The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-09

Mistake In the City Engineers Office.
In the history of the city, perhaps
no Council has been so busy as the new
one that went in to office the first Of last
month. A thorough and complete or
ganization was at once effected, and dur
ing the month the various committees
have disposed Of the following work:
The committee on accounts, R. J..
Eekloff, chairman, has gone over all
bills and accounts against the city and
examined them thoroughly. The COM
mittee has gone into and examined the
accounts of the registrars, which were
claimed to be in excess of.the amounts
allowed by law and will SUBMIT it's re-
port to Council tonight.
The committee on public property,
w. P. Dupuy, chairman, as ono of it's
first works carefully examined the
bond of Menafee & Ware and reported
that the sureties were amply sufficient
and this report was duly adopted bv
Council. On July &c this committee
submitted a lengthy ard exhaustive re-
port on improvement of public buildings
OF the city wherein it recommended
that new floor be placed in the market
house. that the market and Opera House
be repaired, that stone wall be erected
in front of tho Second ward school
house, that shelving and a fire proof
vault be provided for the new court
house, and that q building be erected
for the colored schools in the Third
ward, all OF which were adopted by the
Council. This committee during the
past month received numerous petitions
for the erection OF market house in
the Fifth ward, and in considering this
matter they have decided that instead
OF building new market that it will
be better to permit the establishment of
green groceries throughout the city.
This committee has also examined
into the construction Of the various pub
lie buildings now in course of erection
in order to acquaint itself with the
character of work.
The fire and water committee, John
MCCARTHY chairman, has devoted con-
siderable study to the present manage
ment of the fire departing mt, and to might
will submit to the Council certain recon-
mendations along that line. At the
same meeting there will be a recon-
mendation to Council to place four ad-
ditional fire hydrants in the Fifth ward.
The committee on lights, j. c. Hough
chairman. has devoted great deal Of
time to the question of thoroughly light
ing the city with electricity. In its re-
port to Council the committee states
tb at in its opinion, the city is under no
obligation to use gas lights, as claimed
under the franchise Of the Roanoke Gas
and Water Company, and recommended
that in the future electricity be used
for lighting purposes. The repor twas
received and the committee instructed
by Council to communicate with and re-
ceive from various electric light COM
panies propositions, which it has done,
and will submit its report to the meet
ing tonight.
M. Fackenthal, chairman OF the
sewer committee, examined and re-
ported that the bond OF w. +. Patterson
for sewer construction is not In proper
form, and that the sureties upon said
bond are insufficient. The contract was
then formally Rewarded to Mr.. Patter-
son by Council and he was given fifeen
days in which to file a new bond. The
report on this matter will come before
Council to-night.
On-July 30 this com mitteo heard prop
erty owners why they should not be
assessed the cost of sewering Salem
avenue, and submitted a recommends.
ton that such owners be assessed only
one-third of the cost of this work. The
recommendation was opposed by several
members OF Council upon the ground
that the former Council had set prece-
dent of assessing the full cost of the
work against the AUDITING property
owners, and it was therefore not re-
ceived. This committee has also sub
| mitted several recommendations upon
minor matters, and will to. night bring
forward full report of their work for
the past month.
The finance committee, r. McClel-
land, chairman, has gone over the
bonds of the auditor and treasurer,
! checked up the books and made a most
satisfactory report to the Council. The
com mittee has recommended apropria-
tions for the ensuing year and compiled
financial statement showing the re-
ceipts and the disbursements, the assets
and the liabilities Of the city.
The street committee, P. j. Loughery,
chairman, has, perhaps, been the busiest
committee Of Council. 1t has carefully
examined into the status Of all street
work, posted itself as to public improve
ments and investigated the controversy
between the street railway and the city
On July 90 it heard property
owners why they should not be
assessed for the paving of Salem
avenue and Campbell street and
have since that time submit
ted to Council a report recon-
mending that the assessment be levied
and the work proceeded with, which re.
port has been adopted Since that time