Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-15
CITY COUNCIL.
BOARD oE ALDERMEN

oscn ana James II. Cation, who appear
ed IN connection with some business
before the board, had seats within the
bar. 1t was long session, but no
matter of Importance was concluded.
The first question in order being that
arising upon the Mayors veto Of the
act authorizing the American Tele.
phone and Telegraph Company to use
Alexandria streets for their poles and
wires
Mr.. Smith moved to postpone until
the next meeting of the board.
Upon calling the question no vote
was given on either side. The chair
called upon members to vote.
Mr.. G. n. Moore asked why it was
proposed to postpone.
Mr.. Smith said that the ordinance
had been adopted at q meeting at which
all the members of Council were pres
emf; he wanted full board when the
vote was taken.
Mr.. Brrell suggested that too long
delay would be made if the board
waited until all the seats should be
filed.
The motion to postpone was agreed
to.
Mr. Uhler said that there was q
very considerable amount of real estate
which had been sold at the tax sale Of
1879 and upon which taxes had since
been charged, and in order that steps
might be taken to make available the
right of the corporation to collect taxes
on such property he introduced reso
luton calling upon the Auditor to
communicate to Council list of such
properties and taxes now due the city
upon it.
This was agreed to.
Mr.. Smith called up the order for
p4viog the square on King street, be.
tween Fairfax and Royal streets. He
said the Corporation Attorney ha& said
that the paper already signed by
property owners there was sufficient,
but he had prepared another paper
Dy which it was agreed to give notes
for five annual payments.
Mr.. Ucler was convinced that some
Of the owners of the real estate on that
square OF King street were not in a
condition to pay special tax upon
street improvements.
It was stated that trustee had lob.
tanned power from the court to agree
to this special tax.
Mr.. Uhler was Informed that one o.
the parties interested in the trust prop
erty contested the right of the court TO
make an order to cucumber the prop
er;y. He had seen letters from Lynch
burg and Norfolk in which it was
stated that but little special street
work had been done since the decision
of the court of appeals in the suit of
| Violet against the City Council CT
Alexandria, and that most street in.
provements were now paid for out of
the general fund. He did not think
that property owners would agree to
| paw special taxes for street improve
ments.
Mr.. Smith-Does not the gentleman
think any business man would give 40
cents per month more rent to conduct
business on newly paved street than
| on an old cobblestone stre,t?
Mr.. Uhler said that street improve
ment would aid nothing TO business,
| and would add to TIE assessment With
out giving value. He was in favor of
street improvements, but the city could
DO no more than it could pay for.
Mr.. Smith believed the increase iii
the value of real estate would more
than compensate for the special tax.
Mr.. Uhler said he had seen streets IN
Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia,
Louisville and ether cities and he bad
often crossed cobblestone streets in
those cities no batter than in AlexaL.
dris. What was wanted was law re-
curing broader tires on heavy wagons,
&c., using the street, to prevent the
streets from being cut up.
MIR. Smith-Require pneumatic rut-
Der tires?
Mr.. Greene wss net opposed to the
Improvement, but wanted binding
contract between the city and the
property holders, go that The CITY
would get back its share OF the money
paid out by the city treasure.
Mr.. Trimyer did not think cold wa
ter should be thrown On this scheme:
He thought that King street should
have been improved instead of side
streets. When King street is inn
proved it will benefit the whole
civ. He believed al cities were abol-
| ishing cobble stone paving and he
thought the work should be done here
speedily. r
Mr.. Greene was not desirious of
throwing coal water on the plan, but
he did not think that the agreement as
sipped would make lien on real estate
or be in any way binding on the signers.
Mr.. Smith thought that the paper
would serve all the purposes OF secur'
ing the payment of the money.
MIR. Snowden did not agree with bis
colleague, Mr.. T.imyer, that the work
of Improvement on the streets should
have been done on King street alone,
instead of the other streets. For him-
self he was glad that some work had
heen done on other streets for the
henefis of other sections of the city.
He was certainly not disposed to throw
cold water on any practicable scheme
for street Improvement but he wished
that the Improvement should be mace
Systematically. Over year ago he had
Introduced a resolution for the repavlng
If King street and when it is done he
does not want the city to be placed 10
the position of having to pay the entire
cost Many men would sign the paper
IN have street work done, but whtn
called on to pay they might seem TO
think it no wrong to repudiate the bills;
'n, NJ Sn,;tb said that he would get all