Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-07-11
The Georgetown Aqueduct.

Tho investigation CT the relations of The GOV.
ernmeht TO the tqusdu2t at Georgetown have
been hu! slightly nLermitted. II was stated q
short Time since that when tina United States, in
ISL, gave The town Of Alexandria $500, COO. 10
DO used il completing tho lqueduct, an amour.
Of Alexandra canal stack equal 10 thi. sum WAS
directed 10 BIO delivered 10 the Secretary OF the
Treasury to be held in trust, ''npon the same
terms and conditions 10 sll respects as the stocks
hold In the Chesapeake aud Ohio Canal Com
psnY by the several ci:ls of the Distrie! were
required to be- held by the act approved June 7,
1886, entitled An act for the relief of the several
corporate cities OF tho District of Columbia ,"
Now. ihore ia no sc. Ct this kind approved June
I. 1895. 1he act coubtless intended 10 be re.
farred TO, under the title above. WAS approved
May 4, lStG and was passed In the mos. trouble
some period of tho history of the District ctits-
limo which foreshsdowed the recent special as
sesfmsnt liens CT the board Of public works.
when, to use the Language Of the Time. 'the Dis.
trlct OK Columbia was about to BE- sold TO the
Dutch" In the laitsr part Of the decade OF
lS20:@O the, citi"s OF The district subscribed q
million aud o half dollars TO The Cbesspeske
and Ohio Canal, Washington taking 81, COO 700
OF stock and Alexandra and Georgetown each
sou oN To Isise funds for this purposes. the
three cities borrowed Of certain bankers in
Hollsrd Tho 100000. The United States
agreeing TO direct the three cities to each levy
tax. and. if the funds were not provided by The
c0rpors!iors and placed in the ireAsury of tho
United States Eintty days before any day of
payment under the contract which might be en-.
tered into, tho President should appoint collec.
tors 10 collect tho tax. In csse of the failure of
tho cities TO pay, the Secretary Of the Treasury
wss directed ITO a'certain the de- aciency accord
ing to the terms of the contracts, and order the
money 10 be collected by Tho usual mode of a.
sessment and sale OF The property assessed"
When the l:st pky mont on In } debt becIme due
it WA net met. 4he' city OF Washington was
already struggling with loans contracted for ths
Wy Hall, lottery losses and Washington canal.
The year lSi6 opened n crisis in the affairs OF the
city. Says repor! OF that winter: 'T hs money
becoming duo upon tho contract muat be psd in
luur or i've months. It cannot DO paid by tho
cty. Inc gnverament must. in com pliince
with Ills own pledge, onIo:tu ,he collection by
sales II properly"
Tho Ssnste committee t, whom tue subject
was referred submitted to Congress in Februsry
'Whelhar, under tho relations ca tho govern.
ment holds 10 the city. it is not wae and expe
6lcut ID pass law which shall afford A. least a
Temporary relief from the ruin which is sp.
proiching Congress did more tuan THE; it
assumed Tho whole loan, principal and interest,
rot only Il Washington, but OF aiexar 4 ria and
GeoTRstcwn also. The stock Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal thus purchased Was dirt c:ed to
he surrendered 1T trust 10 the Secretary of the
Tre,sury 10 ba sold If necessary, and il was to
this trust fund that tho S3C0,N0 Of Alexandria
Canal sLecs WGa afterwards directed to bs added
| on Tho ssno trust. II Is this trust fund which is
now hHing Looked into. Wash. cor. Bait. .cu1