Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-14
CITY COUNCIL.

held last night. No business Of special i'm
portance was transacted, and, as 8 natural
consequence, spectators Of the deliberations
were scarce.
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Six members we're present, and after the
reading of the minutes OF the last regular
meeting, g.
| Mr.. Smoot, from the Finance Committee,
reported OH several matters regarding al
| legged e1ofbitant assessments, which reporte
were adopted.
The same committee also reported in fav-
or of appropriating $500 for the use Of the
Hydrauion Steam Fire Engine Company in
the proposed improvement TO their house,
and explained the nature of the petition.
The report, after some explanations from
several members, WAS adopted.
A communication from the Fire Wardens.
praying that they be empowered TO accept
the terms offered by the Alexandria Water
Company for the placing of Is at The inter
section of various streets, was received from
the Common Council. The water company
agrees to place the rs in the new pipes
they are about 10 lay on several streets at
the actual cost of the same, so that in the
event of the city desiring at any time to
ue done at much less cost than if the pipes
mad to Do dug Up and cut
Mr. OBrien, the Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department., who was present, explain.
ed the matter clearly 10 the board He
stated that the cost of erecting u fire plug
was generally about S50-tbe latter Itself
costing $50, aud the remaining SIS gene
rally Delug expended 10 makiog the counec-
toD, cutting out tho T ia the pipe and erect
ing the plug. Ii Council should accept the
water company's proposition at This time,
The cost Of placing plugs at tho various poinls
where the mains were to be laid would be
> lessened one half.
Mr. Smoot reviewed what Mr.. O'Brien
had said, and thought the proposal of The
water company an advantageous one TO the
city, and after some further explanations,
The action of the Common Council in grant
ing the wardens' petition was concurred 10.
Several other matters which had come III
from the Common Council were also con-
Cured in, after which the board adjourned.
= COMMON COUNCIL.
a Quorum Of the Council took seats at
the regular meeting last night. Very con.
siderable business was transacted, with
, little talk.
When the favorable report on laying 3
gutter ia front of The new houses OF MIR.
Stoutenburg and Miss Mehafey, on South
q Washington street, came up,
Mr. Lambert, from the Street Com mittee,
, said there is a very good pavement, except
, that some of the bricks have been broken
p by carts driving over them. 1t was intend
ed that these broken bricks be replaced by
= sound ones as condition Of putting down
the gutter.
The report was concurred in.
When the petition for cobble stone car
= riaee way on Queen, between Royal and
. Pitt streets, came up,
Mr. Eichberg asked who would pay for
it.
Mr. Lambert said that the city would
! have to pay about 5000; the whole work
will cost 5000. All except Que OF the prop
city holders on that square had petitioned
i. two,thirds of the cost be paid by the prop
: erty holders.
j, Mr.. Eichberg said that be was opposed TO
2 the city laying out any more money with
the expectation that it would be reimbursed
3 by the property holders. Hundreds of dol.
lars had been lost by that process.
The subject was referred.
, On the application of Mrs. Ashby for
leave to put up frame buildings On the South
side of Queen between Pitt and Royal
streets, the Committee on Streets reported
! that they fund the houses almost finished.
, Mr.. Lambert understood none Of the
eighboring owners objected to the erection
of the houses, aud he moved TO lay the sub
ect on the table.
Mr.. Eichberg thought that some other
action ought TO be taken; otherwise this
oase might be drawn into precedent. He
favored some action.
Mr.. Lambert said the Committee on
} Streets had done oil of its duty. They re-
ported that the houses have been erected
without permit; and if the subject is laid
on the table, as the houses are there with
out authority, there is no precedent; and
Council can act on the matter whenever it
shall see fit.
Mr.. Lawson said that in justice to the
petition he must say they knew that none
Of the neighbors objected, and the City
Council had always granted like petitions in
like circumstances.
Mr.. Eichberg did not wish TO leave these
houses without right to stand there, SUBJ
ject to the chances of adverse action by the
City Council at any time. He hoped the
erection would be authorized.
Mr.. Snowden said it had been known at
the last meeting that the application would
be granted unless Mr. lawson objected
| ihcl o nau peeu ~ quorum IOT 1--WE weeks,
and it was ascertaned that Mr.. Lawson was
satisfied and 80 Mrs. Ashby, who had ma
terial bought and workmen engaged, went
on with the work. There could be no trou
BILE about precedent for any of the neigh
bors in this case could have stopped the
work by word. 1t was done with the full
consent of everybody, but lacked the formal
order of Council because Council had no
quorum.
On motion of Mr.. Peake, leave to erect
the houses within fire limits was granted
A communication was read from the
Chief Engineer and Fire Wardens asking
that some arrangement be made with The
water company TO secure supply of by.
drants and Ts to be placed at every inter-
section of streets on the line of the new
main of the Alexandria Water Co., on Prin-
| cess street.
Mr. Eichberp ask ed an exclamation