The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-07-17
coIored.

PARK BY White and
coIored.
| The city council held three and a half
hours session Thursday night The
mayor and all members were present ex-
cept Messrs. McCracken and-Wallace.
Mr.. Cole. of Finance, presented the bill
for the new street sprinkler, including
freight. amounting TO S25l 20, which
was ordered paid. Several small bills
were also ordered paid. Mr.. Wroten, of
Public Property, asked that Mr. A. T.
Embrey I've heard in regard to an applic6-
ton for privileges on the sidew alks for the
purpOsed improvements to the Masonic
Lodge. Mr.. +. stated that the Lodge in
tended making important changes in the
Masonic Building. and in order to do SO
il would be necessary to use not more
than ~ feet of the sidewalk, and a grant
to connect with the south wall of the fire
department building. all this to be
under the supervision of the Street Com
mittee, and the Council to have power
when il sees fit 20 revoke privilege.
Granted.
Mr. Embrey, a. a citizen. asked the
Council to change the conditions around
the Mayors office He, in behalf of the
property owners on the square, objected
to the Mayors office being used as n
morgue by the coroner and cited three
Instances when dead bodies of men who
met death by accident had been brought
there in the past six months. He also
objected to the motley crowds which ne
semble in front of the Mayors office every
morning He suggested that the lower
rooms OF the City Hall fronting the mar.
ket house be fitted up and used as a po-
lice court when the Mayor tries cases and
that the prisoners he brought from and
carried TO the jail through the alley. He
also suggested that radical changes be
made in the Council chamber and the
wall between it and the present Mayors
Office to- cut away and the latter room be
fitted up for spectators who might desire
To witness the deliberations of the Coun-
ell Col. Cole moved that the matter be
referred TO the Public property committee
TO get estimates of cost. etc. for the pro-
posed change
Mr.. Emhrey reported work commenced
in cleaning up the streets of the city He
also said the joint committee on street
improvements cannot take up permanent
street improvements until the water and
gas committees have made a report on
mains and piping along the street Col
Cole said the taxpayers were getting
restless under the delay in making per
rnanent improvements on the street: that
these improvements had been promised
and they should be made at once This
led to a general discussion of the i'm
provements of sidewalks Messrs. Cole
and Embrey We're in favor of widening
the sidewalks two feet. cutting down all
the trees on Main street and taking
down all cross signs. Mr.. Jones was OPP
posed TO widening the sidewalks, but
favored cutting down all trees and TAX
ing down signs on Main street Mr.
Wroten favored widening the pavements,
hut said the man who came down in his
portion of the city to cut down the beau
tiful trees would be met with men with
shot-guns. Mr.. Jones wanted the streets
wide. as in a short time he expected TO
see an electric street car line down Main
street. Then Mr. +. Z. Stearns, contrac-
tor for the new building OF W. 4. Bell 4
Bro, was heard ia regard 20 the vault
now being extended twelve feet under
the pavement in front OF the building.
Mr.. Jones called attention to the ordi-
nance which prevented theextension over
~ feet. Several resolutions were Offered
granting Bell X Bro the privilege Of ex-
tending the twelve feet wanted, hut each
was defeated. MIR Stearns stated he had
"A permit for the twelvef feet signed by all Of
the street committee, and had made his
plans accordingly The matter was left
in this shape by the council and the right
to continue work under the permit was
refused
Mr.. Rowe then offered resolution re-
questing the joint committee to bring in
"A report as to widening the sidewalks
the material to be used in same and ali
data connected with street improvement
at a meeting to be held Monday night.
Carried.
Mr.. Cole said the sewer committee did
not consider it necessary to have the pro-
posed sewer map at the present time
Mayor Willis, reported fines SCI.
The penalty for not making sewer con
nections in the time specified was left to
the discretion of the Mayor in view of
the scant water supply.
Mr.. Perry, of Health and Police, sub
mitted the annual health report of officer
j y. Barney The death numbered 10T
Births 81.
Mr. Dannehl ofierrd resolution as to
use OF Hurkamp Park, restricting the
hours for use OF same from a. IN. to ,
p. m. for colored people. and p. IN. to
ii am. for white, which was referred to
ordinance committee. Or motion of Mr.
Chancellor, an election was held for Clerk
OF Market. Two candidates were voted
for, Messrs Sam Fitzhugh and Geo. A.
Mills Mr. Mills received one vote and
Mr.. Fitzhugh was reelected with a sala-
ry of $50 year
Mr.. W. S. Embrey gave notice that he
would donate a site for the Mercer Mon
ument at the corner OF Spotwood and
Weldon streets
Mr.. j. ii. Robinson was reelected chief
OF the Fire department.
An electric lamp was ordered placed
at the j. w. Adams corner on upper
Main street. The Council then adjourned