The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-06-22
CITY COUNCIL
Annual Reports of Com.
mitteeS Received.
AVENUE IMPROVEMENT
New Census to be 0fdeTsd-A Busy Session
Some Reports Crowded Over to Next Meeting
Many Matters Discussed. Etc. Etc

Some Reports Crowded Over to Next Meeting
Many Matters Discussed. Etc. Etc.
4 regular meeting u CITY Council was
held Thursday night. The following
members were ps.sent: Col. Cole. presi-
dent, Councilmen Bradley. Lane. Rowe.
Mills, Garner. Embr,y, Dannehl. Masters
Warden. Somervile, Young. also City
Attorney Fitzhugh. There was the
usual attendance OF spectators
Minutes OF last meeting We're read 10y
Clerk Easthurn Col Cole called Vice
President Dannehl to thrchair and made
his report for Finance Committee. Sal
aries OF police officers were ordered u,,id
for past mouth. Two small bills of
Registrars J +. Brown and j. j. Berrey
Were ordered paid. Col. Cole then re-
stunned the chair and the calling of com
mittees was gone into.
PUBLIC PROPERTY.
Mr. Bradley, Of Public PROPERTY. re-
| por toll expenditures of that committe,.
/ for the year : ,991 40. leaving n balance
uneNpended of $l52 - Mr.. Bradley
presented petition of Fredericksburg
Band asking FOR appropriation of $3.50
| Tor summer concerts in the park The
| appropriation was made. MIR Bradley
stated that his committee contemplated
improvements To the City Hall and that
plans would he submitted at next rc1u-
lar meeting. He also reported that
! Courthouse had been repainted at a cost
OF S3i2.
STREETS
Major Embrey submitted report for
Street Committee, showing that
s2.455.93 had been expended during the
year on the streets and that special
work had been done to the amount OF
$9OS9i
He asked for an additional appropria-
ton of S14l 81 to balance accounts, and
On motion Of MIR. Bradley it was granted
Major Embrey laid before the body "A re-
quest of Contractor BRADLEY. of Rich
mond, whD IL doing the Government
work on Boulevard, for the dirt which
has To be moved where new street is be-
ing opened across the Hartman property.
Ca motion OF Mr.. Garner referred to
Street Committee with power 70 act.
Major Embrey spoke of the Importance
OF opening Washington Ave, extended
irom Commerce Street TO Boulevard and
{ urged that land be condemned for that
purpose. This he'd to discussion by
different members City Attorney Fitz
, hugh. being called upon for his opinion
said the land could not be CONDEMNED ex
cept Tor street purposes, aud II land i.
condemned, the street will have To b,
opened. No further action was taken
Mr.. Mills, Of Street Committee. sub
/ mitted report of work on Washington
r Ave, which included "a statement from
Engineer Myers To the effect that the con
tractors had done their duty. but thai
the work on roadway did not come up 1,
his expectations. This was the fault a.
the plans, which he said We're prepared
after the stanlaid used in New York
that another layer Of fine gravel would
have To be put on the road bed. which
would cost about $50.
Mr. Young said he thought the
engineer should bear this expense
~ the fault was with his plans.
MIR. Mills stated that the contractors
had done the work in strict accordance
with specifications. Major Emhrey said
the work had been done in the winter
aud that freezing weather had had "A bad
effect ON 1t. Col. Cole said he had been
one of those who had made serious OBJ
petition To the work rs being incomplete
lie said the contractors had done their
duty, and expressed the opinion that
engineer could not be- held responsible
Mr.. Somerville asked il any one was
responsible ia connection with the work.
The city attorney explained Engineer
Myers position. He said an engineer il
on the same footing as "a lawyer or doe.
tor when employed aud was only liable
Tor damages in case OF gross dishonesty.
which did not exist in this case Mr.
arden said that one trouble was the
use oi unsuitable stone for the work and
suggested that hereafter a sample of
stone to be used be submitted to experts
at Washington before beginning the
work. The report WAS adopted and il
was ordered that the contractors and
engineer be paid balances due them.
The total expenditure ON Washington
avenue WAS $4,7l3 90.
Mr.. Mills brought up the question q,
claims for damages by several parties
along Washington avenue. Mr. Fitzhugl
asked~that Messrs. NJ. G. Willis and :
W. Somerville be added to the Street
COMMITTEES IN preparing necommenda-
tons 20 be submitted TO the Council
On motion of Mr.. Dannehl this was
done
Col. Cole asked that statements OF
charges against property along Wash.
ington avenue for granolithic paveuents
be prepared and put in hands of ciF col.
lector for collection. he property own.
ers are to pay two-thirds of the costs OF
the pavement
Mr. Fitzhugh stated that he had com.
promised the suit of Joseph Russell for
damage Tor overflow on upper Princess
Anne street for an amount not TO exceed
500, which action was approved. Mr..
Mills stated that plans for drainage of
that section We're in hands of Street Com.
mittee. On motion of Mr.. Dannehl the
committee was requested to Law them
before Council at Il special meeting.
LIGHT.
Mr.. Young. of Light Committee. sub
mitted report Of gas works and electric
light plant. Operative expenses at gas
works for the year amounted to $g.45S -
i3. Receipts. $14, 1871, leaving profit
of $3.306. 6S. Electric light expenses
s.. S21. 90. There are 81 are lamps in
use. MI. Young reported the water
wheel "a wreck and recommended that
a new wheel he secured. On motion of
MIR. Dannehl committee was requested
to bring in estimate of cost.
/ WATER.
Mr.. Lane, Of Water Committee, sub
mitted report of Supt. Quinn, which the
latter read Operating expenses were
81 ,9l2G 3. Receipts $9,OO7.OS. Profits
$i,69445. Mr. Lane presented petit
ton asking for extension of sewer on
Lewis street from Winchester to Wash
ington aveune to cost $l35; granted.
He also asked for appropriation Of $5O5
for extension Of water main on upper
Main street, which was made.