Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-16
CITY COUNCIL.
COLUMBIA ENGINE HOUSE MIDDLE.

A called meeting OF the City Council was
held last night for. the purpose Of taking
some action in reference to the proposed
erection ofthe new Columbia engine house
! on the lot on the corner of Columbus and
Cameron streets.
+, - BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
/ A communication from the Mayor calling
! the meeting and stating that Mr.. Risheill
would present the business, was read
Mr.. Risheill not being present, Mr. Strauss
said that if the Council had been called for
Mr.. Risheill's benefit he ought to be here.
Mr.. Marbury, u member of the Committee
OIL Public Property, having been absent from
the city did not know what the meeting was
called for.
After Il shOlt recess Mr. Rishcill made his
appearance and explained that the Commit
tee on Public Property intended purchasing
the Cazcnoye lot, but finding that Mr. Gaze
move had raised the price from $500 to $500,
and required the erection of brick wall,
which would cost 5000, it had been decided
MOTTO take the lot, the committee losing sight
of the resolution passed eighteen months ago
instructing the purchase of u lot on the west
side OF Columbus street, between King and
Cameron that on Friday night last,
after the committee had decided not
to take the Cazenoye lot Mr.. Price
made al offer of this lot and the matter
was presented to the Columbia Company,
and no objection was made to the location :;
that he afterwards spoke to Mr.. Burke, Mr..
Moore, MIR. SmOOt, the chairman of the
Committee on Finance, and Mr. Leadbeatcr
of the Executive Committee of the Columbia
company, and heard no objection from them
to the purchase of the lot he understood
the property owners in the neighborhood
did not object to the engine house being
placed on the lot the committee hearing of
no objections from any quarter purchased
the lot from Mr. Price; after the purchase
was made it was found that not only the
property owners of the neighborhood object
ed to the engine house, but the Columbia
company objected to going to that point :;
the committee now had the lot and they did
not know what to do with it; Mr.. Nails said
he would take the lot if the city would give
him three years in which to pay for it
communication from the residents of
the neighborhood protesting against the
erection OF the engine house on the lot, &C.,
being read, -
Mr. Risheill said that he had understood
that Mr.. Geo. s. French would object to
the erection of an engine house OH the Gaze
move lot
Mr. Strauss said the Committee on Public
Property had acted in good faith, and for
what it believed to be the best interest of
the city and company. He was in favor of
standing by the committee in the matter.
but was opposed to locating the engine
house on the lot in opposition to the wishes
OF the citizens and the Columbia Company,
Mr.. Risheill said Mr. Price had been cen
sured, but he did not deserve it. He iMr.
+. had made fair and liberal offer.
MIR. J. 3. Smoot had no doubt butthut Mr..
Price, as good citizen and fair minded
man, when the matter was explained to
him would cancel the agreement. Mr.. Rich
ELL said MIR. Price would release the COM
mittee but MIR. Waddey, part owner, would
not Mr.. Waddey had remarked that he
was no child Mr. Marbury suggested that
Mr.. Nails be substituted as the purchaser in
the place of the City Council.
Mr. Strauss moved that the committee on
Public Property be invested with discretion
airy power in the matter but afterwards. at
the suggestion Of Mr. J. B. Smoot, withdrew
the motion. All the papers in the matter
were then simply received
The Common Council having concurred
III the action Of the Board of Alderman. re-
turned the papers and took recess.
MIR. ). b. Smoot moved that the papers be
referred to the committee on Public Prop
erty, with the understanding that the COM
mttee would hold consultation and make
the best arrangements possible
MIR. Moore contended that if Messrs. Price
and Waddey did not release the committee
the city was not bound to stand BY the pur
chase, because the committee had exceeded
Its authority, though he did not wish to be
understood rs censuring the committee. Mr.
Smoot's motion was adopted and the papers
were referred to the committee on Public
property.
After recess, the papers were returned
from the Common Council endorsed mon
concurred in" accompanied by resolution
instructing the committee on Public Proncr.
" TO select some suitable lot upon which TO
build an engine house for the Columbia Com
pany, and report to Council.
After some debate, the action of the Com
mon Council was concurred in, and the
Board at eleven o'clock adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
1t was many minutes past o'clock when
the Common Council seats showed a QUO
rum last night; many members however
came together and the attendance was I'M
usually good.
When petition of II. II. Service and
others protesting against the location Of the
new Columbia engine house at the north
west corner of Columbus and Cameron
streets came in from the Aldermen re-
ferred to the committee Oh Public Propertv
which had purchased the lot,
Mr.. Rice favored supporting the action of
the committee on public property. He
thought that the committee had under all
the circumstances acted for the best He
dld not think that any other lot would suit
better, and if the company is not satisfied
with it let them disband.
Mr.. Green wished to know whether any
instructions had been given the committee.
II, as he understood, Council had given them
instructions to purchase lot, other than
tins ne did not think Council was bound by
their action.
Mr. Rice explained that it was originally
Intended to buy another lot; the owner of
the other lot increased from $500 to 5000 it's |
price, and demanded also the erection of !
wall to cost 5000. and to be kept in repair
for all time by the city.