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

comparatively few mistakes have been
made. II will result In marked de-
crease in the tax rate and but little in
crease paid by the taxpayers. The
public asked for fair assessment of
values here and it has been given them.
The system in improving our streets
should get together and adopt more i'm
proved methods in keeping them clean.
A street commissioner should be en-
ployed. paid a salary and do portion
the work himself. The city should own
team of horses, wagon and cart.
There is ample room to build an annex
to the building in the market house lot
to keep these. Clean streets are the
most attractive features Of city. They
make people who come once come again
and tell others Of it. hope the Council
will take this subject up the coming
year. IL is of vital Importance.
The Police and Fire Department,
Messrs. +. l.. w. Green, +. NJ Young
and VS.. Embrey, are alive to the con-
ditions. More than thousand feet Of
new hose has been paid for at cost Of
81, 600 The Volunteer Fire Department
has been reorganized and will in a short
time have new uniforms. This company
is great protection to the city and
should be given substantial encourage
ment by this body.
| hope and believe we are on the eve
of new and great development of ore
of the city's greatest natural resources,
the power of the Rappahannock river.
The Council has. granted franchise to
the Fredericksburg Electric Company
and franchise to the Electric Gener-
ating Company, both connected with
the Fredericksburg Power Company.
The Power Company has just COM
pleted a splendid dam of reinforced con-
crete spanning the river from the Spot
sylvania to the Stafford banks. Fur
Their work was retarded by legal com
pications, suits against one or the
other of the companies, and by other
unavoidable causes, but all these diff
culties have been patiently met and
overcome, and work has now begun in
earnest These companies are adver-
Using for men and are busily engaged
in those preliminary works necessary
TO the successful accomplishment Of all
large undertakings, such as installing
cables and cranes, hosting engines,
building shops in which to work, etc.
President Whitner has perfected plans
for the development here and is ex-
tremely hopeful that now all difficulties
seem to have been overcome, the work
will continue uninterrupted until its
completion.
Measuring lances with Senator George
b. Keezel, the veteran chairman of the
Finance Committee Of the State Senate,
for a normal school for women at Fred
ericksburg. our former able representa-
tive in the Legislature, Hon. c. orc.
Goodrich, won signal victory in the
establishment Of a normal school here.
This Council gave the sum of $50, 900
for a site. etc. The bonds have been
negotiated at par, the city itself buying
81, 800 of them with its sinking fund.
The State of Virginia has made APP
preparation of about $500, 900, and there
are now being erected on the western
heights overlooking Fredericksburg
magnificent buildings, which are in
charge of President +. II. Russell, and
in few years will have corps of pro-
fessors and will be filled with the flower
of the young womanhood Of Virginia 70
be educated for the different walks OF
| life. Handsome roadways will be built
to this school. streets will be opened
and the benefits which our people viii
derive are hard TO estimate.
A fact worthy Of mention, and OF
which this Council should be proud, Is
that Of its 1903, 900 Of bonds, none bear
ing interest of over four per cent, none
have been sold for less than par and
the bulk Of them are owned by our OWL
people, thereby demonstrating their
confidence in the city government.
Another fact is especially gratifying,
that at the late election the taxpayer
and voters exhibited their confidence in
and satisfaction of the acts of the mem
bers Of this Council, who were up fol
reelection, by returning every one OF
them by handsome majorities.
To Chairman Lane and Mr.. Melville
of the Finance Committee, specia
thanks are due for the able manner il
which the city finances have been man
aged this year and the splendid repor
they have submitted, showing a balance
Of So, 1925.
Let each Of us the coming year USE
our best endeavors to put Fredericks
burg abreast of the most progressive
cities of the State, induce new enter
prises, more capital and progressive
people to come here and join hands II
the upbuilding of our city. The Fred
ericksburg of today is not the Freder
icksburg Of ten years ago. Its progress
is marked.
Respectfully,
w. +. Bradley,
President of City Council
Mr.. Lane, of Finance, presented &
check from the Auditor of Virginia for
1853 for delinquent capitation taxes
since 1902, which was ordered turned
over to city treasurer.
Mr.. Lane asked the Council for Q
special license for B. T. Pitts to rur
amusements at Hanover Park. A res
olution was passed requesting the Or.
dinance Committee to bring in an or
dinance on the subject, making the Ii
cense at SIS per month for certain
amusements named.
An ordinance was introduced, The
rules suspended, and passed, correcting
an error in width of New and Factory
streets. The Council adjourned.
SUMMER INSTITUTE OPENING