The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-01


heroic efforts to overcome them and
achieve such results as would carry our
schools to the forefront in point of sub
stantial and successful work
determined and continued efforts
have been made to this end, and for the
past three years, and my honest convic-
ton is that we have made rapid and solid
gains i'll that direction.
in order to carry out our purposes
| more efficientlyssand completely we have
adopted and put into successful opera
tlon an up-to-date course of study, full
and complete i'll every particular. Be-
| lievlng that our duty to the State and
| to the city demanded the best teaching
force obtainable, we have not hesitated
TO lop OIL those who are inefficient from
any just cause, and put in stronger ones.
AS consequence, our grammar schools
have improved not less than 80 per cent.
In the past three years, and we are look
ing for the happiest results from the re-
cent changes 1t is the purpose of your
board and myself to leave no stone I'M
turned TO accomplish the most fruitful
! results with the means furnished u.s.
In all seriousness our high school is
gem. 1t cannot be surpassed, if equal
eel IN the State. It's teachers are splen-
didly equipped and are doing magnifi-
| Gent work. AS II further aid to the de-
velopment of our schools we have a
teachers institute established for the
purpose of studying the latest and most
approved methods of instruction and
management as ascertained by the pa
tient study and close observation of the
best trained intellects of the teaching
world. BY all available means we are
endeavoring to secure IL skilled body OF
teachers 10 train our young people prop
erly. This requires time, patience, good
Judgement and, may say, nerve
II would most earnestly and respectfully
call your attention to our needs of a new
building in the Northwest and South
west, and additional rooms at Gilmer
street school. They are imperatively
needy and should be given at the earliest
practicable moment Commerce street
school cannot be continued another year
without new heater. Several radiators
in Belmont school need repairing very
much. The blackboards in all the school
rooms need repairs. The report also
shows that during the past year seven
schools were in session-five white and
two colored, with 81 white teachers and
colored teachers. The total number of
pupils enrolled, 1913. The length of the
term nine months; number of buildings
owned by the city, 3, valued at 500, 900;
value of school furniture and apparatus.
s., 9S795.
1.-The expenditures for school purposes
We're as follows: Teachers salaries, S15.-
!05 Janitor wages, 5000; clerks salary,
S24O; repairs land alterations, 1891 81:
printing and advertising, SS6 90; books
for INDECENT children, $15. 90; fuel, 1851. 10;
furniture, $50; stationary, etc, 5000;
salary of superintndnt, 5000; insurance,
Sl2lT0; rents paid and to be paid, $500;
treasurer's commissions on Stat fund,
SllIO3; on city fund, $37557, making
agrand total of $50, 066S5, or a cost of
10 cents per month to each pupil enroll
ed'i
REPORT ON LIGHTS.
The committee on lights submitted the
following report 1.-The only question
before the committee during the wear
were the matters pertaining to the pro
posed light contract with the Roanoke
Electric Light and Power COMPANY. and
that OF locating several additional lights
All ct these Wattcrs remain uncomnleted
in so fur as the work is concerned. but tho
committee has considered and reported
To Council thereon from time to time
such action as it deemed necessary and
proper To adopt
The Council is well aware of lhc
status OF the differences between the CITY
and the Roanoke Electric Light and
Power Company, and the causes which
prevented contract from being entered
into, and the committee does not deem
1T necessary to enter into the details of
this matter i'll this report. AS to the
lights located during the year by the
committee, seven i'll number these have
not been placed by the company. owing
to complications in the contract proposed
to be entered into. One of the matters
of Importance referred to this committee
some time ago, was that of making in
VestlgatiOns concerning the cost of n
plant to be owned and operated by the
city for lighting. This question has been
looked into very fully, and the commit
tee is able ut most any time to estimate
the cost of light plant, together with
the operating expenses, but for the lack
of ways and means to equip r. plant we
have not deemed it proper at this time To
make any recommendations We
think, however, thai the question should
he continued with the light committee.
with instructions 10 push their inyestipa-
lions and endeavor to devise WAYS and
means for properly equipping a plant
for lighting the city.
THE following will show the cost of
lighting the city and public buildings for
eleven months of the fiscal year: Street
lights, $40, 4S3.20: Council chamber.
500. Sc; Jail, S235. %; courthouse. $113. Oh:
Fourth ward market $156. 10; Third
ward market S1733; Fourth ward en-
CINE house, S96.7S; Third ward engine
house, 500 50; opera house, 1876 81, max