Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-01-11

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last night. aud upon being called to order, q
lr,r from the Superintendent OF
c". showing the condition of the Works.
was read The Superintendent in his mes
8 "s shows the steady increase in the de-
rnends upon the works by the erection OF
new houses during the past two decades,
and makes it apparent that in the near 1u-
TIRE larger pipes ana a stronger pressure
will be necessary to meet the wants OF con-
sumers. o..oh;o,
.bonld receive the immediate attention OF
Council.
cost ofthe proposed improvements ana new
mains had been made.
The chair stated that there mad not, nor
c,nld any one here tell what the work
would cost. 1t had been suggested that a
nartv in Philadelphia. an expert IN such
matters be employed to examine the pro-
no.ed work aud make an estimate Of its
cost
Mr. Bryant thought that a good idea.
Mr. Aonew said he had examined the
bollrr Mt the Gas Works and found it in
deplorable condition, it having been in use
Mr. Thirty -four years.
Mr Agnew spoke in favor of immediate
action
oftbe apparatus haG been worn out by long
usa He alluded to the fact that the quail
~ CT the gas was steadily deteriorating. a
pew casometer was certainly needed.
Mr.. Bryant again urged speedy action.
Mr. Wheat, President of the Water Compa.
NJ, had paid Il gentleman from Washington
$1,000 to come here and recommend what
.h.uid be done when that company was
about to lay new mains.
Dir. Lqmbdin did not want to go to too
goat expense He recognized the fact that
the WORK wa- urgently needed but thought
some limit should be placed on the amount
to he paid for information.
Mr. Mckenzie said the main need was
something III which TO hold the gas. The
Gauss assigned for the present poor gas was
he fact that the works had no Kauawha
coal 10 mix with he other grade. Kanawha
coal had, however, been ordered. He did
not ;h!nk the works in such very bad con-
dion. The question might be asked, Would
the proposed new work be prosecuted in
winter?
A conversational debate then followed as
to whether Council could increase the debt
of the city in the face of the fact that when
the agreement was made with the bond.
holders the corporation stipulated that its
Indebtedness should not be augmented.
resolution, prepared by Mr.. Agnew,
providing that the Committee on Light be
authorized to employ a suitable engineer to
ascertain the cost of needed repairs 10 the
Gas Works, was subsequently adopted.
letter from L. n. Cox, agent of the
Schuyler Electric Light Company, offering
to put an electric light plant in this city for
$4,000 aud making certain other prohers to
the city in case it should be deemed neces-
sary to use electricity here was read.
Mr.. Leadbeater thought the matter
should be referred to the next generation.
The debate followed as to what plan the
city would be compelled to adopt in order
to flrnish light in the future, same thinking
the streets should be lighted with electricity
aud the product OF the Gas Works used ex.
c'usvely by private consumers.
Mr.. Burke asked if the electric lig ht
should be adopted, would it not render IN.
necessary the proposed repairs to the works,
and was told it would not
The matter was finally referred to the
Committee on Light.
MIR. alarbury offered resolution, which
ne said he did at the instance of Col. l.. w.
Reid, providing that Mr.. r. Walton Moore,
Senator from this district in the General
Assembly, be requested to use his Influence
10 prevent the granting OF a charter TO the
Mt. Vernon Avenue Association until the
people Of Alexandria have been given q
reasonable opportunity Of examining into
Inc matter. Mr. Marbury stated that in
conversation with Col. Reid it had been
asserted that many in this city who pay but
little, if any, taxes would be ready 20 vote
for the corporation to subscribe $25 600 to
thu enterprise.
Mr.. Agnew said he hoped the work of the
association would not be logged by the City
Councii of Alexandria. 1t wes optional
with the city TO subscribe money toward
ouldlng the proposed avenue.
Mt Mckenzie read from the amended
CHARTER OF Alexandria, passed the Legisa-
lure In 1879, which prevents the city from
increasing lis debt, which it would have to
uoin order to pay S25 900 to the Mount YER
non Aye'ue Association. 1t seemed ap-
parent to hm that the city would be com.
isl'ed to ask permission from the General
assembly to raise money to make the
nSeu.u improvements to the Gas Works,
s snlcn would cost thirty, forty or probably
my Thousand dollars.
MI. LAmbdin said, as he understood it,
s sae cay was LOW asking permission to SUBJ
S ,Ioe TO the enterprise hence the reaolu-
uC9 seemed gratuitous.
Mr.. Asnew explained the plans OF the as.
S sISin People from this city had been
pIacea on the committee which had been
appointed 10 ascertain the feasibility of the
sGSoeme, and they had urged for the good
vi oI Tue ely that the avenue pass through this
s n,ace' and chat the city be allowed to sub
t sS.iOe towards the work by taking hold of
WIS avenue 81 he north end and delivering it
~ lhe south end. The increased value
VI res estate by virtue of the avenue would
NV aIo'e Than recompense the city in the 'way
VI taxes for the amount it would spend.
NT Mckenzie favored tAe adoption of the
resolution. He doubted the wisdom of civ
,Is the association the power to come
Trough our streets and compel the city to
ii pe 50 much money. The notion of start
Ne sucn an avenue from Georgetown via the