The Weston Democrat. [volume], March 22, 1875, Image 3

About The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current

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THEBEMBCMff
X\a<vA*\\, ? - "NWeViM,
MasoxiO.?StnUd eotnntunicalloni of
lb. Weitoo Lodge No 10, A. F. and
, will oe held so Ilia Ural and Third
A.m. Dkt.Sk
JANS LEW Stated communication! or
Jaekiaa Lodge No. M, A. F. and A. N.,
v>ll ba lield in their llall, in Jana Lew, on
the moid aad fourth Wednrjdajl in each
.ontb. U. McWilOllTKR, W.M.
J. W. Iicnti, 8oe ' .v
~~tjrBraxton County Circuit Com*
li now io HMioD. Uptb.r- Circuit
Coirt cooTenM tu*d?y, ihi 22nd; ind
Federal Court oonrenti it Clukiburg
on tha 24th^ .
\ drover wal&J three dollir*
worth or beef off ? fat iteer in driring
llmfrotn here lo Cl.rk.borg, Fifty
eenti > held will oarrj them whan wo
get tbo nilroid.
fM- ilnaita flniHr. ? colored miD
who bu for join put bee* in thw em
ploy of Mr. J. 0. VmderTort, died i
on Monday lu?, <* po??t?onia. i
"Moao" wii in honeit. bird-working J
mm, and rery gcncnlly retpected- ,
tr A Railroad would enibto tbe ,
firmer lo lell hii latter, egeimd
poultry for neirlj twice u much ?? ho
den* now, ind they could lell ill the J
products of tha fanu in lite proporlion.
ttT Tui IUilkoid ?Rilehlo Co. 1
nH* in the way of utitei, hoop-polei, i
pini, &o., ibont $75,009 etiry yeir. <
Lcw'ih county bis far rnoro timber (ban 1
Iliicbifl, and if we bad a railroad, we ,
should lend *out at least 0100,000 1
worth of lumbar yearly. Can the far* j
mera be so blinded to their true ioter- \
?sts aa to oppose the proposed sub* ,
cription on tbe part of tbe county? There i
should be a unaoimoua tote "For <
Subscription." ,
tW A Fins Faku r?ft 8al??We ?
hate for sale by private contract, one ,
of the finest farms io Lewii county.
It contains about 200screa; is silua- \
ted on Stone Coal Crerk, and the
lluckliannon turnpike, 3 miles from
thia place. About 50 screi cleared ;
tbe whole trsct well fenced; the Iwd ?
of the irit qnility; ind the term ci
eeedingly reuonable. Titlo tadiipu
? (able- This is one of the bill tirmi in
this lection of country; md will be
laid chap. Cill early 1
tW Arroiimii?T or Dtmcrou.?
Tic following gentlemen hire been
appointed Directors of the West Vir
ginia Hospital for the Insane, for the
Sear commencing in April next: Ira
. McOinnU of Cabell county; Alex
under Monroe, of Hampshire county;
M. F lUllibca, of Obi) county ; It.
C. Ouston, of Morgan county; James
Witbrow. of Greenbrier county; Dr.
? Sbaw, of Mason county; and T.
A. Kdwards, W O. Bennett and J.
W. Woffindln, of Lewis county.
Tbeae appointments, birring our hum
ble self, are considered good. The
Hoard will assemble, we sre informed,
?*rlv in tho ensuing month ; and the
work on tho unfinished section com*
pleted as fast as possible.
?T Lako Slid*?"A right smart
chunk" of llie hill overlooking "Tho
Narrowb" near town, occurred on Sun
day morning last. The road was
.completely blockaded-, and travel,?
otherwise than on foot?entirely sus
pended?The proper officers removed
the obstruction early in tho week, and
(be rosd is again opei; but just so
long as "Tha Narrows" is used as a
public rosd, so long will it breed pro
fanity, and endanger the lives of
travelers The route of the road
riboutd bo changed, oven if it takes a
bridge over the West Fork to do it
jCIT Arrest ov tiiit Koobkrs.?Tbe
persons who burglsrizod the residence
of Loyd Lowndes, Esq.. ofClarksburg,
early in the lant month, aad stolo
about $225,000 in money and bonds,
have at Inst been captured. Thero
were two of them?ono named Page
and another known as "Murdering
Jack." Doth wore noted Cincinnati
burglars; but they were aided in the
robbery of Mr. Lowndis' residenco by
somo rchWetrts of Clarksburg, not yet
koown. Detectives bad been oo the
track of the robbers, and Page was
arrested in. Dsyton?"Murdering
Jsck" in Columbus ?The dispatch
states tbst some money and about
350.000 io bonda were recovered.?A
large reward had been offered for the
recovery and the arrest of .the tbeivea
far The llailroatL?There sre at
least 3,000 barrels of salt rold yearly
in this county. It now coats $1 per
barrel to haul it by wagon from
Clarksburg hero. If wo bad a rail
road the freight from Clarksburg to
this place would not exceed 88 cents
per barrel?thus saving to the farmers
on ths ono item of salt $'2,000 yearly.
?The interest on the proposed sub
scription on tho part of tbo county
only $3,000?that is all tbe tsx-pav
era would have to pay a year.in oase the
road pays 00 dividend, and $2,000 of
that is saved on sslt.?We sre confi
dent, however, that tbe road will pay
handsome dividends, sod that after the
first yesr the coutoty will have nothing
to pay. How, then, can any voter io
the county oppose the subscription, |
without thereby opposing his own best
interests ?
