Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-08-20
LOCAL.
[egis|ating On City Affairs.

LGgl0ldllllg UN Ully AlldnS.
THE BRIDGE OVER THE c. & o. TO SEARS
HILL-THE ELECTRIC LIGHT-IMPOR-
TANT HEALTH MovEMENT-PER-
sONAL MATTER.
&C., &C., &C.
The City Council held its regular meet
ing on Tuesday evening last with Presi-
dent j. A. Cochran in the chair and the
following members present-Messrs G
Bargamin, F. B. Berkeley, A. J. Butts,
W. E. Craig, J. y. Crowle, Jno. Nc
Quaide, M. B. Oberdorfer, W. F. Sum-
merson, W.. P. Tams. and Jas. W. Teabo.
REPORT OF THE STREET COMMITTEE
THE FOOT BRIDGE OVER THE
G. & o. RAILWAY.
Chairman Crowle of the Street Commit
tee, reported in favor of dismissing the Pc
titions of DIR. G.. S: Walker and Mrs. F.
o. Heydenrich, relating to drainage, and
granting that of s. T. Thornburg & Co.,
for gutter on Johnson street. The report
was adopted.
The committee also made report on
the petition of e. T. Palmer and others,
asking for foot bridge across the railroad
at the g. & o. depot, ascending Sears
Hill. Accompanying the report were esti-
mates of Civil Engineer e. W. Oltmans,
showing that an iron bridge feet wide.
20 feet high, and SO feet long could be
erected for 1856, and a wooden one for
$500. The committee reported favorably
to the erection of a bridge, and recon-
mended that the council appropriate a
share of the money to build it.
Mr.. J. E Graham, one of the signers of
the petition, addressed the council in its
behalf. He said that about 1925 had been
subscribed by property owners to be bene-
flied by the Improvement, and it was only
asked that the council SHOULD appropriate
$3.50 out of next years street appropria-
tion. The petitioners would carry loan
of the latter amount IN bank until the ap-
preparation became due, and thus be en-
abled to proceed with the work at once.
He urged the claims of the taxpayers of
that locality to some aid, seeing that
while the city collected their tax regular
ly, it had not spent one dollar to improve
their situation.
Mr.. Teabo inquired upon whose ground
the two ends Of the bridge would rest
and what we're the rights given the city in
che matter; he said he didn't want the
city to get another Round House case on
its hands.
Mr.. Graham replied that DR.. Fultz; ad-
ministrator Of the Sears estate, had sub
cribed to the improvement and promised
riglt of way free of cost.
The matter was referred back to the
Street Committee for more detailed re-
port.
THE TELEPHONE POLES.
A letter was received from Supt. Nc
Cluer of Richmond, Of the Telephone
Co.. suggesting that the city extend the
time for the removal of the poles. If the
present suits go against the Bell Co., then
the company the poles belong to. being
freed from the payment of loyalty to Bell
could furnish a telephone exchange to
Staunton very cheap, and until these suits
were decided no other company could put
up line here. The council decided to ex-
! tend the time.
WATER COMMITTEE.
Chairman Bargamin reported in favor
of remitting the fine of SIS imposed by
Mayor Y ost on Jacob Brown for using
water when he owed SIS back water tax
the remission of the fine to be conditional
on the payment of the overdue water tax.
Adopted.
HEALTH MOVEMENT.
Chairman Craig of the Health Commit
tee made report. 1t recommends that
the proprietors of the s'Staunton Steam
Mills" be required to fill up water pond
on their mill foundation, and that the own
ers of all sunken closets in the territory
bounded by New Court House, Augusta,
Frederick and New Streets, be required to
fill them up with earth and substitute water
closets for them within 80 days as required
by the I'd section of the ordinance adopted
February, 1886. The report was endorsed
by the Board of Health. The Council
legal notice be at once given to the owners
concerned.
An ordinance reported by Mr.. Craig
prohibiting the officers of the city water
works from doing work for private citi-
zens on MIGRANTS, and making some regu-
lations about the mechanics who under
take the work, was referred back to the
committee.
LEASING CITY PROPERTY.
Chairman TamS of the Committee On
Public Grounds, reported in favor of leas-
ing to the Augusta Creamery Co. a piece of
land near the water works for creamery,
at $50 year for one year with the privi
lege of five, on which to erect creamery
building. Discussion of it showed so
many obstacles to its passage, and so
much legal trouble in the future which
could only be avoided by specific con-
tract, that it was referred to the City
Attorney to draw up one.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
i, Mr.. Tams of the Special Committee
composed of Messrs. Tams, Butts and
Bargamin-who returned Sunday morn
ing from their trip to Danville, Va, Will
mington, N. G., and Washington city, to
examine the Thompson Huston system
| made report. The committee found at
Danville Ia city which owns Its gas works.
Thompson Huston electric plant cost
ing SO 900, run by water, and lighting go
lamps 500 feet apart in a district a mile
square. The cost for power was $14 per
horse power per annum. The plant need
ed no repairs and was in all respects sat-
isfactory to the city.