Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-03-08

The following IS an outline OF the
message Mayor tJuo. l.. Mercer woald
have read before the City Council We'd
nesdsy night. had that body met. II is
so iulI OF good slid advice We p, sent it
10 our readers:
WuIIAMSBU re. VA, March 4th 1902
To THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG.
GERTLEMEN.-There are some matters
deem it my duty TO invite your atten-
ton, with the hope that, If in your opin-
ion the financial condition ofthe city will
justify the expenditure, YOU VIII make
the necessary appropriations therefor.
Thete-eut heavy rains here demonstrate
cd the fact that the drains along many
OF the streets need grading, 50 that the
water accommodating on the sides OF
the streets can be taken by easy fall 10
the culvcrts. and not as II now the case
permitted 70 stand IN large ponds until
absorbed by the earth. This may re-
quirC the service of an engineer. out
cannot thiak Il would consume more
than four or hvc days, and when once
done think the grades could be maintain
ed by labOrcr Of ordinary intelligence.
under the supervision OF the Street Com
missiOners. In tins connection cannot re-
train from referring TO the horrible con
dition OF the sidewalks and crossinQs
during and subsequent TO the baf,
YEA, her lately prevailing For a week
ca thereabouts n was utterly Impossible,
Tor our citizens to use the south side ed
Duke OF Gloucester street (and presuuig
there were other streets IA the citycuual-
~ as bad) without getting over their
shpo-tops IN mud, while the north side
OF this street. IN certain sections thereof
was ittlc, ii any, better. The matter
thcrtiorc. Cf providing better sidewalks
and a more satisfactory system of drain.
aye for surface water IS urccrtly brought
To- Your attention. With the request hat
YOU viii take such steps as viii improve
the present conditions. Should IL be
found impossible 70 accomplish all that
may be dcsucd along these lines in any
one. two,or three years the Improvement
can be commenced. the amount supple
mentCd by additional appropriations
each year, ADD thus. in n few years al
most. these much needed i'm lrovemeuts,
/ could be accomplished.
would further recommend that the
/ planting ct shade trees along our streets
50 successfully began last spring. be con
| unucd, and that n sum not less than sos
/ ne appropriated for this purpose at once
So that tie Street COMMISSIONS may
/ proceed with this work before IL IS too
late IN the Spring:
! respectfully call your attention 20 the
/ fact that the streets ia that portion of
| tie city. taken into the cooperate Hni.s
/ los the provisions 90 q c las, charter and
kno wn as The West End, have never
! been named nor have the sidewalks been
| measured of aud gwen fixed and uniform
| W1cths. / would rccOmme nd that the
/ Council take this matter up forc0nsidera.
/ ton and that the necessary ordinances
be prepared and presented for carving In
TO effect such action cfthc council as may
| cc deemed wise aud best for the interest
i ol the CITY and the welfare of the people
of that section.
Your special attention is called TO the
/ great need oi providinga walk way from
the southeast corner of the brick encios
ure around he old church To the proper
" OF the Williamsburg Knitting Min Co
| Many Of the operatives at thus Mill are
girls of tender age and Young ladies, who
regardless of what the weather condi-
tiSns may be. have TO make thcig way.
as hest they can from Duke 81 Glouces ter
street 10 the Knitting Nil, much TO their
! discontinue and With great daueer to
their health. This applies with equal
/ iolSS TO lA.c SitllCrS " no reside ON Palace
street as well as 10 those who worship
IT the PRESBYTERIAN church located on
tins street. At one point along this lire
| there Is literally no walk,way left al all
! and persons have 10 goOut into the drive
| way IN order TO get around the front en-
closure OF one OF the residences located
thereon. ] his should no longer be per
United. For ample authority in the pre-
misses you are referred to section SO of
the City Charter, page 7S7; Acts of As
sembly 1S99-19OO.
have again TO call your attention TO
| the very unsatisfactory service we are get
| ting from the present system OF street
| lighting. l have TO hesitation in saving
that in my Judgment, the city is not re-
ceiving a 'quid pro quo" This contract
Will expire on the 3oth day OF MAY next
and unless there is some marked impro-
vement in the service. | could not con-
| sistently recommend a continuance of
the same.
The Jail for the city and county is ex-
ceedingly insecure, two prisoners have
within the last few days made good
their escape theTeirom with apparently
little trouble. l would suggest that a
committee DC appointed TO meet a simi-
lar committee from the County Board OF
Supervisors 10 take into consideration
means by which the jail can be made
more secure, and make written report o
same together with estimated cost, at
the earliest time practicable.
mo MERCER Nfovor