Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-09-29
CITY COUNCIL.

the eifl..:.l - occasioned by the recent
4 .e.up5 10 remove twenty feet of the
roadway of Lee street from Prince to
Wilkes, and to grade and gravel the
same. 1t will be remembered that q
resolution providing for the work was
passed by the Common Council on the
18th of August but failed to get through
The Board of Aldermen for want OF a
constitutional majority. The commit
tee on streets, however, and the City
Engineer, under the impression that IL
had passed both boards, proceeded with
the work, and tore up the street from
Duke to Wolfe. 1t was then discover.
ed that they were acting without prop
er warrant and the work was stopped.
In the meantime number OF citizens
residing on Lee street protested against
the graveling Of the street. Council
consumed two hours last night in ex-
Treating themselves from the difficulty.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
There were but FIVE members pres
emit when the board was called to or
der, and it was not deemed expedient
to concur with the Common Council on
the original resolution, inasmuch as the
residents of Lee street had protested
against graveling that thoroughfare,
and any other measure introduced
would be in the nature of new business
and constitutional quorum was not
present to act on it. Mr.. Ballenger fl
nally came in and a discussion of the
various plans proposed followed.
Mr.. Sweeney did not think the Alder
men had sufficient light on the subject
before them, and thought the City En-
gineer should be present to enlighten
the board. He was not prepared to
vote until he thoroughly understood
the issue.
Mr.. Curtin (whose object was to put
the street in the condition in which the
committee found iD said he had an
amendment to offer to the resolution
appropriating $500, or as much thereof
as may be necessary, to replace the cob
Bile stones on Lee street, between Duke
and Wolfe. This, he thought, was the
way out of the difficulty.
Mr.. Hayener was opposed to fixing
but one square. He desired the work
to be continued for three squares, and
that the stones now in the street be
broken and the street properly graded
and paved. He wanted the work to
extend from Prince to Wilkes street,
and desired an appropriation of 5000.
Mr.. Sweeney asked if 5000 would be
sufficient for the work.
Several members thought it would
take more.
Mr.. Curtin thought the work should
be done properly while Council was en-
gagged in it, The old stones could be
replaced, but smaller stones could be
used to better advantage. The com
mittee had given the matter considera
BILE attention, and the ordinance which
he was to offer embraced their views.
Mr.. Dobie suggested that the board
could get around the difficulty by pass
ing a resolution providing for an sp
preparation of 5000 or so much as may
be necessary for putting back the stones
which had been torn up.
Mr.. Dunn, the City Engineer, at this
juncturc appeared, and Mr.. Sweeney
requested him to explain the matter
which Council had been asked to con-
slider.
Mr.. Dunn explained the middle in
substance as given above. He had, be
said, blundered in beginning the work
until he received the paper from Coun-
Gil. He, however, was under the i'm
preston that the resolution had passed
both boards of Council and had been SO
told by members of the committee on
streets: who also lebored under the
same delusion. He discovered the mis-
take after one square had been torn up,
and also saw that some residents of Lee
street wanted gravel and others cobble
stones. The question before Council
now was whether cobble stones or
gravel should be used in the repaving
MIR. Sweeney asked if the work could
be done with 5000.
Mr.. Dunn thought not; that is, with
cobble stones. 1t would, however, be
a sufficient sum to gravel the three
squares. He said in some places the
crown of the street was too low and
considerable sand would be required.
Many of the stones were large and some
were too soft and others too hard to
break up. 1t would cost about $500
to grade and repave with suitable cob
BILE stones.
Mr.. Havener thought the resolution
should be recommitted to the commit
tee on streets, but
Mr. Swaapau oaUy No yUaU ont of the
difficulty by such procedure. He
suggested joint session of Council
would be the most satisfactory way OF
coming to solution of the matter.
Mr.. Ballepger said all that was need
ed was to replace the stone which had
been removed. If residents of Lee
street did not desire any improvement
to the street that would end the matter
Mr.. Hayener then presented petit
ton from number of persons living
on Lee street protesting against the
proposed graveling of that thorough.
fare.
Mr.. Dunn stated that the old stones
could be replaced for about $500. 1t
would cost at least $500 to repaye the
square in proper manner.
Mr.. Havener presented a resolution
providing for grading and repaving the
entire three squares with broken
stones, and appropriating $500 for the
work.
Mr.. Curtin presented an ordinance
appropriating $500 for replacing the
stones in the square which had been
disturbed.