Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-01-18
T,OCALs NEWS.

Tur CANAL RAILROAD There was spe-
o;sl meeting Of the City Council called yester-
eay evening, for the purpose of considering
ths nronosition 1.-The sLessees Of the Alexan-
dr;a Canal to build railroad along the BERN
hank. and over the aqueduct, and to instruct
tbesSenator from this District, and the dele
,,tes from this county in the Legislature, IN
reference to the subject.
Tn the Board of Aldermen, Mr. Bryan Of
fered the following preamble and resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, The City Council Of Alexandria,
- +" The Goth day of December, 1866, passed
Uv W, a resolution deprecating the pas
ssge Of bill by the Legislature of Virginia,
entitled, "a Bill relating to the Alexandria
Canal" and whereas, in spite of said resolu-
tion. and the decided opposition OF the people
If Alexandria the parties interested are press
inc It's massage by persistent efforts before that
hody: and whereas, in our opinion the success
ri. the scheme would be detrimental to the IN
terests OF Alexandria, unless adequate com,
nensation we're secured or paid for the lmpor-
tant@pliyileges asked for; and Whereas in view
If The depressed condition Of the city, and the
lnrthens5me taxation which it's citizens have
70 nav, the. City Council OF Alexandria is not
adverse to sale of the privilege OF erecting
railroad over the aquequct gaEd on the BERN
bank of the Canal, ii a proposition is made Tor
its purchase, and the contracting parties come
to such terms as will secure the compensation,
and a permanent structure ior Canal purposes
over said aqueduct; now, therefore, be it
ResozpeR, That the City Council adhere to
the resolution passed on the 10Th day OF De
camber, 1866, except in so far as it may be con.
strued to request our delegates to vote against
any bill which may be presented Tor the pur-
pose above indicated, and that we will consent
and agree to any contract or legislation which
will secure the object expressed IN the pream'
bic of these resolutions.
%. Resolve9, That we regard the efforts OF
the lessees to obtain privileges not contempla-
ted in the lease and lnimical 10 the best inter
on their part, which it is our duty to oppose,
and our right to defeat, by all proper means in
our power; that f1the -leSsees or any other
parties desire to purchase the privilege, which
they are endea 7oring to obtain without COM
pensa,ion, and which is ours of right, we
are not unwilling to make sale on terms which
will compensate Us adequately for the property
granted.
The Common Council, however, declined to
concur, and adopted as a substitute the follow
ing, prepared b. Mr. Suoot:
Resozyed, That the Senator from this Dis
trict, and the Delegates from this county, to
the Legislature of Virginia be requested to
have the bill now pending before the Legisa-
ture granting unto the Lessees Of the AIexan-
dria Canal the right to build railroad along
the BERN bank OF the Canal, and to use the piers
of the aqueduct fora bridge, so amended that,
before they can use the same for such purpose
they shall first compensate the city OF Alex
andria for the use of said BERN bank and
aqueduct piers, as may be agreed upon by said
Lessces and the City Council.
In the Common Council, Mr.. Bryan's reso
lutions were advocated by Mcssrs. johnson
and Clifford, and opposed by Messrs. Lambert
and Ashby.
In the Board of Aldermen, Mr. Brewis OPP
posed the substitute of Mr.. Smoot
In connection with the above, and as the
question of the States interest in the Canal
was mooted in the Council yesterday evening,
without eliciting 4 satisfactory reply, We ap
pend the following:
an Act TO authorize the Board Of Public Works
to sell the interest Of the Conn1oaweahhln the
alexandria Canal.
LIST. Be 1t enacted By the General assembly,
That if it shall become necessary, in order to
repair and make available the Alexandria Ca
nal for the use and transportation OF goods,
produce and the like, that the city Of Alexan-
dria shall be required to sell or dispose Of It's
stock in the said canal, that in that event, the
Board of Public Works arc hereby authorized
to unite with the corporation aforesaid by
their council in making like disposition, for the
best practicable consideration of the interests Of
the State In the said canal.
q This act shall be in force on and alter the
first day of April, 1866.