Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-25

ter is proof that the majority nf |, did not
clearly understand either what they wanted "r
needed to make the Improvement, or t. hnlSh
it after it had been couure!ceH; but were II
seemed to be, tardlly waiting for some accident
or incident To occur TO give every act nl theirs
on the question, al opposite and new dlrcctlon.
! There is neither mystery nor difficulty about
the matter of the improvement Of ST. Asaph
street It only needs little Intelligence 10 un-
derstand the subject and to direct II III Il man
ner crcditable TO the City Council aud advan-
tageously TO the people. The history OF The
legislation 90 the question will cxpIaIn the sue
iect and show that-If the work DC but allow
ed to take its legitimate courSe-no dthcufy
can possibly arise to either the Council Or 10
the property holders on the street. 1t will he
remembered that ., litlon 81 yued by some of
the residents of St. Asaph street vas Seut into
Council asking for certain improvements OF
that street; aud after month or mure the
prayer of the petitioners was grated and The
Committee on Streets, in conjunction with The
SUPERINTENDENT Of the Police, ordered 10 DO
the work, ana in obedience to such orders the
IMPROVEMENT of tie street was culnnenccd,
bnt the Committee on Streets had scarcely
made beginning of the work before they
found that il was impossible to proceed with 1t
without grade They ound The street to be
ouie dead fat, and they were at once con
vinced that if they put gutter down that 1t
would be wilhoui grade. and the water, as d
consequence, would not pass along II, but re.
maiu staguant and mmovabe.
These facts were reported to the CITY Cou Gil,
and thereupon, the work Was ordered TO be sus,
mend Ind resolution pas: ed orde ing theB Board
of Public Works to fix and establish grade Tor
st. Asaph street; and the Board Immediately
commenced the plan Of fixing the grade and In
du time presented TO the City COUNCIL LOT
adoption scientific grade for the street, which
WAS unanimously adopted, and the COMMITTEE
OH sire, IS ordered again to resume the improve.
ment Oh the street. The grade was entirely and
perfectly correct, and established with great
deal of thought and care en- the part OF tee
Board Of Pubc Works, and any engine r civil
or military may be safely challenged " deny lis
correctness; for now could it be otherwise than
correct when science and Intelligence DEVISED
F it? The Board OF Pubic Works was composed
OF three tel.igen and rc:po slbiu ct.Z as one
modest and competent civil engineer, aho an
| acknowledged comp, tent Surveyor hnd the
JUDGMENT OF these sworn officers was more tnrn
sntfi ,.lent to cause ne u give M vote Tor the
grade established by them, wlthC ut TINS Iighte>t
hesitation; for let it be remembered that We
have connected with, and part OF the Board VI
Public Works. not only III accomplished sur
yevor, Mr.. Garter, but II higbly-prlz II AMI
competent civil engineer, Mr.. Blythe. THIS
fact | repeat for tbs information OF those who
are nonsensicaly talking, we ought 10 Lave u
com potent engineer when they forget the TACT
that we have un engineer on the Beard ana one
too of pronounced abi ty. Much OF lhls tai
sbu ut we ought TO have u competent engineer
has c, IN from the Common CuuncI &nl have
taken Inc trouble to ASK sew ~ral acent Il; m'n-
Der: of that able body TO define the dflercnce De.
tween a surveyor and engineer, and neither OF
these whom | asked have yet cundescehdei 10
give me the desired Information, and when
urou, uaded the question 10 hem they reg sled
It with An air Of CONSCIOUS Ignorance, - il they
had not thought of the snbj CT before, only thai
thew thought there must be difference, bit the
difference they have not Yet del sned u deIhe
No common mind can draw the NICE line OIL dll-
terencu between II surveyor and u civil GfSl-
ncer, and the talk alb Ut the necessity OF 4
com petent engineer but REVEALS the isnorance
OF those who prate 1t. Both the surveyor ana
engineer study the same books, and one Is III
separable from The other y learned surveyor
is both q survey, and civil enginecr, and, Win
= little practlce Can soon become also II mlltary
engineer. The Committee Oil Streets again re-
sumed work on the street IN accordance win
the grade recommended by the BIard 81 fub'
lie Works and completed the grading OF the
street from w ythe to Princess stree and there
stoppei; not because The grade was wrong, Tut
by reason Of the tact that some OF the property
holders between Princess and Calueron streets
thought the grade III furious to their property
and under the law had the rig ht 10 demand
SUSPENSION of the work until they could petition
the CITY Council. This they did: anu lCs.ead
of the Common Council receiving thc petition
in quiet and dignlhed manner, s. Inc vi It's
members broke loose III a Wild anu random
til ade against the Board OF Public WORKS and
the CITY Surveyor, US though either lad any
thing to do with the matter except to OBEY Inc
| orders which Council hsd passed. tut the pell-
ton was alter much talk, referred to the Board
of Public Works with instructions to H. another
grade: and the Board Of Pubic Works present.
"a .,f thn ',Nr 1plIIr
Council at once adopting il, aalf doZ:E mem
hers OF that body resolved themselves into
Spontaneous surveyors and engineers, ana "lIer
SUGGESTING as many grades as there were Sell
| constitute. surveyors, they could Eot get inc
counterfeit grades TO agree one win IN: otner
| and in DESPAIR, they consented IT, refer ! gam
! the matter OF the grade of ST. Asaph street TO
| the C, mlnittee on Streets, thereby having COM
pletcd the whole circle OF rotatary legislation on
the su ject and slghting al last on The resoiu
ton which WINS frfL passed, leaving the matter stli
in keeuing Of pcrpleXity for u solution Ul 1t Inc
| GRADE of one street music be made 10 correspond
with the grades Of other streets, and this can only
heaccomplished by The study Of Cal efuliy devised
| mathematical lines, and this Is the business of
persons who make profession VI surveying
| snd engineering. It is an easy matter TO hx the
| grade of small part OF street, bul 10 TX
| Grade of Il whole street so a. TO comp"rt Win
| Tho grades of the street which II intGfstcts Win
| the ultimate object of u true system OF drainage
is most difficult subject, ana requires ti' ~
most careful thought OF the ln'lter, ahu Inc
closes, study aud examination OF the part OF Inc
b g;sdGd t and o 1rznsa BODY SSrd that
has, since the orr gin OF city, Instituted scientnc
grades graz for our streets, hav. ing IN view, Correct
drainage for them and WIEN tns ch hnn .w way
hot street will remain an enduring e. ample OF
the the sEi care and utility of the Board Of Public
Works in contradcLintlon to tae lusile mole
which has heretofore been obtained IN the At
temnts to improve our streets. Therefore, II We
recognize Intelligence and competency in d given
profession as worthy of either crsdchce or honor;
we will adopt the amend. grade recommended
bv the Board of Pub ic Work and end the vacil-
isting legislation on the subject OF 81 Asaph
street grade.
He then offered substitute for the BILL.
Mr.. Smoot said he did not care who liked
,ha arade so something was done. lie was
tired of the delay and annoyance.
DR.. johnson explained the different pr"po-
sitons in reference to the grade