Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-21
CITY COUNCIL.
AZ ~ a y n u . q y :
A called meeting of the City Council was
held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

bOahD w dLDEhhLN
10 the absence the President, DR.. J. B
johnson was Oh motion. of MIR. e. Z. Smoot
called to the chair, aud be stated that the
meeting had been called at the instance Of the
Mayor.
Mr.. Smoot rose to personal question, which
was that DR.. johnson, in bis speech, al
the last meeting, had made charge against
one ot the Committee on Streets and be desired
to know whether the charge referred to him.
DR.. johnson said that be had made DO spec
ic charge, but mentioned only an historic n
cident.
Mr. Smoot said further that if the gentle
man had any charges be should prefer them
and not lnslnuate them.
DR.. johnson said that the reporters did mol
always Use the same language as the speakers
and the subject was dropped
MIR. Smovt called up the resolution, under
consideration at the last meeting, in reference
TO trunk on Princess street, to drain off the
water, aud said that when the Board of Public
w orks were 10 existence, it was expected thai
there would have been a general system oil
drainage established, but since then things bad
changed, and as something had to be done, the
Committee on Streets we're of the opinion that
the mode proposed was ABOUT the best and
cheapest that could be adopted. The guch 10
the street there now vas disgrace.
Mr.. Janney entered the chamber and took
the chair
DR.. johnson explained the drainage of The
street and the cause of the wash. He said
the proposed Improvement could not be made
tor s5UU, but it.would cost $500 or $500, while
tor > ,OOU the street could be improved by
oelbg paved with cobble stone, thereby making
permanent Improvement, for which the city
would only have TO pay one-third. He would
oppose the putting 10 OF trunk as uuWise and
unsulted Tor the purpose designed, and should
o5lst that the work should DE done by CON-
petent person-one skilled in such work. One
quarter OF the city was drained over this street,
and be favored grading aud paving it, the prop
erty holders to pay tWo-thirds OF the expense.
MIR. Mckcozle stated that the Tredepar
Works, OF Richmond would furnish iron pipe
at $40 ton of 2,224 lbs, and he thought that
II trunk was to be put IN, az iron one would
be more durable.
The question was then taken on a motion to
concur III the action of the Common Council
directing the work to be done, and it was
carried
MIR. Mckenzie did no! at first vote, but the
chair calling upon him, he said that at first he
was undecided, but as the work had to be- done.
and be had confidence 10 the Judgment of the
committee be should vote aye.
MIR. Smoot explained that trunk would
last ten years, and that the old water course
could not be used
DR.. johnson said that the work would be q
failure, but that 1t should be put out by con-
tract
A complaint of MIR. Sisson, of the condition
OF lot next to his house, on Payne street. and
urging that it be ordered to be filled I'D,
was referred.
There being nothing further before the
Board,
20 motion OF DR.. johnson recess was taken
to await the action Of Council on the matter of
the railroad on st. Asaph street.
Upon Resembling the action of the Com
mon Council on the communication of the
Mayor, 10 reference to the St. Asaph street
railway was reported to this Board, aud
MIR. DoWnham explained why the Com nit
tee on Streets had, after the opinion of the
Attorney refused e 2bs sk" psa' tar
acton IN the nran Lo". ,n"o 'ooJ uou oe
termined to report the whole matter back to
Council, for which reason the Mayor had called
this meeting.
Dr.. johnson was opposed to hasty action.
A resolution could not abolish an act. He had
no respect for this company, or for any of the
other companies but the way to do was to pass
an act revoking the right heretofore granted all
the railroads to pass through the streets Of the
city. The railroads had possession, and it
was necessary to repeal the act of 1866. If a
certain. The Mayor should make this com
doing his duty. First repeal the law ADD then
g. tl,o nao 70 A.
attempt was made to remedy the evil com plain
ed of 10 the case of the Washington Turnpike,
but as all men could be purchased, Judges jury
and all, the railroad company succeeded. A
lawyers opinion was worth nothing uoess it
was paid for, and then when before jury it
was not worth a cent. He urged repeal of
the resolution of the Common Council a bill
prepared by him some time since, repeating the
act of 1866, and allowing the railroad company
to petition for further rights subject to the
restrictions of Council DrJohnson explained
the right of legislative body to repeal any
former act, and contcudcd that the rights here
tofore granted to all the railroad companies
should be Withdrawn. If the Council would
revoke it's former action 10 reference to this
company he would if Mayor, tear up the track
and DEFY all iDjunctons. He said his substi-
tute bad been prepared eighteen months ago,
but, as with nearly all the acts proposed by him
for the benefit of the people, ii received no ia
vor, not even second, and was allowed to lie
on the table. He had. however, had it printed
with his speech, covering all the ground iu
premises.
Mr.. Smoot was sorry that the substitute had
been brought in at this late hour, when even
if passed by this Board it could not be acted
upoc BY the Common Council, and would there
lore defeat the object of this meeting. He
hoped the resolution of the Common Council
would be passed.
Mr.. Mckenzie moved to Indefinitely post
pone the consideration Of the substitute. He
thought it would be absurd to undertake to in
jure other roads coming into the city because
there was complaint Of the st. Asaph stree
track. He did not suppose there was any com
plant of the passenger traos, but, with justice
about the street being converted into treigh
depot; for passenger purposes he believed il
had the consent of the property holders. HI
thought there was no seuse 10 bringing up a
this hour old rus,y hills prnnosad aiyh ron