Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-12
CITY COUNCIL.


ton of the lessees Of the Alexandria Canal
who prayed the city to lower the assessment
upon their property in this city from S3o,oo
to $4,000.
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
after the petition of W. W. DUNCAN, score,
tary and treasurer of the canal company, nau
been read,
Mr. Smoot said should petitions for reduc-
ton of assessment be entertained on the
ground of deterioration in productiveness IN
property there would be no end to such
cases: but that was not the vital question at
issue. He had been former member OF the
Board of Directors Of the Alexandria Canal
Company. They were making no money
on the canal proper what was made was
on the aqueduct bridge in the way of tolls.
II the concession asked was not made there
were strong probabilities that the coal
trade of the city would soon be thing OF
the past. He, therefore, offered resolution
granting the prayer of the petitioners. e.,
that all tax bills due the city by the lessees
OF the canal be cancelled upon the payment
to the corporation of the sum of $500, and
that in future the canal property be assessed
at SO 900 instead of $4,000. The speaker
had had a long conference with Mr.. DUNCAN.
and this arrangement would be satisfactory
to the lesSees.
Mr.. Reid inquired what loss peeuniarily
the city would suffer by this concession.
Mr.. Smoot said he could not answer posi-
lively.
The President replied that 5000 would be
about the amount.
Mr.. Strauss thought it would be about
$4OO, or $3.50.
Mr.. Smoot said he could not give official
figures, and proceeded to recite the history
of the case and facts connected Herewith.
Mr. Reid desired to do nothing which
would in any way retard the commercial ac-
tiyity Of Alexandria, but the matter under
consideration was q serious one-oDe that
should be duly weighed.
Mr.. Smoot had, when he entered the
Board, purposed making no remarks on the
petition, but considered it obligatory TO
make some further explanation of the pend
ing case. Under the lease tolls on the canal
could be increased to cts. per ton on coal,
which action would virtually break up the
shipping ofthat commodity from this port.
| One company, tenant of the city, doing bus
mess here would not submit to The raising OF
the tolls one quarter Of a cent on the ton,
and should any advance be made they Will
seek another locality in which to conduct
| their business AS things now stand vessels
and canal boats come here and those en-
poyed on the same spend money in this city.
| When he considered those glariDg facts he
was satisfied that to grant the request ofth
lessees of the canal would be for the good OF
the city no matter what other side there
might he to the question. Mr.. DUNCAN as
scrts that the lessees lost money on the canal,
and the speaker knew it to be fact
Mr.. Strauss (alluding to the fact that the
| lease of the canal had been severely criti-
cised) said it was too late in the day to be
recalling what had been done. The lease OF
the canal had been perfected eighteen years
ago with those parties, and that was mat
ter of the past. Let US come toliying issues.
Were it necessary, he for one would be will
! ing to exempt the canal entirely from tax
alton rather than see it closed, which would
be the inevitable consequence of rejection
| OF the petition under consideration. 1t was
| a patent fact to everybody that the parties
mon phrase, had the city. In other words
they possess the power to close the same at
any time by increasing the rates Of toll. IT
the question of granting the petition were
put to vote of the people and the interests
I
| granted by ali overwhelming vote. Should it
please Council to refuse to make this conces-
sion capital would be driven from our midst,
we would lose the $2,100 annual rental paid
| by the American Coal Company and meal
culable injury would be done all branches
| of industry.
Mr.. Risheill asked if there was any guar
antee on the part of the American Coal
Company that they would remain here pro-
vided the tolls on the canal remained atthe
present rate. If the petition of the lessees
was granted could they not at any future
| time increase the rate Of toll.
Mr.. Smoot said he bad been told by gen
ileman who had thorough knowledge in the
matter that the American Coal Company
had concluded to wait until the 18th instant
to see what turn this matter Of tolls would
take, and should the rate be increased they
would Immediately seek other quarters.
Mr.. Strauss said gentleman had told
him the same thing
Mr.. Smoot said as far as he was aware the
lessees had complied with all the terms Of
their contract.
After some further debate, Mr.. Strauss
moved the adoption Of the resolution, and it
was carried, after which the Board adj
journed.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The Common Council after opening took
a recess to await the action Of the Board of
Aldermen upon the question Of reducing
the tax upon the Alexandria Canal, and
most of the Councilmen repaired to the up
per Board until the proceedings there were
concluded.
When the resolution reducing the assess
ment on the canal from $4,000 to $4,000
came in from the Board of Aldermen and
the question Of concurrence was considered,
Mr.. Eichberg explained the course of the
Finance Committee on the subject. That
committee had considered the application
Of the canal lessees, and had made such a
reduction as they thought was proper and
polite. Mr.. MusEbacb, their counsel, had
said he thought they would be satisfied
with it. A few weeks afterwards he went
to Mr.. Mushbach who said that Mr.. Dun
gan was not satisfied; and then the demand
was made for this extreme reduction. But
he had agreed not to oppose this resolution.