Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-07-09
CITY COUNCIL,

The Council was in regular session
and the President. j. A. Cochran, Esq ,
in the chair.
Mr.. Bargamin from the Water Com
mittee, submitted a report made by 6.
W. Eyler, an expert machinist. after ex-
animation of the pump and machinery at
the pump-house. He makes several
recommendations, which are concurred in
by the Committee. The Council author
lied the Committee to make certain linn
tied expenditures, and to procure plans,
estimates, &c.. for an enlargement of the
house, with the view of procuring an
additional pump.
The official bond of the City Treasurer
was presented. and thereupon he took the
oath of office, as required by the ordinance.
Sundry amendments for regulating the
services of water and fire-policemen were
referred to the Committee on Ordinances.
Mr.. Crowle submitted an ordinance
regulating the services of the Superin-
tendent of Streets. the street-hands, &C.,
which, upon suspension of the rules, was
passed.
Mr.. Craig submitted preamble and reso-
lutions respecting the proposed removal
of the home or principal Office of the In
ternal Revenue for the 9th district, from
this city to Warrenton, providing for a
committee to confer with Capt. Shepperd,
and, if necessary, the Commissioner at
"ochinntnn rHhQ mani
mously concurred in, and Messrs. Nc
Quaide, Tams and Bargamin were ap-
pointed on said committee.
Sundry petitions were referred to appro-
pirate committees.
The following message from Mayor
Yost was received and read by the clerk.
1t is as follows:
MAYORS MESSAGE.
TO the President and Members of the city Council
Gent1emen,-In obedience to the provisions
of the charter, herewith submit a "statemeng
of the general condition of the clty, &c, 70
gether with such suggestions as see" PERU
nent. aoo, $780,.
May 1st, the bonded debt of the city aggregated
$50, 900, a sum less than 10 per cent; OF the
estate and personal property. OF this amount,
$4s,30O is held by the Sinking fund, together with
other solvent SecQf1G1oS ana CaSn SullICl6nG W
make SCI 76343, over 20 per cent. of the entire
debt. Since the close of the last fiscal year,
one bond of $1,000 has matured and ID been re;
deemed, and another bond of $4,000 will fall
due on the first of Jan'y, 1887. For. this last,
provision has been made in the estimates for
next, bonds for s19.5OO. bearing 8 per cent. in
terest, due Nov. LIST, 1891, and exempt from city
taxes, may be called in and substituted by
bonds bearing much less rate of interest.
The excellent financial condition OF the Guy
lions the annie SecurtV she offers
her low rate of taxation and her demonstrated
ability to meet with ease the demands that that
will be made upon her, justify the belief that
by the proposed substitution a very material
saving may be effected. The demand for safe
bonded investments has rarely been more pro
nounced than at this time, and there should
be little difficulty in negotiating this loan.
even though the amount be small, at a low rate
of interest.
THE HEALTH
of the city is good Few places of equal size
can boast of so low death rate and fewer still
are blessed with greater freedom from cpl
denies. And whilst these are causes for con-
graduation. and demonstrate the natural adj
duce neglect of those sanitary precautions
essential to the health and comfort of a
growing population.
SEWERAGE AND STREETS.
A thorough system Of sewerage is needed
not network of open and covered drains emp
tying into creek, the grassy sides of which
catch and retain the rank deposits-but a
populous and lily drained sections, and furnish
an underground conduit for those unhealthy
and offensive substances that too frequently
find their way into the street. To this end
Lewis creek should be arched between desg-
mated points, with proper provision made for
flooding it at regular intervals OF whenever
Another suggestion, more immediate and
easier to carry out, is more frequent cleaning
of the streets, especially the principal thor
oughares; Instead of the weekly visits Of the
city carts, the accumulationS, in warm weather,
should be removed every twentyfour hours from
the crowded portions of the city. more thor
0T1Oo nYlpnigad
condition of the open lots, CUTTERS. pavements
and streets. One has but to examine certain sec
tions, even in the heart of the city Qor In
stance, Augusta street from Main to Fredericll)
to be impressed with the force of this sugges-
unsighty appearance of the cutters, the un-
tidy and crowded condition of the streets and
the generally unpleasant effects resulting from
these and cognate causes demand more
searching inspection and prompter application
of the necessary remedies. Under the existing
ordinance, as construed and enforced the ten
ants OF property holders along the principal
CURED to sweep in front of their premises every
Saturday morning. If it happens to be muddy,
instead of dusty, on the last day of the week,
the citizen considers himself exempt rom the
operation of the ordinance, and it seems to be
the duty of no one to make up for the neglect;
AS consequence the streets may go uncleaned
for a fortnight. This should not be tolerated
If the citizen is not required to comply with
the provisions OF the ordinance in wet weather,
then the city should provide for the work.
The approach Of the heated term admonishes
us that there is much to be done before the
condition of the city is neat and inviting as
there is just reason to expect.
There is need of
GENERAL SYSTEM OF STREET IMPROVEMENT,
the details of which the Council is best quail
fed to determine. The work when ordered
should be prosecuted according to the plans
and under the direction OF a skilled engineer.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
are entitled to and have received a generous sup
port from the council. The system is becoming
more and more popular each year, and the per-
attendance school l1tlOn
large and growing. The efficiency of the in
structors and the progress made by the pupils
are gratifying, especially when the difficulties
encountered are considered. Chief of these
difficulties is the very defective accommoda-
lions afforded for the conduct of the schools,
both white and colored.
The old Methodist Institute building, into
crowded. is not only, under its present arrange
ment. grossly inadequate to meet the essen
tails to the progress and comfort of the schol-
airs, but is absolutely unhealthy. The lower
room is damp, dsagreeable and lily lighted and
each pupil in a school room requires 3l3 cubic
feet of breathing space for the main tenance OF
a proper physical and mental condltion, SO
that the best results from study may De real
lied. In some of the more crowded of the rooms
at the Institute, this standard of breathing
space is divided by three, with remainder
over, and the vitiation of the atmosphere,
resulting from the number occupying the
room, is aggravated by the unwholesome odors
of damp walls and Objectionable surroundings.
The recent removal of the offices OF treasurer
building will add to the available space that
may be utilized for school purposes during the
approaching session. This may render further
Accommodations. for the Immediate future,
unnecessary, but in any event the building
should be rearranged and placed in thorough
sanitary condition.
The academy building, occupied by the white
pupils, and the Heidenrick building in which
a number of the colored children are taught,
demand attention. Both of these houses, in
their present condition, are unhealthy, and I'M
fit for the purpose.
The market house building is totally INSULT
Gent in space and altogether unsuited for its
re
practical impossibility of remodeling it, as
to make a desirable school house, a removal of
the schools, as contemplated by you, seems the
only solution of the difficulty. In this connec-
ton permit me to call attention to the report
made to the last Council just before the expi-
ration of it's term, by the clerk of the school
board, and by your predecessors referred to you.
II, a ,at mo o,iv