Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-12
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LOCAL, NEWS.

cd to, the CAlalr IN the aDSenc2O OF the IEcSiucut
Mr.. SSuttle asked if the Finance Conmlttec
had taken any steps To get the OLD tax bllls
from MIR: Stillsou, formerly Corporation Attor-
ney' The tax bills, he thought, ought to be in
the hands of the committee that they might
have them Us Il basis on which to make cacu-
lations with regard to taxes for the next fiscal
year.
Mr.. Harmon stated what he had formerly re-
ported concerning Il contract between Mr. Still
son and former Council, and that Mr.. S. had
been waiting to get the bills for the year sue
ceediug the one for which he held bills
Mr.. Agnew said he thought he remembered
that Mr. s. was obliged to give bond and had
failed to do So
Mr.. French said that no list of these bills
held by Mr. Stlllson could be found in the Au-
ditor 3 office
Mr. Suite said that it Was probable Mr.. 5
had given receipt Tor the bills, and if he had
given bond Us he should, and had not carried
out his part Of the contract, he could not ex-
pect to be paid, nor could he expect to hold
the bills always 1t Vas hard case to keep
the city out OF these taxes through the dcliu-
quency of any one.
The chairman of The Finance Committee
promised to attend to the matter.
MIR. Suite reported With reference to
the application OF Mchal Smith to repair the
street in front Of his house, on Queen street,
near Patrick, it would involve such ex-
tensive repairs in the entire neighborhood as to
preclude bv its cost the execution OF the work
asked for by the petitioner
Mr.. Simpson reported the very bad condl-
ton of the pavement in front Of the property
of Mr.. Leatherland on Henry street, the side
walk being foot higher i'll some places than
in others. A resolution Was adopted Instruct
Ing the Superintendent of Police to require the
owners Of property Oh Henry street beween
Queen and Cameron to fill up these points to
the proper level.
Mr. Suite read the report of the special
committee to rearrange the wards OF the city.
The report makes Prince and st. .Asaph streets
the dividing lines. He stated that the lines
had been drawn SO rs to avoid the lmputall0u
OF partizan dealing, while the division was an
Improvement as more equally dividing the city
into wards.
The bill was put upon It's passage, the rule
being suspended and the chair declared 1t
adopted. d.
Mr. Suite asked for the ayes and nays.
Mr. Simpson offered L resolution to author
ize the improvement OF the square bounded BY
Princess, Fairfax, Royal andOronoco Streets by
putting in drain.
His object was to abatc Il nuisance which cX
listed there and improve property. \ deep
gully ran down that neighborhood conveying
the entire drainage of Pitt street diagonally
across that lot.
Mr. Suite inquired ii Council could 60 on
private property to make these changes
After further discussion the resolution WAS
adopted.
A communication from W. q. Cazcnovc was
read on the subject Of the title Of the city to
property at the foot Of Cameron street, west
side. He claimed that his title TO it was per
feet until the city refunded the entire cost OF
improving that property it having been re-
claimed from marsh which formerly existed
there.
Mr.. Agnew said this termination of the street
was one Of the pieces of property designed by
the committee on the subject OF a new court
house to be sold to assist in defraylug the ex-
penses of that building. lie did not see how
the city could sell this amy more than the 1oot
of King street.
Mr.. French said if the city In 1910 had the
right to grant any one the exclusive right to
this property by lease, then the city could take
it back now. 1t has been occupied as private
property long enough. lie further claimed
that Mr.: Cazenove's property would be more
accessible by the widening Of the street there.
These persons had had possession tor 6o years
but that should surely be no reason why the
city could not reclaim what was Its own, and II
1t could not DE sou tlell icdSc IL ao 'H"' 'he
city could derive some benefit from It.
Mr. Agnew said that if he owned property
IN the opposite side of Cameron street he
would apply to Council to have this street
opened, and he would think that his request
should be granted. But he did not think
Council could do away with the termination OF
Cameron anv more than with that Of King
or any other street.
The debate was continued by Messrs Agnew
and French, and by Mr. Suttle, who said that
he did not want to get the corporation into any
difficulty, but it seemed to him that II the city
could lease this property to Herbert Soc-
man 60 years ago, surely 1t had the right to
reclaim it now by complying with the terms OF
the lease As he understood It east o! unon
street was made land and to this the city sure
" had an equal right with the other holders
Mr.. Simpson said that L provision of the
lease was that it should be reserved for the use
Of market people landing there. lie was not
certain that the city could sell this property,
though he thought that it was rs we'll Tor the
corporation to hold it again
The subject was then passed over.
4 resolution that the Washington and ONO
Railroad be granted the exclusive use OF Water
and Union streets from the depot to Montgom-
ery inclusive, for - years, was read.
Mr.. Suite was opposed to the exclusive Use
Of the streets for SO long L time rs was propoS-
ed to fill the blank with (30 years.
Mr.. Simpson thought that the city could
hardly build these streets for long time ic
come, and if the railroad company would grade
them it would be much needed Improvement
He recalled the opposition to the city allowing
the same railroad the use of Water street, thu
use of which brought that magnificent improve
ment, the Washington and Ohio Railroad &c
DOT He would, however, modify the resolu
ton by striking out the word exclusive.
Mr.. Suite thought it Objectionable to give
these parties the use Of these streetS-Valu
able CITY property-tor so long and then pa!
them Lack for their improvements. 1t woul'
Ice really sale of them as, if the improve
ments were very costly. the city could not pa.
and the Railroad would hold them forever
Mr. Simpson said with regard to the pero'
10 years-hc would like to modify that. 4