The times., 1897-10-27
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA
Business Transacted at the Session
of the City Council.
A Long Discussion Over the Report
of the Committee on Gas-No
Decision Reached.


Alexandria, Oct. pa regular session
of the city council was held tonight, but
little business OF special interest was
transacted, other than the consideration
OF the report of the management of the
gas works. A petition of I Eichberg for
permission to renew shingle roof ON n
mouse at 3oS Duke street, within the fire
limits was granted, and an ordinance
TO amend the building laws so as to per
NIT repairs TO roofs Of frame buildings
within the fire limits was referred to the
committee on general laws. The petition
or residents for the improvement Of the
roadway on GibDon street, from Wash
lngton street to Henry street, together
with an ordinance appropriating 81 900
Tor the work, was laid on the table.
A motion To have the pruposItiun sub
mitted by the Potomac Electric Company,
OF Washington, for Lighting the streets
or tins city, referred to the committee on
meeting was lost.
The committee ON streets submitted an
ORDNANCE, with recommendation that it
be adopted, granting the Southern Rail-
way Company the right TO lay a single
line OF railway on North Lee street, from
OToHoco street To u point near Cameron
street. The report caused considerable
discussion, when resulted III the ordinance
eral laws.
Petition for a street crossing a the inter
SECTION or West and Oronoco streets was
referred TO the committee on stress.
The committee on streets was directed
to construct a catch basin In the sewer on
Henry street between Duke ana Prince
streets.
The report Of the clerk Of gas for the
quarter ending August last showed that
the gas consumed by the CITY departments
during that period amounted To SG3o 81;
gas sold during the quarter, S5,705. 20:
revenue from sale OF coke, $37S.S2
The two boards of councIi met ia joint
convention 10 consider the report of tile
Joint committees on light and finance.
Fully two hours We're consumed in discuss
ing the management of the gas works, and
terminated in the adoption OF a resOlu-
ton rcCommitting the matter 10 tie joint
committee on finance and light. The re-
port which was submitted by the Joint
committee, at a previous meeting OF the
couuch, charged that Tie management OF
the works during the past few years had
been very bad, ana recommended that an
expert gas man he placed III charge Of
the plant. Mr. Uhler, of the finance com-
Inltlee, stated that a majority OF the gas
committee acknowledged the truth OF GG5
assertions contained III the report, and
nad Sanctlonedtne statements. Mi Hlnken,
OF the light committee, agreed with Mr.
Jhlcr, and stated that he had been Ell
lighteueq by the recent investigation, and
was confident that IL would rebound 10 the
cltys Interest II appeared from the
statements Of all the Gentlemen who had
been engaged in the investigation that
the gas works had not beeu conducted 1u
business principles, and that ii was i'm
possible 10 locate the individual who Is
responsible for the condition of aft airs
complained of in the report
Walter 5. Merrifield was arrested this
evening but was subsequently, released
by the mayor. Merrifleld, VINO is ttayel-
ing South IN q wagon with his Wife and
child. went into the store or Mf. william
/ Brawner, on Peyton streef, and obtained
! a pound or meat. When he started TO
leave several persons asserted that he
: had not paid for the meat and attempted
To arrest MIN. a scuifieeusUe e during which
AerTifield drew pistol and he had every
thing his own way until Policeman Knight
arrived and placed him under arrest. Mr.
Brawner appeared al the police station
and stated that the man had paid for
his goods, aud, as above stated, the pris-
oner was released.
The case of John Nelson, indicted for
murder, gambling two counts. and relo-
nious shooting, was called in the county
nesday, November 8 Fhe prisoner was
| represented by Messrs. Edmund Burke
and l.. c. Barley, and CammOnw ealth' s
! Attorney johnson was assisted by Mr.
A. W. A rmstrong. A motion by the
! defense To quash the capias and discharge
/ the prisoner was overrpled bv the court
/ The defense then filed a plea 10 have the
| prisoner discharged, Tour terms or cour I
! having passed without trial and without
motion for continuance and thdt under
! the statutes he was entitled to be dis
! charged. The plea also asked that tue
| Indictments be quashed. After recess
/ of the court, the commonwealth filed a
replication to the plea OF the defendant,
and after argument, the case was con-
/ tinucd.
In the county court today an assessment
! on properUynear Rosslyn, against the wash
| ington-Southern Railway Company, was de
! cIared erroneous, and the railway company
was relieved OF payment.
Special Judge James r. Caton today
| filed his opinion in the case OF Mary ,.
/ Malls against John Ir1LCuer.
| The controversy Involved the question
! whether deed of trust, not bearing tue
! seal OF the grantor on the court records Is
valid Alr. Caton says 1t is.
| The funeral of the late Capt. George
| Davis took place this evening Inc ser
| vices were conducted by Rev. l.. l. Mc
| Dougle, of Trinity Church,
the large audience in the opera house to
| night demonstrated their appreciation o
| "Pinafore." as rendered by snarps M ane
| Flats" Every one pronounced the enter
| tainment a success.
William johnson W as given ten days By
Mayor Simpson today for vagrahey; -
Jennings Bryan Strobe, the little sol
of Mr.. Charles Strohle. died At No llt
North Fayette street yesterday
The letter carriers Were notified To-Day
to wear q black stripe on their coat sleeves
| for every five years In the service. m
| substitute carriers are TO wear the lette
"S'' on their sleeves.
The official tickets to be used IN mex
! TUESDAYS election have been printed, and
are now in the hands OF the electoral
board.
day an the Southern Railway, caused by
the breaking down of Chesapeake ant
Ohio freight train a short distance ives
of this city Several cars became de
tached. and were somew hat DANA ged.
The remains of Capt. B. c. Davis, wh'
died in Occoquan yesterday VIII be Tor
warded to Baltimore tomorrow tor inter
ment.
yicsim of the Hun and Pole Riot.