Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-12-15

IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
quorum was present few minutes ate,
;.e hour for assembling.
The President e. Z. DoWnhaml offered 9
resolution providing that the Mayor be re
gue5led to confer with the officers OF the
Bel Telephone Company, and to ascertain
why non subscribers cannot procure commu-
nicat on aiih Washington over the wires.
The superintendent of the company had
called 10 seo the speaker in regard TO the
rultcr, uciuGi.d probably by the remarks
mai. ii. the last regular meeting Of the
b,a!d and during the interview which fol-
.,atd That officer had suggested that q sim
iar resolution OF inquiry would attain the
desired end without having recourse 10 an
ordnance repeating the company's char.
Ter, as had been threatened by the speaker.
Iappesrt d that the Bell Telephone Company
had made stipulations with the Western
lnon Telegraph Company that the former
would not enter into competition with the
latter in the business between this city and
Washington.
Mr. Burke-"Has the Western Union
Company such an influence over the te!e
rA-uc Company
Mr. U0wnham-''So il apDeersD
Mr. Smith doubted the validity oflhc agree
tluc footing Is common carriers or inkeep,
er-, AID had no right to refuse the use of the
telephone between here and Washington
when the messages were properly worded
The resolution was adopted after which
Mr.. Smith introduced au ordinance. which
he asked the board to refer to the Commit.
lee Oh Streets, repeating the privilege hera.
tOtofe granted the Orange and Ai0xnHdri,
railroad Company and its SUCCESSORS to use
steam engines on Union ard Wilkes streets
and making penalty OF $500 for every n-
fraction Of the law He said there WA
nothing in the aci 10 prevent The COMPANY
from moving cars by means of horses, cahIes
or stationary engines. The grade up Wilkes
street WAS steep, and 81 additional ,tiGii on
The part OF locomotives was required to .u!l
trains up that III )roaGhfa-o, hence there
Vas vibration al the air, which dum&Gsd
property to no iHcoDSidcrable extent The
speaker wanted ii understood that he Was in
no-wi=e inimica! 30 the railroad company.
nor did he propose j-opardizing the c0nvc-
nence OF merchants who condnc Ell brsi
ness on Unlcn street., but he was o3uosvl 10
peoples property being damaged unneces
sarily by the incessant pulling aud blowing
OF engines endeavoring to pull heavy trains
through the street The house he lived in
on Wolfe street WAS doubtless as stable as
any building in the city, but it had been in.
Jnred by the cars and would eventually be
destroyed. The railroad company had
abused It's privileges anyhow. The right to
place turnout on Wilkes street in lgunt Of
the Messrs. Smoot's tannery had been grant
ed the company for the purpose OF placing
cars loaded with bark in front Of the tan.
merry. Advantage had been taken Of this
privilege, and now the side track9 extend
two squares to Pitt street. and it was on
these tracks where trains were now made
up, aud whore cars were left standing for
weeks at g time one car being allowed to
remain there two months. The CITY Coun-
Gil had the power to repeal the privilege
previously granted allowing the company
to run steam engines through the streets
the Supreme Court Of the United States con.
cedng such right in the case Of tho CITY
Council OF Richmond when that city under
took to stop the Richmond, Frederick buru
and Potomac road from using steam en- giDes
on the streets Of the latter city. Mr.. Smith
did not want to drive tho Midland road
from Wilkes or Union streets, but simply
desired to preserve peoples property from
damage.
Mr.. Marhury said the bill passed by the
Aldermen at its last meeting allowing the
Midland road to place an additional track
On Union street would obviate the difficulty
TO some extent. He would suggest an
amendment--that the provisions of Mr.
smiths ordinance be made to apply to the
Alexandria and Washington Railroad Com
paDy.
Dir. Smith said the ordinance was not in
the amendment stage. When it came prop
ely before the board amendments would
be in order.
Mr. Leadbeater moved that the ordinance
he referred to the Committee on General
Laws, and, Mr. Smith asserting, it WAS so
referred
The ordinance allowing the Virginia
Midland road to lay an additional track on
Union street was received from the Com
mon Council with an amendment providing
that said company be required 10 lay plank
ing between their tracks and keep the street
from said tracks to the curbs paved and
not to keep cars standing on said additional
track. The ordinance, as amended, was
passed.
Several papers acted on by the Common
Council were then received and concurred
in, when decided disposition on the part
of the Aldermen to adjourn was manifested
but it being understood that the lower
board was still up to its neck in legislation
recess was declared, and after short time
several matters acted on by the latter were
received Among these papers was one ap-
proprating $500 for completing the Princess
street sewer, and q long discussion followed
some not understanding the reason for the
additional outlay-the work having been put
out by contract, the parties taking the same
guaranteeing to lay the sewer for sixteen
hundred and some dollars
1t was finaly determined to send for Mr..
Corbett, from the other board and request
him to explain the matter. Mr.. G.. upon
entering the chamber, stated that the par
ties who covenanted to DO the work struck
3 bed Of quicksand, which was contin-
sency they had not connted on, and could
not finish the work for the sun agreed
upon hence the additional amount now
asked
The resolution was adopted, after which
the board adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
At the meeting Of the Common Council,
ass night. quorum gathered soon after
the honr Of assembling Isaac Eichberg, ESQ.,,
;2.I