Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-13

The report was adopted.
The committee on streets reported
in favor of appropriating $500 for the
/ purchase of new curbing and the report
was adopted. The committee also re-
ported on the resolution for laying
crossings at the corner of Washington
and Cameron streets and from Christ
Church across Cameron street. The
report was in favor of the first but
against the other crossing. Council
amended and passed the report 30 as to
provide for both crossings, but the Al
dermen non-concurred and the matter
was laid over.
The favorable report of the commit
tee on streets on the petition of the
Washington Southern Railway Com
pany for permission to lay double
rack, under certain conditions, on Fay
cite street, was read. The committee
recommended that the railway be
granted the privilege asked for, pro.
vided it would pave, gutter and curb
the street. from Oronoco to Duke
street, put gates at all crossings AMI
lay proper savers along the streets. A
petition from numbers ofproperty own
ers on said street, protesting against
such procedure, presented by Mr..
StIider, was also read.
Mr.. Cation said that if he owned
property on Fayette street he would ia
vor granting the petition to double
track that street under the plan pro-
posed by the committee, but he thought
majority of the property owners
should have the right to determine the
question. He thought the plan would
greatly improve that street but wanted
all safeguards thrown around the pro-
posed ordinance. He offered as amend
ments that before Council granted the
right to double track that street that
the railroad company first secure the
consent of one half the property own
ers, also that all rights granted the COM
pany should end at the expiration of q
year, if in that time the company
did. not build suitable depots in this
city to cost at least $50, 1000.
Mr.. Greene opposed granting the
privilege. He said at last the tyrant
had become the Petitioner and that fol-
twenty years past the railroad had set
at defiance the laws of the city and
cared nothing for the citizens but looked
solely for its own interests. He spoke
of the depot as dry goods box with
water closet ut one end and we'll at
the other, and said it is disgrace to
the city. He wanted the property
| owners interests protected.
Mr.. McCuen favored granting the pc
tition and said property owners had re-
course to the courts in case of dam
agrs.
| Mr.. Burke said the committee had
discussed the matter with the property
owners. most of whom were opposed 10
it Chi. fly for the re ,son that the side
walks would be narrowed and that it
was proposed to fence the track. The
committee was of the opinion that the
city had to offer facilities to the rail-
roads and to its merchants and that
two tracks on a street were but lit
tie more Objectionable. than one
track. He said that one reason
the railroad company had not been in
position to bnild suitable depot
sas that no grade had ever been
given them; if the city gave certain
grade the company would in all proba-
ri i'y erect depot.
MIR. Cation said that if proper meas.
urcs had been taken at the time the
company would have built depot
ah1n the city gave its right to the use
of Henry street; he did not thing that
the railroad company would now con-
slider it burden to be required to
build depot. He opposed Mr.. Nc
uen' suggestion, that recourse be had
70 the courts by property owners, as he
di not wish these citizens put TO the
cost of bringing suits.
Mr.. Gree1e offered an amendment
requiring that commissioners be APP
pointed by the court to ascertain the
damages to property owners. This was
voted down, as was also one requiring
the consent of three-fourths of the
property owners.
Mr.. Ssrider said the feeling of the
property owners along Fayette street
was almost unanimous against the rail
road double tracking that street. He
was not in favor of allowing the COM
pauy to make almost exclusive use OF
that thoroughfare.
Mr.. Cation offered an amendment to
the report that should the application
be granted an ordinance be prepared
by the Corporation Attorney embrac.
ing the privileges asked for and that
the railroad company pay for drawing
up the same.
Mr.. Greene again spoke in opposi-
ton to the movement. He said the
condition of the city adjacent to the
Washington Southern tracks was mis-
cradle, and that for the past twenty
years the company had violated all or
dinances of the city.
MIR. MeCuen said, as member of the
committee on streets, he believed the
double track would be benefit to the
city and the property owners on that
street.
Mr.. Thompson said the past history
of the city had taught the community
that corporations did not carry out the
provisions of the ordinances after they
had once obtained what they wanted,
and cited the Wilkes street tunnel as
an instance in point-that had really
never been finished, though the pro-
visions of an ordinance requiring the
railroad company to do 50 had been
passed forty years ago. AS to a
$4,000 depot, he did not be-
lieve the railroad company would
build one here until they got ready,
provided they we're allowed another
track.
Mr. Groa,,a ea;1 the railroad com