IT Marsud, at tbe residence of
Ben. J. N. Camden, in the oity of
Parkorsburg, on the 16th inst., by
Rev. Mr. Uiley, Dr. A. 11. ATunfx, to
JLfis* Tillit Camden, both of Weston.
?We csnnot find words whereby to
express tho extent of our good wishes
to the hsppy couple. Dr. Hunts, by
lils genisl courtesy and kindness, long
sgo woo the good-will of sll our peo
ple; and they all ceud to him their beat
greetings, now that he baa boconie a
Benedict. To bis cstimablo bride also,
Tux Dimociat sod its readers tender
their beat wishes. Ma/ thsir days be
long ii the land!
?3T Tins CiiimiR or Tin Town oi
Wibtos.? At tbo rcqucit of a omubtr
of tbo citizens of tbia place. ?o bin
prepared tbo bill, priuted below, pro
tilling for tbo amendment aud re-en
acting of the charter of tho town. Tbe
necesiity of a chiMcr which ii "get-at
able," and thai all cm aee aod under
atand, baa beta apparent for nan;
years paat; and it ii thought that the
system of alternating (part of the
coaicil "holding over,") together with
other Important amendments aa pro
poeed, will be generally satisfactory,
tf this prorei to be the can, th? bill
can he paned at the session of the Leg
ialatnro to be held in NoMtnhcr next.
Wo invite the special attention of all
oitiiena of tho town lo thia Mil; and
?hall be glad lo boar any luggeationi
in rrgard to it:
?t Bill to amend and re-watt the Charier of
the town of IKrulon:
Be it enacted by tbe Legislature of We?t
Virginia:
That tbe Charter of tbe town of Wetton be,
and tbe tune il hereby, amended and
enacted so as to read as follows:
Tbe coroorate limits of the town of Wee-1
too shall be as follows, to-wit:
[Hllta IKBIRT BOUNDARY LINES ]
?3. The municipal authorities of said town
shall be a Major, Recorder and six Council
men, who, together, shsll be a common
council.
3. The Major. Recorder and Councilmen,
10 soon as tbejr hate been elected and quuli
lied, as hereinafter provided, sballjbe a body
politic, by the name of "the Town of Wes
ton," and shall have perpetual succession
ind a common seal; and br that name may
sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded ;
ind may purchase and hold or sell real estate
ind other property, necessary to enable them
the better to discbarge their duties,aod need
rut for the good order, gorernmeot and wel
fare or the said corporation
4. All tbo corporate powers of the said
lown shall be exercised by tbe said council,
ar under their authority.
5. There shall be a sergeant, treasurer and
0. Ttie mayor, recordor, sergeant and
treasurer shall be elected by the citizens of
mid corporation, who may be entitled tinder
this act to vole. ?
T. Six councilman shall be elected by the
jnallfnd voters of said town,who shall hold
iheiiooffice for the terra of two years, excep t
that of (hose elected first after the passage ol
this act, three, to be. designated by lot in
lucli manner as the mayor inay determine,
lb all hold their office for ooe year; and 3
iball be elected each rear after the first dec
linn.
8. The term of office for councilmen (ex
cept when to fill vacancies) shall be 2 years,
txcept as directed In the previous section,and
uutil their successors sh ill bare been elected
ind qualified, as hereinafter provided. The
term of office Jfor mayor and recorder shall
l>e for two years, or until their successors
ihnll hare been elected and qualified, and
Ibe term of office for tlie sergeant and treas
urer shall be for two years.
0. Elections under this net shall be hold
in the second Monday ia January in each
} ear, at such place as ihocouudl, may from
lime to time, prescribe by ordinance. The
raid elections to be under the supervision of
three inspectors, who are to be annually se
lected and appointed by the council of said
lown; and who shall be governed by such
rules and regulations as tlie council may
prescribc. The officers conducting the ?lec
licns shall grant a certificate to the persons
receiving tbe highest number of votes cast at
tuch election, (except in (he case of mayor,
recorder, sergeant and treasurer) which cer
tificate shall be recorded in tbe journal kept
by the council.
10. As soon as the result of such election
for mayor, recorder, sergeant and treasurer
is ascertained,tbe Inspectors ol election shall
sign a certificate coiiiainiugcomplete returns
ol the polls taken at their place of voting,for
each or the said officers, and shall endose tbe
ballots iu an envelope, which shall be sealed
up aod endorsed bg each ofsuch inspectors
The inspectors, or one of them, shall within
three days after the day on which the elec
tion was held, deliver the said certificate and
the ballots, sealed up as hereinbefore provi
ded, to the recorder at the town of Weston
At the next meeting of the council thoreaf
ufter, the recorder shall present such certifi
cates aad ballots (? the council, whn shall
examine the same and ascertain the true re
sult ofBUch diction in said town. And the
person# appearing lo have received the high
est number of all the votes cast for the sev
eral offices mentioned In '.bis section,shall be
declared elected, and a Jyrlificate thereof,
signed by the mayor and recorder, shall be
grunted to the person so dectcd.
11. Every male person residing In said
town shall be entitled to voto for all officers
sleeted under this act; but no person who Is
a minor, or of unsound raimi, or a pauper,or
who is under conviction of treason, felony,
or bribery in an elecllon,erwho has not been
a resident or the Slate for one year, and of
the town of Weston for 00 days, or who bas
not been as?ssed with corporation taxes, in
the last preceding year, or who bas not paid
the same, shall be permitted to vote at any
elcction under this a. t while such disability
continues: "Provided, that if any person's
right to vote be challengedjon account efany
constitutional disability, not hsreln men
tioned, such person shall not he denied the
right to vote, unless and until record evi
deuce ofsuch disability he produced."
