The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-18
CITY COUNCIL.
IN THE NEW QUARTERs-A LONG, TIRE
SOME MEETING,

SOME MEEIlNG,
The City Council met in the new Cham
Der of the City Hall for the first time las
Tuesday night. Early in the evening yol
might have seen little groups OF members
standing about on the iron steps speaking
low and mysteriously to Cinthy Kurtz, and
now and then peeping timidly into the
chamber and casting longing looks at tht
new desks and nice arm chairs that facet
the Presidents table, as il they painted t.
repose themselves there and grapple with
the city's affairs. 1t didn't require the bel
to be rung, nor did Cinthy so on pedes-
TRAN tour to drum up the members, To-
promptly at eight o'clock the last one o
them appeared in Sunday clothes, excep
Capt. Ransom, who is now In Paris and Il
happily unconscious of the good time hi
has missed. Before the door was reached
however, Cinthy assaulted members ant
reporters, and conducting them into an adj
joining room proceeded to deal out glass at
ter glass of delicious lemonade which hi
dedication ceremonies. After this eXhilara
ting draught, they all piled into the new
chamber.
1t is large airy, room, with high ceiling
and four windows.and has been very. taste
fully and handsomely fitted up under the
direction of the committee on public grounds
and buildings of which Mr.. Todd is chair
man. The passage to and walls of the
room have been newly whitewashed, the
wainscotiEg freshly. painted, and upon the
floor Of the chamber bright striped hem
pen carpet has been laid. AT the north end,
the Presidents table and chair is placed on
slightly elevated platform, with the
Clerk table on the right and the reporters
in front. Facing the Presidents table were
eleven neat walnut desks, supplied with a
new inkstand, pen, pencil and paper, and
a comfortable arm chair. By vote these
desks were placed around in a semi-circle.
The room is lighted by three chandeliers,
at the windows green curtairs are hung and
in the corner cooler filled with lemonade
supplied the refreshments. Along the wall,
Just in front OF the entrance, chairs were
placed for spectators, and rs this last ar
rangement caught the eye of the other
newspaper man, he leaned over and said he
knew something and would like to bet
Now when piol,s church-member. under
the very shadow OF the tabernacle, is seized
with a desire tc, wager lucre received
through the medium OF Il printing office,
there isn't any great big chance for spec
ulation even by a Ten Brock jockey, for he
has given the subject OF foundation mature
thought, and rests on the primary granite.
ssI'll just bet you, said he that ''those chairs
in front of the door will be q regular loung-
ing resort, and in less than week the wo-
man kind will be located there, for Staun-
ton girl will go any place under the sun,
moon or stars that beauX, carriages or legs
will carry her," and sure enough before the
prediction was ended a regular Staunton
legislature audience, except the giils, had
taken possession Of the chairs.
When the President called the meeting
to order the first business was the assign
ment OF MEMBER to desks. Lots were drawn
and the members took their seats IN the fol-
lowing order, commencing on the left OF
the President : Abby, Evans, Gcoch, Crowlc,
Bumgardner, Berkeley, Cochran, Burke,
Byers. Capt. Ranson's seat will be imme-
diately in the centre of the row, facing the
President. The regular business was then
proceeded with:
From the Finance Committee the follow
ing reports were presented and adopted.
To instruct city attorney to proceed against
Heber Ker, late city treasurer, the next I'll lie
day list Monday in August unless i'll the
meantime he shall make settlement with
finance committee rejecting the petition
Of DR.. Donaghe, for refunding o: $232 paid
on the Main street improvement. Mr..
Evans objected to the committees report
and favored allowing the amount as rebate
on taxes, but the committees report was
adopted by the following vote For-Fultz,
Gooch. Todd, Burke, Bycrs. Abby against
Cochran, Evans, Berkeley, Crowle, Bum
gardner. The application of M. S. Cease,
for $3.50 to purchase weight and measure
seals for the city was rejected, ARRANGE
mcnts having been made by which the
county's seals can be used in the city. The
petition of Burke & Bradley, for remission
of tax paid under what the assessor certified
to be an erroneous assessmen mt, was refer
red to the city attorney, with Instructions
to ascertain whether Or rot the assessor had
failed to do his duty in not assessing ALL Ii
quor dealers with the tax paid by petition
ers. Col. SINNERS petition for remis sion
of wafer tax was rejected.
A communication was received from j NJ
Hardy, Captain of the Hook & Ladder Co..
stating that the company had vacated its
quar- er$iu the Sullivan Building. At the
invitation OF Capt Cox, the company now
meets in the Engine House Hall, until otrel
arrangements are made.
The Council were notified that the ne "
hose had been received and were fully up to
representation. The threads on the fire plu Is
were ordered to be made of nnfo rm 81 &c
at cost not to exceed So.
The ordinance concerning the storage Of
powder, oils, &C., was referred back to t.ae
ordinance committee for revision.
The committee on Schools were not pre-
pared to report as to the advsablity of con
verting the upper story Of the city Hall into
a school room, bat recommended the re-
moval OF all the city's papers, Sc. from the
old clerks Office to the room adjoining the
present council chamber, and the clerk was
instructed to carry out the recommendation
The committee reported that the City
Hall had been insured for $12 200.
DIR. Atkinson's account of $25 for posi-
norton services, which has been subject
of controversy before the council for months.
was at last allowed, and the committee in
structed to recommend some regulation
governing cases OF this kind
The following school trustees were elect
ed Ward No. l, Isaac Witt, for 3 years
Jno. W. Todd. years c. L. Cook, year
Ward No. 2, II. M. Bell. 3 years w. j.
Nelson, 2 years. inc. B.ESchercr, ST.. is al
ready trustee from Second Ward.
Tie following instructions to various com
mittees were given: Ordinance, to prepare