Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-13

considerable majOrtles.
THE CAMERON STREET IMPROVEMENT -
The Improvement of Caueroo street, between
Washington aud Columbus streets, makes that
tboroughfare completely open street tor the
first time 10 the history of the town. Always
heretofore there have been more or less obstacles
st that point to the easy passage OF tue pubic,
mt the cutting down of the bill on the south,
now being accomplished under the supervision
Of City Surveyor Blythe, gives the street az
ooua grade its eotiro width. and makes IL com
1{ete. Cameron street was Intended ss the
main street of the toan add was placed in its
c,o,re For while it maintained this position.
The cour. house was built upon it, the market
vas tbess. toe principal hotel wa' where Har-
hw's store stsuds, and Washington ! town office
vas also upos K. rwo causes drove the busl
ness TO Kiog street: O1e was that during the
fra, halt century 81 th. .owu the head OF Oro
roko creek, pncosous was on Cam. rJn near Fit
street. and made that section w9t and mar6hy,
while King street at its crossing With FIT al
though low, was easily passabIe. Another stop
naye 10 the progress of Cameron street was the
creation Of Christ Church to bar its way in
l773, The movement Of buildings which pro-
dressed from east to west was completely stop
ned by it. SO that even at tbl, day % the
.ou,re beyond the church there is not siDge
hluse. and there never have been any bulldogs
there except few slight frames.
When the towu he'd after the revolution
taken rapid growth and Was nearly doubling 'ts
Nomination each ten years, it became Important
to procure public thoroughtare Gear the
church, and the town authorities obtained
right of way through lane on the north side
of the church. Towards the close OF the cen
tury it was ,und possible to widen the passage
way and Oh September %. 1896. the Mayor
aud commonal!y made this ORDER: -
ut having been represented that part OF
Cameron street yiog 90 the nortb side OF tho
church is INSTRUCTED by the sections house and
part of the church yard, and that John WISE
has proposed to lay of a piece OF ground OF
,s3aaI extent Joining thereto to form passage
uJwn that street into the town if the tence OF
si,c clrrch yard and house could be removed.
ordered that The house and fence be removed
At the expsose of the town. upon John Wise
laying of az .aual piece of ground and keeping
the same opea. aud that Francis Peyton and
ssmcs IrviQe do attend to the execution there
Of. and that they give two months notice
thereof that persons may remove any coonec-
tons Inferred 10 that cart OF the yard.
The town thus became possessed OF CON-
plete right of way over "Chusok alley as the
,horouebfare was termed. Many changes sub
seuueptIy took place, and a suit between the
CORPORATION and vesiry settled the church llne.
% the 5th Of October, 1852, petition from
r. s. Douglas and others asking the opening
OF street between Columbus ADD Washington
street, sdouiog Christ Church CO the north,
was read 10 Council and referred to Messrs
Violet, Massey, Rock and 1. Smith.
o. the l4;h of December tho committee re-
ported bill f,r opening the street, which was
read and ordered to be published.
No publication of tho bill was made 10 the
Gazette, the advertisement being msdo 10 one
of the ephemersl sheets which from time to
time have risen aud fallen here, and the koowl
edge of its provisions was not general, aod 90
the Sth of February. 1858, the bill passed.
Under this act the Corporation Attorney Co.
named deeds from John West Minor and wife
for all the land, ''begiunng on the west line OF
WASHINGTON street with the north line OF Chr's'
Church lot. and running thence nor'herly with
Washington street. forty feet, then westerly
parallel With Columbus street, then south With
Columbus street TO the church lot, then IN a
strais bit line to the beeiopiog.' The payment
for this was made by the following order:
Ordered, June 18th, 1882 That the AUDI
tor issne bis warrant for the sum II tour tnou,
sand dollars in favor of John W. Mloor and
wifs 10 payment of so much OF the lot on the
north side of Christ Church as Is to be used 10
opening Cameron street.
To the portion of Cameron street now I'm
proved the city has therefore not the mere right
of wsy but the fee simple title to the soil.
The whole of this new street Is forty teet,
and the pavemsuts are eight feet wide, and al
steps aod porches thereon are required to ex'
tend not beyond three feet OF the building Hoe.
1t has now been over one bundred years since
the tborouphfare was used by the pubic, aud
at last it has been converted into complete
street.
The lower end of Cameron street on the river
front. like the street front docks on all the
streets, have been claimed by the town tor the
public use, and more than once have the toWn
authorities made agreements CONCERNING Tue
lower end of Cameron street; the hrse wnen
the river came up to tho corner OF Cameron
aud Water streets.
On the 18th OF July, 1859. the Trustees OF tne
Town ION the representation OF Carlyles % no a.
ton that good and convenient lsnG1 41s,; T =
Cameron street may be made Of General Uuhhy
to the Town, and that they will undertake &c
accomplish the same, provided they ana tneil
heirs in consequence Of the expense tney hsy
be at, may have leave to apply to their own US
one half Of said landing; the same being 'nsld'
cred by the Trusteea leave is granted y. q ~, ~
execute the same and appropriate one hs'I tneae.
otto their own use as a landing" This was al
forwards revoked. " g.,
Afterwards in 1910 by articles entered into
between Messrs. Preston, McKniaht, Leo ano
Lsurason Of the Common Council. and Gsoig.
Coleman and VIM Herbert. it Wa. agreed tina,
Herbert s. Coleman should have the use OF sne
dock and wharf of Cameron street w one
Ward of Union street. subject 70 tae eoa aud 6iI
that Herbert & Coleman should make anu Nv
up the wharf and dock at their own expense a.
soon as the same could be done 10 compre -
snd workmanlike manner under the dlrecilon :,
me Superintendent of Police, and tnst 10.
and clear from ali manner Of nuisance, and permit
,hemsrket boats to land their articles tree OF ea
pense, and TO hold the same subject to the ruler