Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-29

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prove that the Government abandoned this
track to the Alexandria and Washington Rail
road Company, an old company composed of
Col. French and an ex-Mayor Of Washington
city Mr. Stevens says the iron which was
down when the war ended had all been taken
up, as it was found to be too small or some
thing about it which prevented its utility, and
other iron put down in its stead SO the iron 90
that streets now is not what was left by the
Government. This is fact not we'll known 10
this city, and if Council has acted hastily in
this matter its action should be revoked An
Other fact Of which we have all been ignorant,
is that consent was given to the y. u w. II. Il.
to put down this track, as eau be shown by pa
pers now deposited in the Auditors Office, and
which have taken the trouble to examine.
This A. & W. r. r. afterwards sold out TO the
| W., A. 4 6. r. r., and Of course this track
then became their property. xvi lently there
are two sides to the question, and We should
proceed prudeutly in the matter, and to this
end would suggest that DIR. Johuson be ap-
pointed to act in c,n JUNCTION with the Corpor
alton Attorney III examining into the matter.
| DR.. johnson respectfully asked to be ex
cuscd ; his business was medicine, not law. As
he had predicted this affair would eventuate
| 10 law suit He said it was we'll known fact
that on the 18th day of February, 1866, Mr..
! Mckenzie, then a member of the Common
Council, had introduced an omnibus bill in re-
gard to railroads entering the city, which, FROM
the fact that DO one seemed to take enough In
terest to examine into the matter, had been
passed BY this bill permission was given for
the laying of this track The rails therefore
did not belong to the city, but the city had
been damaged more than the value OF the iron.
He had always regarded this track as nulS-
ance, and some movement should be made to-
wards its abatement He had intended offer
ing bill to regulate the running OF trains
through the city.
The resolution was finally concurred in.
DR.. johnson, from the Committee on Claims,
said he had been requested by the committee
to ask Council to restrain the Superintendent
of Police from running such bills without the
permission of Council For instance, one item
of S & =. 8 bill amounted to Sl25-a stick of
lumber and pound of nails -whch cost % cts.
f,r hauling, while the Superintendent had carts
of his own at his command.
| Mr. Moore then offered resolution provid
ing for the election on the 18th of November
next, of one Alderman from the First Ward
and one from the Second, to fill the unexpired
terms of Messrs. Loving and French, which
was adopted.
% motion of DR.. johnson, the Board then
adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The bushes. of the Common Council occu
pied a short time, and was transacted with lit
tie debate.
When the bill of Mr.. Gray, for damages done
to his grocery store by the freshct at the
Princess street trunk. came up. Some items
appeared for g yards Of -four" which Great
ed considerable laughter.
| A member-Will the President be kind
enough to tell us how much -four makes
yard.
The President-I have never sod -four by
the yard, and therefore | cannot give the In
| formation.
Mr.. Hopkins thought the memorial should
go to the Corporation Attorney to see if the
city was bound for damages.
Mr. Eichberg held that the memorial should
20 to the Committee on Claims. lie thought
there was not doubt that the city was bound
for damages if the loss grew out Of the neglect
of the city to provide sufficient outlet tor the
| water.
MIR. Rock concurrcd with Mr.. Hopkins. 1t
seemed to him strange that man could build
his house at the bottom OF ravlne, and then
when the rains come and flooded his house ask
| the city to bear the expense of losses growing
| out Of his choice of locality.
The memorial was referred to the Attorney
of the Corporation.
Mr.. Echberg said there were three vacan-
cies on the police force, and moved that tue
Aldermen be invited to go into an election
MIR. MckcuZie-Can you save anything by
not electiug them?
A member said that readymen occupied their
places and received their salaries.
The Aldermen dccliucd to 20 into joint SEES
| sion.
MIR. Downham having introduced resou-
| ton that the committee on the codl6catlOu OF
the laws be requested to suspend the printing
Of the same until the REVISION was reviewed by
Council,
Mr. Mckenzie said such course was abso-
lutely necessary to strike out obsolete laws aud
add such provisions as would be considered
proper Of course Mr.. Carne had no power to
Sary, they should be made by the Council. He
understood MIR. Carne, the rcviscr, desired this
course. He hoped MIR. Carnc would give his
views on the subject.
Mr. VIM. +. Carne (by permission OF the
CounciD said that it was ouly by pursuing the
plan indicated by Mr.. Downham' resolution
that satisfactory revision Of the Corporation
avs could be made. He had proposed 10 No.
vember last just such pan, but when in Jan
uary last he came before the joint meeting with
preliminary index of the laws, the Councils
then directed him to the committee, and the
committee had directed him to use his own
judgment in the COLLATION. Of the laws. He had
done so, al d had furnished the revision iD June
last and had turned it over to the committee.
In this revision he had made absolutely neces
sary alterations, but these, of course, could
have 90 force until adopted by the Council,
and there we're very many changes which were
needed to make the Code consistent whole,
| but which be had not made, because he had
no right to make them, but which could be
made if the laws were brought before Council
for revision
MIR. Mckenzie thought all obsolete laws
should be dropped
Council then adjourned.
The Washington Chronicle says: The