Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-11
ALEXANDRIA.
THE DEcADENCE OF GROUND

THE DECADENCE OF GROUND RENTS
Alusion was made in a recent report to The
STAR to the decadence of ground rents here
The general assembly has made it impossible to
bring action or to levy for any ground rent
which had not been enforced during the year
ending March 1, 1891, so that all the ghosts
of old ground rents that haunted
titles on some blocks Of the city are laid and
perplex the title examiner no more, and under
the new policy of the city, which assesses ground
rents at twelve times their annual amount in
stead Of an indefinite snm, it was proposed this
year to make the assessment fifteen times the
rent
The rents of this kind are being acquired by
the owners of the buildings and double owner
ship is ceasing. The town was first sold in half
acre lots, four to a square, some sixty-six of
such lots having been auctioned off in the sum-
MGR Of 1749 The town limits we're then
lines running half a square outside of
Duke, Royal and Oronoko or Duchess street In
1863 an extension was made which carried the
town lines half square beyond Wolfe street on
the south and Pitt street on the west. These
lots were all disposed of by the trustees of the
town. who acted a sort Of city council. They
paid the owners of the land. the Alexanders and
Vests. the amount received for each lot. The
other extensions OF the town beyond st. Asaph
and Wilkes streets were made by John Alex
ander or his executors in 1770-17S0 and in these
extensions very large number of ground rents
were reserved. 1t is these ground rents that
are now being sold out.
THE MOSQUITOES ATTACK THE POLICE.
The police say that they have never known
the Alexandra mosquitoes so busy and active
as last night. The town is waking up on ali
sides and even the mosquitoes are buster than
formerly. 1t was said that 60 long as Alexan-
dria remained in the District of Columbia the
mosquitoes were little bothersome but that
a.
found that the Virginia mosquitoes were Of a
kind bigger and bitter" than the old ones.
II. is fact that half century
ago mosquitoes gave little trouble
in the higher parts Of the town away
from the river, because the water eluices were
dry except close to the pumps. butafter the water
works were established and the cutters never
left dry the mosquitoes generated in the upper
sections of the city to the same extent as in the
lower sections. At least this is the explanation
given By the Alexandria Academy Of Sciences.
NOTES.
Rev. DIR. C. ]. W. Leubkert Of Washington
oficiated at the German Lutheran Church here
yesterday.
Rev. J. NJ. Wells Of Virginia preached at the
Second Presbyterian Church in the evening,
Rev. J. Chester, s. j., of Georgetown off,
ciated at the Catholic Church.
The other pulpits Of the city we're filed by
the pastors.
The corporation court, Judge Norton, opened
its July term at the city court house this morn
ing and the grand and petit juries were called
preliminary to business.
The democratic city committee will meet to-
night and provide for meetings to appoint dele
gates to the congressional convention, which
will meet here on the 10th of August next
The work Of Contractor Breen ON streets in
the northern section Of the city will be com
pleted this week.
ton, at Its last meeting, made number Of
loans ct Is.