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


veslth's Attorney, have oeen nominated, oy
considerable msjorities.
TIE CAMERON STREET tMPRovEMENT.-
The Improvement of Cameron street, between
Washington and Columbus streets, make that
thoroughfare completely open street tor the
first time 10 the history of the town. Always
heretofore there have been more or less obstacles
a. that point to the easy passage OF the public
INIT the cutting down of the hill on the south,
INV being accomplished under the supervision
Of City Surveyor Blythe, gives the street an
p1usl grade it's entire width, and makes it com
nlete. Cameron straet was intended 80 the
main street of the town aud was placed 10 Its
c.ntre. For while it maintained this posltioo
The court house. was built upon it, the market
was there, the principal hotel Was who're Har-
)ov's store stands, aud Washiugton's towo office
vss also UPON il. Two causes drove the bust
ness to Kiog street: Oue was that durlng the
first halt century Of thu iowa the head OF Oro'
noko creek, pocoson, was 90 Cannon near FIT
street. and made thst section wet and marshy,
while King street at it's crossing With Pitt al
,houpb low was easily passable. Another stop
mage TO the progrcss of Cameron street was the
erection Of Christ Church to bar its way 10
1-73, The movement of buildings which pro-
PRESSED from east TO west was completely stop
ned by il. So that even at this day 90 the
au.re beyond the church there IS not single
l. Use, and there never have been any buildings
there except few slight frames.
When the towu had after the revolution
taken rapid growth and was nearly doubling ITS
nopuatiou each ten years, it became portant
to procure public thoroughfare near the
church, and the town authorities obtained
right of way through lane on the north side
Of the church. Towards the close CT the cen
tury it was fund possible 70 widen the passage
way, and on September %. 1896, the Mayor
sud commona.y made this order: .
ut having been represented that part OF
Cameron street Iyiog 90 the north side OF the
church is obstructed by the sexton's house and
3 part of the church yard and that Joho Wise
has proposed to lay of piece OF ground OF
taaal extent joining thereto to torn passage
down that tleet into the town II the fence OF
she church yard and house could be removed,
ordered that the house and fence be removed
at the expense of the town. upon John Wise
Isyiug off 40 equal piece of ground and keeping
the same opeu. and that Francis Peyton and
James Irvine do attend to the execution there
of, aud that they give two months notice
thereof that persons may remove any conneo-
tons Inferred 10 that part OF the yard.
The town thus became possessed OF CON-
ss,te right Of way over Church alley as the
tbuouehfare was termed. Macy changes sub.
seoueaty took place. and suit between the
corporation and vestry settled the church llne.
On the 5th of October, 1852, a petition from
r. S. Douglas and others asking the opening
Of street between Columbus and Washington
street, adioioiug Chris: Church 90 the north,
was read lu Council and referred to Messrs.
Violet, Massey, Book and 1. Smith.
% the ID h of December the committee re-
ported bill fJr opening the street, Whlch was
read and ordered to be published.
No publication of the bill was made 10 the
Gazette, the advertisement bclng made 10 one
of the ephemeral sheets Which from time 10
time have risen ADD fallen here, and the Know.
edge of it's provisions was not general, aod Oh
the Sth of February, 1858, the bill passed.
Under this act the Corporation Attorney o.
,sioed deeds from John West Minor and wife
for ak the land, "begipuing on the west line OF
WASHINGTON street with the north line OF CHRIST
Church lot. and running thence noriherly with
Washington street forty feet, then westerly
Iparsllel with Columbus street, then south With
Columbus street to the church lot, then IN
straight hue to the beginning" The payment
for this was made by the following order:
"Ordered, June 18th, 1857 That the Audi
tor issue bis warrant tor the sum Of tour thou;
saod dollars 10 favor of John w. Moor and
wife 10 payment of so much OF the lot on the
north side of Christ Church as is to be used 10
opening Cameroo street -..
To the portiop of Cameron street now I'm
proved the CITY has therefore Rot the mere right
of way but the fee simple title to the soil.
The whole of this new street is forty feet,
and the pavements are eight feet wide, and all
steps and porches thereon are required to e4'
tend not beyond three feet Of the building line.
It has now been over ono hundred years since
the thoroughfare was used by the public, and
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 towo for the
public use, and more than once have the town
authorities made agreements concerning tne
lower end of Cameron street; the hrst ~hen
the river came up to the corner OF cameron
and Water streets
On the 18th OF July, 1859, the Trustees OF the
Town ION the representation of Carlyle q Dai'
Cameron street may be made OF General Otlh.y
to the Town, and that they will undertake 20
accomplish the same, provided they ana tneil
heirs in consequence of the expense tney mey
be at, may have leave to apply to their own use
one half of said landing the same Delng s'nst -
cred by tho Trustees leave is granted y. q ". 70
execute the same and appropriate one halt there
ofto their own use as q landing" This was al"
forwards revoked.
Afterwards, in 1910, by articles entered: INTO
between Msssrs Preston, Mcknight, Lee ana
Lsursson, of the Common Council ana IeoLse s.
Coleman and VIM Herbert, it was agreed tnat
Herbert s. Coleman should have the useof the
dock and wharf of Cameron street to Inc east
Ward of Union street. subject to the condinoan ls
that Herbert & Coleman should make ana MI
up the wharf and dock al their own expense az
soon as the same could be done in complese
and workmsnlike manner under the direction OF
,ne Superintendent Of Police, and that Coleman pan
q Herbert should keep the wharf and DOCK iree
and clear from all manner of nuisance, ana perml'
lhemsrket boats to land their articles free OF e.
pense, and to hold the same subject to Inc tu'e'