Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-23

MessrS. Strauss and RlShelll--HaVen { The
people the power TO petition
The President requested the members mol
to interrupt Mr.. Smoot, but allow him to
proceed.
Mr.. Suroot continued there been a
petition from the people?
Mr.. Risheill-Yes, they have petitioned
for fire plug and we are ready to put il
down when the Water Company concludes
TO extend their mains.
Mr. Snoot then said the Alexandria Water
/! Company was chartered in the same man
ner aud by the same body as the city OF
Alexandria, and here was the City Council
urrogaling to itself the right to ask the Leg
islature to do something with corporation
on an equal footing with itself. Council
could with equal propriety ask the General
Assembly to anuul or amend the charter OF
the Virginia Midland r. w. Now the peo-
pie had subscribed to the stock Of the Water
Company and the investment was intended
| to be rendered more stable from the fact
| that it was u legally chartered corporation.
| Council had no quarrel with the company,
aud if citizens had any grievances to com
plain of they of course had the inalienable
| right of appeal. He was not in the Board
as Il defender OF the Water Company though
it mad been asserted he was a large stock
holder in the same. He owned seventy five
dollars worth of stock exactly one share
and half-and his water rents amounted
to two hundred and fifty dollars year.
The speaker was at one time director in
the Water Company, and while there were
things connected with the same he did not
admire, he was not in Council to criticise
the company, and though he would decline
service III their directory if offered him, he
would have TO vote against the pending
resolution. Mr.. Strauss had gone on in his
usual strain about the rights Of citizens and
of his being the champion Of the people.
Now the people must not come TO Council
about this matter: the Water Company was
a corporation, as lar as rights and privileges
were concerned in every way coequal with
the city, both working under charters grant
ed by the same body.
Mr. Strauss-So far the remarks of the
gentleman may be correct; but didn't Coun-
Gil amend the charter of the city?
Mr.. Smoot Didn't they also submit the
amendment to the people?
Mr. Strauss-No, sir they did not. He
said Council was not attempting to legislate
for the company; they were only about to
ask the Legislature to do that.
Mr.. Risheill claimed Council had a per.
feet right to handle the subject. The Water
Company had not complied with the pro.
visions Of its charter, They had guaranteed
to furnish full supply of water and were
not doing So Had they fulfilled their con
tract and furnished the supply guaranteed
the city would have been saved the $50 GOO
the present Market Building cost.
Mr.. Smoot again asserted that he was not
in Couuc! as an advocate for the Water
Company. The supply of water, as every
one knew, was limited one; hence the
further mains are extended the more the
yield is lessened in other localities The
speaker gave several illustrations to
substantiate his assertion. For instance,
let one person have pipe laid, and
several others near by petition the com
pany TO furnish them with water, which will
be complied with of course by tap
ping the first pipe you necessarily lessen the
flow to the original party. Whether or not
the Market House would have been saved
if there had been an abundance Of water
was question he would not undertake TO
decide; but he would say that when he ar
rived at that fire Mr.. Huntington's store
was sheet Of flames and the Hydraulion
engine not at work. The speaker when he
passed the Columbia engine house on his
way down town on that memorable night
come out, and before that engine arrived OH
the scene the flames had leaped across the
alley and entered the southern end Of the
Market House. The steeple of the building
acted as u chimney with splendid draught,
and after that all the engines in Alexandria
with the water required to work them would
have been of no avail to quench the flames
Mr.. Risheiil-Lo, what eloquence and
what pyramid of mistakes The Colum-
bia was on the ground ten minutes before
the Market House took fire. I appeal to
Mr.. Mclean, who is withoutthe bar, if
thatt not so.
Mr. Moore again explained his action in
moving to lay the resolution over.
The ayes and noes were then called on
the resolution which resulted as follows:
Ayes, Messrs. Strauss, Risheill and Mr.
PRESIDENT. Noes, Messrs. Moore, Her.
bert, Marburg, Smoot and Reid-5. So the
resolution was lost.
Nj. Risheill wanted TO know if the mat
ter stopped here. Could not the Commit
tee on General Laws present this same res
olution and bill in the Common Council?
The President and several members de-
cide1 they could not. The resolution had been
rejected by the Board of Aldermen and there
it ended.
Mr.. Rlsnelll, however, was oy no means
satisfied with the decision, and believed it
could be brought up in the other Board.
The Board then concurred in the action
of The Common Council in certain matters.
and after transactng some routine business
adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The regular meeting of the Board last
night was we'll attended.
The Committee on Streets having report
ed in favor of compelling the Washington
Ferry Company to remove without further
delay the freight house now standing in
King street,
MIR. Peake asked the Committee OH Streets
to explain why this action was proposed.
Mr.. Lambert explained that the freight
shed had been allowed to remain in King
street while improvements were in progress,
but the improvements are now completed
and the shed still obstructs the foot of the