The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-05

| The Special Committee passed RESOLUTION
by which Mr.. Smith was instructed to make
out a monthly report, showing by whom
eacl, piece of work was done. I have used
every effort to obtain information, and from
all can learn. the Superintendent has not
done an entire piece of work since lie was
elected. When went to the pump-house,
generally found him worrieG-as if things
were not going to suit him. | told him on
one occasion that | thought him willing
and industrious, but that he didn't under
stand his business. and was Incompetent
That told him, was my opinion-l might
be wrong and he might be right, and that it
was my intention to retire from the Special
Committee. was unwilling to assume the
responsibility for what | regarded as the in
competency of an officer. After that time l
avoided going to the pump-holise as much as
possible, and informed the committee of my
intention to resign. The committee then
passed the resolution instructing the City
| Engineer to examine and report on the con-
dition of the pump, &c.
| The witness then read several letters from
| Mr.. Frank Smith, in one OF which he stated
that he was glad to learn (as he had from
Mr.. Evans letter. that things were working
smoothly at the pump-house. Witness ex-
planned that whilst he had, from the first,
been apprehensive of Smiths capacity, yet
when he saw him trying to learn, noticed
that he was industrious and willing, he
thought it probable that he would succeed,
and hoped he would. He was under this
| impression when he wrote to Frank Smith.
Subsequently he had been satisfied in his
own mind that Smith would not be able to
efficiently fill the position, and since then
had referred the Superintendent to 9TH
| er members of the committee for instructions.
lie had found trash in the we'll at the pump
house, which could only have gotten there
through carelessness i'll allowing the screens
| to be removed from the terra Gotta pipes
He had also noticed the fire plugs laying
carelessly around.
| On cross examination, Mr.. White asked
witness if he had not advised Mr.. Harrison
not to pay for some repairs made TO his hy-
drants? Several members objected to the
question as not pertinent to the subject, but
Mr.. Evans insisted on answering, and said
that Mr.. Harrison had called on him, as
Chairman of the Water Committee, and COM
planned that Smith had cut the water off
from his hydrant, because he had refused to
pay him for some repairs which he had not or
dered. Evans told him that the Superintend-
| l,o1 lyor cxxrith mr.
tifying the property owner, but advised him
not to have any difficulty with Smith, as he
had declared his intention of doing.
| After this came very tedious and very I'M
interesting cross examination, somewhat af-
ter the smilitude of the Field inter-
view, in which both witness and counsel did
some pretty keen sharp shooting, and which
resulted in nothing practicable. AS the hours
crept on, this species of Investigation grew
exceedingly irksome, and the members Of the
| Council manifest their want of interest by
audible yawns, and resort to newspaper
reading. At 80, Mr.. White declared him
self satisfied, and the Council adjourned I'M
til Monday night.
MONDAY.
Upon call of the roll, Messrs. Bledsoe and
| Weller were found to be absent.
| Maj. Elder, City Attorney, said that, as it |
was desirable that the whole Council should |
be present during the entire investigation,
he thought it best that further proceedings |
be postponed until all the members could |
attend.
TTv,nn nf R,1nlro tl,n oil
adjourned to meet on Thursday night the
18th instant.
CITY CouNCIL.-The regular semi-month- |
ly meeting of the City Council was held on
Tuesday night, at which were present all the |
members except Messrs. Weller and Witt.
After the reading Of the minutes the usual |
number of accounts were allowed.
The petition of Jos. johnson was granted; |
petition of A. D. Trotter and others was |
granted in part, and the public hydrant
allowed to remain until June; petition of
Anderson Patterson was recommtted +; petit
ton of Robert Evans granted; petition of J.
A. Waddell, not granted. A large batch of
water tax tickets were returned with various
recommendations, which recommendations
were adopted.
A resolution to relieve the Superintend
ent of Water Works Of the collection of bills
for repairs, and impose the duty upon the
City Treasurer, was adopted.
The report of A. w. Smith, Superntend-
ent OF Water Works, was received and filed.
Committee on Safety presented a report,
stating that the Heydenrich building. on
Augusta street, was placed there in violation
Of ordinance, and recommending that the Or
dinance be enforced. Adopted.
Reports OF Overseers of the Poor were re-
ceived and filed, and amounts allowed, and
the committee was instructed to inform the
Overseers that in future the accounts must
be itemized.
The bond of A. W. Smith, Superintendent
of Water Works, was presented, with Ed.
Mcmahon, J. NJ. Lickliter, Joseph N. Ryan,
D. E. Strasburg and W. A. Hudson, as sure
tics. Approved
The election OF Policeman was postponed
until next meeting.
The Committee on Fire was instructe i to |
dispose OF the Steam Fire Engine upon the |
best terms obtainable.
A petition of the merchants on Beverly |
street asking that wood wagons, etc.. be pro-
hibited from standing on the street, was re-
ceived and an ordinance to that effect was re-
ported, and referred to the proper committee.
Mr.. Ably offered resolution which was
adopted, appointing a committee of three,
with the President as chairman, on Re- |
trenchment, whose duty shall be to exam
inc into the expenditures of the city, &C.,
The chair appointed Messrs. Witt and |
Burke, as the remaining members of the |
committee.
A resolution was adopted instructing the |
special Water committee to advertise for |
bids for the erection Of fence. &c., around |
the water works grounds.
The water committee were instructed to |
confer with the authorities of the c. & q. R. |
R., with a view to furnishing water to the |
round house and shops from the city's works.
The report of the CITY Treasurer showed