Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-05-29


of the Fire Department. | commanded him to
stop the engine; several members on the engine
shouted out that they had nothing to do with
me. to 20 head and work her up; then told the
party wanted no more water thrown into that
building; then left them and they at once re-
commenced throwing water into the building.
Joseph White, witness Question by tie
Wardens Did you hear the Chief Engineer
give orders to the Friendship Fire Company at
the fire on Fayette street on May llth to stop
working their engine? \. did.
O. Did the company obey the order! A.
While the Chief Engineer was giving the order
the company ceased working; as soon as he left
they RECOMMENDED throwing water
Q. Did you hear the members say they were
an independent company. A. did, and that
they run on their own hook.
0. Was the fire out when the Friendship
company recommended throwing water. A. 1t
was
W. B. Eutwisle, witness Q. Did you hear
the order given by the Chief Engineer to the
Friendship Fire Company to stop working their
engine at the fire above alluded to- A. | did.
O. Was the order obeyed A. While the
Chief Engineer was giving the order they
ceased wulking; as soon as he left they recon-
menccd working again.
Statement Of DR.. j. B. johnson President Of
the Friendship Fire Company
| was present at the fire ground; saw the
Columbia pipcmen standing near the gable end
throwing water on the roof; saw also the pipe
men Of the Friendship carry their hose to the
top Of the building; the Columbia plpemen
were throwing steadily over the building; did
not observe any intention on their part to throw
water on the ppemcn Of the Friendship com
h., o,n,,n,.,l,r ~ tba ErtaplS hin
pany informed me he had been ordered to stop
work king the engine by the Chief Engineer; |
asked Brown what was the NATTER he replied
engine, but had declined to do so. | then asked
him if he was DONE he replied he was; | then
told him to put up his engine and 60 home.
Question by the Beard: Were you aware
the company had refused to obey the order of
the Chief Engineer. A. Only by hearsay.
Respectfully submitted,
j. RECTOR SHOOT, President.
Attest G. L. FRENCH Secretary.
Mr. Hopkins did not see that anything could
be done in this matter. Any act proposed now
in reference Of the matter would be eX post
factO.
Mr.. Hughes hoped that the next time the
company refused to obey the orders of the En-
gineer, he would take possession Of the appa-
ratuS.
Mr.. Wheat Thought it was too late for any
action The Chief Engineer had ample power
az the law stood to order the arrest OF persons
refusing to obey him at the fire. He had the
whole police force under his command. and he,
himself, stated in his communicate that he
did not enforce the law because it would have
occasioncd Il riot There could be nothing done
now.
When the report Of the committee relative to
r. Juhnston's memorial, in regard to the dock
&c, foot Of King street, had been read 1.-THE re-
port tavors the establishment IF grating at
the foot of King street to catch the waste, and
that the Alexandria and Washington Ferry
Co. be required to remove their piles fourteen
feet back
Mr.. Wheat said that he was much opposed
to interfering with this important line OF steam
ers. All the piles of the Potomac Ferry Com
pany were upon their own ground, and though
that did extend few feet further than the
Port Warien's line. they could not get their
boats in otherwise No harm was done by these
piles
Mr.. Shinn said that he left the chair to sec
and the motion He had been engaged in
business about these wharveS all his life. and
was certain that these piles were necessary.
Mr.. Wheat said that the company had
right to twenty-five feet Of the foot of King
street, which had been extended into The dock
by the military authorities during the war, and
side the Port Wardcn's line.
in fourteen feet it would not lessen the length
hours out of the twenty-four. Mr.. Irwin could
,l,o al, tn tho hpots 1nl f,,r Inc
reason the piles were Of no Importance
Mr. Pnn bad noticed that Mr.. Irwin had the
Express at his wharf and that steamer ex
tended much further into the stream than the
Potomac ferry boat did.
Mr. Stuart said that the committee could
have made no other report in the present state
of the law but he fully agreed in the necessity
for law authorizing the ferry company to ex-
tend their piles as far as now.
So much of the report as referred to the
Potomac Ferry Company, was ordered to be
recommttcd.
Mr.. Hopkins introduced for information a
bill to abolish the Office of clerk Of the Gas
Works, as follows:
AN ACT dispensing with the services of a clerk
at the Gas Works or Gas Office.
Sec. |. BE 1t enacted by the City Council Of
lAeraud,ta, That after July lst 1872, the SER
vices of clerk at the Gas Office shall be dispens-
cd with, and it shall be the duty of the Com
mittec on light to require the Superintendent
of gas to keep the books Of the office, as well
as attend to the duties now performed by him.
Sec. >. BE it further enacted, That the Com
mittee on light shall regularly examine the
books of the office and should the Superinten-
dent of gas elected by Council, be incompetent
or from any other cause fail to attend to the
duties required of him. the Committee shall re-
port such failure to the City Council who shall
remove such officer, and at once elect another
to fill the vacancy
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the bond
required of the Superintendent Of gas shall be
ten thousand dollars, and, that he may en-
ploy temporary clerical assistance; his salary
shall be one thousand dollars per year, but the
and his sureties shall be liable
for duties performed by his clerk; provided all
acts now in force on this subject not in conflict
with this act are hereby continued.
Sec 4. All acts and parts Of acts in conflict
with this act are hereby, repealed,