Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-03-28
CITY COUNCIL.

:
The ordinance creating the cilice of eli Y
engineer was not called up, as had be. L
anticipated, and nothing presented t,l
consideration created any protractca
wrangle.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Seven Aldermen were present and
two or three spectators OF the proceed
ings appeared without the bar.
Mr.. Leadbeater, from the joint com
mittee on public property and finance
presented a report on the petition oil
Messrs. Rouse q Pohl, who desire to
lease and eventually purchase the three
lots OF ground owned by the city at and
near the outlet lock OF the old AleXan-
dria canal. These parties desire to
manufacture bricks at this point, and to
utilize the clay found in the hills on
the premises, thus grading that portion
of the city and, it is claimed, rendering
it more slightly than at present. The
committees recommended that the prop
erty be rented to these parties at the
sum OF 800 a year, giving them the
privilege Of buying the same at the ex-
piration of three years for the sum of
$1,000.
Mr.. Carlin moved that the report be
received and laid over temporarily.
Nh. Sweeney seconded this motion,
but
Mr.. Leadbeater demurred. The par
ties who desired the use of the property,
he said, wanted speedy action on this
proposition, as they were anxious TO
begin the manufacture of bricks us soon
as possible They would give employ
ment 10 4 number of our people who
were now undergoing the unsatisfactory
existence OF enforced idleness.
President NIarbury could not see the
great good which would result from the
proposed disposition of this property
These parties might use all the availa-
bile clay in the locality in three years
and ut the expiration of that period
would have no further use for the prop
erty. Such procedure, he thought,
of the land.
Mr.. Burke replied to this objection
by saying the firm Intended bringing
clay to this point both by river and
railroad, the property being on the liue
Of both.
Mr.. Sweeney said ne had no serious
objection to urge to the enterprise nor
10 the report Of the committees, BIZ;
thought proper time should he taken 10
consider the matter The representa-
tiycs Of the people should be careful
how they disposed OF the property Of
the city which was committed to thoi!
care lie though! the subject should
receive careful consideration before
definite action was taken. lie was GER
tainly opposed 10 giving Messrs, Rouse
& Pohl an option OF the property.
NJ. Burke said the matter had been
introduced III Council at previous
meeting and had been properly referred
TO the Joint committees, bad received
careful attention and the report pre-
scented was the result. These gentle
men would put from - to 20 men to
work the first year and about donble
that number the second. They had
their machinery at hand and were de-
sirous Of beginning operations ut once
Their proposition WAS Of a business Ma
ture-ii tie enterprise proved success
iul they would purchase the property
if not they would relinquish it.
Mr.. iIinken also advocated speedy
action in the matter He was person
ally acquainted with Mr.. Pohl and
knew him 10 be a responsible man.
Should Council unnecessarily delay &C
ton these parties might 60 somewhere
else. He saw no reason why immedi
ate action could not be taken He be-
lieved the locality would he enhanced
in value by the proposed brick works.
Mr.. Garlic thought it urwise in
Council to undertake to fix valuation
on the property three years in the fu
ture Other people might desre il at
the end of that time and its value
inight become much enhanced. There
was water frontage OF 300 feet. He
favored leasing the property, but was
opposed TO giving an option on it.
Mr.. Leadbcate! said the committees
had calmly studied the matter and
the report submitted was the re-
suit OF their deliberations. He re-
ferred to the time when the
locality presented a busy appear
apce-when it was the outlet OF the
canal, and when hundreds OF persons
were employed thereabouts, described
its decay up to the present
when it had become SO barren Of
business or life that it was unfit to grow
black on. lie favored letting
the brickmakers have it, and thought
there would in some measure be a
resuscitation Of the same by-gone days
whereabouts.
Mr.. Carlin again antagonzel the
views of the committee He
said clay land was on an advance,
that in some instances 81 800 an acre
was being paid for it, and argued
against selling property which he
thought might be worth more than So.
coo in the future.
President Marbury said it was patent
to all that should it be demonstrated n
the end of three years that the property
was not worth that sum these parties
would not purchase it.
Mr.. Burke, referring to the sum iiNc,!
by the committees, said Mcssrs. Rouse
& Pohl had suggested that the purchase
sum be fixed By arbitration at the ter
mination Of the three years, but it had
Mr.. Sweeney again spoke against
been deemed best for the city to be the
arbitrator and TX the sum now.
haste in the matter and concrrred in
Mr.. Carlin's views That in three years
tinc tho nronertv mimht be worth more