Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-27
BOARD OF

BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Five Aldermen were present-Presi.
dent Maroury and Messrs. Burke Hin
ken, Goodrich and Leadbeater. Nc
business originated in the board
and that which came in from the
Common Council was ~concurred in
with but one eXception-the resolution
directing that the floor of the retort
room in the gas works be laid with
stone from the canal basin The lower
board had referred the resolution to
the committee on light, but the Alder
men deemed it best to place it in the
hands of the joint committees on
streets and light.
When the communication of Mayor
Strauss announcing the resignation OF
DR.. Purvis, Health Officer (recommi.-
ted to his honor by the Common Coun-
ciD had been read,
Mr.. Leadbeater desired to know
what had prompted the lower board to
this action. DR.. Purvis had resigned
and his successor should BIO elected.
1t was an important Office and N that
should be filled. He could not see
what purpose would be accomplished
in recommitting the communication to
the Mayor.
Mr.. Klaus, member of the Common
Council, who had entered the cham
Der for the purpose of notifying the Al
dermen that the lower board was
ready to adjourn, explained that it
was necessary to elect a Health Officer
from the Physicians to the Poor: that
DR.. Miller, the only available one, had
declined the honor, and it was thought
by recommitting the communication
some suitable candidate might come
forward who could be recommended for
the position.
Mr.. Leadbeater, however, thought
ii Joint session should be held and the
position filled.
Mr.. Burke suggested that as the mat
ter stood there was nobody to elect.
Mr.. Leadbeater favored rendering
the position to DIR. Miller. If he
should decline the honor Council would
have performed their duty. Probably
some arrangement toward raising the
salary could be effected if that was
the objection to the position at present.
He urged that the position should be
filled.
Mr.. Goodrich favored concurring
with the lower board in the recommit,
tai, but agreed with Mr.. Leadbeater
that the city should have a Health Of
ficer.
Mr.. Burke also favored concurrence
as there was no use in electing q person
who would not qualify.
The Aldermen finally concurred IN
the action of the Common Council and
then adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The Council met a short time after
the regular hour.
Mr.. Kraft in reporting the ordinance
authorizing the Occoquan and Wood.
brige telephone company to construct
lines in Alexandria, said:
"Tne report of the joint committees
is a unanimous one and the represent
atives ofthe Occoquan and Woodbridge
telephone company are all residents
of Virginia and men well known in
commercial circles. They have already
secured similar privileges from the
City Councils of Fredericksburg and
Manassas, and should it be the pleasure
of Council to grant them the privilege
to erect an exchange here, it would be
an enormous advantage to the business
interest of our city, because it would
bring US in close touch with Occoquan,
Fredericksburg and Manassas by es'
tablishing telephone connections which
have heretofore not existed, at the same
time reducing the charges for such 6
service to less than one half of the pre-
sent rates. The introduction of this
measure has already resulted to the
benefit of our people by causing the
Bell Company to make a reduction O.
% per cent. on their present exorbitan'
rates"
Mr.. Strider suggested that it woulc
be well to consider this matter thorough
" before taking action. He saw need
of guarding all bills granting privileges
to corporations on the city streets
The charter might be transferred tt
other hands. He moved that the
ordinance be laid over for two weeks
and De printed.
MI. Kraft had told the managers o
the Occouuan and Woodbridge Com
pany that on any assignment the right
to use the streets would be withdrawn
Mr.. Uhler favored proceeding slowly
So manv matters had been hurried
through Council for which regret was
afterwards expressed, that he was an
xious to 90 slow. He saw that the
Electric Railway Company had no
kept their agreement as to paving ant
planking Royal street; nor had thu
| Driving Park people put up the fence
agreed upon beside the railroad at thu
aims house lot.
Mr.. Kraft said that this bill had no
been hurried. 1t had taken the regpla
| course: had been introduced, referred
and was reported by the committee
with unanimous approval. :,
MIR. Evans said while he saw no Oh
lection to postponing and printing tn
ordinance he was ready to vote for tn
measure tonight. This telephone Woui'
open a new country to Alexandra sun
scribers and in this way be a puoll
benefit.
The ordinance was laid over and or
dered to be printed.
A communication from the Mayo
announcing the resignation of DR.. w
r. Purvis was received.
Mr.. McCuen was in favor of a join
| Messing to.nIpshtto elect a health off
Ger.
The chair explained that neither ii