Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-12
BUSINESS MEMS LEAGUE.

ington streets, last night. The meeting
was called to order shortly after S
o'clock by Mr.. Isaac Eichberg, in the
absence of President NJ. B. Harlow.
The latter, however, came in later and
presided during the remainder OF the
evening.
MIR. ". F. Carne, the secretary, read
| letter from Senator Daniel in which
that gentleman informed the league
that it would be impossible to get an
appropriation through the present Con-
gress for the dredging of a channel to
the opposite Maryland shore.
Mr.. z. Kemper stated that Senator
Martin had informed him that to tack
such an appropriation on the river and
harbor bill at this time would endanger
the passage of the bill:
MIR. Justus Schneider called atten-
ton to the fact that Council would IN
all probably order an election on the
bond question, and that it would be
necessary to enlighten the people on
the theories entertained by the league
concerning this matter. Everybody
should vote intelligently.
Mr.. J. F. Muir thought the question
should be fully explained to the voters.
Mr.. Carne suggested that an ordl-
nance would be passed by Council or
deriug the election. This would ex-
plain all.
Mr.. Kemper urged action in the mat
ter. If Council failed to act on the
measure at the next meeting (to.nlght)
| it would be seriously delayed. He
thought the ordinance when prepared
should be printed and scattered abroad
| in order that all could see what was TO
be voted for.
Mr.. Echberg said public meeting
should be held in the Opera House and
that speakers should thoroughly ex'
plain everything involved.
This suggestion was sanctioned Dy
Mr.. Schneider. There were many
things which needed explanation
what would be the increase, if any, IN
taxation should the bonds be Is
sued, &c.
Ex-Mayor Strauss said people want
ed to know, too, where the money to
be raised from the bonds is to be spent.
Some entertained an idea that it would
be expended on Washington and King
streets. If such was the case the
funeral dirge of the bond question
might as we'll be sung now. 1t would
surely be voted down.
Mr.. J. w. May wanted to know how
that matter could be definitely settled.
| People would desire to know where
| IL ,,,oo RI ho cnppt
Mr.. Strauss thought the Council
committee to whom the matter had
been referred should explain this salts
factorily.
MIR. Kemper- thought public.spirited
people would rejoice to see even two
streets paved in modern style:
Mr.. Eichberg said it would be ample
time to discuss this matter after the
ordinance shall have been prepared.
MIR. Chas. King, quoting from ce.
lebrity, said "Let us Go something"
He said the streets of Alexandria were
in a worse condition than at any time
during the past thirty years. Italmost
required q derrick to get a team across
some cutters. His carriage had been
broken in crossing one on north Column
bus street recently. There was no en-
couragement for people owning convey.
ances. Some one had said this state OF
affairs was benefit to blacksmiths.
He would say, however, that one OF
that class had told him he would give
S1O9 toward streets improvements, as
he knew with good streets the number
of carriages would be largely increased.
Mr.. Muir requested the secretary to
read description of the public i'm
proyements and the Industries of Lock
port, Ill. At the conclusion of the read.
| ing Mr.. Muir said if Alexandria had
such a spirit of enterprise the city
would forge ahead wonderfully.
1t was finally decided to hold meet
| ing on Wednesday night should Coun-
Gil act on the bond issue tonight.
Mr.. Eichberg said public meeting
should be held in the Opera House
where the objects of the league could
be fully explained. He stated, in re-
ferring to what Mr.. Strauss had said
concerning Washington and King
streets, that during his residence in this
city, period of forty-fve years, not
81, 900 had been spent on the first
named thoroughfare.
Mr.. Kemper favored public improve
ments. He likened the present state of
affairs to q man who had for years been
sitting in hard upright chair who
didn't know the ease of a rocking chair
because he had never tried one. Let
us have the improvements and we will
be sorry we had not been always enjoy
ing them.
MIR. Harlow referred to the letter he
recently received from the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad officials in which they
virtually stated there was no intention
on their part to build a depot here.
Mr.. Muir suggested that 10000 slips
be printed and one pasted on each or
der sent from Alexandria in order to
notify everybody that the station in
this city was the property of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company, and re.
requesting correspondents, if possible,
to ship by other lines.
Mr.. Strauss called attention to the
fact that the Legislature at its last ses-
sion had passed an act allowing banks
to close at IL o'clock on Saturday. He
thought it would be good idea for the
league to pass resolution requesting
the city banks to close at II o'clock on
Saturdays during the months of June,
July, August and September in order
to give the employees a halliday holi-
day.