Evening star., 1897-03-24
EXANDRIA AFT AIR S
Business Transacted at Meeting of the City
Council.
Proposition to Purchase City Prop
erty-Locnl Notes of General
and Especial Interest.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. III North Washington street
(TelephGne 116)
ALEXANDRIA. Va, March "A. Il

Y
ALEXANDRIA, Va, March "a, 1897.
The regular semi monthly meeting of the
city council was held in the city hall last
right, with a fair attendance, and while
no business of Importance was transacted.
there was a proposition of more than or
diIary interest submitted by Mr.. Frank E.
Anderson, one of Alexandria's citizens who
is always on the lookout fer its welfare.
Mr.. Anderson submitted in writing a prop
osition to buy from the city the old canal
property, WI ich is now and has been for a
long number of years lying idle and of no
benefit to the city. The property asked for
is bounded on the north by 1st street, on
the east by the Potomac river, on the south
by Madison street, from the Potomac river
to Fairfax street, and by Montgomery from
Fairfax to Pitt street, and on the west by
Fairfax street from Madison to Montgom-
cry and by Pitt from Montgomery to lst
street, being five whole and two fractional
squares of ground. Mr.. Anderson, in his
proposition, says he will give $4,000 for this
property, the amount at which il is as
sessed. the money to be paid in 5000 in
StallmentS, in two, four, six and eight
years, the city to hold deed of trust until
final payment is made. In addition, Mr.
Anderson, who is a firm believer and great
advocates Of improved streets. has, in
connection with his proposition, offered to
allow the city to use the granite and other
stone in the old canal locks free of charge
for street improvements. The matter was
referred to the joint committee on finance
ard public property, ana II is generally be-
lieved that the proposition Will be accepted.
If Mr.. Anderson succeeds I'm buying the
property ii is his intention to at once put Il
IN use for manufacturing plants, in which
he and a number of northern and eastern
gentlemen are interested, and which, it is
said, will prove of great benefit 10 the old
town.
Other Business Transacted.
The finance committee reported adverse
ly on the request of Charles +. Thompson
to put incandescent electric lights on the
outside of buildings where it would not
interfere with the use of gas, and the report
was adopted by council.
Despite the fact that when the electric
light plant was put in by the city II was
heralded far and wide that it would be able
to supply citizens with incandescent lights
foretheir stores and dwellings. II has never
been accomplished. and it is said the plant
is taxed to it's utmost capacity to furnish
current for the arc lights. Mr.. Thompson
desired to furnish incandeScents to mer-
chants on the outside of their buildings
where 1t would not affect in any way
the use of gas jets: but no; the city owIs
and controls the gas and they say incan-
descents cannot be used unless furnished
by the city-and this the city is unable to
do. 1t was suggested by member of the
finance committee that the committee could
get its power from the Washington, Alex
andria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway
Company, where Mr.. Thompson proposed TO
get the current for the incandescen:s put UP
by him, and then hire 1t out to parties de-
string to use it: bur Mr.. S;rider, from the
second ward, said he hardly thought the
city desired to do business in this petit way.
The committee on streets recommended
that permission be granted to Thomas j.
Fannon to move a frame house ten or
twelve feet to make room for a railroad
track into his premises. The recommenda-
tion was adopted. The joint committee
on public property and streets reported
that they were ready for the extension
of Prince street to the Leesburg turnpike
as soon as the county authorities are ready
to act; 81 100 has been appropriated for
this purpose.
The amended dinanee concerning the
use and construction of public sewers was
passed by both boards and provides that
public sewers shall in the future be con-
structed by the city and must only be
tapped under the direction Of the city en-
gineer. and then not until the sewer tax
has been paid. Private houses stores. 4
Offices. ETC.. shall pay $Y5 per wear. and
railroad stations. hotels. breweries laun-
dries. factories and buildings used for pub- I
lie assembly go. Those who have already
tapped public sewers are required to nav
this amount forthwith. The Eenalty for