Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-06-28
CITY COUNCIL,
A regular semi-monthly meeting of the
City Council was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

Lie DOdru OF AluerNlen was calleu 10
order by President Downham at $40 with
but five members in their places, Col Reid
Mr. and Moore being absent.
Mr.. }. b. SmoOt presented Il report from
the finance Committee recommending that
Armory Hall building and lot of the Alex
andria Light Infantry be exempt from tax
l, 1882, and explained that Armory Hall
was now owned by a stock company, but
nine-tenths of the stock was held by the
members of the Alexandria Light Infantry,
and that as an effort was being made to in
crease the efficiency Of the command the
committee had thought it proper to recon-
mend that the petition be granted OH con
ditiOn that the tax on all entertainments
held in the hall be paid.
The petition was granted but the Common
Council refusing to concur, the Chair APP
pointed Messrs. J. B. Smoot and Marbury Il
committee of conference on the subject
The committee retired and in 4 short while
returned and reported that the committee
Of conference could not agree. The COM
mittee was then discharged.
The annual statements of the Auditor of
the finances of the city and showing the con-
dition of the public debt, and the report of
the City Treasurer, for the year ending
May 81, 1882, were presented by Mr. j. B.
Smoot, read, and without debate, received.
The public debt statement was ordered to
be printed in the Auditors report
Mr.. Strauss, in presenting the report of
the Committee on Light, showing that the
gas works had turned into the general fund
this year Sc, 900, $500 more than last wear,
stated that Mr. Roxbury, the Supernten-
dent Of Gas, deserved great credit for the
faithful and intelligent manner in which he
had discharged the duties Of his office. He
considered it a very gratifying result that,
Notwithstanding over s. 900 had been
expended during the year in laying mains
and improving the works, the Committee
on Light was able TO return 81, 600 this wear
againsts $500 last year. The report was
received and ordered to be printed.
The report of the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund was received from the Com
mon Council and read.
MIR. }. Is. Smoot presented petitions of F.
l.. smith, attorney, stating that the A. & F.
and w. 4 4. Railway Companies were
assessed ut the rate of $4,000 per mile on
their roads within the Corporation limits.
when the actual value of the property was
not more than 5000 per mile, and asking
that said assessment be reduced Us the said
companies were anxious to pay their taxes
The petitions were referred to the Finance
Committee, and the committee held meet
ing at once and reported, reducing the
assessment on the roads to $l2, 800 per mile,
| which report was adopted.
The Committee on Public Property re-
ported that the cost of painting the market
house building (outside) would be $4yG.
Mr.. Smoot was in favor Of making an :lp-
DrOpriat that hn ,rnrl. ,,,,ll L.,
during the recess Of Council.
MIR. Strauss thought that as the Commits
sioners Of the Sinking Fund received the
revenue from the market house building
the appropriation should come out of the
sinking fund, and not out of the general
fund of the city.
resolution authorizing the Committee on
Public Property to have the outside of the
| market house building painted at cost not
to exceed $500 was adopted.
A petition of citizens residing on Cameron
street, between Patrick and Henry, asking
that the improvements now in progress ON
that square be made in accordance with the
| old grade, and stating that the grade pro-
prosed would flood the lower floors of their
houses with water, was read.
Mr.. Risheill stated that the people re-
siding on the square would be put to an uu-
necessary expense if the improvements were
made in accordance with the grade proposed.
and thought the railroad company ought to
be made TO lower their track on Henry
street to the old grade, but to refer the mat
ter now to the Committee on Streets would
stop the work when the improvements had
nearly been completed.
Mr.. Strauss was in favor of requiring the
railroad company TO lower their track TO
conform TO the grade of the city If the
improvements were made in accordance
with the grade proposed, to 10 inches
above the old grade, great damage would
result to the property Oh the square, the
| owners ofwhich were all good taxpayers.
The matter was referred to the Committee
on Streets.
A resolution that when the City Council
adjourn it be till the first meeting in Octo-
Der, was adopted.
The Common Council amended the reso-
lution that when the City Council adjourn
it be till July 5 to hear the report Of the
Committee on Streets in relation to the
Cameron street Improvement
The amendment was adopted, and after
the transaction of some other business with
out debate, the Board ut 10:45 adjourned
with the understanding that after the july
meeting 4 recess would be taken till October
or November.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The attendance at the Common Council
last night was small, but the session was q
long one. All the annual reports were re-
ccivcd from the other board and without
being read ordered to be printed.
An application of L. Hopkins and others,
representing that the new grading of the
gutter on Cameron street, west of Patrick,
was injuring property there, and asking re-.
lief, was discussed at length.
Mr. Rice thought that the citizens of that
neighborhood ought to be satisfied that the
committee on streets was doing the best that
can be done. He was at one time resident
in that section, and no good grade could
be made there, which did not require the
raising of lots.
MIR. Mclean asked when the appropria
ton for this work was made, and at what
time it had been ordered by the City Coun-
Gil.
Mr.. Lambert replied that neither appro-
priations, nor order had been made by the
City Council. The work had been ordered
BY the Board of Health last October They
had then condemned the ditch, called gut