Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-05-26


no wise responsible for it. Our water
works was never intended for q city OF
this size. No one ever supposed at the
time they were installed that they. would
be called upon to supply from 5000 10
10 10000 gallons OF water for the several
mills IN this CRY and had il nor been Tor
the carefulness, the watchtulness and
strict attention to duty OF the Seperintea- /
dent and his assistant, grave and imperl
tive conditions would have confronted as
long ago. No more competant an Officer
fills any position tnan does the SuPerln-
tendant OF the Water Works.
Light In January, 1898, the Secre-
tary oil the Edison Electric Co. made an
offer of three year contract 10 the city
council at cost OF $4,000 per annum.
The council at The time was composed OF
Messrs. Proctor, Lemen, Roberts Little,
Foley, LarkinS and Ssunkle, Democrats,
and Wien and Mann, Republicans, and
one vacancy. Now if there is any dis
satisfaction, you are not responsible for it,
With tie exception OF Mr. Roberts, none
of you were members at that time. The
rate may appear little high and | am in
hopes that other and more liberal terms
can be made with the incoming Council and
the Electric Light Co. The question OF
municipal ownership has been agitated.
In some places this has paid and others
failed, just as in some cities light is lower
than in ours, and in Others mucn higher.
Il have been often asked why the ordi-
nancerelative TO merchants doing a temp
orary business in Marunsburg has not
been enforced. My only ans yer to this
is that the Corporation Attorney declar-
ed the ordinance as invalid and did not
wish to involve the Corporation in dam
age suit. greatly regret that some law
cannot be passed that would cover this
class of cases, but have been legally adj
vised over and over, that under our pres
ent charter and the Code, that nothing
can be done. The Board of Trade re-
Gently requested the passage of some such
ordinance and the request was referred to
the Ordinance Committee but nothing
seems to have come of it and am sure
that Mr.. Parks, the Chairman of the Com
mittee agrees with what | have said in
reference to the subject.
II was much opposed to the construc-
ton of the sewer on John street. not that
was anantagonist to the Kilbourn Knit
ting Mills or any other enterprise, but be-
cause | did not believe that our finances
at that time warranted the expenditure.
Now that the sewer is in however, | hope
some agreement can be made with the
citizens of John street whereby they can
have some benefit OF the sewer by paying
fixed sum and with this sum, the main
can be extended below the water works
and thereby obvate the nuisance that
now exists in the stream under Dry
Bridge. This will also enable the Thomp-
sons and Cunningham to have their
lots filled up and in time the bridge can
be wdened at that point without any cost
to the Corporation.
''As to the officers | cannot say too
much that is favorable They have been
unusually diligent in the performances of
their duties. My report shows that fewer
arrests have been made and fines collect
ed than in any time within the past four
years. Most of the trouble has been
with boys. They have been arrested on
numerous occasions for the charge OF IN
| toxication. Where they purchased their
supplies from do not know and have ex-
hausted all available means TO ascertain.
In every instance they have declared that
they did no drinking in saloons, that
"some one" of age bought their liquor for
them and that some one" always a
stranger.
Finally wish to extend to each of
you my sincere appreciation of the uni
form courtesy extended to me during the
year by everyone of your Honorable
Body and to the retiring members trust
they may have happy and useful future,
and those who remain may serve the city
in the faithful manner that they have done
in the past"
MIR. Parks arose and congratulated the
mayor and members of the Council upon
the suspicious closing OF the year. He
said in short. 81 think we have all done
our duty without the question of politics
entering into our elaboration. The whole
proceedings of the year should be the sub
ject of much satisfaction by the whole
corporate association. | think that every
member of the council has accepted the
responsibility for every act of the council
as body. | was very much surprised
yesterday, however, to hear that was
sorely responsible for the passage OF the
ordinance stopping the boys selling pies
and sandwiches at the B. & o. 1t is re-
ported that the passage OF that section Of
the ordinanc has proven unpopular and
there is question involved in the present
election as to whether we had authority to
legislate on the subject. Now to my
great surprise have learned that | am
responsible for the passage of the ordi-
nance. believe lthat the members of
the Council will all accept the responsible
ity manfully. | have been compelled to
bear the burden of it and hope that you
all will help me to bear it. All through
the stages of the ordinance had grave
doubts as to the constitutionality of the
measure or the ACCESSIBILITY of passing it,
but in Difference to the solicitation of the
interested parties, after considerable ma
nipulation of the original, proposition, the
ordinance was unanimously passed, hence
we cannot understand how, personally,
we could be responsible. In setting the