Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-10
CITY COUNCIL,

CITY COUNCIL.
a regular semi-monthly meeting of the
City Council was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The Board of Aldermen was not called to
order until near $50 o'clock. Mr.. c. C.
Smoot was absent, not having recovered
from his late indisposition.
After the adoption of several reports from
the Finance Committee, presented by Mr..
]. B. Smoot,
Col Reid, Chairman of the Committee on
Light, stated he had Il matter to bring to
the attention of Council which he considered
OF vital Importance. During the past few
weeks, he said, he had been in constant
communication with gentleman represent
ing a gas company of Philadelphia, which
had established sixty works in the United
States, and was now building one at Nor
folk, Va. The company claimed that with
in three months, at cost of $4,000, it
could add to the gas works in this city an
addition that would give % candle power
for less than one half the expense it now
requires to produce IL candle power gas; in
other words the company will guarantee to
make from 500 tons of coal the same amount
of gas that it now requires $500 tons of coal
to produce, besides reducing the labor to
one half He had invited one ofthe experts of
the company to look at the works here, and
if the members were favorably impressed,
he proposed TO have some of the best men,
bers OF Council to SO to Philadelphia and
make thorough investigation, so there
would be no hasty action. The terms upon
which the company would introduce the
system were: One fourth when the work
was commenced, one fourth when completed
and one half when in full operation. The
expense of the introduction of the system,
if all that was claimed for il was true, could
be saved in year
Col. Reid offered resolution that the
Mayor, Chairman Of the Finance Committee;
Chairman of the Committee on Streets, and
Corporation Attorney wait on the officers of
the Washington and Alexandria Railroad
Company to see if some arrangements could
not be made for a resumption Ofthe running
of the local trains over that road to Che
corner of King and st. Asaph streets He
said that if the city ever expected to be
prosperous and progressive it must foster
enterprises,a and an attempt should be made to
have the railroads come as near the people as
possible. The driving away of the w. < A.
K. K. from st. Asaph street was the cause
OF the removal from Alexandria ola number
OF families that contributed to the prosperity
of the city.
Mr.. J. B. Smoot had nothing to say in
opposition to the resolution but he would pre-
fer that his name be stricken out and that Of
Col. Reid inserted, as he, Col. Reid was
more familiar with railroad matters, and
would have more influence with the officials
of the railroad company.
MIR. Strauss endorsed the sentiments of
the resolution, but thought it was question
that belonged to the property-holders on the
street. He thought it was matter that all
were interested in but did not think the
City Council had the right to give the right
OF way OF street to 4 railroad company
without the consent Of the. property
holders
Col. Reid contended that unless the CITY
had the right to grant street privileges no
railroads could enter the city.
Col. Reds name was added, and the reso-
luton was adopted
Mr.. Strauss offered bill amending the
law in reference to the sidewalks on King
street, allowing the merchants on that street
the use of three feet Of the sidewalk from
the building line, and requiring all swinging
signs to be placed overhead at distance not
less than eight feet, nor greater than fifteen
feet also providing that unless all signs
awnings, &c, be taken down within ten
days from the passage of the bill, that the
superintendent of Police be required to re-
move them at the expense of the owners.
and making the penalty of obstructing the
sidewalk So, with 81 additional for every
day the obstruction is allowed to remain.
MIR. s. advocated his bill, stating that there
had been muddle.on King street for over
six weeks. Many Of the bay windows. he
said extended beond the line allowed and
to enforce the present law would be injurious
to the property owners.
The bill, after some further debate, was
referred to the Committee on General Laws
with instructions to report at the next meet
ing of Council
An estimate for the expenses of the public
schools for the ensuing year, $1,000,
coming in from the Common Council re-
terred to the Finance Committee
Mr.. }. b. Smoot moved that the estimate
be returned to the School Board with the
request that the expenses Of the schools for
the coming year be made not to exceed
$1,000. TO raise the amount of extra ap-
preparation which has been pledged it would
require an assessment of 40 cents. They
had succeeded in reducing the taxes from
lO0 to 50 cts, and now to meet the require
ments they would not only have TO increase
the taxes, but return to the old system of
penuriousness. There was no member of
the Board more willing to contribute to the
support Of the public schools than he was,
but he thought it was matter of life and
death with the city to keep the taxes as
low as possible.
Mr.. Marbury said the School Board had
right TO call for double the amount appro-
priated by the State, but it had not made
the demand until necessity compelled it.
The amount received from the city last wear
was not sufficient to meet the expenses.
This year there was some talk of building
new school house; if a new school. house
was not built, and if the Board did not need
the money, it would not be called for.
Col. Reid agreed with Mr.. Smoot that
there was no more worthy object than the
public schools He was in favor of the
public schools, and was willing to contribute
fairly and literally to their support, but he
wished to remind the members of the Board
that i'll granting this estimate they were
pandering to the sentiments of man who
had done more than any other mon T., III