
/ i by the Beard to the Council.
There were many objections raised to
he purchase. One, that the city would.
md the property an elephant on its hands
ever it ever wanted to sell it; chat it had
,een vacant the greater portion of time in
he 81 years since its erection; that a for
ner inmate said the walls were unsafe;
ind that the place was not ventilated.
Mr.. J. E. Guy, on behalf of the colored
Lethodist Congregation, offered at the
anne price the church building and an acre
f ground vn New ST., but Maj. Bell said
1t was agreed by all concerned tlat it's prox-
nifty to the Academy was too likely to
;ause brcils between the white and colored
scholars, which put that property out of
he question.
The proposition was amended so as to
include in the sale a slip of land not offered,
ind the offer was still rejected, Messrs.
Alby, Ker, Kayser and Evans voting
against it.
Mr.. Bell represented the unfitness and
dangerous condition of the present build
ing occupied by the colored school children.
Two prominent colored men had called on
him and stated that in the present danger
GUS state of the building now occupied they
could not allow their children to attend
the school. He thought the building now
offered was good financial investment.
He was quite urgent and said if some
change was not made the school would
have to be closed.
Mr.. Evans moved to reconsider the vote,
which was done, and the proposition was
then accepted, as modified, Messrs. Abby
and Ker still voting against it.
Maj. Mcmahon has since declined to sell
with the change made by the council in his
proposition.]
Adjourned.