The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-09
The City Council.

The Council met last Tuesday night, the I'll
instant, III regular session, the president of tn,
body. Mr.. Cochran, IN the chair. The following
members answered to their names upon the
call of the roll: Messrs Crowle. Craig, Butts
Bargamin, Berkeley, McQuaide. Summerson
Tams, and Teabo.
Mr.. Berkeley, of the auditing committee
presented number of miscellaneous ac-
| counts, which, he stated. had been exa mined
and found correct. Ordered paid.
! Petition of James r. Taylor praying that GER
tain taxes paid by him to city treasurer on real
estate situated outside the city limits. amount
| ing to sos. 40, be refunded, was presented. On
motion, said amount was ordered to be refunded
TO petitioner.
Bids We're opened for furnishing an addi-
tional engine for the city water works. one
bid submitting two propositions, being from
the Deane Steam Pump Company OF Hoyoke,
Massachusetts. and one frem the Worthington
Pumping Engine Company. After consider
able discussion by Messrs Butts Bargalnin and
others, the matter was laid on the table.
Mr.. Craig, from the committee on ordinances.
submitted the following:
s.Be it ordained by the Council for the City Of
Staunton ]. That from and after the LIST day
of October next. the superintendent and As
of this city be prohibited from doing any work
on MIGRANTS and on private lines of water
pipes, when such work can be done by any
mechanic OF this city; e1cept, that no new
hydrants shall be erected or new water pipes
laid by any such mechanic without having first
received written permit therefor from the
superintendent OF the Water Works or from
the water committee; and any such new work
shall be reported by the mechanic doing the
same to the superintendent of the Water Works
within IS hours after its completion, or the
water will not be turned on any such work
until after said report Is made and work rec
commended to be in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the existing ordinance con-
shall be imposed upon the mechanic doing such
vided.
80 This ordinance shall be in force from and |
after October l, 1885, and any clause or clauses |
Of the existing ordinance concerning the Water |
Works of this city in conflict herewith, Is or |
are hereby repealed"
Mr.. Tams, from the special committee on |
electric lights, read IL contract drawn by the |
Thompson Houston Company, proposing to |
put the system in operation here within 60 days |
OF its acceptance, the cost of the plant not to /
exceed $500. Mr.. Tams for himself and on |
behalf Of the committee to whom the matter |
had been referred, urged the adoption of the |
Thompson-Houston system, and the closing of
the contract submitted by that company. He
stated that he had, company with other
members of the Council, visited number of
cities where electric lights were in use, and
from the best Information no could obtain from
all available sources, it was the opinion of the
committee that the Thompson Houston system
was the best, and that from careful estimate
that he had made, the figures of which he pre-
sented to the Council, the charge of lighting by
electricity wonld be justified on the SCORE Of
he showed that for about the same
annual cost, OF less, that Is now paid for gas,
the city would obtain about thirty weight times
more light than at present by using the cleo
trio light system.
Colonel James H. Skinner as o nronerty.
holder, taxpayer, and stakeholder in the Gas :
10 pc heard in opposition to the proposed &
change. He said that from Investigations that l
ne had made the lighting of the city by cleo
tricity would be expensive and most likely not | +
meet the expectations of those favOring it's
ldoption He said that it would be better to =
'xpend the money that it would cost In put O
ing the streets in better order. and thus give U
employment to the laboring mon; he also \
bought that 1t was likely. that the gaslight | b
company would be able, at no distant day, TO I
educe the price of gas.
After further discussion and explanations by
Ii. Tams, the Council. on motion of Mr.. Me-
suaide. unanimously decided to adopt the r
hompsoh- Houston system, and ordered the O.
losing of the contrae: with that company. s.
number ofpetitions, etc., were presented o.
nd appropriately referred. a.
Julius G, Soheffer was elected Chief of the
lire Department, his opponents in nominal
lon being - f. Terry and ]. A. Shuey.
On motion, Council adjourned p