Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-27
CITY COUNCIL.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

There were seven members of the
Board of Aldermen present at the meet
ing last night, but the debate on meas
ures that will be of interest to the city
was very limited.
During the reading of the license law
for the fiscal year ending May 81, 1897,
Mr. Ballenger wanted to know if the
to the section requiring
oyster dealers to pay q license of IS
referred to those who opened oysters on
the wharf.
Mr.. Burke said that it applied only
to oyster dealers.
Mr.. Ballenger said that these men
dealt in oysters to an extent, but if the
law applied to those who opened oys
tiers on the wharf he was opposed to it,
as those so employed only opened the
oysters by the bushel when directed to
furnish them. "For instance" contin-
ued Mr.. Ballenger, suppose I should go
to the wharf, and give one of these
men who open oysters 80 cents to open
a bushel of oysters, would he come I'M
der the provisions of this amend
ment ?"
Mr.. Burke said that under those cir.
cumstance the man thus employed
would be acting as an agent.
When the act prohibiting the spread
of contagious diseases was read,
Mr.. Sweeney said that be intended to
amend the bill as it did not, in his
opinion, fully cover the matter. The
last bill referred to scarlatina, scarlet
rash, &c., all of which were not men,
toned in the present bill. Neverthe-
less he thought the present bill would
answer, and would not raise objections
to it.
Mr.. Burke said that Capt. Mushbach
had carefully prepared the bill and that
it was similar to the one now in opera.
ton in Washington.
After concurring in the action of the
lower board in several minor matters
the board adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
This board transacted its business
with but little debate.
Mr.. Uhler, from the finance commit
tee, presented the appropriation bill for
the year, commencing June 1, 1896, and
it was passed by unanimous vote.
The bill makes but few changes in
last years appropriations. The pay OF
police is increased from $1,000 to S11,-
$50; repairs of streets reduced from
81 900 to $500; poor house and poor re.
duced from 81, 500 to $4,000, and inter
est on debt reduced from $3l 1926 to
$4,000. An item of $4,000 is added
for the King street sewer.
Mr.. Burke, from the committee on
streets, submitted reports on various
matters which had been referred to
them, among them recommendation
from the Board Of Health ordering the
paving of certain alleys. The commit
tee recommended that an ordinance be
prepared ordering the work to be done
and the report was adopted.
The same committee, to whom had
been referred the petitions Of sundry
persons asking for an extension OF
Prince street to the Leesburg pike,
recommended the granting of the Pc
tition provided the cost be not exces,
sive. Mr.. Burke said that the City En-
gineer had estimated the cost at 1925,
but, of course, this did not include the
cost which would I've incurred in con-
demning land and four houses which
were on line of the proposed extern
sion. The price of the lots might be
too high to render the movement prac-
ticable.
Mr.. Burke said Prince street proper
now ended at Peyton street. He said
the first-named street now afforded the
hest outlet from the city. King street,
which had formerly been used, was
practically closed for vehicles now that
the electric railway had laid its tracks
to the end of that thoroughfare. Other
routes out of the city could be used, but
Prince street was undoubtedly the best.
He explained the geography of the
western portion of the city and show
ed how connections could be made With
the Leesburg pike and with West End
by the extension of Prince street.
Mr.. Snowden desired to know who
would estimate the damages if the lots
were condemned.
Mr.. Burke said that was matter for
Council to determine.
MIR. Snowden said he would like to
sea the street extended, but, at the
same time, he didn't want to incur too
great an outlay in order TO accomplish
that purpose.
Mr.. Cation made some practical OBJ
servations in connection with the mat.
ter and said Prince street at present
ended at Peyton street. The latter
street had been extended by Messrs.
Wheat & Suter, who had built to the
north of it.
Mr.. Snowden thought the matter
should be recommitted to the commit
tee in order that additional information
in regard to the cost could be procured.
This was finally done.
Mr.. Mushbach, from the committee
on general laws, submitted an ordi-
nance providing certain regulations in
cases of contagious diseases in the city
of Alexandria. The ordinance makes
it obligatory upon physicians to report
all cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria
coming under their observation to the
Health Officer under penalty of not
less than FIVE nor more than fifty dol.
lars for the first ofense, and not less
than ten nor more than one hundred
for the second, the same penalties to be
incurred by head of families in cases
where physicians service have not been
procured. Houses where such diseases
sxist are to be placarded under similar
penalties. Persons who are suffering
Dr. convalescing from such diseases are
10 be kept from schools and other pub
ic places, and their houses are to be dis