Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-24

-. Naom had been referred the report of
I,c,3 Roxbury, superintendent of Gas, as
=, the method Of reducing the cost of the
production OF gas, reported that the commit
'.r had given the subject considerable at
'rp,ou, and had determined 10 recommend
,,rpduplicn Of the suggestions OF Mr.. Rex
.gr,: riI, that the sum of 50 $50 be appro-
g:.s;ed for the purpose of procuring an
.yhau-ier, governor and station metre.
~ .ucG procedure the speaker was salts.
tri hat Il considerable amount could be
ay,l 10 the city each yoa-.
Tie report "as adopted.
The same committee aso reported in
favor of erecting lamp posts at the inter
sections Of Fairfax and Gibbon, Fairfax and
Franklin and Commerce ard PAYNE streets,
which was adopted.
The same committee reported adversely
Oh the ordnance to reduce tee cost OF gas
mon prompt payment o; bills. Mr.. Strauss
made some explanations WAY il would I've
lmrracl.cabc 10 pass such Il bid now The
,,,, would he under s@u1e exicnss for 4
wiclH renewing mains III different Dart
o.thc Oily, some OF which were thirlv four
l.gi> o!h having been laid in 1852, when
~ va, hast introduced here hesiGc-, tho
rty wv g:owinr, and wherever uew houses
were erected Ga= was generally wanted, aud
tie p:rsrn! nains In mauy case. were not
.:..,.emty large to carry the proper volume
vt "a 10 al quarters hence new condui!s
we're often necessary. The Gas Works was
pay!nS concern, and II would douatless be
necessary 10 devote the profits Of ABOUT two
wears TO the feleyiug of rnains.
The report Waa adopted, after which y
considerable amount Of routine business " a.,
Transacted and number Of papers which
had been acted on By the Common Council
we're concur:cd il 10y the Aldermen.
Tie only matter which elected ,uuch de.
bate was The ordinance granting the Vir
gjuia Midland Railway Company permits.
son to lay two turnout5 Ga Union street.
one on the east side of that street south
from Fayette alley to Wolfe street., and
north from King to Queen street.
Mr.. Marbuly presented the petition ofihe
railroad company, together with list CT
signatures of a number Of property owners
on Mon street and of the neirhborhood
giving their consent to the laying of The
tracks, and spoke in favor of passing the or
diuence. The bill provides for planking the
tracks IN such manner as not TO impede
business on the street. The object OF laying
the additional tracks is to obvinte the ne.
costly OF moving an entire traiG in order
10 get at one Car. The speaker statet: that
nearly all those owning property or doing
business on Union street had given their
consent to laying the additional tracks.
Mr5. Lyles, however, who lived 81 the north
east corner OF Union and Duke streets, had
interposeG objection, having no actual dam
ages 10 urge, but, as he understood, some in
prospective, which, OF course, the courts
would have to settle should the bill pass.
Ea lasirlE that % Ia, "a
now while the weather was favorable for
the work, otherwise it might necessarily be
delayed till next year.
Mr.. Burke favored acting on The bill
forthwith.
At this ,juuc;ure the Aldermen received
all Invitation from the Common Council to
meet that board in joiut session 10 hear a
statement from Mayor Smoot in regard 10
certain matter. The invitation was accept
ed and upGn the Aldermen's return the de-
bate Was resumed.
Mr.. Smith offered an amendment to the
bill providing that Council retain the right
to repeal or alter the ordinance should they
deem it expedient.
Mr.. Moore said he desired 10 have two
amendments added to the bi!l--one provid-
ing that, as the w, 0. & W. r. R. was now
. part Of the Virginia Midland road, no
charge DO made for running CARS from the
first named road, cons!gne to merchants on
Union street the other making ii obligatory
on the Midland road to settle with Union
street property owners for damages which
might result from laying the tracks.
Mr.. Smith said he was not the patron of
the bill, but was compelled to opposec the
asst amendment especially, for the reason
that the State law covered the ground de-
signed by the proviso. 1t provided that
when railroad company obtained permits
sion TO lay tracks that the damages which
property owners might sustain should be es
building the read commenced therefore
10 burden tho bill with such an amendment
would be work Of supererrogalion. The
State law protected property owners.
Mr.. Moore replied that all that was true,
hut in times gene by much trouble had been
given the city by parties in front Of whose
houses railroads had been given permission
10 pass and cited the case of certain resi-
dents oil st. Asaph street who had threaten
ed to SUE the city for damages Tor allowing
the Alexandria and Washington Railroad
Company TO extend their tracks to King
street He wanted to avoid any future
trouble from parties imagining themE elves
aggrieved
Mr. Marbury thought The amendment I'M
necessary, when the State law was so plain
on the subject.
Mr.. Strauss Was no champion ofrailroads,
but il the additional tracks would prove u
source OF convenience to our merchants he
vas IN favor of having them. Mr. Marbury,
patron Of the bill, had stated that The rail
road company was wiiiug to defray ell
sexual damages which might e ut.
Mr.. Moore Insisted on the amendment,
white
Mr.. Smith reitarated thu u5oles3nes5 of 1t
and said the residents Of st. Aaaph street,
"no Ia years gene by had threatened to sue
Tue city t1r damages, would surely have
Oeea mule ed FIR costs had they attempted
any such thing. a" he municipality grant
ilg the privilege f.: laying tie tracks on
mat thoronghfnre We're in no wise respon*i-
Ole tIr damages real or ina .!uafy which
were said to have r. Sui.Gd.
Mr.. Bryant favored the amead,re"i pro
yldlng that cars f,om Iha ". 0. & ". r.
Il, be nm on Union at eet free Of cost to the
a 10 = ~, : I.tff. Il