Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-03-21
LOCAL NEWS.
The ALEXANDRIA WATER COMPANY The
Alexandria correspondent of the Washington

Tue ALEXANDRIA WATER COMPANY. The
Alexandria correspondent of the Washington
Chronicle of this morning says: The Water
Company u this city is private enterprise,
and to say that it is u gross monopoly and ut
tery regardless Of the desires Of our citizens Is
not putting the matter IN too strong terms.
They have on King street main pipes Of only
eight inches, and on other streets ouy four
inches, which are insufficient to supply the
engines with water, as has been amply proven
by the fires Of the Market House and Liberty
Hall, and more recently the Marshall House
aud the warehouses on Union street, although at
the latter place there was az abundance OK water
supplied by the Potomac. While IN " aShlug-
ton the water rates are governed by the front
foot aud the number of stories 10 each building,
here we have no regulation, except they pro-
f,ss to charge man according to the rent paid.
This, however, [ know is not the case. Ills
company should be made to lay twcnty-nch
pipes 90 King street aud eight.lnch o. the
other streets, or charter should be granted to
| another company at once.
The main on King street as not lnches but
10 inches, on Washington street 1T IS inches;
on Prince, Dlke and other strcetsl 1t Is inches.
Solue of the cross streets are inches, and some
inches The water company admit, WITHOUT
hesitation, that the principal main on klng
street should be 20 inches, and it would be
much better if there were more and = lncn
mains and none OF inches The whole capital
of the Water Company represented hy LAO
shares at $50, is 81, 800, AID the Stockholders
have not received an average dividend OF per
CT. per aunum. Asto the water rates, is be-
lieved they are a reasonable a arr charged III
other communities, being as to:loWs: InVate
dwelling, for the wh lie yctr, which rent Tor s'0
per anuum, or less, So; not exceeding Sl2o 50;
| from Sl2O ami under $50, IS; from $50 and
| upwards. $40. These charges are FIR one ny
drant or opening for bath, water closet Sc. Sc,
| and for every SplgOt IN a chamber, which arc
! Injuries, an extra charge Is made.
FIRE. The alarm Of fire about eight . clock
last night, was caused by the burning of the
store house and tin and copper shops at the
Henry street depot of the o., A. 4 VI. Il. II.
The fire resulted from the explosion of can
Of bcuziie, which was caused is the lantern OF
the watchrnau, who Weut into the store house
to draw supply for u tra!u that had arrived
behind time. The flames illuminated the whole
heavens, attracted large uumhtr ol specta-
TORS and was even observed IN Washington,
the Fire Department Of which city was up and
ready 10 rcspoud TO Il call from THIS CITY Is soon
as such call was made. Our Fire Department
with its inyarlable promptncss was speedily on
the ground, but owing to the distance OF the
scene Of the CONFEDERATION from the water mains,
the fumes were not eXtnTulshcd until the
buildings mentioned were, with their contents,
entirely destroyed. The houses burnt were.
with the exception If the store house, framed
shauteS, whose demolition had been deter
mined upon some time since, and the loss,
which results principally from the destruction
Of patterns. and upon which there was no III
Surauce, will not amount To more than slO,ooo'
The inadequate supply of water to the city
was perfectly observable to everybody last
night, for the Columbia engine had to stand At
the corner Of Duke and Patrick streets and
force water into the Hydraulloo, which was
stationed at the sccue Of the lire The trlcDd-
ship Company, u haud-englne, was right IN the
midst OF the fire and rendered efIectual service.
TAxEs.-Tne Alexandria correspondent OF
the Washington Chronicle says. Some time
since | told you the taxpayers of this commu-
nily we're rejoicing IN prospective reduction
of taxes from 81 to 81 50, but, alas tor count
ing the chickens before they are hatched we
are now tod that the assessment next year VIII
be not under 50 so, and may probably reach
D.
WASHINGTON who holds about $50, 900 OF ma
tured coupons of the Alexandria corporation
bonds this, together with the smallpox cases,
the niirlnary, and the poor, have added 50
much to the calls upon the treasury, that the
new assessment is deemed necessary.
TIE C. so. CANAL.-A letter from Cum
berlapd says 1.-The canal has been open for
several DAYS. but up TO this date only two
coal boats have left this port for George
town, and both were loaded last fall, too late to
make the through trip. 1t is announced that
| the rates of wharfage this season will be eight
cents per ton, an increase OF three cents over
| last years rates.
Walls OPERA House -Frou Frou was
given last night at this favorite place of amuse-
mcnt, with Miss Agnes Ethel as Giberte, be-
fore an audience that manifested It's apprecla-
ton of the performance by frequent and hearty
applause. To night will be presented Sartou
play Of Agnes, with Miss Ethel IN the title
roll.
AUCTION SALES. Attention is directed to
the auction sales of real estate advertised to
take place ia this city tomorrow. Also to a
market farm to be sold at Cats Tavern, West
End.
COMMUNICATED.
THE FIRE LAST NlGlIT.-The Old Friend
ship Fire Company did good service at the fire
| last night, and demonstrated how exceedingly
| useful hand engines are in the suberbs OF our
city. They can usually tiud supply Of water
| from cisterns and pumps, and fairly illustrate
the principle to be observed IN the ex'inguish,
| ment Of all fires, viz the distribution and not