Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-27

The regular ScnI!- monthly meeting OF the
City Council Was held last night. The
business transacted was mostly OF routine
nature and there Was little debate.
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
after the Adoption of several reports from
the Fiuance Committee,
Mr.. Smout, tIom SAID committee, intro
duced resolution authorizing the Auditor
To issue his warrant for $50 III favor of +.
). Lead oe,.tcr iur the purpose of detrayiug
the expense ot repairing the wharf on the
opposite side OF the river belonging 10 the
Marylaud Ferry Company. MIR. ). gave Il
history OF the operations of this company
during the past few years. Mr.. Il. Wheat,
the former owner of the boat, had concluded
to withdraw the same from the route in
consequence of the unprotiahlencsS OF the
enterprise. AT this nncture, Mr. Lead
beater, approaching the value TO the city OF
the trade with Maryland, III conjunction
with the citizens, canvassed the town and
hnIly after much labor succeeded in ill.,
ducing our merchants and s;orekcepers to
subscribe AN amount sufficient To purchase
the ferry beat in order To keep the llue
opeu Mr.. w. :. Moore stipulated 10 run
the steamer for whatever he could make
out OF it after ali expenses had been paid,
guaranteeing also to spend fifty dollars per
annum towards keeping the road III order
at the wharf Oh the other side OF the RIVER.
This contract with Mr.. NJ. had now expired,
aud that gentleman before renewing the
salne with the company desired u proviso
inserted by which ne may be allowed to
withdraw the boat one DAY in each week, in
order that he may on said days make trips
lower down the rivrr-to Pennington, for
instance, or contiguous places. The profits
arising from such trips, he thinks, may COM
peusale him for what he lost on the regular
route Mr. Leadheaier had told the Finance
Committee lhrt during the late freeze the
MARYLAND wharf Of the company had been
considerably damaged by ice, and that Mr..
Rodgers, the wharf builder had estimated
the cost to repair the same at Sl3S. The
ferry company were averse To going around
town second time to retrieve its fortunes,
aud he the speaker had concluded to offer
the pending resolution i'll order TO extrlcate
it from its financial enbarrassmentS. The
running Of this steamer WAS some" hat OF
an adjunct to the trade of the city, though
the enterprise itself had never been IL pay
ing one. The receipts of the past year were
S9OS and the expenses but few dollars
under that sum. These figures though
showed that the line was well patronized,
and it was an incontrovertible fact that
residents of Maryland living opposite tie
city paid in the aggregate quite a sum OF
money into the city treasury i'll the way of
market rents. Those who spread their
truck on the Market House pavement, as
well as those who rent benches, were taxed
for the privilege, and after disPoSiug Of their
produce the same parties spent most OF the
money thus obtained with our merchants
and storek eepers. \ short while ago, when
the river contained much floating ice,
trip with the boat was made across the
river, when a resident of that neighborhood
was found on the wharf who had beeu
waiting for the boat five hours in order that
he might come TO this city to secure the
services of an undertaken to burr Il deceased
relative There were many other ways IN
which our interests were enhanced by keep
ing this boat running, and the city would
be amply repaid indirectly for the outlay
proposed, TO say nothing of the incaculable
convenience afforded to scores of persons.
The resolution was adopted without any
opposition, but was returned non-concurred
in by the Common Council whereupon this
Board adhered TO its former action and
committee of conference, consisting OF
Messrs. Smoot and Strauss, was appointed
10 confer with Il similar committee from
The other Board. Upon the return of the
committee, Mr.. Smoot said the members OF
the same from the Common Council had
acuuiesced in the action Of this Board and
would recommend q concurrence in the &C
ton of this Board. The resolution, how
ever, with the report of the conference
committee were returned by the Common
Council non. concurred in.
The Board, about O'Clock, adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The Board was late in opening last night
as a quorum was somewhat tardy.
When a resolution was introduced requir
ing the lowering to meet grade Of the Rail
way on Fay street.
Mr.. Lambert urged that as the railroad
company had promised to lower the track
and had not done so, the company should
be compelled to conform TO the law. lhey
began the work of lowering the street some
time ago, and the rew pavement there was on
the proper grade but the high road bed was
still an obstruction to the street. me reso'
luton was agreed TO.
When the application for crossing on
Cameron and Alfred streets was read,
Mr.. Lambert said there was need of this
crossing. but other work to be done by
the property holders ought to be done atthe
same time.
The matter was referred to the committee
on streets.
When the application Of Alexander Lyles
for leave to put up frame residence OH
Fairfax street near Wilkes came up,
MIR. Mclean asked if this was within lire
limits.
Mr.. Lambert said it was. and that the
custom in all such cases had been to require
the consent of the holders of real estate in
the neighborhood.
Mr.. MsLean saw no reason for making an
exception in this case.
Mr.. Snowden was surprised that there
was objection TO the putting up OF ne"
house anywhere in town. All the houses on
that square except one were frame, and there
was no objection on the part of anybody III
the neighborhood. Mr.. Lyles proposed to
put alongside his own house another just
likeit. Who could object?