Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-13

DR.. johnson said he was not in favor of
buying coal wild this way; they did not know
how much coal was necessary for the use Of
the Mineral Bureau, or anything about it; be-
sides they had the poor OF the city to provide
tor. He was not willing to make pets of these
schemes. Ii they were going 70 have Min
eral Bureau at all 1t was necessary to have in
| struments to ascertain the quality of the ore
presented.
Mr.. Neale said he agreed with DR.. Johnson
10 regard to the necessity for analytical instru-
ments, and unless the Superintendent had
them it seemed to him the object for which
the Mineral Bureau Was established would he
defeated. As to the railroads contributing to
the Bureau. Gen. Wickham. he said, gave
! 800, the Washington and Ohio $780, aud
the Virginia Midland 5000, which was for the
salary of the Superintendent, besides furnish
Ing Tree transportation for minerals
| MIR. Mckenzie read letter from Mr. Britton
stating that while things were going on right
about the Bureau they were going on slowly,
advising the appointment of cauvassers to can
vass the State, and urging the Importance Of
getting the support of country newspapers.
Mr. Mex. said that be did not think it was
Intended to anayze the ore here, but that a
sufficient amount was to be collected 10 this
city and sent to Philadelphia for analizatio,.
Mr.. Neale moved that the whole matter be
referred to the Committee gu Public Property,
which motion was adopted.
The agreement made by the Committee on
Streets with the Alexandria Passenger Railway
| Company, by which said company will be TER
| mltted to remove their track upon the pay
| mept OF 81 900 and the cross ties and scepprs
OF the track. to the city, coming 10 from The
Common Courci
DIR. johnson said the agreement was GER
talnly very liberal oue on the part of tie
stockholders of the Company the Stock hold
ers OF that Company were not aliens, engaged
10 scheme of speculation, but were our own
ctlzcns property holders-engaged 10 an rn
terprlse for the advancement OF our city, aud
who had made sacrifice II the enterprise
had been successful it would have benefited
the city aud if the matter had been brought
before Council he would have voted to let them
| CT. Every oOe received the news ot the sus-
pension OF the road with regret bordering on
to deep sorrow, and he thought they ought
to have been dealt with more kindly.
MIR. Mckenzie said he was very much
obliged to the gentleman fJr the remarks he
aad made. The stockholders had lost their
entire capital; they had been looked upon as
hlghwaymen, and watched as SUCH and he
they had DOT beeu citiz2os aud property hold
ers; fthey had not expected to live mere aud
|! they had not expected to die here, it would
have been different thug, but, however, tn Y
were glad to get off any way they could. The
| company, he said, had attempted to take UP
their track two or three times, but they bad
been watched by the police rs ROBBERS aud re-
ported to the Mayor. The city cow had their
note and it would be paid he hoped.
DR.. johnson said he was perfectly sincere
in what he bad said, and lie had prepared u
communication on his sick bed, for the paper,
expressing what he had already said more
fully
The Board then at . clock, adjourned
COMMON COUNCIL.
| The Common Council resumed its regular
sessions last Dght, there being but sparse at
tendance within the bar and three spectators
! outside
A large number of bills we're presented and
passed, none Of them occasoung debate, until
bill OF +. Il. Smith, jr., Of 500 for defend
Jog suit of Swain vs.. HydrauIion Fire Co. in
Court OF Appeals came up. The bill had been
passed by the Board of Aldermen, and the
question was upon concurrence.
A letter from Mr. Smith explaining the bill
was read.
Mr.. Beach said that be kucw that Mi. Smith
had been engaged and had done the work, and
he hoped the bill would be paid
| Mr. Smoot said that he would far rather
put his hand In his pocket and pay this money
than he would vote to take it from the public
treasury. If there was any obIisation, either
legal or equitable to pay, he would vote for it.
Otherwise although he would be glad to vote
for any bill Of Mr.. Smith; yet he could DOT
vote for this one. We we're here to pay the
debts OF the city, not to put our hands in the
treasury tor any private purpose whatever.
| Mr. 5. said that the suit in which the lee was
| claimed was suit between Mr.. Swain and
the Hydraullon Steam Fire Engine Company,
suit which could 10 uowisc have bound the
| corporation, and III which the city had no right
| to be concerned or 10 fee attorneys
Mr.. Beach urged that if the suit had gone
against the company the city would have been
Obliged to cent house 10 some other place,
whereas it now paid no rent for the house oc.
cupled by the Hydrauon Company
Mr.. I. Il. Smith, ir., explained the circuu-
Stances of the case and urged that as be had
been employed 10 the case by the late Corpo-
| ration Attorney he was entitled in justice to be
paid for it. Otherwise he would not consent
to receive a cent
Mr., Stuart Corporation Attorney, said that
| the Finance Committee had consulted him as
to this fee, and he had told them that the city
was not legally bound to pay it.
MIR. Shinn urged that the bill should be paid.
When this case was here before it was accou-
panied by letter from Col. Chas Il. Stuart,
stating that he had employed Mr. Smith to at
tend to the suit aud that Mr.. S. was entitled
to the fee be claimed 1t was said that the
city had nothing to do with this suit; how did
this correspond with the resolution OF the City
Council directing the Corporation Attorney to
compromise this case and agreeing to pay the
COSTS
Mr.. Smoot again opposed the payment of
the lee, nrgiug that the city became only
formal party to the compromise.
Mr. Shlnn responded, contending that tie
HydrauIlon Company was in fact portion OF
the city fire department, and that any Injury
to its property was an injury to the city, and
the city whether legally bound or not, was, al
least, morally bound to pay the BILL
The snbiaot fur -.