Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-10
BUSINESS MEMS LEAGUE.

Mems League was held last night with
President Nj. B. Harlow presiding.
The committees were called on for
reports but none were submitted ex-
cept that on public improvements,
which, through its chairman, Mr.. |.
Eichberg, presented plan for raising
money by the issue OF 100000 OF city
bonds for street improvements. sever
age, etc. Mr.. Eichberg said that MI.
J. r. Cation had been of great assist
ance to the committee and that thanks
of the committee were due him 1or
his work. Six typewriter copies OF
the report, he said, had been prepared
at the cost OF 80, which the league Or
dered to be paid.
The report was then read in full and
laid over till the next meeting, which
was set aside for the especial discus.
sion of the question. President Har,
low said he hoped there would be iull
attendance at that meeting and II the
league was unanimous in its opinion,
concerning the question this would
have its influence on the City Council.
The report of the committee on puo-
lie improvements calls attention to the
need of street improvement, sewerage,
ETC., and suggests plan for raising the
money to accomplish that object. 1t
! sets forth that the health Of the city re-
quires proper sewerage and that the
bad condition of the streets has ten
dency to retard the growth of the city
and the ent ancement in value OF ITS
real estate. 1t then suggests the issu
ing Of 5000 900 ir per cent. bonds M
der the plovniMs 1fthe act of the Legs
lature of 1898 4. This act provides that
by vote of majority of the freehold
ers the city can float 100000 8
per cent. 80 years Improvement
bonds-4O,OOO each year for live years
but that no series of these
bonds can be issued until three tourths
of the vote of the City Council sail
sanction such issue. The act also pro
yides for the levy and collection Of a
tax sufficient to pay interest, NC, Oh
the bonds. The report recommends
that special election on the question
of the issue of these bonds be held on
the first Tuesday of June, 1856, and
states that an intelligent presentation
of the subject will assure the citizens
that the loan of 5000, 900 10 the city, II
properly expended, would bring to
them increased benefits and that am
ple provision could be made for the re-
tirement of the debt at its maturity. IL
also recommends that before ony bonds
are disposed of general plan OF I'M
provement be agreed upon, system
of sewerage be planned and settled, the
width of streets, the character OF the
curbng, paving, &c, determined upon.
The narrowing of some of the road
WAYS is recommended and the parking
of Washington street is suggested. Inc
report recommends that sinking tund
be created for the retirement OF the
/ bonds; also that for the first five wears
the amount realized from the sale OF
bonds be expended in sewerage ard
paving and that to that amount there
should be added whatever may be re-
ceived from the real estate by way OF
assessments for benefits each year; the
expenditures of the amount received
from assessments, however, TO continue
till 1906. The committee expresses the
belief that with the 1000 annually ap,
propriated for street Improvements the
general fund can take care of the in,
terest on the bonds without additional
taxation and that the improvements
will give such an impetus to the city
that council would be enabled out OF
its general revenues within ten years,
after providing for the interest on the
bonds, to add at least $4,000 to the
special Improvement fund, thus reason
ably insuring improvements within ten
years amounting in the aggregate to
S417,00
The report gives tables of the amount
to be realized each year from hesale o!
bonds; from beuefits assessed on abut-
ting real estate; the amount of interest
to be collected on Improvement bills
and the amount of interest to be paid
out, sc. :.
The following table shows the esti-
mated amount available for improve
ment for each year from June LIST.
1896, to May 31st, 1906, as also the
aggregate amount which will have been
expended in improvements at the end
of this period, to wit