12. All vacancies occurring from any
cause, iu any ot the offices provided for in
this'act, shall be filled by appointment by
tbe council.
13. At all elections, the vote shall be by
ballot.
14. Whenever two or more persons,for the
sarno office, at any election, shall receivo an
equal numuer of votes, the coundl shall in an
equitable mode, determine which of the per
-?ns so voted Tor shall bs returned olccted
15. All contested eleotlons shall bo heard
better attained thereby.
16. A majority or the whole number of offi
cers mentioned in the 2d section of this act
shall be necessary to the transaction of any
business whatever.
17. Tie mayor, recorder, councilmen,and
all officers herein provided for, shall each,
berore entering upon the duties of his office,
and wlihln 2 weeks from thetlmeofhlBelec
lion or appointment, take and subscribe an
oath to faltblbll/ and impartially discharge
the duties or his office, and tbe oath to sup
port the constitution orthe United States and
the constitution orthe stoteor West Virginia.
The mayor having taken sucb oath or affirma
tion, may administer the rame to the council
men and other officers. Certificates of said
oatb or affirmation, shati'bo recorded in a
journal kept by the council.'
18. If any one who shall have been duly
elected mayor, recorder or councilman, shall
not have been eligible as herein prescribed,or
?hall refuse or fall to take the oath or affirma
tion required under this act, within the time
prescribed, the coundl for tbe time being shall
declaro his office vacant, and proceed to fill
such vacancy as provided In section eleven
of this act.
19. The council shall bo pi esided over at
Its meetings by the mnyor, or Id his absence
by one orthe coundlmen, chosen by a ma.
jorlty ol the council present.
20. The council shall cause to be kept in a
well bound book an accurate record or its
proceedings, by-laws, ncls and orders.which
shall be fully indexed,and open to the inspec
tion oft^e citizens or the town. The proceed
ings or each meeting shall bo read and cor
rected st tlje succeeding meeting and signed
bv the person presiding for the lime being.
Upon tbe call oraoy number, the yeas and
nays dial! bo called and recorded In tbe jour
nal. The presiding officer may vole us a
member of tho council, and in all cases of a
tie, the person presiding at tha time shall
have tbe casting vote.
21. Tbe council shall have power lore-sur
vey said lown, and for this purpose may em
ploy a competent engineer! which officer may
be mtdo eleetiveby order?l the council) and
prescribe his duties, term of office and amount
of compensation; to open new streets, and
extend, straighten, widen and repair eld
streets end alley*! to eorh and pan Itmis,
side-walks and gutters for publio aw,
and to alter, improve and light the
same ; and iball assess upon,and collect
from the property benefitted thereby,
such part of the expense thereof a? shall
be deemed equlta ble and just by laid
council; and shall have control of ill
avenues for public uso in said town ; to
have the ume kept In good order and
free from obstructions on, or ovor
them , to regulate .and determine the
width of all streets, sidewalks and pub*
lio alleys; to order and direet the curb
ing and paving of all sidewalks and
footways for publio uso in said town, to
be dono and kept in good order by tke
owners or occupants of the adjacent
property; to control tbo construction
and repairs of all houses, bridge*, cul
verts and sewert, the opening and con
struction of all ditohes, drains, sewers
and gutters; lo widen, deepen and
dear the same of stagnant water and
filth, and to determine at whose ex
pense the same shall be done; to pur
chase, lay off and appropriate publio
grounds and control the use of the
same; to provide, contract for and tako
oare of all publio buildings proper to
tbo town; to provide for the regular
building of houses or other structures;
and determine the distance that they
shall be luilt from any street or alley;
to cause the removsl of unsafe walls or
buildings; to prevent iojarv or snnoy
ance to the publio or individuals from
anything dangerous, offensive or un
wholesome ; to abate or oause to be
abated anything which, in the opiniou
of the eouncil, shall bo a nuisance; to
regulate the keening of gunpowder and
other combustibles; to provide in or
near the town places for the burial of
the dead, and to regulate interments in
the town, and provide for shade and or
namental trees; to provide for the mak
ing of division fences, and for the
draining of lots by proper drains and
ditches; to make regulations for guar
ding against dancer or damage from
fires; to provide for the provide for the
poor of the town; to organise ono or
more fire eompanies and provide tbo
necessary apparatus, tools, implements,
engines, or any of them, for their use
and in their discretion to organise a
paid fire department; and to provide
sufficient revenue for the said town and
appropriate tho same to '.its expenses ?
to provide for the annual valuation of
property and tho assessment of taxable
persons snd property in the town; to
adopt rules for the transsotion of busi
ness and for the government and regu
lation of its own body; to promote tho
general welfare of the town, and to pro
tect the porsons and property of tbo oit
iaens (herein, to appoint such officers
as they may deem proper; to define
their powers, prescribe (heir duties, fix
their term of service and compensation,
require and take from them bunds,with
such sureties and in such penalty as the
council may determine, eondiiiuued for
(he true and faithful discharge :oftboir
duties, and remove them at pleasure,
(all bonds tskon by the eouncil shall be
made payablo to the town by its corpo
rate name;) to regulate and provido for
the weighing of hay, coal, wood, and
other articles sold or for sale in said
(own,and to regulate tho transportation
thereof through the streets; to estab
lish and regulate markets, to prescribe
the time for holding the same,and what
artielo shall be sold only in said mar
kets; to protect places of divine worship;
to lay off the town into 3 or more ward*
and to appoint and publish the place of
holding town elections; to orect.or au
thorize or prohibit the erection ,of gas
works or water-works in or near the
town ; to prevent injury ts.and provide
for the protection of the same; lo pro
vide for tho purity of the water and
heahhfulness of the towo; for all of
wbioh purposes, cxceptthat oftaxatioo.
the council shall heve jurisdiction for 1
mile beyond the corporate limits otuaid
town.
