Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-13


made an agentto lay out money for the benefit
of part Of the community only.
Mr.. Portner said that the city would have
to put down curbing along several squares
where the owners had neglected TO do so. He
thought that the city would need curbing for
this purpose
| Mr.. Henderson would not vote for this pur-
chase unless the resolution was first recomnit-
ted and placed ID proper shape; III
Mr.. Shinn did not believe that under the
| present form of the resolution The cHTbIng after
being purchased could not be sold TO private
| individuals. fE:.s.. -. r.. y.4Ggfy
Mr.. Henderson Mr.. President, | think VIC
had better organize Board Of Public Works
| and start them out ! r.
Mr.. Beach thought that the form Of the re-
solution could reedily be changed 50 as to meet
the views of; all. the members, and that the
curb when bought would prove in the end no
| expense to the city, but would add much I" lis
! looks and the citizens be greatly convcnicnccd.
| Mr.. Hopkins asked if the city could buy
bricks at $40 per thousand while private per
sons had to pay $l3, would any one be found
to favor the city going into the market to buy
bricks. t
! The report was reconlmltted. 80 s s.,x.
When bill Of A. n. Hurdle for services as
engineer on Oronoko streets cancup,
Mr.. Evans enquired by what authority Mr.
Hurdle was employed "a
Mr.. Portncr explained that the Committee
On Streets were directed to contract for grad
ing certain streets. 1t was necessary before
contracting to ascertain precisely the ground to
be graded and the limits of the grade; for this
purpose Mir. Hurdle was employed.
A bill from J. L. Smith, approved by Mr.
Hopkins, chairman of the Committee on Pub
lie Property, for rent of room tor election being
presented,
Mr.. Evans asked if that bill had been before
the Committee on Public Property for appro-
val, and it the approval of the chairman was
the approval of the committee.
Mr. Hopkins said that it was customary for
the chairman of the committee to certify to
the correctness Of bills Of this character. If
the member had no confidence in him and the
other member who concurrcd with him, he
would get out of the way
Mr. Evans di>claimcd any intention to reflect
upon the chairman, but advcrtcd to Il practice
which he said had grown up since he was in
Council two years ago, OF reports being signed
by the chairman only. 1t was formerly the
custom for all the members OF the committee
to sign reports.
Mr. Hopkins said that it was difficult to get
the committee together. Mr.. Evans lived at Il
considerable distance, and he had for that rea.
son, in trlhing matters. not sent for him. He
consulted Mr. Markell and Gen Corse, who
lived near, and when they concurrol he had
approved the bill,
Mr. Shinn said it was the custom in lcgiSla-
tive proceedings new for the chairmcn Of com
mittees to sign reports in tho name u the com
mittee
just US Council vas about 10 proceed to con-
slider an application Of G. \. Smith for the
right to erect bulletin boards in the market
square Mr.. French came from the Board Of
Aldermen, and presented to the Common
Council the resolution passed by the Board OF
Aldermen appointing committee to solicit
from Congress material aid in order to improve
the condition of Virginia. He stated that tn"
resolution had been introduced in lie Board Of
Aldermen by Judge Underworld who had
urged its passage as likely to lead to most hene
fetal results, if by concert Of action. the other
municipal authorities of the State, would lend
their influence Mr.. French expressed the
hope that this would be done. He advcrtcd
to the fact that the State of Virginia in its
present impoverished condition paid much
larger Internal Revenue tax than any other
State in the Union, and Willie in millions Of
dollars annually this huge tax was drawn from
the State, there were comparatively but few
| Federal expenditures made within her board
ers that this State was being continually i'm
povcrished by the action Of the Federal gov
erument in abstracting so much capita and
making no returnS in the shape Of expenditures
that the Navy Yard at GoSrort, once the pride
Of the whole country, employing its thousands
of hands, though still possessing all the adj
vantages it ever had, was now in most lan-
gushing condition, the work formerly done
there being transferred to other sections Of the
country, while the proposed connection Of the
waters Of James River with those Of the OHIO
by means of canal, the pet scheme Of Wash
ington, jefferson, and all the great men who
have adorned the pages of our history, dcstin-
ed, when completed, to confer alike on the east
and west blessings not to be estimated, still
drags its slow length along, if not stationary a
hopeless enterprise, though so much money
has already been expended upon it, unless the
Federal government shall in some way ycrcdit
or otherwise grant material aid. And while
these are fit subjects for the fostering care OF
the government what better location or what
location so good as our own old city for the cS
Enlistment Of great Naval School, or Mill
tary School by the government, in full sight of
the Capitol? Shall there always be but one
West Point? Possibly the present time may
prove favorable to the efforts we propose to
make-at least let us give our Republican,
friends an opportunity to grant US the material
aid they say we so much require, and to help
us to build up our waste places. Shout We
fail in our application it can do us no harm:
our efforts will have been spent in a most
laudabe object. He hoped it would be the
pleasure Of the Board to adopt the resolutions,
and trusted it might lead to similar action in
other parts of the State.
The resolution was agreed to unanimously.
The application from q: A. Smith for the
right to erect boards for placards on the mar
ket square called forth some debate.
Mr.. Hopkins favored sending the matter to
the Committee on Public Property with power
to act.
Mr.. Evans thought before the market Was
scabbed over with bills we ought to have an OPP
portuuty to look at it. Let the scafodS come
down and let folks get one look at it before it
was covered over with dirty looking bills. AT
ter the people had one chance to look at 1t, il