Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-06-09
BUSINESS MEMS LEAGUE.


had been read by Secretary Carue, the
President, Mr.. Harlow, said there was
no special business and asked if any
member had any measure to propose.
Mr.. Eichberg said the members knew
his hobby. He thought the citizens OF
Alexandria should do something to Sc
cure better depot from the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, and said that Mr.. joyce,
representative of that company, was
now present. He was willing to boy
colt the Pennsylvania road so far as
treights were concerned, and moved
that committee be appointed to visit
the citizens and see how many would
agree to this.
After pause Mr.. Strauss seconded
the motion.
MIR. John May asked if it would not
be better to wait and see what the cleo
trio railway would do. II the Pennsyl-
vania railroad trains were taken off
there would be no use for depot.
Mr.. Strauss suggested that MIR. joyce
be heard.
Mr.. A. d. Brockett said lie was op-
posed to boycotting and asked MIR.
Eichberg to withdraw his motion,
MIR. Joyce said he was authorized to
state that the Pennsylvania Railroad
did not intend to force travel by the
electric railway by calling off trains on
the railroad; any train now run by the
railroad company that was sufficiently
patronized would be kept on, but those
which were but little used would be
withdrawn; the company was now
handling trains between here and
Washington that did not pay at all.
Mr.. Strauss said Mr.. Eichberg want
ed merchants to ship by the B. & o.
road because the Pennsylvania would
not build a suitable depot. He wanted
to know of Mr.. Joyce if this company
would build decent depot.
Mr.. Joyce said that Superintendent
Barnard had told him that be wished
the people of Alexandria to know that
he had done all in his power to have
depot built here.
Mr.. Harlow said he believed what
Mr.. Barnard had said and because Mr..
B. could do nothing was the reason that
had prompted him (Mr. H. to write to
President Roberts on the subject. The
latter's reply convinced him that no
depot was to be built here.
Mr.. Brockett said he believed that if
the Pennsylvania Compay could secure
suitable land near their present depot
they would erect a new station here; if
not be believed it would 60 farther out
to the north. He had been told that
the company had endeavored to secure
land for q new depot but had been
thwarted he was opposed by boycott
to try and force the railroad company
to buy land.
Mr.. Harlow said ten years ago he
had secured options on the property
near the local depot and had thought
the figures were reasonable; he did not
like the word boycott, but was in favor
of doing something about the depot; ne
thought Mr.. Brockett had changed his
opinion on the subject now being dis
cussed.
Mr.. Brockett said he had changed his
opinion after being better informed on
the subject. The Pennsylvania Com
pany ne believed would build a depot
much quicker without such action than
they would with boycott placed upon
them.
Mr.. May said he wished to state that
the Pennsylvania road furnished better
freight service than any railroad COM
pany in the city; he opposed any boy
cotting.
During the debate Mr.. Park Agnew
stated, as vice president Of the electric
road, that the Pennsylvania road neither
| owned nor controlled the electric road.
Mr.. Echberg said that he saw from
the sense of the meeting that his propo-
sition was not favorably received so he
would withdraw it.
Secretary Carne said that the janitor
had told him that some of the members
became vexed when they were handed
notices to attend meetings of the league
and suggested that until otherwise or
dered no more printed notices be
served. This did not meet with general
approval and the secretary was author
lied to have printed a sufficient number
of notices to serve upon members to at
tend meetings.
When the meeting was about to ad-
iourn Mr.. Strauss inquired how long
the league had been in existence, and on
being informed the period was six or
eight months, started debate by ask
ing what the league had accomplished
in that time. He answered the ques-
ton himself by saying they had done
nothing and might as well disband.
Mr.. Brockett thought that much had
been done; he now heard fifteen talk
street improvements where he formerly
heard one; Council had been asked to
give the bond issue, but had "sst upon"
the matter.
Mr.. Harlow thought that the league
had accomplished much; through their
exertions some paving and improving
had been done and the King street sew
| er had been ordered by Council.
Mr.. Hubert Snowden said he did not
want to detract anything from the
league; as member of Council, how
ever. he wished to say that the subject
of the sewer was discussed by members
of Council before the league was ever
heard of and that the sewer would have
been built if the league had never been
organized. He then said Council was
doing all in its power for improvements
with the means at its disposal. He also
said that one reason the league had &C.
complished nothing was that some OF
the merchants came to the meetings
and advocated boycotting; that so pro.
| ot1,ar W, an, horc fhot thny refused