22. To oarry into effect theae enum
erated powers, snd all others conferred
upon the said town or its council ex
pressly or by implication in this or any
other sees of the legislature,the couucil
shall have power to adopt and enforce all
needful orders, by-laws and ordinances
out contrary lo the constitution and laws
of the State, and to preseribo, impose
and enforce reasonable fiues and penal
ties, including imprisonment under
judgment and order of the msyor or re
corder of said town, or the persons law
fully ?xerelving their fanottoosjand the
council, with the consent of the County
Court of Lewis eounty, entered of reo
ord.may have tho right to nse the jail of
said county, for any purpose necessary
in the administration of its affairs
23 The council shall oause to be an
nually made up and ontered upon its
journal an aocount and estimate of all
sums whiob ought to be psid within 1
year, and it shall order a levy of so
muoh m in its opinion may be necessary
to pav the ssmo, not exceeding that al
lowed by law.
24. The levy so ordered shall bs upon
all male persons, residing in said town,
over the age of 21 years, and all real
and personal estate within suob towo
subject to state or county taxes.
25 Whenever anything for which a
State lioense is required, is to be dono
within said town, the council may re
Suire a license to bo had for doing the
itue, and may impose a tax thereou for
tbo use of the towo,and the council may
in any case require from the person li
censed, a bond, .with such suretios and
in such penalty and with suoh conditions
ss it may deem proper,and may revoke
suoh lioense st any time iftbe condition
of said bond be broken. And no lioense
to sell strong or spirituous liquors,wine,
beer, ale, porter or drinks of like na
ture, within said town or within 1 mile
of the corporate limits tberoof, shall be
granted by the County Court of Lewis
county, unless the pcraon spplylug
therefor, shall producu to said County
Court the certificate of the counoil of
Mid town of iti consent to the granting
of such license They may impose s
license and sssesa a tax thereon, on all
wheeled vehicles for publio hire, and
upon all dogs kopt within the corpo
rate limits.
20. The eergesnt shall have tho pow
er to colloot tho city taxes, fines and
levies,and shall have the power, 1 month
after ho shall havo reoeived tho books of
the assessor of said town,to distrain and
sell therefor, in like manner as the
sheriff may distrain and sell for state
Issci, and shall in other resptol! lire
the sime powers as a sheriff to onforcc
(ho payment sod collection thereof,and
(he said sergeant shall bare power to
exercise within the corporate limits of
said towo all the duties that a constable
can legally exercise in regard to the
collection of claims, executing and lev
ying process, and be shall be entitled
to the same compensation therefor ; ex*
cept in tbo case of the arrest of any per
son for violating any of the ordinancei
of the ooonoil, upon the conviction of
said person be shall be entitled to $1
for such arrest, to be taxed in theooats
againat the person so convicted. And
he and bis securities shall be liable to
?11 fines, penalties and forfeitures that a
oonstable is legally liable to for any fail
ure or dereliottoo in hissaidoffioe.to bo
reoovered in the samo manner and be
fore the same courts that said fines.pen
alties and forfeiture) are not recovera
ble against oonstables.
27. There shall bo a lien upon real
estate within said corporation for the
town taxes assessed thereon from the
commencement of the year in which
they are assessed, and for all other as*
segments, finos and penalties asseised
or imposed upon the owners thereof by
the authorities of the town, from the
time the wiraefaro so assessedor imposed,
which Hub shall be enforcod by the
council in tho same manner as tho lien
for taxes for county purposes is now en
forced. The lion aforesaid shall have
priority over all other liens, except
thst for taxes due ths State.
28. The council may prohibit any
theatrical or other perforraanco, show
or exhibition, which it ma; deem inju
rious to the morals or goed order of the
town.
20. The eounoil shall have power to
require and take from the sergeant and
treasurer bonds with sureties satisfac
tory to the council, in such penalty as it
may deem sufficient, except that ss to
the sergeant it shall not be for a penalty
less than $5,000 ; and said bond shall
be conditioned for the true and faithful
performance of his duties as sergeant,
and for the collecting and accounting
for and payment of the taxes, tines and
other meneys of the town whio h shall
come into bis hands,or which it shall bo
his duty to collect, at suoh times and to
suoh persons as the council may order.
