Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-09

10 this Board there were present hlessrs
Janusy, Mckenzie, Moore, Smoot, Neale,
Beach, Dowpham and johnson.
MIR. Neale, from the Committee on Public
Property, recommended the repairing OF the
Fish wharf
MIR. Neae said that the attention OF the
committee had been called to the Fish wharf
by fish dealers, who said that they would be
compelled to remove their operations to Wash
ingtcn if the repairs were not made.
Mr.. Mckenzie asked how much the repairs
would cost.
Mr.. Neaie said probably $780,
Mr.. Mckenzie asked why part of the rent
should 90 to the committee.
Mr.. Neale said because as there was 20
money 10 the treasury the contractors would
DOT be paid unless the committee had the rents.
Mr.. Mckenzie did not believe such to be
the case, and thought the credit Of the city
should not be run down in this way, as 1t did
no good. There was plenty Of money in he
treasury to pay outstanding claims except To-
terest.
Mr. Ncale said he asserted that there were
hundreds of warrants out unpaid, and ii con-
tractors had to rely on the treasury for their
pay, We could not get the repairs to the wharf
made.
Mr.. Moore thought $50 or 500 could be
made to do the work, as $40 had done last
year.
Mr.. Mckenzie opposed the resolution be-
cause it looked too pauperlSh. He would un-
dertake to furnish men and look to the city for
the money. He was opposed to letting he
committee have the rent, but wanted it put
into the treasury as usual. tie moved to strike
out that clause in the resolution.
DR.. johnson said the committee had con-
suited practical men and found it their uDan.
imous opinion that the wharf should be re-
paired at once. They had thought best to have
portion of the rent at their control so that
| the workmen could be paid when the work was
| done. Practical men thought it would cost
upwards of $1,000 to repair permanently, but
that temporary work could be done for $500.
MI. Mckenzie thought the resolution was
an invitation to fish men to bid low for the
wharf, and was reflection on the treasury
He believed the repairs should be made at
once Why should the towo be put 10 the
position of a pauper?
Mr.. Moore said be had been builder and
contractor 10 his time, and knew all about
| these things. When the Aims House was re-
paired the lowest bid was $1,000, and the COM
mittee had gone to work aud it only cost $500
to make the repairs.
DIR. johnson offered substitute for the res
oluton appointing Messrs. Mckenzie and
Moore committee to make the repairs, say
iug that as Que was builder and contractor
and the other offered to furnish the money and
look to the city for his pay.
Mr.. Neale seconded the substitute.
Mr.. Mckenzie said there was no difficulty
about getting money from the city, and never
had been.
The substitute was lost.
The original resolution, with the last clause
stricken out was then adopted.
Mr. Neale, from a majority of the special
committee on the old Court House property,
reported an act to be presented TO th@ Gtucra
Assembly, which is as follows:
AN ACT providing for the sale of the old Court
House, in Alexandria, and Tor the removal OF
the Courts, Clerks office and judi cial Re-
cords, of Alexandria county
Be it enacted By the General assembly Of Fir-
qi7sia i: That the Governor Of this State, or his
successor in Office be, and he is hereby author
| lied and empowered to sell and convey the lot
of land in the city of Alexandria containing
| one half square on the west side of Columbu
street, and bounded by Columbus, Queen and
Princess streets, being the lot on which the old
Court House stands, and which was conveyed
to the Governor of Virginia and his successors,
for the use OF the county and Corporation OF
Alexandria by authority of an act of the Con-
gresB of the United States, approved on the
ninth day Of July, A. d., 1916 entitled AN act
to rotrocede the county OF Alexandrls IN the
| District Of Columbia to the State Of Virgins"
But, before making sale, which shall be public,
three Commissioners shall be appointed by the
Governor, to-wit One from the city and one
| from the county of Alexandria and the third
| from any other city or county the Governor
| may designate, whose duty it shall be- to ascer-
| tain the value of the said property and the rel,
alive interest IN the same, to which the city and
county aforesaid are entitled and the proper
| ton of State taxation to be the measure by
| which the said separate interest shall be fixed:
| End. That of the proceeds ofsuch sale the City
Council of Alexandria, and the said county OF
Alexandria shall be entitled to such proportions
as may be ascertained by the Commissioners
aforesaid in the manner hereinafter stated, and
| that the said City Council if it claims and re-
ceves its proportion shall furnish to the said
county of Alexandria a suitable courtroom, re-
cord rooms, clerks office and jury. rooms, for the
use and accommodation of the Courts of the
| county; and should there be surplus of such
proceeds, after the proper expenditures for the
purposes aforesaid it shall be divided between
the said City Council of Alexandria and the
said county OF Alexandra IN the proportion
aforesaid, to be paid to the said City Council of
Alexandria, or its authorized agent and to the
| Treasurer of the county, subject to the order
and control of its Supervisors.
3D. That if sale shall be made of said lot as
hereinbefore provided, the purchaser shall not
take possession thereof until the said City Coun-
Gil of Alexandria has provided the court room,
| record-rooms, clerks Office and jury rooms for
the use of the said Courts of AlexsRdris county
as horeinbefore provided for, aud until such
provision is made the said Courts shall be held
as heretofore.
4.h That after the City Council shall have
made the provision aforesaid, which shall be
within one year from the passage OF this act,
the Judge of the County Court shall at once or
der all the books, papers and records to be re,
moved to the Office and rooms ss provided, and
the Clerk of the County and Circuits Courts of
Alexandria county shall have the same custody,
authority and control over ali SUCH papers,,
books and records removed by this, or any pre-.
vious act, that he had before the same were re-
moved under the laws in force.
DR.. johnson said he did not agree with the
majority of the committee in the report. He
had found the necessity of caution about these