Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-24
BOARD OF DER

action IN. IneV VIII DC
found in the official proceedings.
An ordinance imposing a tax on
telegraph companies was received from
the Common Council.
Mr.. Leadbeater asked some questions
concerningit which were answered by
Messrs. Burke and Sweeney, and the
ordinance having been read three times
was passed by a unanimous vote.
A message was received by the Com
mon Council announcing that that
board was through with their business
and the Aldermen having cleared the
clerks desk, on motion of Mr.. Sweeney
adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
There were twelve members Of coun-
Gil present at the opening of the meet
ing last night, and two more subse-
quently came in.
A communication from the Mayor an
nouncing the resignation of w. II. Price
as policeman and Frank Walker as
readyman was received.
When the bill imposing a tax of 500
per annum on telegraph companies do
ing a Virginia business in this city was
reported,
Mr.. Uhler explained that the West
ern Union Co. paid its tax, but the
Postal Telegraph managers declined to
do so, and this bill was framed so that
the Postal Company could be compelled
to pay.
The chair said it was q bill to enforce
the revenue law.
The bill was passed into an ordinance
yeas II, nays non
The street committee reported in
favor of making the crossings of cinders
four feet wide at the intersection OF
Franklin and Fairfax streets.
Mr.. Snowden inquired why tagging
had not been designated.
Mr.. Uhler moved that the crossings
be made of flag stones, which could be
obtained at the outlet lock of the canal.
Mr.. Burke thought the plan proposed
by Mr.. Uhler was an excellent one.
Mr.. Fisher urged that a solid Cross
ing of flag stone should be made with
out taking rough stone from the canal.
1t would cost no more and be better in
every way.
MI. Burke said that the cost of stone
for three solid crossings would be S75.
Mr.. Snowden thought that excellent
smooth stone could be gotten from the
canal levels, and moved that the cross
ings he made of proper stone to be
taken from the canal lock levels. The
motion was agreed to, as was also one
for making similar crossings in the
northwestern section of the city.
When the report Of the street COM
mittee for taking up the pump at the
southeast corner of Queen and st.
Asaph streets came up, Mr.. Fisher OPP,
posed the removal and moved that the
report be laid on the table. He said
that while the removal of the pump
added to the revenue of the water
company it bore hard on poor people,
and he had known instances of great
hardship resulting from the removal of
pumps.
Mr.. Burke said that it was bad pol
icy to keep up old pumps whose water
was contaminated by cess pools and
sometimes, even when quite clear, un-
wholesome.
Mr.. Strider saw no use in laying the
report on the table he knew that the
pump was of little or..no service and
suggested that the matter be recommit-
ted.
The order of removal was recommit-
ted.
After the call for reports of commit
tees the chair announced that under
the special order adopted at the last
meeting the City Engineers bill would
now be taken up and SO directed the
clerk.
MIR. Kraft said that as Capt. Mush-
bach was sick and Mr.. Cation was alb
sent he moved the consideration of the
bill be postponed.
The chair hoped that he would not
be accused at the next meetingo of hav-
ing made dilatory motions.
The bill was laid over.
Mr.. Kraft called up his bill for max
ing the City Engineer an inspector of
buildings, and the bill was read by its
title and referred with a request that
leading builders and mechanics be
summoned when the bill was consid-
cred.
After the reference had been made
Mr.. Kraft said he would like to
make some remarks explaining the bill.
He had, he said, been led to think OF
this matter by noticing the blowing off
of the roofs of houses of Mr.. White and
Mr.. McBurney and the burning of DR..
Fawcett's row. In these cases the de-
fective workmanship was plain. The
best mechanics of the city had favored
the bill, as the present freedom OF
building encouraged defective work and
bad workmen.
The Board then adjourned.