The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-11


public property committees and also to.
receive the report of President Buckner
in regard to the reorganization of the
committees.
There were only seven members pres
emit, as follows: Messrs. Engleby, Graves,
Mcclellan, Sheehan, Welsh. Watts and
Buckner.
President Buckner, in announcing his
committees, stated that owing to the
changes in Council, it had been necess-
airy to reorganize the committees. There
were some changes in the chairmen of
the different committees. This was done
because those committees have failed
to make reports, thereby seriously ham
pering the business Of Council. The
committees as announced are as follows:
Finance-Messrs. Engleby, Sheehan
and Watts.
Streets essrs. Watts, Welsh and
Huff.
Public property - Messrs. Graves,
Huff and Camp.
Health = Messrs. Huff, Mcconnell
and Graves.
v,
Welsh and Mcconnell.
Lights-Messrs. Welsh, Camp and
Accounts Messrs. McClcllannd,
Graves and Camp.
Ordinance-Messrs. Mcconnell, King
and Rugglcs.
Scwers-Messrs. Shcehan, Huff and
Watts.
Bridges-Messrs. Mcconnell, King
and Sheehan.
Chartcr-Mcssrs. King, Watts, En-
globy and Sheehan.
Official map-Messrs. Watts, Huff
and Graves.
Mr. Sheehan, of the finance commit
tee, recommended that interest DO
paid the Gas and Water Company on it's
bills, amounting to S2,6S2, from July 30
to November S. The interest on these
bills amounts to S43.G4. Tho resolution
was adopted.
Mr. Watts, street committee, read
letter from City Engineer Dunlap. stat
ing that brick pavement and curbing
$50 feet long could be laid around the
front OF the city cemetery, on Tazewell
street, for $500.5O. Mr.. Dunlap said
that pavement ought to be laid here,
and recommended that tho pavement
named in his letter be laid. On motion
of Mr.. Watts this recommendation was
adopted.
Mr.. Watts wanted some information
in regard to the amount of money at
the disposal OF tho street committee for
keeping the streets in repair. lie said
that he had driven over the city and
saw number of places where the eX-
penditure of a few hundred dollars
would put the streets in passable con-
dition.
City Solicitor Miller reported to Coun-
Gil what had been done before Judge
Robertson in regard to the Jail matter
He stated that he had requested the
Judge to refer the matter back to Council
in order that an architect might be en-
ployed to examine Mr.. Dunlap's plans,
and if he thought necessary, make re-
Communications in regard to them.
The principal objections his honor
had to the present plans was in regard
to the ventilation, the lights in the
cells on the first and second floors, and
he thought that some of the cells should
be made larger than others.
He suggested that the Council con-
slider the matter of locating the jail on
new site, inasnuch as the execution
of criminals is liable to be ordered by
the court, and it will be necessary to
have jail yard in which to erect a
scaffold. He thought it would be q
good idea to use the present Jail as a
mayors Office and sell the land on
which the present office stands.
In regard to tho contract which Capt.
ii. Ii. DAWN has to build the additions
to the city Jail Mr.. Miller stated that
he had had conversation with Mr..
DAWN and was satisfied that he would
claim no damages for violation of CON
tract and all he desires is to be compen-
slted for the work he has done.
Mr.. Watts favored the idea Of taking
the $4,000 appropriated for n Jail and
mayors office and putting up one struc-
ture, having the MAYORS office, police
headquarters and police justice, if that
Office should be created, in the front OF
the building. He condemned tho pre-
sent Jail in unmeasured terms. lie said
he had been in the Jail, but not as a
prisoner, and did not think he had ever
been in more horrible place in his life.
lie had heard the Jail condemned, not
only by citizens of Roanoke, but by Wis
itors. and two distinguished gentlemen
who came here Ouce compared it to the
Black Hole OF Calcutta.
Mr.. SheehaR said that aithou 9Th he
had never been in tho jail. he thoue hit it's
condition must not be 80 bad, as he had
never heard any com plant of it. The
Jail had been ia use for a number of
years and had seemed to answer all
purposes except that it was too small.
Council had adopted plans for It's en-
largement and work had commenced on
it.
He did not like tho idea of Council
ordering thing done at one meeting
and then at the next meeting recon
sidering It's action. lie did not give his
consent to any plan without first giving
it very careful study. and after ne had