Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-12

| NAhhoW ESCAPE FROM DROWN1NG.-On last
FRIDAY, the Sth inst, Mr.. Soloman Conan, who
was on his way from Lynchburg to this place,
travelling in buggy, met with very narrow
escape from drowning. At Tyer river, in Nelson
county, about miles above Massie's mills, he
attempted to cross at the fording, having been
told by Mr.. Samuel Oliver that there was no
danger, and in doing so he. with his horse and
buggy, were washed down the stream some dis
lance, and in passing under foot-bridge he
saved his life by clinging to the foet-brldge.
The top of the buggy was knocked off by the
bridge, and the horse after going under the wa
ter several times, made the shore on this side
of the river, the buggy being badly. broken up.
| The water proved to have been about twelve
feet deep at the ford, and the stream was very
rough and turbulent.
| G. A. RICHARDSON is now prepared to fur
nish the Country and city trade with LAKE
HERRINGS, these fish are strictly choice and
warranted good in all respect. Remember the
place for LAKE HERRING and before you by
elsewhere call on,
| C. A. RICHARDSON.
PROF. JOB TURNER.-This gentleman, who is
now on abriefvsit to his friends here, will hold
service in the sign language ON Wednesday
night in the Episcopal Church for the benefit of
the deaf-mutes of the d. d. & B. Institution. 1t
will be an occasion of interest to others than
deaf-mutes.
| Prof. Turner will prosecute his mission labors
for the deafmutes in the several Southern
States during the winter, and in the Western
States in the Spring, and then, after another
visit to his friends here, he will spend the Sum-
| mer laboring in the Northern and New England
States.
| ssGerman Syrup
| Mother medicine in the world was ever given
such test of its curative qualities as Boschee's
German Syrup. In three years two million
four hundred thousand small bottles of this
medicine were distributed free of charge by
Druggists in this country to those afflicted with
Consumption, Asthma, Group, severe Coughs,
Pneumonia and other diseases of the Throat
and Lungs, giving the American people unde
| niable proof that German Syrup will cure them.
The result has been that Druggists in every
town and village in the United States are rec
ommending it to their customers. Go to your
| Druggist, and ask what they know about it,
doses will relieve any ease For sale by Dr.. N. |
WAYT & BRO. and G. w. MAY d Co. declS-eow
UTILIZING CONVICT LABOR.-S0uth
Carolina is inclined to abolish her peni-
Tertiary system, and to lease the con-
victs to persons or corporations who
will provide quarters and guards. This
mode has already been adopted in Geor-
gia and other States Of the South. In
Georgia the companies hiring convicts
pay the State $11 year for each con-
vict, and bear the whole expense of
guards. Eleven hundred convicts are
H. fo
railroads and in mines. Ex-Gov. Brown
and other contractors have entered into
bond to pay to the State of Georgia
$500, 900, in annual instalments of $685.
900, for the use of all convicts for twenty
years from April, 1879.
Diphtheria is very prevalent in Nova
Scotia. One family last month lost nine
children within sixteen days.
Mayors Message.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN
SCHOOL AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
On Tuesday night last, Mayor Balthis
sent to the City Council the following
message:
MAYORS OFFICE,
STAUNTON, Va, Feb 5, 1878. !
Gentlemen of the City Council:
It is my desire in the main to reiterate
a request made in a communication to
your honorable body some months ago;
but before doing so will briefly refer to
other matters of interest.
FINANCE.
The Treasurer reports, each month,
the condition of the finances. / will,
however, give a statement of the indebt-
edness of the city, that may be of inter-
est as showing when and for what pur-
pose the debts, aggregating $266, 100, were
contracted.
Here follows detailed statement of
the city debt and for what it was con-
tracted, the main facts of which will be
found in the statement of Mr. WITT.
The basis from which we derive reve
nues is ample to enable us, at the pre-
sent rate of taxation Zone per cent? to
pay the necessary current expenses, and
| to meet all outstanding obligations, pro-
vided the strictest economy is observed,
and the resources at our command useu
to the best advantage. You will see by
reference to the statement that the $14,
600 of bonds issued in the purchase of
the city alms-house (n0w set apart for
superintendent of water works. will be-
come due in about three years. think
it advisable in making up the next levy
to make arrangements looking to the
extinguishment of that debt.
For further information in regard to
the finances, see report of Fin ,nce Com
mittee here enclosed.
SCHOOLS.
Our public schools are rapidly grow
ing in importance and usefulness. From
very small beginning they have, in q
few short years, attained proportions ex-
ceeding the most sanguine expectations.
Our thanks are due the officers, teachers
and friends of that department for their
zeal and efficiency in the promotion of
popular education among US.
From information furnished by our
able superintendent, Prof. Laid, re-
port that on the oath of October, 1873, a
school was opened in the Academy
building with $50 pupils.
| Two others were opened the same year
with an enrolment of SO pupils.
find that in the following year (187O)
there were:
S1dfsgg pupils enrolled e. e. Az i
Increase during the sl4
January Isl ISIS the schools stood thus
" 70
SO girls...-.....--........ 50
Undertakes building coiored boys..- IS
| Is giIls......... II
Madison street :. boys-.."..." So
| g1rlS...... 40 |
Total 722
There are sixteen teachers, with an
average number of 45a pupils to EACH
Vocal music is taught in all the schools
by Dr. Brown, with satisfactory results. |
These schools are growing in popular
| favor each wear and will Of COURSE re- |