Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-09-09
CITY COUNCIL.
BOARD oF ALDERMEN.

men were present last night at the
meeting, and consumed the time while
waiting for business from the lower
board in discussing birds, fish, &c.
Strange to say politics was only men.
toned once when the president asked
how was Bryan's stock. He was told
by q member, who was supposed to be
a gold standard apostle, that it was on
on the rise. This seemed to satisfy the
president, and politics was not mention
ed again during the evening.
After the members returned from the
joint session a lively private discussion
took place between two members over
the proposition made by Mr.. Miller, a
representative of the Potomac Electric
Light Works, of Washington, in which
one of them stated that as long as he
was member of the City Council he
never intended to grant any special
privileges to outside corporations, as
those we now have do not come up to
their promises.
The ordinance under the title of lum-
Der, which was amended by the lower
board at its last meeting, and which
was laid over by this board at its
last meeting, was put upon its third
reading and was passed by a unanimous
vote.
The board, after concurring in the &C
ton Of several matters brought IN from
the lower board, adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Twelve members of the Common
Council were present at the meeting
last night, and without the bar were a
number of spectators, many OF whom
were members OF the Hydraulion Fire
Company who were interested in the
passage OF resolution to increase the
appropriation for the building of their
new engine house.
10 the absence of the clerk, Mr.. j. L.
Johnson, who is spending his vacation
in Stafford, Mr. W. F. Carne, jr., was
elected clerk pro TEN.
The call of the Mayor for the meet
ing at the request of several OF the
members was read.
Mr.. Uher stated that the meeting
had been called to consider the matter
of repaving north Pitt street; laying a
branch to the Prince street sewer and
to consider the report on a proposition
from the Potomac Electric Light Com
oany for furnishing an electric current
with which to light the city lamps. Mr..
Miller, who represented the company,
was present and would explain his pro
position.
Mr.. Greene said he did not wish to
oppose the matter, but as no oppor-
tunity had been afforded the members
to consider the proposition concerning
the furnishing of electricity to the city,
he thought no action should be taken
tonight. He was, however, perfectly
willing to hear Mr.. Miller's proposition.
Mr.. Uhler said no action on the mat
ter was expected tonight. lie moved
that the Board of Aldermen be invited
to meet the board in joint session to
hear statement from MIR. Miller.
The motion was adopted and the two
boards met in joint session.
The committee On streets presented
resolution appropriatiDg $50 for plac-
ing collateral sewer at the intersec,
ton of Prince and Lee streets and down
the latter thorougnfare for halfa square.
Mr.. Moore asked why the extension
was to be only half a square. He had
heard that people living two squares
south of Prince street desired to tap ii.
Mr.. Snowden said only people
living half a square from Prince
street had petitioned to tap
it. In the future others living farther
south could, according to law, petition
to have the sewer extended.
The resolution was adopted.
A resolution sppropriating 1925 for
the purpose of properly guttering and
paving Pitt street on the line Of the
new sewer was also presented by the
committee on streets.
At this juncture the Board of Alder.
men, who had accepted the invitation
for joint session, entered the cham
Der.
Mr.. Uhler, from the joint committee
on finance and light, said he had hoped
to be able to report on the proposition
of the Potomac Electric Company Of
Washington to furnish electricity to the
city, but there were not enough men,
bers present to act upon the measure.
Mr.. Uhler detailed the proposition Of
the company to finnish 100 arc lights to
the city every night in the year at
cost of $50 year for each light, pro.
vided the company were given the PRIV
ilege of furnishing incandescent lights
to private consumers and motive power
for the running of small machinery.
Should the city desire to furnish the
latter the company would light each OF
the 100 lamps at a cost of sos each
wear. He contended that the city
would save between 81 5000 and s., 900
year by accepting the proposition:
Under the proposed regime people could
have what they never had enjoyed-in-
candescent lights.
Mr.. Green thought the matter should
be we'll considered. The city ct one
time owned the water works, but I'M
wisely let them slip out of its hands.
He hoped this movement would not
produce repetition of history.
Mr.. Uhler said the city never owned
the water works nor even controlling
interest in them.
After questions had been asked by
Mr.. McCuen and others,
Mr.. Miller, of the Potomac Company,
was accorded the privilege of the foer
for the purpose of stating the PROPOSE.
ton OF the company. His explanation
was in substance that made by Mr..
Uhler. The city, he said, could keep
IFS nlant. The company be represent