Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-15
LOCAL NEWS.
CITY CorSclL-The regular sonli-monthly
meeting of the City Council was held lastnight.


the members being present,
Mr. Suite called up the Alexandria and
Fredericksburg Railroad question, ::nd report
upon the same was read
Mr. French appealed to the sense of every
one present as 4 practical question whether 1t
would not be best to let this subject lie satil
settled by the Legislature If the Legislature
urant the Alexandria and Fredericksburg Co.
the privilege asked for, he would interpose no
obstacle, but would vote to remove every OBJ
struction; bnt let us be courteous to the Legls-
ature and not act in advance OF that body
Mr.. Suite said this matter should be settled
in some way and that definite action should be
taken by Council This body had nothing to
do with the Legislature, nor had that body any
control over the streets.
Mr.. French said it was unpleasant for him to
discuss or even advert to the subject; but he
wished that members could understand the
matter He did not suppose that the gentle
man meant to bc discourteous to him, but his
remarks implied that he did not know that two
and two make four: At meeting held in Nor
folk, reported in this days paper the largest
almost ever held in that city, 4 protest was
made against the passage of Il bill granting the
charter asked for BY the Alexandria and Fred
..ricksburg Railroad. No one could fail to see
the importance of this railroad question who
reads the proceedings Of the Legislature. Not
only was there an effort making to prevent the
A. 4 F. r. K. Co. from getting their new char
ter, but to prohibit their building any road at
ull This Company had abandoned their orlgl-
nal proposition to build Il road from Alexandria
make one from Washington to Richmond
Suppose the Legislature refuse to grant its
charter, will you have two roads TO Richmond?
for the Legislature will probably grant the r..
+. K Il. r. Co. charter to build an extension
Of their road to this city Our Senator had in
trnduced bill to that effect Now while all
this is pending why this hurry here? live
five the Alexandria and Fredericksburg road
The right through the city and the Legislature
lives the r., f. & =. r. r. Co. i charter then
what? Gentlemen know how this question of
railroads is agitatng the public mind in this
State-this subject of making the State mere
pasS-way for foreign roads.
Mr. Suite did not intend to reply to Mr.. +.
He gave him credit ior having read the papers;
but he had failed to tell the facts in the case
these facts are that this company now holds
charter to build road from Alexandria to
Fredericksburg, and the question before the
LEGISLATURE is the granting charter to extend
that road to Richmond. So far as Mr.. French
was concerned, it did not effect his interests, as
he understood that that gentleman had no
longer any interest in the Alexandria and
Washington railroad Personally he would
rather that the State should have what it would
probably have, three roads to Fredericksburg
and three to Washington, as he understood
the Central railroad was coming in also To
pass the report is not to treat the Legislature
with discourtesy for that body has not a
shadow Of authority to say that any road shall
60 through oursreets-we alone have authority
in the matter.
Mr.. French said that he claimed threc-tourths
of the Alexandria and Washington Railroad
He gave the grounds on which he claimed it,
and entered somewhat into detail into recital
Of his legal troubles in regard to it, The report
that he had sold his interest in the road WAS
but part of the studied Misrepresentation and
injustice done him by those who sought to de-
feat his legal claims to the property question.
He claimed that the Alexandria and Fredericks
burg road had no charter, whilst the bill that
was reported was before the Legislature. The
majority Of the committee to whom the subject
was referred had SO reported. In his opinion
they would never build it, the show of work. was
Il show only.
Mr.. Harmon said that as Mr. French had
mentioned the late meeting at Norfolk, he would
ask if the will of the people here should not be
heard and respected ALSO lie moved the adop-
ton Of thereport.
Mr. Agnew though that III amendment re-
During the company to build the road south OF
the city before passing through would quiet
alarm rs to their intention.
Mr. Sutte said this was provided i'll the
terms Of the charter.
Mr. French continued, urging that in adopt
ing this report according that permission, Coun-
eli is acting in the very teeth Of the charter
The discussion as to the Alexandria and
Washington road was continued at considerable
length, and with some sharpness, questions and
answers coming from all sides in rapid success
sion.
Mr.. French continued his remarks i'll reply,
entering into explanations rs to his personal
connection with the subject, and characterizing
as monstrous the proposition SAID to be con-
t:.ined in the report to seize the track laid BY
the government because the builders had aban-
doned it.
Mr.. Suite claimed that the Alexandria,
Washington and Georgetown road had come
before Council, asking the privilege of using
the Henry street track, thereby acknowledging
the ownership Of the corporation. That this
track was laid down without authority, and ON
lands for which, in part, no compensation had
ever been made The Corporation Attorney
nuisance The report Of the committee did no
more than assert the claims Of the city to that
track-we simply set ourselves right on the
record lie charged Mr.. French with having
changed his original ground of defence.
Mr.. French replied and concluded by call
my for the report from the committee Of the
lower board, which had been adopted by that
branch This report was read, and Mr. F.
moved that it be adopted as Il substitute for
the report then under discussion
Mr. Suite seconded this and called the pre-
viors question, and the report was adopted.
Mr. Suite then moved the adoption OF the
report previously discussed
Mr. French and others had understood this
substituted by the one just adopted, and as Il
test question he moved to reconsider. Lost.
Mr.. French then entered the following pro
test: .'... q. .....N
hereby beg leave to Ale this, my protest TO the
action of the Councils in granting to the Alex
Mndria and Fredericksburg Railroad Company