The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-06-30


Health and Police.................. 200 %
| Public interest. .................. LUO w
IL shows the bonded Indebtedness Of
the city $29S, 900 and $1,000 due for
shirt factory building and ground, max
ing a total 1903, 900.
Mr.. Warden read an amendment to
the finance report and moved its adop-
ton, which did not receive a second,
and therefore was not considered.
On motion of Mr.. Rowe, the Finance
Committees report was adopted and
ordered published.
President Bradley's address was then
made. giving a summary of the work Of
the Council, which on motion OF Mr.
Rowe was ordered published, and is as
| follows:
Fredericksburg, Va, June 18th, 1910.
To the Members of the City Council,
Fredericksburg, Va.
Gentlemen: Without in the slightest
degree minimizing the work of previous
Councils. desire TO congratulate this
Council on the work it has performed
and the economical manner in which 1t
has been done.
When the long term members were
elected. il was confronted with debt
Of $25, 600 in the shape of bonds issued
to pay for the City Gas Works. Or
these, s., 900 was to be paid each year.
With the coming Of November, 1910,
the last Of these will be paid. The new
school building, which stands imposing
| ~ at the corner of Main and Lewis
streets, is another evidence of its work.
This building with its handsome furni-
| ture, modern conveniences and splen-
did granolithic approaches, was built
by a Joint Committee, composed OF
Messrs. Warden, Rowe, Goldsmith, of
Schools: Bradley, Garner and Masters.
of Public Property. at a cost of $40, 600.
OF this amount $25, 900 has come out OF
the general treasury and only SIS, OOO
of city bonds issued to build it. II has
enabled the school board to establish a
high school, employ a highly educated
principal, a corps of splendid teachers
and concentrate the white children OF
the city under one roof under the direct
supervision of the superintendent.
The City Gas Works under the guild
ance of Messrs. Melville, Lane and
Masters and Young, a former member
of the committee, now again a member
of the Council, under the direct super
vision of Supt. h. F. Bullock, has been
brought to a paying basis and this year
shows a net profit of over 81, 900 above
operating expenses.
The Electric Light Plant, which the
four gentlemen just named have been
guarding and which its able and efiic-
| lent superintendent, w. X. Howard,
has managed. shows an expense &C.
count of $500 less than any previous
wear. The service rendered by this
branch is far better than any previous
wear and reflects credit on all connect
ed with it.
The Water Works, the old standby
of the city in point of revenue and
comfort. Messrs. Rowe, Lane and
| Garner committee. with its accom-
plshed and experienced superintendent,
Capt. S. J. Quinn, shows larger busi-
ness than for any year in its history.
This wear has seen the commencement
of general system of water supply
for both fire and domestic purposes,
which when completed will give as near
as possible an equal pressure in every
part of the city. Already mains have
been laid at cost of nearly Sc, 600 and
the lower portion of the city now has
ample pressure from its water plugs to
extinguish any ordinary fire and pre-
vent its spread. The contemplated ex-
tension Of these mains through the
west end to the reservoir, with pipes OF
Increased size, will make the system
complete. This is expected to be done
this year at an additional cost of Sc, OcO.
IAN of which will be drawn out of the
general treasury without the issuing OF
a single bond. One material benefit
the city derives from this work is the
all round experience of Superintendent
Quinn. which enables him to dispense
with an engineer or inspector, he doing
the work of both without cost to the
city. In former years our people were
restricted in the use of water, but that
day has passed and everyone now has
an abundance. The Water Works have
paid net revenue this year of 81, O6l. 81.
Last year a conhagration swept
away one of our most important manu-
featuring plants, The Virginia Shirt
Factory. When it was ascertained that
il would not be rebuilt, members OF
this BODY looked around for something
to take its place. While the starting
of an enterprise to take its place die
not come direct from this Council, II
quickly co-operated in the movement tC
Establish il. To Messrs. s. G. Wallace
and c. w. Jones this city is indebted
in great measure for the establishment
of the Fredericksburg Shirt Factory Of
which Messrs. Oppenheim, Oberndorf,
of Baltimore, are the proprietors,
These two gentlemen were the cause oil
Manager Atkinson coming here to in
yestieate. The Council Immediately
took the matter up and appointed 8
committee consisting of Messrs. Lane
Melville and Bradley, Of the Finance
Committee, and Nj. G.. Willis, s. G.
Wallace, f. d. Cole and c. w. Jones,
of citizens. City Attorney Fitzhugf
was called in and a conference helc
with member of the firm, Mr.. Open
helm, which resulted in a contract
for the establishment Of a shirt
factory here. This Council appropriated
$1,000 for grounds and buildings,
Messrs. Willis, Cole and Bradley were
appointed DullulnB Commute. Lux
grounds were purchased at cost OF
81, 500 and building erected costing
SO, 800, which is owned by the city, and If
38 days from the laying Of the founda'
ton the factory was working, and today
it has lbs operatives at work with 8
pay roll of over 5000 per week.
A system of street curbing has beer
inaugurated with Messrs. Embrey
Goldsmith and Howard of Street Com.
mittee, and Lane. Melville and Bradley
Of Finance Committee. 1t is the declar.
ed purpose of this Council to devote
the sum of $1,000 each year for this
improvement il the finances of the city
will permit. This work is progressing
satisfactorily to the general public
Sidewalks are being laid and a genera
Improvement is observed.
The assessors of the city, Messrs. A
M. Garner, E. d. Cole and Alvin T.
Rowe, have done splendid work anC
show an increase in values of real es
tate of s69S, 464. For so great work