The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-28
Mayor Message.

mayor MeSSaSe-
AT the meeting of the Council last week
the special committee reported adversely
upon the petition Of citizens asking that
the question of the city subscribing $780,
600 to manufacturing enterprises be sub.
mitted to the voters of the city.
MAYOR COCHRAN MESSAGE.
The following message from the Mayor
was read =
To the Honorable City Council
Gentlemen,-In compliance with pro-
vision. in our City Charter, which makes it
my duty to communicate to your honor
body at least once !, year "a statement of
the condition Of the city in relation to its
government, finances, &c, !" beg leave to
submit the following and will endeavor to
be as brief as possible
A summary of debt statement as of jan
uary LIST, 1884, is as follows:
Bonded debt. $29S 200. 90
Floating debt. ............. 613,5l
Balance due the city,. 24.574. 62
Amount held by sinking fund. 44,O54, 50
The interest upon our debt has been
promptly paid, and all classes of our bonds
command a premium. AS the City Treas
lirer sends TO your body monthly reports as
to the financial condition OF our city,
deem it unnecessary to SAY anything fur
Their upon this subject.
Our Public seEOois, under the manage
ment Of Mr.. VIM. a. Bowles, Superin-
show an enrolment as of January LIST, 1884, of sol
white pupils and 42S colored--totsil a2i--a larger
number than has ever been enrolled in any pre-
ceding year, and about 81 per cent. our entire
school population, (all those between the ages
of and q years.) The cost oftuition per capita
is about 81 cents per month. The health of the
pupils and the general condition of the schools
are excellent.
Besides our public schoos,we have quite a
numbefs.of most excellent private schools, and
citizens of Staunton may justly feel proud of
our niany excellent female seminaries. These
20 different states, and are first-class in ali of
their appointments having few equals any
States.
Z. Sineeahe purchase of the supply of water from
the Baldwin Augusta Fair Company, the city
llias purchased 53acres of land from Miss Don
agile, upon which the celebrated Gum Spring is
located, and this purchase not only materially
increases our. supply of pure water, but also
gives the city control Of the drainage around its
many springs.
:, The purchase last December of an.additional.
boiler ior the engine at the Pump-H House places
the Water " orlss in absolutely safe condi-
ton, and think the citizens of Staunton should
be gratifed to know that they not only have an
abundant supply of pure water for all needful
pur poses, but are as we'll protected against fire
as amy city IN The Union.
!, The Police have been efficient and the city is
very orderly and quiet. Our very efficient Chief
of-Poliee, Capt. James II. Waters, has furnished
Inc with. the following data The total number
Of arrests from January LIST, 1882 to January l>t,
1881, is i6i, and are as follows: drunkenness and
breach of the peace, 37S; larceny %; street-walk-
ing, %; other causes 81. Amount of fines paid
into the city treasury during the year of 1888,
$l,e96.
have been much annoyed by abandoned women
generally coiOred, who would parade our streets
ostling ladies and their escorts upon the Streets
and in some instances forcing unprotected fe-
males from the sidewalks.
BY the vigilance of the Police, and the inflic-
ton of severe penalties, these people have been
taught that it is not expedi MT to advertise
themselves upon the thoroughfares of our city
The Fire Department is very effective, and
think will compare favorably with any vOlun-
teer fire companies in the State. Would re-
commend that the city adopt the plan of put
ting few additional water-plugs in each year
until we.cah. by reason of our abundant sup
ply OF the risk to property from fire
to the minimum.
The Poor have been well provided for by our
efficient oyerseer ofthe Poor, John II. Kurtz,
who is ever ready to provide for those destitute
and needy persons who are compelled to have
assistance from the city. The new Poor-house.
with its increased lodging capacity has been of
great service during the past year.
Would recommend that the Old Reservoir lot
the Hoshogr lot, and also the Crawford lot, near
the Water Works containing about four acres be
sold as sooh as practicable, as all of these prop
critics are entirely unproductiye and useless for
your body the necessity ofoompleting the Opera
House, by improving the stage, acoustics, &C.,
and making the room first-class exhibition
hall in all OF its appointments. This work is
rendered more Necessary by reason of the Ma
sonic fraternity having rented their exhibition
hall for a term of years for other purposes
thereby making the Opera House the only exhi-
bition hall in the city.
The health of our city at this time is good, and
with the exception OF an epidemic OF malig-
nant type of scarlet fever last spring, the death
rate has been quite small.
Would recommend that YOUR body have
LeWiss Creek cleaned out, as soon as practical
bic, from point near ], B. Evans, Esq. to the
Gas House.
AS our city has but meagre supply of manu-
features, would recommend to your body that
liberal terms be offered by the City Council to
any foreign or home company desiring to estab-
ton for term of years, if practicable, from city
taxes be granted on both the plant and working
capital of any company locating in our city.
Would recommend the passage of an Ordi-
nance requiring builders, or citizens desiring to
build to apply to Commissioner of Revenue for
permit for the erection of any, new building
within the city limits, said permits to show To-
Cation, Kind of building, estimated cost, for
whom erected, &c. This will greatly aid the
Commissioner OF Revenue In his duties, aAd
prevent property from being overlooked for tax
alton, as well as show at any time improve
ments being made. j. A. COCHRAN, Mayor
A committee, consisting of Messrs.
Burns, Todd and Witt, were appointed to
confer with City Attorney r. p. Bell, and
report to the Council what right, if any,
the city has to recover from the Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railway Company the
property conveyed to said road for the pur-
poses of Il Round House and Machine
Shops.