Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-02-25
CITY COUNCIL.

n
was held last night. The only business in
which any interest was manifested was the
netition of the Washington, Ohio and West
erp Railroad Company for permission to ex-
tend their track across Cameron street to
the property on the west side Of Lee street
as far as Fayette alley. AS is generally
known, the City Council in the year 1866
Granted tho old Alexandria, Loudoun and
Hampshire Railroad Company (of which
the present company is the successor) priv
llege to extend its track from the depot on
PRINCESS street to Cameron street, and the
ratitiopers, who say they are now ready to
avail themselves Of this privilege, asked that
the original act be SO amended as to allow
them to cross Cameron street to the lot east
of the Braddock House extending as far as
Fayette alley. The petition was presented
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
by Mr.. Marbury, who explained the nature
of the request.
Mr., Reid said before any action was taken
unon the petition it would be we'll to con.
sides the matter in its right light. AS the
nroposed extension would be for the benefit
Of the city, he moved that Mr.. Brophy, the
SUPERINTENDENT of the railroad, who was
present, be allowed to make statement to
the board.
This motion was adopted, and Mr.. Brophy
came inside the bar and succinctly explain
ed the privileges his company desired OF
Council. He said the object was the estab-
Hsbment of a passenger depot on the prop.
erty on the west side of Lee street, between
Cameron and King. n depot in this locali-
no
for his company as we'll as convenience to
the travelling public; and it was also under
stood that the Alexandria and Fred
ericksburg railway would run its local trains
ON the same track, which, he thought,
would be an additional advantage to the
CITY. 1t must be understood, however, said
Mr B., that the railroad company is on no
missionary tour; that while the proposed
depot would undoubtedly be advantageous
to Alexandria, that, Of course, was secon-
dary consideration with the railroad prl-
marily the move was for its own conveni.
ence and profit, as would be the case with
any other corporation or ctlzen Wh" petl-
TONED for like benefits. The speaker said
the depot would be used for passenger pur-
poses oniy; that the company had already
An excellent depot on Princess street, but
for sundrv reasons preferred nnr further IN
the city. There had been no specific agree
menl with the A. l. +. road regarding the
running of it's local trains from the proposed
depot, though negotiations with That emu
in view had bseu carried on, and 1t was
pcreraliy understood that nj arrangement
would lee mad. whereby AZ! local u"lts ON
that road would ayriv" aEd depart from
This ,,oiut in the event Of permission To ex-
tend the W, .. & ". ;in"S being granted.
The company the speaker represented bad
considered AL the ~!j, c,ion5 hal had been
urged To- .;.r prc.russd rxteu!;oi', ana he
desired 10 say that il wished 10 l">cesd III
the matter in the most ui:'icahic tnahner
If any property ho'@"r was dadagtc oy
the tracks The company would al course
be willing to Reimburse aiu. Some ~erks
ago. when II petition similar 10 the unt. be-
fore the board had been licsrrir:: - the
Common Council Mr. Is. had ml,ic prop
osition which he renewed: that il after one
wear from the date OF the laying o; said
track il could be proven that property had
been injured by the extension, the company
would willingly submit to arbitration and
recompense parties who had suffered any
actual loss and, further, would give bond
for the faithful performance of the agree
ment. This company did not ask this priv
iege at the expense Of any citizen OF Alex
andria. He believed that the establishment
of the depot would augment the prosperity
of the city; but. reiterated, that primarily
the company was seeking its own comfort
and profit in the matter, and at the same
time would like to help increase the pros
perity of the city.
Mr.. Reid moved that in the first section
of the last line of the amendment the word
passenger" be inserted before depot, in
order that the company be restricted 10
passenger traffic only at the proposed depot,
which was adopted.
Mr. Smoot said he took singular view
Of the matter and probably stood alone III
his ideas. He was in favor Of allowing the
company to extend its tracks to King street
and voted for the permission granted in
1866 to come to Cameron street; but was the
company ready to pay reasonable compensa
tion to property owners for damages which
might accrue in the event of the track be-
ing laid? And would it not be the part OF
wisdom to incorporate such provision ID
the proposed amendment? If the railroad
authorities were honest in their purposes,
and he had no doubts whatever of their
probity. they would not object TO such a
proviso The speaker could not vote for
the amendment minus this necessary safe
guard. There would, he doubted not, be
Ms little damage to property on that portion
of Lee street as any thoroughfare III the
city, but no matter how unpretenlious hu
man abodes are it was the duty OF touncil,
as the representatives Of the people, TO pro-
tect them from damage. Mr.. 5 finally
moved that the matter be postponed until
the next regular meeting of Council III or
der that he might have time TO prepare a
substitute for the amendment.
Mr.. Reid said it was practical axicm-
The greatest good to the greatest num-
her," Whatever action should be taken
would be for the good of the city. He did
not take any ct post .facto view of the mat.
ter, and therefore dismissed all thought of
permission being granted the company
TO extend it's track from Princess to
Cameron street 1t already had the
right of way to the last named street. The
question at issue was, Shall this company
be allowed to cross Cameron street and oc-
cupy half square of ground their own
property extending from that thoroughfare
to Fayette alleyp He could not see what