Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-10
ALEXANDRIA.
Reported for THE EVENING STAR

Reported for THE EVENING STAR.
The q. s. CoURr AND ITS CAsEs.-Only one
court was in session here to-day. the county
court having completed the business of its
term The United States court Judge Hughes.
was engaged this morning with the trial Of
county, Va. for violation of the pos
tai laws. The only case on the cal
endar of special interest in Alexandria
is that Of the city council against the
Alexandra canal company, in which the fund
raised by the sale Of the Alexandria canal
in settlement of some $4,000 due for moneys
advanced. No more is claimed, because this
900 is now all the property Of the canal
company, whose cash capital paid in and ex-
pended on the works over a million of
dollars. The claim of the city is disputed by
the receiver, Mr.. DUNCAN and his counsel, Gen.
III. H. Wells. on the grounds that have been
heretofore stated in The STAR. 1t is not
thought that decision of the case will be
made at this term.
The BURNING GAS QUEsTroN.-The affairs of
the city gas-works appear to be at a crisis.
The works had been SO thoroughly run down
by the policy of taking all the surplus money
earned by the works to be used for the city ex-
penses that the light became deficient, both in
quantity and quality, for want of renovations
at the works. II was some months ago deter
mined to improve the works by the purchase
of additional machinery and the erection of
two gas tanks. Coincident with this determi-
nation came a proposal from Messrs. Nevins
and others. of Philadelphia, to place an oil gas
plant at the city works for a sixty days
experimental trial. A contract for this
purpose was made, and for many weeks
experiments with oil gas, in whole or
IN part, have been carried on, much TO
the disgust Of some of the gas consumers,
who have given up gas and resorted to lamps,
while others have notified council that the oil
gas smokes and smells, and if its use is con-
tinued they will cease to use it. On this appli-
cation the committee on light reported that the
gas now used is two-thIrds of coal and one-third
oil gas, and that it is up to the standard. This
report has been tabled by the aldermen. and
SO the matter stands. 1t is said that the present
works are SO worn out that on ceasing to use
Oil gas they could not supply the demand for
good coal gas. Mr.. Nevins. the manager of the
oil gas plant, will confer with the committee on
light to-day or tomorrow, and some settlement
of the matter is looked for, and if reached il
will be submitted to called meeting of the
city council at an early day.
The CELEBRATION OF WAsHINGToNs BIRTH
meeting OF citizens was convened on the call
of the mayor a. the chamber of the common
council last night. Representatives from many
associations were present. Mayor Downham
presided, and Councilman Robert Gronan was
secretary. 1t was thought best to make no
preparation at this meeting, and all citizens
interested in the project for the celebration
were invited to attend an adjourned meeting
to be held next Saturday night at the same
place. There is no doubt that the 22d of Feb
ruary will be celebrated here, but the extent
and character Of the celebration is yet to be
determined.
Notes.-The week of prayer services took
place at the Baptist church last night, and af-
terward the relations of the Christian associa-
ton to the community were presented.-The
funeral of MIR. John Kelly, a citizen of the
fourth ward. was attended by friends and rela-
tives this morning from the residence of Mr..
Daniel O'Sullivan, on Gibbon, between Wash
ington and Columbus streets.-Priscilla
Cook has bought. for $500, a house and lot on
Alfred street. between Princess and Queen op-
posite the Hallowell school building. Tile
cases against Chas. Mills, Jack Robinson and
II. c. Maddox in the U. S. court here, for viola
lions of the revenue laws, have been
settled at the internal revenue bureau in
Washington and the accused discharged
At the last meeting Of the Alexandria Medical
society DR.. ii. W. O'Brien read an able paper
on ''Some of the Plaques of the Middle Ages. -
At the next meeting paper will be read by
DR.. r. c. PowelL-The fire companies have
reelected their officers and filled some
vacancies in them occurring from designations.
&c, and have recommended the present engi-
neers and drivers for reelection by the fire
wardens. Geo. w. Pettey has been chosen
foreman and J. c. Gill assistant foreman of the
H.r1-- H.