The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-11


after IL O'Clock when, they adjourned
they had not gotten through with half
OF their business. They will meet again
to night at 1880 to further wrestle with
public affairs The following are the
most important matters disposed OF at
tho meetieg last night:
Mcssrs. Splitter Sc Company were given
until Saturday to give their final
answer on the purchase of tho bonds.
Thirty dollars were borrowed
from the sewer bond account, half of
which was placed to the credit OF the
street account and the othcr half to the
general expense account. Accounts
aggregating S30,043.76 were allowed
The board OF public works was ordered
TO suspend all city work not now under
contract until Council instructs Thorn to
proceed with the Same.
The city solicitor was instructed to
prepare an ordinance providing for the
final assessment of tho property.owners
on Campbell avenue for the paving of
said avenue. The action of Council
awarding the contract for lighting the
city to w. II. Maokay & Co. was re-
scinded and the committee was in.
structcd to confer with tho officers OF
the Roanoke Electric Light and Power
Company to ascertain upon what terms
and under what conditions tho said COM
pany will contract with the city of
Roanoke for lighting the city properly
with electric lights.
That is all Council did last night, but
what time they had doing it. This
was their first meeting in the new cir.
cult court room and every Councilman
had brand new desk and arm chair.
When President Buckner called tho
body to order the city fathers sat in
their new chairs with becoming dignity,
but before the meeting was half over
they abandoned their chairs and desks
and congregated around the stoves. The
room was both cold and poorly lighted
a message was read from Mayor
Trout calling attention to the non
acceptance by w. Ii. MacKay & Co., of
the contract awarded to them for light
ing the city by electricity. He recom-
mended that the question of lighting
the city be again taken up by Council
and thought that fifty arc lights would
be sufficient instead of ono hundred.
lie also called attention 70 the ordinance
prohibiting aid being given to the de-
serving poor outside OF the almshouse
benevolent associations have done
much to relieve this suffering but they
cannot be expected to do it all. The
mayor did not think Roanoke had an
unusually large number of poor people,
but those who were here should be
Carn0 for He ~ u,1o
If temporary aid was rendered, the peo.
pie could get along and thus avoid being
sent to the almShouSe and becoming a
charge in the city.
On motion of Mr.. Dupny the recon-
mendation relating to the electric light
question was passed until the report of
the light committee had been presented.
Mr.. Crabill stated that the ordinance
committee would report an ordinance
covering the second recommendation
and this was also passed.
The board Of public works reported
en- number of matters referred to them
in regard to street grading and also on
the condition OF street work. But lit
tie progress has been made on sewers
and drains on account of the cold
weather. communication was read
from Police Justice Turner asking for
some new furniture for the police court,
which was referred to the public prop
erty committee.
Mr.. McClelland, chairman Of tho
finance committee, presented lengthy
report showing cash balance on hand
of $50, 4S3.s3. The committee also re.
ported that Messrs. Splitter e. Co. had
not responded to the additional informa-
tion sent them in regard to city bonds
and recommended that they be given
until Saturday next to do so and that
the clerk OF Council telegraph them the
action of Council. In the event Of
Splitter & Co. failing to comply with tho
negotiations by next Saturday the com
mittee requested that they be authorized
co dispose of all bonds which, IN their
judgment, may be necessary.
The bond question evoked lengthy
discussion and before it was concluded
the finance committee hardly knew
where they "were at" The discussion
started on Mr.. Hawkins motion to
adopt the recommendation. Mr..
Laughery stated that he would like to
hear from the city solicitor on the ques.
tion, and Mr.. Randolph then stated the
status Of the transaction as far as he
was concerned. He had given their
agent all the Information he had asked
for, and while absent from the city on
business additional information was
asked for. This was furnished upon
his return.
Mr.. Fackenthal stated that the rea.
son that the finance committee asked
for this additional time was because of
the fact that they understood the last
letter of the city solicitor had not been
sent until last Friday Mr.. Randolph
hereupon informed Council the letter
had been sent Thursday.
Mr.. Pattie put the next thorn in the
side OF the finance committee. who
seemed to be regarded as tho champions
OF Snif2nr e Co Ua nndnratnnn thn