Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-08
LOCAL ITE n S.

was completed yesterday. At ten o'clock, a
majority Of the members Of the Common
/ Council assembled in their chamber.
/ Mr.. Dempsey, Clerk Of tho former Board,
called the members TO order und read the
certificates Of election.
: There were present from III" First Ward
Messrs. Mckenzie. Burke, and Markell;
/ from the ID Ward. Me,srs. liallowell, Beach,
/ Latham and Ea.tlack: from the Sd Ward,
Mes.rs Berry and Dorsey: and from the
18th Ward, McssrS Washington, Smoot, and
: Blackjack.
I Lewis Mckenzie was unanimously cleo
ted President of the Board. and the oath OF
Office was administered to him by ii. l.. Slmp-
son, Justice of the peace of this county.
(Mr. McNcigh. President Of the Common
! Council last year, is absent from the city,
The members present were then sworn III.
James Dempsey. was unanimously elected
Clerk Of the Board and Jas. G. Goods, Mes
scnccr. The Board of Aldermen, having
been notified Of the organization OF the
Common Council. entered the Council Cham
Der, when W. u. Massey Mayor elect. APP
reared and took the oath of Office, the
members of the Council standing while the
oath was being administered by Justice
Simpson. The Standing Committees were
announced by the President. which. together
with the other business transacted, Will he
found in the official report of the procced-
iurs of the Council. The Board of Alder
men were also in session, and transacted
some business, which will also be found IN
the official report published in this morning 5
Gazette.
RErAvlNG King STREEr.-A report from
the Committee on Streets Of the last Coun-
ell, in regard to repavnG King street. was
taken up Yesterday in the Board of Alder
men and referred to the Committee on Streets
Of the present Board. Similar action was
taken oil the report in the Common Council.
.
the proposed improvement, its cost, &c, we
publish the report Of the Committee As read
in the Common Council.
The Committee on Streets have duly considered
thc several orders of the City Council, referring To
them the subject Of rcpavng King street. and pre-
sent to them the following report thereon:
lat. Tur pLAS OF TIE lNrROvEuENT.-Reicr-
ing TO the accompanying diagram, prepared NJ
their request By ". ID. Stuart, esq, City surveyor,
!, will be- seen that the arrangement proposed VIII
reduce the carriage way IL 80 leet. ana increase
rho width nf side walks 3 feet on each side, giving
n whole width Of foot-way of ID feet. instead OF IL
feet. rs ut present. The extension of sidewalk.
and Iimnution of carriagc-way. your Committee
regard ~ highly advantageous, because greater
width of the former is demanded by the enlarged
Use of such way. and the carrage-way beng lar
les. used than formerly. III consequence OF the sub
,iitutou of railway Transportation for that 10y VIII
rons NAV hr reduced without any inconvenience
whatever. The change will not only be desirable
for convenience. but will greatly improve the ap
pearan"e of the street and the cost OF b"th de.-
criptions being equal, as shown by bids received.
the Committee strongly recommend the change
! For form of carriage way. slope Of sidewalks.
! depth of gravel under the former and sanr under
| the latter; for description OF CUTTERS. haggings'
! materials and the manner OF executing the WORK.
reference i. here made to the diagram before men
Goned. and the accompanying specifications. 8c.,
prepared also by the city surveyor, 1T the request
/ of the Committee.
The Committee are of opinion that IN reconstruct
ing this most important street i'll the city. the grad,
ascending from the River ought to he improved. aud
ACCORDINGLY recommend that ill of about - IN
chrs be- made from the Wharf up 10 Water street.
, and :, sent OF abou; the same depth at summit.
/ Us inchcsj made from about midway between
! Water and Fairfax streets. 10 point about mid
way between the latter and Royal street.
. COsr OF THE Observation-Disclosures 10 MI
mcrous bids received for the work. the whole cost.
including the removal of Street Lamps. Fire Plugs
and other contingent charges. will be Sl2.Ooo or
/ $4,000.
q THE MopE OF RAISING MEANS FOR THE WORK.
! The Committee recommend the special tax on
the property the street. according t" the pro'i-
.ions of Sec of the Act Of the General Assembly
of virginia. amending the Charter of the City.
passed at the last session thereof; and for the bal
ance mn issue of the bonds of the City. with view
TO distribute the bur;hcn Of the Improvement. rath
er than impos" it Immediately hy a present tax.
An issue of 8 900 OF bonds, il Is thought will
suffice. The cost to property holders on the street
i. estimated at .2i 10 80 per front foot, which
! the committee regard a. very small affair. com
pared with the advantage to result Immediately
! and permanently TO their property.
Emodviug in this brief form the views Of the
! Committee in the three important particulars men
toned il il recommended that the work be- let out
| to contract Mt ~ early day rs practicable.
| Respectfully submitted. D. ii. REID
| Chairman Of Committee.
Then follows diagram of the work, sp"-
cfications for material, &C.. prepared by the
! City Surveyor.
Contested Election C,>E.-ln the Com
mon Council yesterday communication was
read from Wesley Avery, protesting against
! the elections of VIM. H. Smith to the office OF
! Collector If taxes of the ID and Sd Wards,
ON account Of alleged illegal voting, and
! claiming to have been elected 10 said office
! himself The communication was laid on
the table for the present, and an order adop-
ted requesting the Corporation Attorney to
inform the City Council at it, next meeting.
a. to the proper jurisdiction for determining
cases Of contested elections held under the
city charter. and the legal mode of proceed
ing therein.
THE CorxTY CorRT commenced it, sc
sion Yesterday but transacted 10 business Of
general importance, and adjourned until this
| M ,rniup ar | o'clock