The treasurer's bond shall bo condi
tioned for the true and faithful perfor
mance of his duties as tres?urer,and that
lie will faithfully pay over and account
for all moneys that shall coino into his
bands as troaiurof, when.and an ho shall
bo thereto required by the cotfiwl,
80. The mayor shall be the chief cx
ecutivo officer of the town,and shall take
care that all by-laws, ordinances and
orders of the council are faithfully exe
cuted. lie shall be tx-ufirio a conser
vator and juitioe of the pence within the
town, snd shall, within the same,exer
cise all the powers and duties vested in
jus icifl, vxcopt that he xhall h.vo nu
jurisdiction as such in civil eases. He
shall have control of ill? polio? of tho
town, and may appoint tpeeial polico
officer* whenever he deems it necessary;
and it shall be bis doty especially to see
that the peaoo and gwu order of said
town are preserved,and that the persons
and property therein are protected ; and
to this end he may causo the arrest and
detention of all rioters and disorderly
persons in said towo, bofore issuing his
warrant therefor. He thall have power
to i?Mie execution for all Hues,penalties
and costs imposed by him, or ho may
require the immediate payment thereof,
and in default of such payment be may
commit the party in default to the jail
of Lewie county until the floe or pon
alty and costs shall be paid, to be em
ployed during tho term of his iinpris
oniucnt as hereinafter provided; but
the term of imprisonment* in such case
shall not exocod 80 days. lie shall,
from time to time, recommend to the
council such measures as ho may deem
needful to tbo welfare of the tewn Hu
shall reoeive a compensation for his
services, to be fixod snnually by the
council.which shall not be iucreascd nor
diminished during the year.
SI. The dnty of the recorder shall b??
to keep th? journal of the proceedings
of the eounoil, and luvo charge of and
preserve the records of the town. He
shall attend the mayor in all exaralna
tious.reocivu uud issue bis orders,swear
witnesses and perform all the duties of
a clcrk in the council and mayor's court.
In ktho absenco of the mayor bo shall
have all tho authority of that officor,
and shall exereiso the functions of the
offioo of mayor. He shall charge tho
sergeant with the whole amount of tho
taxes on tho assessor's books in a book
provided for tue purpose,and shall givo
him oredit fer all the money shown by
treasurer's receipts to have boon piid to
the treasurer, and suoh other crodits as
the council may director be allowed by
law, and shall chargo tho treasurer in
a book provided for the purposo with all
the money shown to have been received
by him from the duplioato receipts re
ceived from tbo sergeant and credit him
with all the orders issued by authority
of tbo council. He shall receive a com
pensation for bis services, to bo fixed
annually by the council,which shall not
be increased nor diminished during the
yesr.
82. It shall bo the duty of the ser
geant to collect tli" toxen.fiues snd other
income and revenue of the?own,as spec
ified in his bond, and to aceouut for and
pay the ssrae to the treasurer at suoh
time as the couooil may order, snd in
ordor that he may do this properly, lie
shall have a cony of the assessor's books
and be charged with tho nmount of the
taxes ubensed thereon,and also with all'
lieensM gruoted aod fiueschargnd ; ev
ery 0 months or oftoner if required to
do so by the council be-shall return a de
linquent list.to which he xlmll make oath,
nf such taxes as ho cannot collect;
wbiohfthe eounoil may if tbev deem it
just.allew ant? order hiu? credited there
with. The said eergoant shall do and
perform all other acts pertilnioff to the
corporation, ,and of a poliee officor aod
constable within said town and as suoh,
shall have the same powers, duties, feos
and liabilities si are by law prescribed
to a oonstublo. lie snail for his ser
vioe -reoeive such oompenration as shall
be fixed by the council.
83. All moseys belonging to said
town shall be paid over to the tressuror,
and be receipted for in duplicate by him,
none of w hioh shall be psid out by him
> exoept as ths same shall have been an
proprlattd and ordered to be paid by the
council, and (he said treMurei shall pay the
Mme upon the ccrtlttcato of lbs recorder, or
in bis absence, upon the certificate-ortho
34. ir the said treasurer shall fail to ac?
count for and pay over all or any moneys
that may comu into his hands, when thereto
required br the council.it tball be lawftil for
the council, m the corporate name of the
to wu, br motion before the circuit or county
court or Lewis county,after ten dayi previous
notice, to recover from the treasurer und hii
Jureticf, or theirpersonal representative*,
any sum that may be due from said ttcaiur
er to laid town.
33. If the sergeant shall fail to collect,ac
count for and pay over all the taiei, fines
and other revenue of the town in bii handi
for collection, according to the conditions ol
hii bond, it shall be lawlul fur the council
to recover the tame by motion in tbe corpo*
rate name of tbe town before the said circuit
or county court of Lewiscouoly, after 10
days notice against tbe Mid sergeant and
his sureties, or any or either of tbem,hI>or
their cxecutors or administrators.
3d. Tbe Mid town and the taxab'e persons
and property therein shall be exempt from
all expenses or liability for the consiruclion
or repairs of roads or bridges,or other taxes
for county or district purpotes, outside the
corporate limit* of said town, for any year
in which it shall appear that Mid town shall
at ita own exnenM keep its itreeti in order.
37. All rights, privilege* and properties of
the Mid town heretofore acquired and pos
sessed, owned and enjoyed by any act, now
in force, shall continue undiminished and re
main vested in said town under this act;
and alt laws. ordinances,actsand resolutions
of the council, new in force and not incon
sistent with this act,shall be and continue la
full force and effect until regularlr repealed
by a council elected as provided under tbis
act.
38. The council shall adopt all needful
and Just regulation, whether general or
special, for the good of tbe cltisens thereof;
it shall authorize street expenditures as eq
uity and justice shall demand, and may au
thorize the collection ol a special tax for a
specified purpose. Whenever,i.i the opinion
or the council, it becomes neceMary to lay
otfMid town into 3 or more w-irds, the
Mid council shall so lay off and apportion
the councilmen of sold town so that each
ward shall be equally represented in the
council.
