The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-04
The New City cou neil.
ORGANIZATION AND FIRST BUSINESS
MEETING,

ORGANIZATION AND FIRST B sINESS
MEETING.
On Monday last the new City Council
met for the first time and proceeded to Or
ganize. There were present all OF the men,
bers, except Capt. Ransom, who is abroad;
as follows: LIST Ward: j. A. Cochran, G.
G. Gooch, Jas. T. Byers, Jno. W. Todd, r.
W. Burke and Jno. D. Crowle. cd Ward:
A. H. Fultz, Jno. B. Evans, Jno. W. Abby,
W. L. Bumgardner and F. B. Berkeley.
Organization was effected by calling A.
II. Fultz. the former President, to the chair,
and Immediately succeeded by the election
of that gentleman to the permanent Presi-
dency Of the body.
The following old officers were then
unanimously reelected: Jas. F. Patterson,
Clerk, who appointed r. N. Argenbright as
assistant; Jno. R. Kurtz, Council Messen-
ger; L. j. Crowder, Chief of Police, and NJ.
Hounihan, r. ]. Fletcher and j. A. New
man, Policemen; DR.. B. M. Atkinson. Ply
siciau OF the Poor; E. W. Hartman, Super
intendent of Water Works and Geo. W.
Long, assistant; VIM. NJ. Bryan, Snpt. of
street hands.
| An election for Justices of the Peace in
Ward No. 1, to fill vacancies caused by fail
ure to qualify of those elected at the polish
May last, resulted in the unanimous selec-
ton Of Geo. D. Pearman and Colonel Thos.
A. Gordon, formerly sheriff and also Pres
| ident of the county court of Madison
| county.
The election of City Engineer and the
question of the election of councilman for
Ward No. 2, in place of Capt. Ransom, were
| passed by.
| The salaries of officers remain as hereto
fore-none Of them receiving sum suffi-
cient to admit of reduction. They are as
follows: Mayor. $500; Clerk, $500; Attor-
ney, $3.50 Treasurer, $500; Sergeant, $3.50 !;
Physician, $l25; Overseer of Poor, 500;
Messenger, $500; Superintendent of Water
Works, $3.50; Assistant Sup't of Water
Work, $3.50; Sup't city hands, 5000; Clerk
of Court, 500; Chief of Police, 5000; three
police officers, each $3.50.
The first regular business meeting was
held on Tuesday night, all of the members,
except Messrs. Bumgardner and Ransom,
being present.
Just after Mr.. Kurtz had made his report
as overseer of the poor, ard asked that the
sum of $40 be placed in his hands to meet
contingent expenses, which request was
granted, and whilst in the midst of discus
sion OF the annual appropriation to the Fire
Company, the alarm of fire was sounded,
and in hot haste recess was voted. AS soon
as it was ascertained that the fire had broken
out in Gallowstown, several of the council
men who live in that section started out at
full speed, leach firmly convinced that his own
particular property was at the mercy of the
flames. OF all that noble band the Presi-
dent alone remained ut his post of duty,
and amidst the noise. din and confusion that
made the streets a bedlam, sat calmly, and,
with an Indifference that out-Neroed Nero,
listened to tile complaints of an aggrieved
petitioner. Presently the bright glare which
illumined the town caught his eye and the
fire penetrated his soul, for it came from the
immediate vicinity of his own domicil. In
an instant, forgetting dignity
his high official duty, forgetting the elo quent
petitioner, and careless of surroundings, the
Stole leaped down the steps three at time,
and assembled the hill with celebrity that
would have thrown. Rapid Transit COM
pany into an agony of modification. Not
until his own stately mansard rose intact be-
fore his vision, did his speed slack, and then
for all practical purposes, the ordinarily cool
and dignified official, would have answered
admirably for huge slate sponge.
About twenty minutes after the adjourn
ment, the councilmen slowly dragged them
selves back putting and perspiring, and
business was resumed.
The petition of Mr.. Mcnamara for remis-
sion of taxes was granted, and that of C. S.
Arnold and others, for water on Coalter
street, was also granted, and a three
inch line of pipe, with two fire plugs,
ordered to be laid, after the completion OF
work already ordered, from Main street to
the Grubert building.
A communication was received from the
Commemorative Attorney, notifying the
Council that suit had been instituted against
J. 7. Parent. The deficiency of Heber
Ker, late City Treasurer, was re!errel 10
Finance Committee.
Petitions of Col. Skinner and Ro Knight
ly, and others, were appropriately referred.
The Chief of Police reported fines and
costs collected, sl23.60; and the city
Treasurer''s report stated that there was in
the Treasury s77O.56, and floating debt of
$2,5s6.34.
A resolution, offered by Mr.. Burke, was
adopted, instructing the Clerk to move the
effects of the Council.room to the new apart
ment which has just been fitted up in the
City Hall. The room recently occupied by
Hoover's school will hereafter be used as a
council chamber, and the next meeting will
be held there. A gas light was ordered to
be placed In front Of the Hall.
Before the adjournment, the President an.
nounced the following as the new commit
tees:
Auditiny-Todd, Crowle and Berkeley.
Finance-Burke, Todd and Abby.
Streets-Bumgardner, Abby, Byers and
Gooch.
Water-Byers. Todd and Cochran.
LigMs-Crowle, Abby and Berkeley.
Fire Department. Gooch, Todd and Berke-
ley.
Heauh-Berkeley, Gooch and DR.. Atkin-
son.
Ordiuances-Eyans, Bumgardner and Coch-
ran.
} PoHce-Gooch, Berkeley and Crowle.
SGfety-Cochran, Evans and Berkeley.
, Market-Evans, Bumgardner and Byers.
!, Poor-Cochran, Berkeley and Crowle.
: Schools-Todd, Burke and Evans.
Printing-Crowle, Cochran and Byers.
! Rctrenchment-Todd,B Burke and Bumgard