Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-03
BUSINESS MEMS LEAGUE.

Il
The Business Mems League at their
meeting last night discussed several
subjects looking to the advancement OF
Alexandria.
The first subject brought up was the
Improvement of streets and how that
work could be accomplished under the
recent decision of the Court of Appeals
and the amendment to the city charter
Just passed by the Legislature.
Alter some discussion it was decided
that the question be submitted to the
regular committee on street improve
ments, to be reported back to the
LEAGUE two weeks hence. :,
The names of Mr.. E. Goldsmith, Or.
Hugh Mcclure, and Mr.. }. 5. Bet ca
were added to the roll of membership.
Mr.. C. C. Carlin moved that COM
mittee of five be appointed for the pur
pose of considering the advisabillty OF
establishing mutual protective insur'
ance association for Alexandria, on the
order of the Fairfax Mutual Company.
he said premiums were now PAID on
100000 by the people OF this city;
The assessed value of the property OF
Alexandria was 81 ,00O,0 900. About $4O,-
600 was thus spent every year with for
eign companies, while the average loss
by fire yearly was about $4,000. Ii
would thus be seen how large saving
there would be in mutual association.
In short. we would obtain insurance at
about forty per cent. less than we now
pay. -
the present law the Legislature alone
could charter such companies. That
BODY was about to adjourn, and it would
be two years before anything could be
done in the matter.
Mr.. Carlin insisted that proper steps
could be taken in the meantime.
Mr.. Henry Strauss thought there was
plenty of time in which to attend to
this matter.
Mr.. A. w. Armstrong said he saw no
reason for the movement anyhow. He
supposed the league had been organic
ed for the purpose of furthering the
city's interests, not to start rival insur-
snce companies or to become competi-
tors with others engaged in business
here, and then crush them out.
Mr.. Carlin said the present insurance
companies had formed coalition in
order to conduct things in their way.
They had made rates which the COM
munity had to pay.
A vote was finally taken and Mr..
Carlin's motion was lost.
President Harlow suggested that the
chairmen of the various committees call
them together as soon as possible and
consider the matters which had been
referred to them.
Mr. Park Agnew, chairman of the
COMMITTEES on Potomac river improve
ments, said he had had consultation
with the chairman of the House COM
mittee on river improvements. Wash
ington was now endeavoring to have
her harbor improved, and should the
city be successful in having deep water
made there it would be necessary to
spend more money on other parts ofthe
river in order that large vessels COZ Id
be enabled to reach Washington. Now
was the time for Alexandria to be al
work while the subject Of Potomac
river improvements was being con-
s;dered at Washington.
Mr.. w. S. Tc@son said he had talk
ed with Nj. Lindsay Coleman, Presi-
sideDt of the New York Board OF
Trade, and the owner of the
Oxon Hill property, on the opposite
side of the river. That gentleman
told him 1t was his intention to build a
bicycle track mile long on that prop
erty, and that in doing so it would be
necessary to rebuild the road leading
to Fox's ferry. The indications, there
fore. for the re.establishment of the
Maryland ferry line were good.
Mr.. Harlow said he had heard that
certain officials of the Pennsylvania
Railroad had been here recently look
ing into the proposition for new de-
pot building.
Mr.. Robert Elliott said it was no
easy matter to get large factories to re-
move from other places to Alexandria,
but said he hoped every member of the
league would endeavor to get as many
small enterprises as possible to come
here. He cited the instance of the glass
works, it's small beginning and present
proportions.
Mr.. Strauss suggested that Alexan-
dria needed large and modern hotel.
It was something strangers naturally
looked for. 1t could be built by joint
stock company, and he would be q
member of such an organization.
Mr.. Gardner Boothe said he had talk
ed with Mr.. Wright, who had run sew
eral railroad hotels. He believed that
gentleman would come here if proper
inducements were offered.
Mr.. Harlow said the immediate i'm.
prevent of our streets was the greatest
desideratum, and he had hoped Coun.
Gil would have printed the report of
the City Engineer in pamphlet form.
Mr.. W. F. Carne agreed with Mr..
Harlow. He had read the report and
thought it was the most exhaustive and
practical that had ever been made on
the subjects treated. He moved that
Council be requested to print 1000
copies of it.
The motion YVES adopted.
Mr.. Robert Elliott suggested that a
movement should be made toward e5-
tablishing wholesale boot and shoe
house here, after which the meeting ad-
journed.
The league now numbers liz.