The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-07
PETERSBURG COUNCIL
WANTS IMPROVEMENTS
Appalling Conditions In schools De-
termtne City Solons to
Take Action.
BONDS FOR HIGHWAYS
Resolution Referred to Finance Com
mittce For 500. 900 Worth of Bonds
For Permanent HopcweiI Road.

Petersburg, Va, Oct. 6.--I.ast even
ing session of the Common Council
was one of the mort important as
wtli tvs one Of the molt lengthy
In recent months. Much business OF
Importance was transacted among
which were revolutions which referred
TO the Finance Committee authoriz-
ing an issue of bonds of sac. 900, the
proceeds from which to be expended
in the construction of permanent
public highway between Petersburg
and Hopewell
resolution providing for the is
susce of bonds in the sum of s35o.D00,
offered by Councilman Deinach for
public Improvement to he expended as
follows: 100000 for laying sewers
and water mains; 100000 for en-
larging the public schools for white
pupils only, and $4,000 for improve
ments to the Police and Fire Depart
ments.
A resolution offered by Council
man j. f. Young for a 5000 900 bond
issue--s go, 200 to be used in the con-
struction of n new high school. and
$4,000 for new grammar school.
Before the reading of the minutes
OF the last session a delegation of
ten ladies, representatives of the
Mothers Club and the Parent-Teach-
! v
were given the privilege Of the Coun-
Gil floor to present a report on the
congested conditions in the schools.
Mrs. Edward r. Bowman, repre-
senting the D. NJ. Brown and the r.
+. Lee Schools. presented statistics
and spoke at length Of the seriously
congested conditions in these two
schools. which is NECESSARILY a men
ace to the health of the pupils, as
| xro1 hlnApa ~ IN THAR
! The address of Mrs. Bowman. which
was in the shape OF plea for re-
| lief from existing conditions, was one
| OF the most remarkable in every sense
! that has been presented to the Coun-
| Gil in the interest of the future gem
erations of Petersburg in many years
! Her story OF prevailing conditions in
| the schools was well delivered and
was listened to with rapt attention by
the twenty-three members of the
| Council who were evidently deeply
| impressed by her remarks
Tells of Appalling Conditions.
| Mrs. r, Crawley Jones. in brief
statement. presented the appalling
conditions as exist in the Jackson
School, where in two grades alone
17s pupils are being taught. with a
seating capacity provided for only
/ eighty. In the Jackson School Mrs
been enrolled this session than were
enrolled last session: that twenty five
] children Of school age had been
| dropped. and that seventeen pupils
] from one Of the grades had been sent
to a school in another district Both
! OF the speakers urged immediate relief
! from existing conditions.
!. Upon motion Of Mr.. McKenney the
business mems committee. composed
/ nF tUp ~ ~
headed by Hon. Trotter Lassiter. APP
pointed at a mass meeting held Mon
! day evening, presented n resolution
requesting an appropriation of 500
| 900 to be expended In the improve
ment of the Hopewell Road. Mr. Las
| sitter spoke briefly upon the urgent
need for the road and the benefits
! that will result to the city therefron
| Members of the Souncil heard the ad-
dress with close attention and We're
evidently impressed by it,
An Appropriation of $4,000 Was made
for the purchase of an American La
| France combination fire engine for
use at the Halifax Street Engine
! House.
Upon recommendation of the FL
! nance Committee, an appropriation of
$3.50 was made to pay the salaries
of ten additional police until June 80
go w. nv loQUAl his' hiSIbS~tu
and recommended that the Police
Commissioners make careful exainfna-
ton Of the fitness--moralls and ply
sically--of the applicants from which
the ten new patrolmen will be APP
pointed.
The Mayors veto of an ordinance
relative To lacking signs, etc, on build
ings after considerable discussion was
! sustained. Is TO s. MesSrs. Tax
! ter. nonnan, Hatchett. McCulloch
: McKenney Patteson. Turner and
: watson voting to sustain the Mayor
/ II discussing the ordinance Mr. Nc
! kenney took occasion to state that
| the ordinance had been introduced for
+ and was IN The interest Of n bill poster
! The reports of the several city of
! ficers We've received. showing the FL
nances Of the city to be in excellent
| condition
! L. d. @ Holds Meeting,
! Petersburg Chapter. United Daugh-
!