33. The council shall provide for the em
ployment and safe keeping of persons who
may tie committed (or default in payment of
tines, penalties or costs under IbU act, and
who are otherwise unable to discharge the
Mine, by putting them to work .or the ben
efit of tbe town, aud to uie such means lo
prevent their escape wblls at work as thsy
way deej expedient; and shall keep on
hand an ample supply or nexsMrv material
for the Mine, and shall provide all neceeMry
tools, Implements, fixtures and facilities for
tho immediate employment or auy aud all
of suck persons; shall fix a reasonable rate
per diem ai wages to be ollowed any such
person, until such fine and costs against
him are discharged, aud tbe recorder shall
keep an accouut of all ficis and penalties so
collected and expended.
40. This uct shall, at all times, be subject
to modification or repeal, at the pleasure or
the legislature.
This act shall be in force from and afler
I its passage.
tar Oo? PoilIO SouooliThe
Slulitlict of the Mute Superinlifidtnl'i
ItejM't ? The importance of the free
school system, butti ii ? matter of tot
uliuti aud as u subject which iutcrcHtu
tho pour as well aa tho rich, reuders
it > uiitter worth; of tlio consideration of
every citizen Tliat tho systorn il
now iu a much more flourishing condi
tion than ever bclore ia > fact upon
which the party in power may con
gratulato themselves; and that tho
curse of iguoranco ia departing and
the blessing of light and intelligence
progressing, is evidcuce enough of tbe
faithfulness and deration of our pub
lio servants to free education. Tito
ftcjitler has ootupilcd, from the re
ports of tho Statu Superintendent for
the years of 1873 and 1874, some
very interesting statistics; and wc
present them to the reader with a full
knowledge that they will command at
tention Tbe whole number of chil
dren in the St*to between the ages of
0 and 21 years during 1871 wai
173,482, an increase of 1,000 over
1878. Tho atteudanco at school was
1H8.350. as against 81,100 iu 1873
The average daily attendance wa?
08 297 as against 01,214 in 1873.
Tho whole number of schools in the
.state was 8.023 as (gainst 2,867 in
1873. The t-ital number of school
hi.ti.es waa 2,830 as against 2,012 in
1873. The tiumbor of school-houses
built duritu 1874 was 131, as against
Bt in 1878 The value nf school
bouses in 1874 was $1,807,4^0,07. as
against $1,210,899 81 in 1873. Tlte
total value of scboel property for 1874
waa $1.540.430 69, aa agaiuit
$1,401,055.70 for 1878. Tho re
oeipts from the Stato School fund for
1874 is not reported in fall, being set
down at $208,809.80, sod frout dis
trict levies $497,070.50. Tho total
payment to teachers for tho year was
$480,430.84, the averago per teacher
being $82 per month. The averago
di.trtct lovy for the teachers' fund wis
a fraction wrcr 29 conta on the $100,
and for thn building fund a fraction
over 19 ccnls. Tlio amount paid per
pupil for tuition (based on tbo enu
meration reported; was $2,88. On
tbo number rcportod alteidiug school
it was $4.44. On tho number report
ed in "dally averago attendance" it
was $7 08}. Tho total average cost
per pupil, for all purposes, wss $0 59.
Tbe progress of tbo school system
throughout tbo Ststo is shown in the
increase iu the number of school-houses
from the year 1805 up to and inclu
ding tho year 1874. In 1805 tjio to
tal number of school-houses in West
Virginia wan only one hundred and
thirty-three. Think ol that In a
Slato possessing on arcs of 23,000
square miles, aud a population of say
425,000. In 1800 this meagre num
ber waa increased to 412; in 1807, to
702 i in '08, to 1,300; In '09, lo
1,018 i in '70, to 2,113) in '72, lo
2,210; in '78, to 2, 012; in '74, lo
2 830 The value ol soliool-bouiei iu
1805 was $62.850 75; in 1874 it
was $1,540,400 51. Tbo aum spent
in 1805 for sobool houses, aites, fur
niture, repairs, ito., waa $10,093.74;
in 1874 it was $224,337 02. The
whole number of ohildreu betweon the
ago of 0 and 21 years of age in 1805
was 63.458 ; in 1874 it was 171,703.
The whole uumbarof children in at
tendance in 1805 was 15.972. aud
In 1874 it was 110.630, The nmn
b?r ol teacbera employed .in 1805 was
867, and in 1874 it waa 3.842 The
amount paid for salaries to teaeliers is
1805 waa $17,800 88. and in 1874 il
was $4b0,480.84 Tlio averago sala
ry per month wsa $31 44 In 1805, and
832 02 in 1874
or Foa RI.it.?An elegant dwell
ng home on Main Strut?spplj at
hit oflct.
BOLD ROBBEU1'.
The County Court Clerk'*
Office Kitted.
On the night of tho 15th, or before
daylight on the morning of the J6th
inst., the boldest robbory was com-,
milted that has ever occurred in this
[ plaoo The offico ol tbe Clerk of tho
' County Court was broken into, and tbe
Japers of the whole civil and criminal
ucket of the County Court stolen.?
Tho burglars effected an entrance by
cutting a hole through the window
shutter, largo enough to admit a man's
arm. They then reached up, unfast
ened the latch, and opened the win
dow. Tho cutting of the window
shutter was evidently dono with a
heavy and very sharp instrument?
probably a dirk knifo or carpenter's
chisel. The tbltvei evidently knew
where the papers wero kept, that thoy
wero after. It is true that they took
many that could be of no possible uie
to them, but they just "cleaned out"
tho places where tho criminal and law
papers were kept. A fow deeds, that
bad boon admitted, but not recorded,
were also taken. The will of the late
Miss Hetta Jackson was found near
the door; the thuivea evidently having
dropped it. The following is ? list,
as near as can be made, of the papers
stolen:
Stata Catei.
