Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-23


held last night, at their rooms, IN Harmonic
Hall.
Tn THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
but two spectators witnessed the proceedings
the SUPERINTENDENT OF Police and Justice OF
the Peace.
Alter the reading Of the minutes Of the pre-
ceding meeting resolution was received from
the Common Council, directing the curblng to
be set around the new Market House BY the
Superintendent Of Police.
Mr.. French said the resolution did not state
what the probable cost would be. He suggest
ed that the expense to be incurred be paid out
of the sinking fund or from rents which would
be derived from stores and stalls in the build
ing when completed. The money would cyl.
deutly have to come from some source, and he
did not want it taken from the city treasury II
it could in any way be avoided. Some had
said the work would cost but 5000, but he had
since been told that it would cost 81 300 He
wanted to be enlightened.
Mr.. Corse thought the matter should be at
tended to and the Improvement made at once.
Mr.. French again said he would like to know
from what fund Council intended to defray the
expense.
The President said the sinking fund would
be exhausted after the completion OF: the 9lar,
ket House, consequently it could not be derived
from that source The setting Of the curb.
stones, however, was pressing matter, and
should be attended to Immediately, if the
money had to come out of the treasury The
amount which would accrue from the renting
Of the stalls and stores had already been fixed
upon for other purposes.
Mr. French then explained why nc thought
IL tonpd rnplt nav rho hill
The President again spoke OF the lmpracti-
cab;lity Of such u course.
Mr. Corse concurrcd in the views OF the
chair.
Mr.. johnson said it was absolutely necessary
that this work should lie done before frost; but
he had been told that TO pay the cost from the
siuking fund would create some dthculiy III
some of rhc financial estimates. lie was con
fdent, however. that the Committee on Pubic
Property could arraugelt III some manner.
The action Of the Common Council was thcl
coucurrcd in.
\ resolution which had been tabled BY the
Board at a previous meeting, donatngt to the
Columbia Fire Company the old bell meta
held By the corporation for. The purpose OF en-
aiding that company to procure bell to be
erected iu the stceple of their engine house
was read.
Mr.. johnson said he thought this resolution
had been tabled by the Board, the chairman Of
the Committee on Public Property having con
Guided to use the metal in casting bell Tor the
new Market House.
The chair stated that the chairman of the
committee had concluded to dispense with d
bell
Mr.. French said the Columbia Company had
one hundred and some dollars towards procur
ing bell for their engine house, and asked
Council to give them this old metal, as the
foundry would take it in part payment. 1t had
been determined to put no bell on the new
Market House.
Mr.. JohuSon-Thcn let the old metal be sold
and the money applied towards setting the
curb-stones around the market square. This
Columbia Fire Company is not 10 special need
of Il bell, aud the geography of the city shows
the new steamer to be supcrhuty. 1t was
formed originally for the purpose Of breaking
up old institutions, and am astonlshed that
the resolution is favored. There are plenty OF
bells in the city the Hook and Ladder, and the
Friendship Companies have bells, and the Fly.
draulon triangle--an abundance. am 10
favor Of economy 90 the part OF the corporation.
and if this magnificent company want bell
let it buy one. Jud ging from the airs it puts
on, am astoDished at its condescending to
ask Council to give it a few pounds of old
bell metal 1t shall never have it by my vote,
A petition for reduction of assessment on
the property of Mrs. Newman Cross, 90 King
street, coming from the Common Council, was
discussed.
Mr. johnson favored the granting of the
petition.
Mr. Simpson thought the assessment exor.
bitant. and that it ought to be reduced.
Mr. French was in favor of adheriug to the
Assessor valuation, that being the basis upon
which the financial estimates Of the Corpora.
ton were made.
Mr. SeatioD thought the property under con-
sideration, aud much other in the city, was too
highly assessed.
Mr.. Underwood also was Of opinion that the
assessments were too high. He cited the in
stance of house assessed at $4,000, which
only rented for $3.50, and the corporation taxes
upon which were $780, and contended that all
assessments should be at cash value.
Mr.. French insisted upon adhering to the
assessed value, as it was the only way to adjust
taxation.
Mr.. Underwood was Of opinion that these ex.
orbitant assessments in the city would so H.
crease the State taxes as to render them toe
burdensome.
The report was finally recommitted.
The petition of S. S. Howison, President OF
the Potomac Ferry Co., asking reduction in
the assessment OF wharf property FROM $25,0OD
to $4,000, was received from the Common
Council, and although Mr.. Seaton had been Of
opinion that $4,000 should have been added,
the action of the Common Council, IN making
the reduction, was concurrcd IN.
When the petition OF Mr.. Geo. Y. Worth
ington asking royalty of three cts. per barrel
on all -four proposed to be manufactured by
HIM, was received from the Common Council,
Mr.. johnson said that the request was per
fectly legitimate, and was the natural conse,
quencc Of the action of Council in relieving the
Pioneer Mills of the ground rent, &c. He did
not believe the mill would succeed, and while
Mr.. Worthington should be put upon an equal
footing, yet it could not his opinion, be done.
The action of the Conmon Council referring
the petition to the Finance Committee, was
coucurred in.
\ resolution adopted by the Common Couu
Gil for the grading Of Oronoco, from Washing
70 II, rfn opd If PIT n PapH!p-