The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-28
THE WORK OF THE OLD COUNCIL
The Foundation Laid for Perma-
nent Improvements
And the Reorganization of the Municipal
GOvcrHment-Whnt Has Been Done In
Council During the Fiscal Yenr just
Closing Briefly Revicwed-Where the
New Council VIII Take Hold.

q president will be elected. 1t is hot
customary to transact any Other bust
ness and the body will adjourn till the
first meeting in July, when the organi-
cation will be completed by the appoint
ment of committees and election OF city
officers.
The work of the old Council. five of
with progressive strides toward public
improvements. It's organization took
place July /, 1890. All members were
present and two candidates were nomi-
mated for president. They were Messrs.
Buckncr and Hawthorn. The latter re-
ceiyed seven votes and the former five
SO Mr.. hawthorn was elected president
and has discharged the duties of that
Office with dignity and honor.
Ia retiring he was voted the esteem
and regard of his co-workers for the CITY,
at the first meeting in July Mr.. Ham
thorn appointed the council committees.
The First ward had two chairmen, the
Second three and the Third five. This
q was not according to first appointments,
but were so arranged at tho next meet
ing.
At the meeting held August 5, reso.
providing for an official map of the city,
new public school was established in
the northwestern part Of the city.
at meeting held September . it was
decided to employ Rudolph Herring, of
Philadelphia, to prepare 4 map and
plan of sewerage of the city at a cost of
not moro than $500
The question OF the overhead bridges
began when the council was organized
Tho bids were opened Sept. "a and re-
ferred to the special bridge committee
with instructions to award the building
of the approaches to the lowest bidders.
At the same meeting Mr.. Woodward
brought up the question of issuing
bonds for street and sewer purposes.
electric fire alarm system and an addi-
ton to the city jail, all of which was re-
ferred to the proper committees.
Tho council decided to put the work
OF building the approaches to the over
head bridges in the hands Of an engi-
neer, and II. $. boswell was elected TO
that position.
Appropriations from the general fund
for public improvements and other
maintainances Of the city government
were made as follows:
Criminal charges, S1.3OO elections,
5000; fire, $1,000, insurance, $500; in
terest, S14, 600; jail,S1, 200; lights, 81 900,
market house, $1,000; police, 5000;
paupers, 81 800; streets, Sl2, 900; sinking
fund, So, 500; health, $1,000; stationery
and printing, Sl,c00; salaries, $4,000;
water $1,000, police property. $4,000;
cemetery $500; sewers and drains, $50, 900;
bills payable, $4,000 specials, Slo0;
Roanoke county, SEQ g..
These appropriations, amounting to
SS5, 1867, have been increased on sew
eral instances something over $4,000,
not counting the appropriation OF
$50, 600 in bonds voted for the overhead
bridges.
The expenditures TO date are as fol-
lows. Criminal charges, 81, 1S6. 65; cleo
tons, S316.70; fire. 81, 1870; insurance.
$500; interest Ss,9G7.50; Jail, 81, 1898
light, S4, 326.24; market house, 81, 1911;
police, S14.1S0.12; paupers, S4,S74. IS;
streets, Sl9,e3a.72; sinking fund, $4,000;
health, S1.S95. o.: printing, etc., S.
23S.G4; salaries, S0,53i.50; water, 81
21L07; public property, Si,1o9.3S; sew
ers and drains, 3o,2.3.l0; bills payable,
S6,074.25; specials, 500; bridges, So
4S2.sS; Roanoke county, $2a0.G7.
Counting the recent appropriation by
Council, and the amount voted for the
overhead bridges, there is deficit of
$9,5O9.O5.
The greatest expenditure over the APP
preparation was that for streets, being
S2,G33.72 after the additional appropria-
tod of $4,000 was voted for that purpose
a few weeks ago.
The overhead bridge question has
been with the Council since its organi-
za,aon, and the work is not vet COM
plete, although the city has about COM
pleted its portion of the work.
In December the contract between tho
Norfolk and Western and the city con-
corning the construction of the bridges
was contaminated, by which tho latter
Should build the approaches and the
railroad company to erect the iron
spans.
In February ordinances were adopted
for appropriations amounting to over
100000 as follows:
Streets and paving, $50, 900; sewerage
system and drains, Sl50,O0O; public
school buildings, $4,000: electric fire
alarm, So, 900; fire engine house, SIS OCO:
improvements for Jail and mayors
office, $4,000, and city map, ZOO.
The election took place March II and
all the ordinances were carried.
Since that time the finance committee
has been endeavoring to sell the bonds
and have partially succeeded.
The first contract let was for the cleo
trio fire-alarm. which was. awarded to
the GameweA Company after spirited
contest. ~
The contract for cnlarging the city
Jail Yas not let to contract according to
the advertisement for bids. The stone
work was let to Capt. H. DAWN, and the
remainder of the work put under tho
uperintondcncy of the city engineer.
The appropriation for the frcmen's
building in East Roanoke, the purchase
of fire apparatus and hose, has been