Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-15

The petition was referred.


to tho appointment of committee 10 secure
reduction 10 the State assessment Oh the NUM-
cipal property. He said that the city property
was assessed al about double its value, and
that while ii WAS not certain that the Leglsa-
ture would tax municipal property, yet it was
important that the assessment should be PLACED
at It's proper rate. The resolution was agreed
| to.
communication was read from DIR. John-
son asking that the rcceut resolution for pay
ing bis bill for repairs Of the Friendship engine
house be so modified that be could draw the
money which he had laid out
Mr. Latham could see no means by which
the end that Dr.. johnson wished I'D be &C.
complished.
hlr Rishcill said that the Corporation At
trrury could explain the difficulties which were
10 the way.
City Attorney Stuart said that it seemed 10
have evidently been the object Of Council to
secure the transfer of the Friendship House
fee simple and possession TO the city. But 10
the deed proposed to be given the Friendship
Company reserved to itself the right to use the
house as an engine house so long IS the com
paDy existed. Under these circumstances be
had declurd to approve the deed.
Mr.. HUI k'ns introduced a resolution to pay
D.. Johnson : hi which vas laid 90 the table
As, 9; nay>, 6 The communication was then
ordered to he received.
A rommuu. cation relative to paving King
street with wood hsyug oeen read,
Mr.. Smith favored = special assessment oil
the property holders on klng street for the re-
pair oil the street.
Mr.. Hopkins doubted the right of Council
to make such an assc4.m Int.
Mr.. Latham favored the resOl u'lon of Mr..
Hopkins, Introduced at former meeting, look
lug to the repair of that street. He thought a
crube stone pavem-n the best kind of pave
ment.
Mr.. Hughes urged that there had always
been an understanding that the property hold
ers should pay for tn. first paving, but thar all
repairs should b. made by the city, unless
there was change Of grade. H. asked II
Their. WAS not balalc. left ovar by tn" Board
o. Public Works, and what had become OF II.
NJ: Brodcrs-There VIZ debt Of 81 SO!
Icti over which the CITY had TO pay.
Mr. Risnei-DJ you imagine that thu
Board of Pubic Works would have gone on
OF cxi,tencs Il. long as any money rrma'ned?
Thc communication was referred.
Mr.. Hopkins Ia Introducing a resolution FOL
the appolntmcDt Of a committee 10 present the
advantages of Alexandra as sit: for d navy
yard to q comml'ue Of Congress aud the Sec.
iet.ry of thy Navy, made some statements rel
alive TO the su,j ct. He thought, although
some gen le.nen seemed disposed to rltlcule
the ma ter, that the r"so luton could do uC
harm and might do good.
NJ. Latham said tue paper was innocent
~ iuufcosive. but it was useless, aHd tn.
moon would full about the same time the navy
yard Wa, put here. He merely said this To
IL, ~. H., a.; he
The resolution was agreed TO.
The subj ct OF the city printing was called
up, aud Alderman johnson, who WAS present,
made statement as from the Committee %
General Laws. He said that the Gaz ''te, uu'
der con'rac: made five or six years sgo (for a
reduction Of ] % the usual rates. received some
$3.50 or 1913 per year for publishing the OH
Gal proceedings Uf CUuaoil; but thai s0me 9th
er Corporation advertisements were printed 10
10Th !ha daily papers of the town. the amount
pa, FIR printing being dvidsd TO THAI extent.
A resoiutoo. received from The Board OF Al
dermeu, to buy 400 feet of hose for the Friend
snip Company cIiulOg up, and the question
being nn II concurrence,
Mr.. Rishe moved to refer to the Fire War
dens
Mr.. Latham hoped that it would be the
pleasure Of & ,uncii to take vot:. AID that il
would not be given 10 somebody else 10 lay II
ia lis grave.
NJ. Hopkins urged that the deficit would b.
too great this year to allow tn, purchase d
hose.
Mr.. Evans favored the appropriation. The
steamers could not WORK GU the four inch water
mains, aad on the suburbs generally A hand
engine company was Tor his reason necessity.
MIR. Smi SAID thai the Wardens told HIN
last oight that hey had now $500 feet OF hose
aud An engine ;taioncd al the corner Of X re
and Washington streets would reach any house
II TIE Corp railon.
MIR. Hughes thought that he Warleus
We Conducting the department at an expense
less than it COST 10 conduct single company iu
Baltimore He held that volunteer hand en-
CINE companies ma lie schools Tor the peulten
tlary.
Mr. Latham spoke with much feeling. vim.
dlcat'ng the hand en- inc companies. He was
sure that there bad been as many inccodi Try
fires lately under The paid steam cugiue system
80 before the war; when the hand engine Sys.
tenn was 10 operation, and thought the llojk
ani Lvider Company had been of more ser.
Vica than both the steam engines.
MIR. Hughes said he had not referred 10 the
members OF hand companies, but 10 the run
ncrs 'ha, gathered around them. He ex
pressed b. opinion that seven out Of ten fires
which had happened here were inc .udiary-
sometimes to MAKE the Insurance, and other
tmc5 to create au excitement.
L e resolution was referred, and after pass
ing resolution authorizing the Finance Com
mitee TO empIoy an expert c'l k to examine
the books of the Auditor, Mayor, Treasurer
and Tax Collectors, The Council adjourned.
LEGISLATIVE.