Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-09
City Council.


At the adjourned meeting of the Council the
I'd instant all the members present except Mr..
Bell-President Berkeley in the chair
The United States Express Company claims
exemption under the Inter.States law from
City taxation. The matter has been before Inc
Council for same time. The finance committee
made report adhering to the annual tax as
levied under the Ordinance of sl75 for the past.
and 500 for the current year. The report was
adopted.
The assessment OF $500 on the property Of
Mr.. H. NJ McIlhany's lot, East Beverly street
for new sewer was reduced to Sll.75. He con-
structed a sewer several years ago at his own
expense and has no use for the one recently
put down by the city.
| Mr.. Crimmens from the committee on the
Fire department, presented the report of the
Chief Thomas Kivlighan (Which was printed
| in the SPECTATOR last weekly and some OF its
recommendations were approved. That of
| substituting hose-wagons for the carriages now
in use was not. The more important. which
secures additional fire plugs. is one of the APP
proved.
The Board of Health recommends the plac-
ing of a sewer from Green street down the
Valley in the middle of several blocks, thus
affording undertakings to the lots in those
blocks fronting on Beverly and Frederick
streets.
Mr.. Tams, from the committee on Public
grounds and buildings, m ade an adverse report
on the proposition of Mr.. M. T. Pete1fish to
purchase the Old Reservoir lot. He pointed
out the future necessities OF the City in the
water-supply and said it would not be good
policy to part with any of the water supply
resources, nor with the distributing point at
the Old Reservoir.
The report was agreed to.
Mr.. Butts explained that the Legislature at
Its recent session changed some of the details
Of collecting taxes which required amend
ments to the Ordinance governing the same.
He! presented such an amended ordinance,
which was read and adopted under suspension
of the rules.
The various purposes to which the telegraph
poles standing can be made available, which
previously was objected to in part by the corr
poration placing them on the streets had been
a matter of conference. Mr.. McQuaide report
ed plan agreed upon satisfactory to all parties.
and the same was approved, SO there will be
no jar in the future.
Mr.. McQuaide, from the committee on
streets, presented communication from the
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad company asking
for compliance by the city of the payment
5000, the city's portion of the cost of erecting
the footsbridge. The payment Ct the same
was ordered.
Resolutions of enquiry by Mr.. Crowle for the
better and more economical heating of the
Clty-Eall building. and by Mr.. Scheffer for
the reduction of taxes on water-moters were
referred.
An ordinance for protecting and making
regulations governing the Park grounds was
tod n nf
necessity Tor this ordinance, the rules were
suspended, and the same was unanimously
adopted. A policeman Will be on duty there.
Messrs. Ed. Burke and Alex. Hartman, each
of whom now furnishes horse and driver for
the hose carriages. communicated to the
council that the compensation $500 In each
case was not sufficient. The consideration of
the same brought up the present mode of horse
and cart service for the city, as we'll as horses
and drivers for the ire-hose carriages. The
present plan of hiring horses and carts for all
the work required Is expensive. and the
service not full and regular, especially in the
removal of garbage. Mr.. Tams submitted
motion of enquiry which was referred for early
report.
Mr.. Armentrout, who had been instructed
to communicate with the owner of the lot at
the corner of Frederick and Lewis street, with
the view of its purchase by the City for a
courthouse, market.house. etc. stated that he
had been carrying the option for several
months, and he now desired the question OF its
purchase settled. He, therefore, offered q re-
solution that it be taken at a cost not to ex-
coed 81, 000 The whole question, he said. had
been fully discussed, and he moved suspen-
sion of the rules with the view of bringing the
resolution upon Its passage The rules were
suspended, and the vote stood, ayes s, noes 8:
lost, because votes are necessary for the ap-
of sums over q certain amount
and without consideration under the rules. If
the proposition had taken the course Of lying
over under the rules. votes would have Sc
cured its passage.
There was much routine business disposed OF.
Among the petitions were sey eral of proper
ty-holders assigning various reasons why they
should not be required to connect their premi.
ses with the sewerage available for that purs
pose. The cases presented asked the Council
to interfere between them and the City ordi-
nance; but to arrest the order might endanger
the health not only of the owners but of others
in the vicinity. and in the discussion other
considerations were presented. The Board of
Health of its own powers. and in connection
with the Council Committee on health were
desired to consider these cases without de lay.
Mr.. Scheffer, a new member and chairman of
the committee on health, made enquiries In
reference to the details of the work required of
his committeeman stated that the cases should
receive immediate attention.
Dreadful Fatal Accident at Buena Vista
At the Jordan shaft at the iron-ore mine at
Buena VISTA about O'Clock on the morning
o,l