Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-11

COMMON COUNCIL.
At the regular meeting last night quorum
Within the bar aud six spectators without, were
present shortly after the hour OF opening.
! There was later fuller Attendance OF members.
| Several memorials were presented aud acted
upon without debate.
A memorial asking the change Of the name
Of Water street to Lee street. coming up,
Mr.. Hopkins said tina, it was not So much
the object of the mcm0rlalists to give the street
the name designated as to change II from Water
| street.
Mr.. M.kcuzie asked If it would rot suit the
ecatIemrn to call Water street Unon street
| and Union street Water street, which would be
more appropriate, a. that street was nearer Tic
water. He had however, no OF jccsiou to the
name proposed. ;,
Mr. Hopkins doubted whether that would
answer the end designed 1t would certainly
produce confusion
Mr. Evau, moved TO reer TO the Committee
on Streets, which was lost.
| Mr. Hopkins introduced resolution graot-
iug the chang. asked, aud directing the Super
iutendrnt OF Police TO have the street slgus
change Accordingly.
Mr. hughes wanted all to be heard, and
favor, d a poStponctnent, but the resolution vas
agreed Il"
\ resolution authorizing the Committee on
/ Public Property to take the purchase Of the
+! Relief Engine House, having been passed,
Mr.. iio, kinS introduced Il resolution direct
Ing the committee TO have The house repaired
| He said that it would b" u, cts~;,ry to take ott
the top story and isut in additional supports to
make the house safe.
| NJ. Evans -aid that member Of the com
| pauy h1I told him that the company would re-
pair the house.
Mr.. Rishei replied that the 6rcmcn here
worked withour pay for the public gcod Ger
,aiuy they ought not 10 BE- expected to put
their hands in their pockets aud pay the ex.
psuseS Of doing puzzle work This engine house
was nnw the property Of The city.
Mr.. Eyans-"Iherc is u fire company in this
city that Owls their own hou.e, and they were
Expected 10 put their hauds IN their pockets
aud rc,ar their house 4 member of the
Hook and Ladder Company had told him, as
an nduccment TO Vote for The purchase, that II
the city would buy the house, the company
" ui repair it.
Mr. Mckenzie thought that was mere moon.
shine uu The part OF the member who had
spoken to Mr. Evans. The Fare Department
meyer had any money nary red Tie had never
b4lDnged 10 u fire company since he belonged 10
the old ilYdraul"n, aud there never was any
money there.
Mr.. Evans moved to ameni by providing
that the repairs do not exceed $3.50 III cost.
Mr. Mckenzie moved to add mot to exceed
$500
Mr.. Evaus did not understand tiff the Sun
or the Friendship come here for assistance
there never was a cent in the treasury to buy
hose, but one OF the pet companies could get
two thousand dollars just by asking TOR 1t lie
did not tnink this was right The old com-
pauies were entitled to as much consideration
from Council as the new ones. These haDd
engines were the only resource IN case OF ilrcs
occurring outside the hydrant districts or on
the outskirts of the city.
Mr.. Hopkins said the Corporation had ex-
pended 900 10 order to provide IA house for
the Sun
Mr.. Evaus--Plcase add that they could build
the market in no other way.
Mr.. Hughes said he had often heard that
these hand engines were useful OH the out
skirts of the city. He had 30 years experience
as ii fireman. aud he was satisfied that hand
Engines We're useless on the cd &c of the city,
or anywhere else They were out Of date,
u CHESS aud it WAS time to lay them by.
steamer could work wherever there was pond
of water, or wherever hand engine could, and
Of course much more efcctuay.
Mr.. Evans mbattcd the views of Mr..
Hughes, saying that the only effective water
put upon the fire at the Orange shops was that
throwu by the Friendship from pump.
Tue resolution was amended SO as to limit the
expenditure to $500, and adopted.
Statements from the Auditor showing the
comparative expenditures Of the city in 1859
aud 1860, and 1872 and 1873 having been re-
ccivcd,
Mr.. Shinn said that but little opportunity
bad been afforded him for carctnl cxaulna-
tlOu ot the Auditor report, as 1t had been
placed ln his ilaudS late III the evening, but
with the short time at his disposal he had as
ceraned that instead OF the expenses OF the
Corporation being greater at present than IN the
year immediately preceding the war, they We're
actually less, aud in considering this report
members of the City Council should bear in
mind that the expenses of our Corporation
Court was formerly paid ont OF the county levy
by the Sheriff, aud while the money was col
lected from the people then as now, yet II did
not, in former years, enter into the Auditor
report also that the expenses OF the pubic
schools winch, IN turmcr years, were from 500
to $500 were now Increased 10 over SbOoO not
by an act Of Council. but by a vote OF the
people. Mr.. Shlnu further commented on the
report of the Auditor aud argued that the
expenditures OF the Corporation for salaries and
other cxpeu>cS in 1869 a compared with 1872,
show rc.rcnchmcnt OF $500 IN favor OF
lN71. and the rXpeu>es of 1919 and 1860, com
pared with 1872 and 1873 showed net reduc-
tlou ut 81. 400 after allowing for Court charges
aud school expenses, aud this reduction was
made alter having materially increased the
police force Of the city, both III numbers and
ciiicl1ucy, and after having adied to the uic
department an additional fire engine, and plac-
lug the >anen good working condition. Mr..
5. further said that in answer to The question
why the rate Of taxation had been Increased
if the expenditures had been reduced, he would
rcu,lnd members that during The period OF the
war little or no interest on the pu'nc debt had
been paid, hu since 1868 the city had paid OFT
the accrued interest on lis bonds, which had
accumulated for several years, mad carried out
the provisions Of the acts OF the Legislature OF
Virginia relative TO the Courts and ruhlc
schools, and had also expended over Sc, 100 IL
repairing aud grading streets IN excess OF the
amount expended IN 1859 and 1860. he com-