State vs. E. T. Somorville, misde
meanor.
State vs. Samuol Martin, tresspass, as
saultand battery.
Statovs. J.H. Snider, misdemeanor.
State vi. W. T. Bdtcher, petit larce
ny.
.Civil Cotet.
8. II. Wilson vi. Alfred 8imi, cove
nant.
It. P. Camden vb. M. Edmiston, dobt
Julia Reger vi. I. C. Waldo, &o. debt.
J. W. Wilson &c., vi. Ellinor Mo
Quain, assumpsit.
Eduiuud Christian vs. I. C. Waldo, (2
cases) debt.
D Hoover vi. W. B. Iloover, debt.
8. H. Groves vi. 8. M. Blake, eject
ment.
Elian Fiihcr vs. George Pheefer, dobt.
A. C. Hale vi. Jacob Bott, &o., debt.
Appeult.
Isabella Henry, Ac., vi. J. 0. Van
dervort, debt.
J. 11. Fletcher vi. M. McEwin, debt.
A. E.'Rubrbough vs. M. MoEwin,
debt.
P. Tierney vi. John 8. Tierney, tress
pass.
Ojfict Judgment.
J. M. Bennett vi E. J. Jackion and
J. Mitchell, debt.
Chancery Cautei.
D. J. Stokeloy K. Jackson.
P. T. Smiih vi. A SmllH'i beiri.
Wm. Martin lio , fl. J- W. BUtr? ?o
Wiu E. Arnold vi. D. ind M. Brcn
nan.
0. P. Hudson, ex'r vb. J. W. 8talna
ker. ?
8. M. Barbridge vi. Caroline Craw
ford, &o.
Rule Faperi.
Thompson k Jaokson vi. E. T. Som
orville. assumpsit.
N. B. Bland, adm'r vi. J. K>
II. H. Beall, debt.
J. S. Williams vs. J. B. Bush. case.
E. Pumphrey &o., vs. A. W. Wood
ford ic , chancery.
N. A. Lovett, &o., vs. W. W. Hall,
adm'r, chancer)
Thompson & Jack?on vs. John C
Jackson, assumpsit.
W G. Bennett, com'r, vi. I. P. Me
Brido, &o., chancery.
?No blame whatever attaches to
?Squiro Wooftcr. The office was prop
orly iccured?windows and doors?
with all the fastenings that had been
provided for the purpose He is en
tirely blameless; and the responsibility
for this occurronco, if there is any,
rests with a higher power. For years
past the necouity of a vault or larRO
safe, wheroin to keep important papers
in the Clerk's offiots, has been appar
ent ; wo have the firo fiend to fear, as
well as lawless men ; and in tho event
that tbo Court papers were safely de
posited, until actually needed, in a
rault or safe, no danger need bo ap
prehended. It will not do to say that
I wo propose to lock the stablo-door af
j tea tbo horse is gone; for in a few,
I months this class of papers will again
accumulate; and unless protected bet
ter than at present, they will once
nioro be subject to bo stolon at will.
Tho County Court should at once givo
this, matter their attention
?It is a singular fact that this is
tho third robbery of a like nature that
lias occurcd in this. Judicial District
within a yesr. Tho pspors were sto
len from tho County Court Cl?rks
office in Webster oouutv; tho Circuit
Clerk', in Upshur; and now from Uio
County Olerk's offic. of this county.
No eluc lis yet been obtsined to the
perpetrator, of ?ny of theso robberies.
Notici.?I em now selling ?t cost
tar entire stock ?t Hardware, Queens
ware, Notion, of all kinds, Nails, Tery
low. I also offer to rent the old Cbe.p
Johnstsud. Panic, wanting a good
stand will do well to call and secure a
.rood business place. Also, come and
Utt goods cheap for cash, as I intjnd to
quit business. Parties Indebted to me
will please call and fork otor the
??ready John Pavis." And look hero,
if you have a claim against me I wsut
you to call and get your money.
' F. Buhmm.
Weston, March 1.
tV K?v. J. A. J. LtotitaoiiK will
preach In Weston on the third Situr
day night and Sunday in oaoh month.
{r roil salg ?a fop*.
?I have ror sals at my shop a new
twu-horso wagon, gotten up in tho
best style. C.n bo bought at low Og
ures. Csll ind eismiue before pur
chasing eleewheto. Ifjoudontyou
will losoa good bargain.
J out Annus.
1 W 1 WAS* "host and corn dellr
ercd at tho Weston Mill. Will pay
the highest cssb price. Unog it-In
or 1 will hare to send out of tTie State
for It. My customers will find ground
horse and cow feed In abundance for
,al, ar ihe mill. Also llomluy ?< &
els per ptund. A. W. ttoon?o??.
TEltHIBIiE ACCIDENT.
A Mother nnil Four Chit,
tlren Drowned.
O'her Itemi Prom Qlluicr Cooalj.
Gusyilu, Mirch 15 th ?Editor
DemocratAn aocident ocourcd oq
tlio river, below here, on Saturday
,lMt, which sent a thrill of horror
through every heart. The oireaot
stances tfre os follows: A man by tho
Nathan licnuott, who was living near
UranUvillo, procured a team and
wogon, on the 18th inst., to move his
family to a point somewhere on Steer
Creek, whero he had purchased land.
