Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-11-28

The committee on streets submitted
estimates for the improvement Of AL
fred and Patrick streets south of Duke
street, the cost being as follows: Al
fred street, So, $50 Patrick street, 81
405. The cost of matchmaking and
cobble stone paving is about the same.
Mr.. Cation moved that the committee
on streets prepare an ordinance for the
improvement in the street-way of Pat
trick street from Wilkes to the corpo-
ration line. He said that Patrick was
street more travelled than Alfred.
Mr.. McCuen wished Mr.. Cation to tell
where he got his information that there
was more travel on Patrick than on AL
fred street.
Mr.. Cation had his information from
the Fairfax farmers.
Mr.. McCuen Patrick street goes to
Hunting creek outside of the city line.
Mr.. Caton-But the Fairfax road SUI
pervisors will construct the roadway
from the corporation line to Hunting
creek.
The subject was referred to the street
committee.
The street committee reported that
the cost of repaving The block on Cam
eron street from Fairfax to Lee to be
from 1925 to $3.50.
Dir. Fisher moved that the committee
report an ordinance for the purpose.
Mr.. Burke thought the question of
how far the city would have to pay the
entire cost of this work should be con-
sidered.
Mr.. Cation said that cases were to be
made up and taken to the courts to as
certain whether or not property owners
could be made to pay for street i'm
provements One case could be made
under the old charter and this could be
made under the amended charter
The street committee was directed to
prepare the ordinance for paving.
An ordinance for paving Fayette
street from King to Cameron street was
reported by the committee on streets.
Mr.. Cation urged the work as neces-
sary.
The chair saw nothing in the ordi-
nance relative to any share of the work
to be paid for by the railway company.
Mr.. Fisher said that the Pennsyl.
vania Railroad Company could not be
compelled to pave the street, but he
felt certain that if the company was
approached in proper way without
threats it would do portion of the
work.
Mr.. Cation was certain that Superin-
tendent Brooks, of the Pennsylvania
road, would do q fair part of the work.
The chair thought that this matter
should be kept in mind and an under
standing with the railroad company
reached before the work was begun.
Mr.. Kraft suggested that the matter
be recommitted to the committee on
streets with the request that that COM
mittee communicate with the officers
of the railroad company and ascertain
what proportion of the cost of paving
that street will be paid by the railroad
company.
Mr.. Fisher antagonized Mr.. Krafft's
view. 1t was a shame to allow this
square to remain in its present condi-
ton until the railroad company acted.
Mr.. Cation mentioned that he had
been compelled to decrease the rent of
house on that square 20 per cent. be
cause of the condition of that street,
After further discussion Mr.. Kraffts
motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Cation introduced an ordinance
to prohibit any prize fights, sparripg
matches, bouts or glove contests within
the city limits. The ordinance i'm
poses heavy fine for those conducting
such contests, those renting halls for
such purposes and fixes the fine at $50
for each person attending such exhibit
tons.
When the reading of the ordinance
was finished,
Mr.. Fisher asked who was the patron
of that ordinance.
Mr.. Caton-I AM, sir.
Mr.. Fisher moved to lay the matter
on the table till the next meeting. He
expressed his surprise that Mr.. Cation
should be so familiar with the terms
and methods of the prize ring. For
himself he had never seen prize fight,
but he might at some future time wish
to see one.
The chair suggested that, as mem
Der of Council proposed to see prize
fight, the penalty should be increased
on Councilmen.
Mr.. McCuen moved to lay the mat
ter on the table, but withdrew the mo-
ton temporarily at the request of Mr..
Cation.
Mr.. Cation said he was not posing as
moral reformer. He thought the
matter most important one, and he
felt that as the City Council was the
local legislature it should see that moth
ing should be done here in violation Of
public decency to give evil example to
the young people. He said that these
strangers came here and violated every
sense of decorum and propriety and
had been suffered to do so, but that pub
lie opinion had been aroused and "if
we do not act in this matter, then
when we come before the people Of
Alexandria they will adjust and settle
it for us.n These exhibitions allowed
here had given the city bad name.
He described the scene which he had
witnessed on the S o'clock train from
Washington where toughs seemed to
have control and discussed 1.-THE prize
fight" in language offensive to decency.
These prize fights bad been licensed.
Such exhibitions were made here in the
presence of the police force and under
their protection. Once, when he came
from Washington, he had seen q
car filled with men who used
improper language in the presence of
decent passengers. There stood IN the
oor conductor and two brakemen of