Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-26
OFFICIAL.
a Veto Message from the Mayor.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, Dec. IL, 1885.


ALEXANDRIA Va. Dec. IL, 1885.
Gentlemen Of the Board of Aldermen and Common
Council:
Section of the charter of Alexandria provides
that the acts Of the City Council shall be signed
By the President of each branch and shall be pre-
sented to tho Mayor for his appreciation, who if
he objects thereto shall within three days after it
shall be presented to him for his assent return it
to that branch of the City Council in which it
originated with his objections in writing.
On the tenth instant there was presented to me
for my signature act passed by each branch Of
the City Council, entitled IAN act extending the
provisions OF the act entitled an act granting the
consent of the City Council of Alexandria to the
occupation of certain streets hy railroad compa-
nies' passed February 18th, 1866, which here
with return without my signature.
In reviewing the legislation of the City Coun.
ell granting the of certain streets in the city
to railroad companies, find first an act in refer
ence to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad,
| passed November 10TH, 1s49. Section Of said
act provides that "They are hereby authorized to
introduce, construct and lay down single track
of railway with the necessary turnouts in any
portion of the city not comprehended within GER
! tain limits provided that if at any time during or
after the construction of said railway, it shall ap
pear that said railway or any part thereof shall
! constitute an obstruction to the ordinary use of
| any street or streets, of which the City Council
| shall be the sole judges, the President and d.
rtctors shall, the requi.ition of said City Coun
| Gil, either forthwith provide remedy for the same
satisfactory to said City Council, or if they fail to
| find such remedy shall, within one month after
receiving such requsition, proceed to remove such
obstruction and to replace tho streets in the
same condition as they before the railway
was laid down, &c.
Sec 2 of said act provides that they shall not
alter the grade o. any street without consultation
with, and the appreciation of, the City Surveyor.
Sec. 5 provides that the City Council reserves
| 10 ,t-n1f ,ha obi tp at n1pQsOla
the use of locomotive steam engines within the
city limits, and other provisions which are not
neces airy to mention in this paper.
On January 9th, 1856, tho City Council grant
ed to the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire
| Railroad Co. the use of certain streets in the city
Ito construct and use single track railway with
almost the same conditions and restrictions as
provided for in section 1 of act to Orange and AL.
eyandria Railroad Company.
| Stc 3 provides that the grades OF the streets
shall not be altered or changed without consulta.
| tion with, and appreciation Of the City Surveyor,
and consent of the City Council.
| Sec 5 regulates the speed at which the locomo-
| tive steam engines shall be run.
| Secs. 6, 7 and 8, also have retrictions which
seem to be wise and proper. On January Sth,
1856, the City Council passed IAN act to author
| ize the introduction OF the Alexandria and Wash
| ngton railroad within the Corporation limits of
the city single track railway" with certain con-
ditions and limits subject to the restrictions i'm
| posed, which said act provides, "the City Council
| reserving the right to amend or repeal altogether
| said act"
On February 18th, 1866 tho City Council pass.
ed IAN act granting the consent of the City Coun.
Gil to the occupation of certain streets by railroad
| companies"
| Sec. / says: "Bs it enacted by the City Council
| Of Alexandria that the consent of the City Coun-
| Gil be and is hereby given to the occupation Of
certain streets of the city by the railroad compa
mics with their respective works, that is to say by
| the Alexandria. Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad
| Company of Water street (now Lee street, from
| the present terminus of their road in sad street
to Cameron street, &C." There is nothing said of
| laying down single railway, on the
trary it grants the Of the streets to the rail-
road companies with their respective works. What
construction may be placed on the words "thoir
respective works" may be construed different.
| ~ by persons as interest may dictate. but in the
absence of the City Council emitting tho words
single railway I construe the words to mean that
tho railroad companies can lay down ono or moro
tracks and work Thorn for freight and passenger
traffic. If this is proper construction l am of
the opinion that Leo street is not OF sufficient
width to operate two tracks.
The bill placed in my hands for my signature
passed by the City Council entitled IAN act ex-
| tending the provisions of the act of February
| 18th, 1866" and confirming to the Washington,
| Ohio and Western Railroad Company tho priv-
leges granted to tho Alexandria, Ioudoun and
Hampshire Railroad Company, and giving the
| consent of the City Council to the occupation of
| Lee street between Cameron and King streets,
contains provisions as to the number of tracks,
switches or turncuts to be laid down, does it
contain any provision in reference to the change
Of the grade of the street, nor any provision for
altering amending or repeating the act. Leo
street is the same width as Union street, fifty
| fest. The sidewalk on each side is nine feet,
making eighteen feet, which reduces the drive
way to thirty-two feet which is entirely too linn
tied space to operate moro than single track
railroad. 1t may not be the intention Of the rail
road company to lay down more than single
track, but the act of February 18th, 1865, and
this act which I return do not say so.
| am in favor ofrailroads and in favor Of grant
ing permission TO the Washington, Ohio and West
ern Railroad Company to- lay down single track
railway for passenger travel from its present
terminus at Princess street along Leo street to
King street with the conditions and restrictions
imposed on other railroads, to which the use Of
| certain streets in the city has been granted.
| JSO r SMosT Mayor.