Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-10-13
CITY COUNCIL.

| The first regular meeting OF the City
Council since July, when the recess was
taken, was held last night. The pro-
ceedings attracted no special interest,
and but few were present saw The
members of the two boards and the
regular attaches oil tbs iii, Hall.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Seven Aldermen were present when
the board was called to order, and the
business transacted was without debate.
After the reading of the minutes OF the
last meeting, the committees were call
ed for reports, but none responded.
After short interval resolution sp-
propriating the amount claimed by Jas.
F. Hammersley in his suit against the
city for the recovery of an improve
ment tax was received from the Com
mon Council and their action concur.
redin.
Another interval of longer duration
followed while awaiting BUSINESS from
the lower board.
Finally some papers we're received
and the action of the Common Council
thereon was concurred in, among
them report of the joint committee of
finance and light on the affairs of the
gas works, together with the report OF
Messrs. Fitchman & Co., experts, of New
York, on the condition of the works,
also an ordinance appropristing 81 $50
as an additional sum for the grading
and graveling of certain streets for
which insufficient appropriations we're
made by the last Council.
Mr.. Strider, from the Common Coun
ell, appeared in the chamber, bearing
an invitation to the Aldermen to meet
the lower board in joint session for the
purpose of electing an Overseer of the
Outdoor Poor, and, upon their return,
adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The first October meeting of the
Common Council was fixed By the rule
to begin at an earlier hour than the
sessions which have taken place during
the summer, but the assembling was
slow and in fact the board did not a.
semble much earlier than usual.
As soon as the board was called to
order and had made an appropriation OF
1914 80 to meet the judgment obtained
in the Hammersley case against the
City Council,
Mr.. Uhler, from the combined com
mittees on finance and light, submitted
q report upon the condition of the gas
works, accompanied by the reports OF
experts. The report will be found il
the official proceedings.
Mr.. Uhler said there had been evi
IDENTIFY great negligence and want Of
care in the management OF the gas
works. There was something radical.
ly wrong; 1T loads OF coke were not &C
counted for in each year for three years
aud there were other failures to con-
duct the works on an economical basis.
Mr.. G. y. Moore asked if the work
of three years past did not show an i'm
provement on the previous years.
Mr.. Uhler said this was the fact; but
the details of the operations of the
works taken from the books showed
that frequently too much had been
paid for material, and that careleasness
had characterized the operations Of the
works. The committee on light dis
claimed responsibility. Neither the
clerk nor the superintendent of the
works bad complete control. Mr.. Uhltr
continued, making detailed statement
showing that there had been misman-
agement in the works greatly to the
disadvantage of the city. There bad
been an offer of an outside party to
give the city its gas free and pay the
city bonus of Sc, 600 per annum. He
thought that if gas works elsewhere
made Is aud 20 per cent. on watered
stock the Alexandria Gas Works
should pay the city handsome profit.
Mr.. Snowden asked if the works
ought not to pay 5000 per annum.
Mr.. Uhler thought that at least Sc, 900
should be paid to the city annually.
Mr.. Moore.-In the condition in
which the works have been for the past
ten or twelve years?
Mr.. Uhler.-Yes sir.
Mr.. Moore-I do not see it.
MIR. Ubler further urged that the
want of a head was responsible for the
Encouragement. He thought the com
mittee on light had absolute control of
the case, and that they had the power
to appoint competent man TO operate
| the works.
Mr.. Snow6en said that the commit
tee on light had more power than any
other committee of the council. He
was amazed to hear it stated in the re-
port that waste was the rule and not
the exception at the gas works.
Mr.. Moore asked if the committee on
light had the power to FIX the Office
hours of the clerk.
The Chair had never considered that
matter.
Mr.. Strider said that the report
seemed to be most remarkable one
coming from committee of which the
committee on light formed part. They
seemed to condemn their own work,
and criticised methods which had been
adopted with their sanction.
Mr.. Uhler said that the report was
adopted by seven members of the CON.
bined committee and he had signed the
report by their direction.
The President said it appeared that
during ten years past the average pay
ment from the gas works to the city
had been only 5000 per annum.
Mr.. Moore responded that in one year
not long since the gas works had paid
the city 5000, but very great improve
ments had been made in the gas works
aud paid for out of the profits, which
had, of course, diminished the amount
paid into the City Treasury.
After further debate, the report was