The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-12
TWO OPINIONS
ON THE FIRE LIMITS AND THE
OVERHEAD BRIDGES.
THE COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGH7
The Fire Limits Compromiscd--The
Bridges TO be Buiiu by Day Labor.
Little Routine business Transacted.
Important Questions Settled

MeSSrS. BuckneT, HduuIloihc, 4de
Cornell, Graves, Mccain, Moomaw
Sheehan, Scott, Trout and WOODWARD
answered to their names rs the clerl
of the City Council called the roll a
SIS o'clock last night. 1t was specia
meeting of the City Council and Mr.
r. II. Bucllner, president of the body
was in the chair.
The ordinance committee repoj tee
an ordinance forbidding trespassine
upon the Union depot platform and
prescribing penalty of not less than
81 nor more than So for each oifense
They reported building inspection
ordinance which was referred back tc
them with instructions to prepare
another document more suitable to
the needs of the city. No report was
made on the streets and sewerage
questions.
They made a report in regard to the
right of the city to let the contract Tor
public improvements without first
advertising for bids, and submitted
The opinion of the city solicitor IN re-
gard 10 it. Mr.. Watts said that up
to March, 1856, the law was
that all public improvements should
be let to the highest bidder
and notice Given at least thirty days
before the work is finally let, by ad-
vertising in newspaper published IN
the CITY, but ut the general assembly
of 1885 the law had been amended so
that the construction of public build
inss shall be performed by day labor
under the supervision and direction
of the city engineer, or such other
person as may be designated by the
council and said engineer or other
person designated shall be governed
by such rules and regulations, as the
council may deem necessary ana con
sistent with the prevailing laws gov
erning labor on public works, but II
the council deem it not to be to the
best interests of the city to have the
work done by day labor, then 1t may
be let to contract to the lowest re.
ponsible bidder, after thirty days
notice by advertisement printed not
less than four times in one or more
newspapers is given. Il am, there
fore, of the opinions said AIR. Watts,
that the council can have the work
done without the thirty days adver-
tisement provided, the work is done
by da V labor and constantly with the
laws govnoring labor on pubic
works and that the city can designate
the engineer of the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad Company to take change
of said work for the city
ntInrp1
that the construction of the overhead
bridges over Park, Henry and Kan
dolph streets be performed by day
labor. and that Charles ). Churchill:
engineer of maintenance of way OF
the Norfolk and Western Railroad
Company, be designated TO take
charge of and superintend saiu work.
Mr.. Churchill was empowered to en-
ploy any number of men AS may he
necessary to complete the work, and
pay rate of wages usually given for
such work.
The finance committee was in
structed to pay for said work, and TO
report at next meeting of council.
The finance committee reported
that they had conferred with CITY
Solicitor Watts in regard TO the mat
ter of requiring police officers to at,
tend on the magistrates court, and
he said that the duty of the duty oil
the police officers require them to at
tend trials by the magistrates when
necessary. They had also seen the
mayor, and he informed them that he
had given the officers notice to thai
effect.
The committe reported favorably
on the petition of j. H. kennerly in
regard to street sprinkler, but adj
versely on the petition of Duerson
and others in regard to improvements
on Church street, as the finances of
the city woulc not justify the improve
ments at this time. The report was
adopted
The bonds of the city treasurer,
$50, 00O) and that of the commissioners
of the revenue, (S13,000) were sub
mitted, and the securities offered ac-
copied.
The finance committee also made n
special report, calling attention to
the recent act of the legislature III re-
gard to the taxable values OF the city.
They asked that the matter be sub
mitted to the city solicitor for thor
ough investigation. he to report at
the next meeting of this body. The
report was adopted.
The petition of the street railroad
company was referred to the street
committee with instructions to get the
city engineer to establish the required
grades and report at next meeting.
The fire and water committee made
a report in regard to the extension OF
the fire limits. The matter was taken
up by wards and the report was
amended, establishing fire limit as
follows:
For Third ward-Commencing at
Shenandoah avenue and Jefferson
street, north. on Jefferson to Fourth
avenue, west to Henry, north to Fifth
avenue, east to Holiday, north to
Rutherford, east to Kimball avenue,
north to Page to the Lynchburg turn
pike, thence to Shenandoah Valley
railroad to Jefferson street.
For Second Workmanship on
Commerce street, running south to
Campbell, east 100 feet to an alley
up alley to Sixth avenue, east to Ran
dolph, north to Railroad avenue,
thence along Railroad avenue to
place of beginning.
For First Ward-Begipning at
Commerce street, on Norfolk and