His family consisted of a wilo ani Bvo
children.' On the jouraoy, the mother
and tho four oldest children were seat*
ed in the interior of tho wagon; while
tho father, with the youneat ohild, sat
oq the seat with the driver. Owing
to tho recent rise the streams woro too
deep to trots with safety; but when
they arrived at the 8to#r Creek ford
(about a mile abovo tde mouth of the
creek) tho party determined to try to
cross. They started into the water,
and whoa nearly halfway across, ow
ing to the depth of tho stream and the
swiftness of tho current, the hind cod
of tho wagon washed around until tho
wheels ^caught against the bed, and
locked it, uud in a moment turnod tho
wagon upside down upon ths mother
and four children They were drown
lil up t0 lbia Writia8 (Mwoh 10)
their bodies have not been recovered.
Mr. .Bennett a wain ashoro, with tho
youngest child in his arms. The dri.
ver also esoapod; but the horses and
wigon drifted down tho stream and
havo not sinoe been seen. Thin is tho
most fearful accident of the kind thai
has over occurred in this region.
A man by tho namo of Tipton
Sproucer, who resides four miles above
this place, was severely injured on
Saturday last, by having bis leg
caught betweon a tree and a cable, at
tached to a raft that was in motion.
Tho river is in flno condition fof
ruouing lumber; and Ifcist of our
lumber men are busily engaged in
running their timber.
Captain Craddook's bateau arrived
at our wharf on Friday last, from a
trip to l'arkersburg, loaded principally
with salt.
A boat belonging to William Wy
ant, Euq , of this place, which had on
board 100,000 staves, for Parkers
burg, struok an obstruction known to
river men as -Heaver Rook," and
sank. Loss about $1,000.
Our Cirouit Court is now session.
A man by the namo of Chapman
Jones, who has boon oonfined in jail
hero for somo time, forgery, was con
victed and sentenced to two years in
tho penitentiary.
The Sheriffalty caie-J. F, W:
n!?lt vs. Samuel L. IIays,?was deci
ded by Judge lirannon in tavor of tht
former. It is said that an appeal to
the Supremo Court will bo taken, and
tbccaso decided tbero.
Our Normal School, under tho su
pervision of Prof. Bennett, is in a
flourishing condition, with moro pupils
than at any previous timo in its histo
ry. It is to be regretted that tho
Legislature did not mako provision for
the continuation of the Normal Schools,
for a longer poriod than the 1st of Ju*
ly> More anon,
Occasional.
JET Our School Dimmer. ? In or
der to mako uniform tho tiroes and
mannpr our local olections, and to reg
ulsto tho torms of offico of our town
officers and district school commission
ors, we havo prepared the following
bill in relation to our district school
school commissioners. It will bo scou,
by the provisions of tho bill, that the
slootton will oocur at tho samo time
and plaoe as tho election .for town
officers; and that half of the board
will "hold over." This bill, in con
nection with tho one - printed in anoth
er column, in rotation to corporation
officers, would, wo think, cure tin
evils that are .now complained of.
Should it provo satisfactory, it can b?
made a law at tho November session:
A Bill to amend and re-enact section J of
chapter 77 of the acts* of 1808, entitled
"an act to provide free school* for the
Town of WestoV and to repeal chaptor
2ia of the acta of J87'i-3.
Be it enacld bjr tho Legislature of IPesl
Virginia :
That section 4 of.chapter 77 of the acts of
1808, be amended and re-enacted so as to
read as follows:
"4. The voters of tho school district afore
said shall, at the first election, after the pas*
?age of this act, fur mayor, reorder and al
dermen of tho town of Weston, olect 0 com
missioners who shall perform all tho duties
prejcribed by said act to bi performed by .1
commissioners, and who shall hold their of
fice for the term of 2 years. The said emo
tion shall be conducted by tho same officen
required br ordinance of tho council of the
town of Weston to conduct the election for
mayor, recorder and aldermen as nforosald;
but the ballots voted by persons voting for
said commissioners, shall not bo deposited
in the same box as those for mayor, recorder
and uldermon, but in another, to be provi
ded for tho purpose ; and the clerks or elec
lion shall keep a distinct and separate list,
in tho form prescribed by law, of persons
voting for commissioners and town officers.
The officers so conducting the election shall
certify the result thereof to the council of
the town of Weston, and the said counoil
shall declare tho result of said election,shall
try and determine contested elections, and
fill vacancies that may occur in the office of 1
<chool commusloners as aforesaid: Provided, j
That of the six commissioners elect*! first
after the passage or this act, three, to be des
ignated by lo\ In such manner "as a majority
ofthecommlwion^rs may determine, shall
hold their office for but one year; ana at tho
election to be held annually for town officers,
three commissioners for ssid districtsball bo
eleftcj."
All acts and parts of acts, inconsistent
with the provisions of this net, are hereby
repealed.
This act shall be in forco from its passago.
tST An* ono in Weston having
Foster's Lift of Dickons borroirod, will
please return it to thir offico. Owner
wants it.
-Ten Cent Novell for??1
at tho News Depot.
Tax Parana will take iv
that I will bo in my offico on th
urday of oitoh week to rocelvo
You will aavo troupe nnd er
o.wing forward.!
will have to distrain
A. W. Wo
X^TTmXkt Wan'
miles from Weston,
Powoerst Offico.