The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-20

Council jumped OH the Gas and Water
Company with both feet last night and
tho fire department was given re-
minder that tho Council is still here
Tho Commonwealth avenue fire of
Tuesday morning was tho text for the
report Of the fro and water committee
submitted by Chairman McCarty.
Tho report called tho attention OF
Council to what il considered an utter
disregard of tho city's safety by the Gas
and Water Company in cutting of the
water supply to mako repairs to pumps
and pipes, and expressed the opinion
that the company has forfeited its char
ter Ny dating Inc conditions Of It's
contract with the city by failing to
notify tho fire department that water
was cut off.
series OF recommendations wero
submitted and acted upon in order of
number. The first instructed the city
solicitor to tako the necessary steps to
have imposed the fino or penalty for the
oifense imposed by city ordinances.
This was adopted by vote Of l2 to A
Messrs Fackenthal, Pattie, Stevenson
and Loughery voting no.
The second recomm endation instruct
cd the city solicitor to examine further
into the matter and ascertain whether
or not tho company has forfeited it's
franchise and report to Council. Thu.
was unanimously agreed to.
The third instructed the chief OF the
lire department to investigate tho
N
dition for service. First Assistant
Chief Englcby was present and stated
that tho engine was all right, but that
the engineer didn't know how to operate
it in the creek. Mr.. Stevenson stated
that handful of cinders wore taken
from the valves. Inquiry developed tho
lact that tho engine was used a week
before VIC fire to pump water at tho
electric lighs plant. Tho recommenda-
tiCn was adopted, with an amendment by
Mr. Pattie instructing The public prop
ertY committee to act with the chief OF
the fire department.
The committee recommended further
that the engine be not used except in
case Of fire, and that fne of $40 be
imposed for each violation of this reso-
luton. Mr.. Faclenthal thought that
it would be improper to adopt the
last recommendation and it was unan-
imously digagreed in.
MIR. Dupuy stated that Chief Knepp,
of the fire department, and Manager
Rawn, OF the water company, wero be-
fore meeting Of tho board OF fire in.
surance underwriters yesterday after
noon. He did not consider the fire de-
partmont was to blame and said that il
was plain that the Gas and Water Com
pany must increase it's pumping capac-
ity or reserve supply.
a communication was submitted by
Mayor Trout notifying Council that
Vinton is endeavoring TO obtain an in
junction to prevent tho city from drain
ing sewage into Tinker Creek, and ask.
ing that he be authorized to employ adj
ditional counsel to defend the city's
interest. This matter was not included
in the call under which the meeting
was held, but as the case is to be argued
before Judge Dupuy at Bedford county
to morrow, the Council resolved that it
was the sense OF the members present
that the mayor take such action as he
considers eXpedient.
Bids for lighting the city with so to
100 arc lights were opened. w. II.
Mackay Sc Co. were the lowest bidders,
offering to put in plant and furnish
the lights at 10 cents each per night,
provided they be granted franchise 10
construct limos on the streets for Is years
and be given the contract for five years.
w. II. Parker s. Co, of Roanoke, pro-
pose to furnish so lights at 26 conts
each per night, or 100 at "a cents, pro-
vided tho contr-ct is made for seven
years and franchise granted for 20
years.
Tho Roanoke Electric Light and
Power Company proposes to furnish so
lights or more for five years at s9S each
per annum, or for tea years or moro at
S0l and give bond OF S2o, 900 for the
faithful performance of the contract.
The General Electric Company OF
Washington offered to furnish tho re-
ouired number OF lights for slO9. so each
per annum and construct frst.class
plant provided a satisfactory franchise
should be granted
The Southern Electrical Company of
Baltimore submitted proposition to
construct plant for the city, the city
to provide tho building, the plant to
Gos5 So. 900 and $500 per mile for poles
and wiring. An isemized statement of
tho cost of running plant with 100 arc
lights CT 2,0OO,candle power was sub
mittcd, showing that the city could
niht IL, Own lIHEb lOr 4 CSutS pcr l1BnL
per night. The bids were referred to
the light committee.
On Recommendation Of the street com.
mittee w. +. Patterson was awarded
tho contract for matchmaking Henry
street from Church avenue to Maple
avenue.
The time for hearing property owners
on several streets in tho nor invest sec
ton in reference TO the construction of
boardwalks was postponed Till Novcm-
Der S. The street committee reported