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

l.ting to some old bonds of the cor
I poraLion, issued during the hfties and
now presented for payment, having
been read,
Mr.. Uhler stated that these bonds
one of 81 900 and two others of $500
each-had recently been found among
the papers of Mrs. Rebecca Wynne, of
Washington. They had been pledged
before 1851 to the Bank of Washington
for loan, but the loan had long since
been repaid, and the bonds, on which
no interest had been paid since 1861,
were now presented for payment, the
whole amount claimed being about
$4,000. He further explained that in
spite of the fact that the bonds were
genuine to his belief, both he and the
Auditor had been unable to find any
record of them in the Auditors Office.
The subject was referred to the COM
mittee on finance.
When Mr.. Smith, from the commit
tee on streets, reported an ordinance
for an appropriation to pave cutters on
| Oronoco, Patrick and Alfred streets,
which had been reported by the Board
of Health,
Mr.. Ubier said that the city began
the year with ST., 500 deficit, and ap-
preparations since that time had raised
the sum to $4,000. The $4,000 re-
quired to pay the bonds recently dis
covered raised this deficit to $4,000.
He thought the committee on streets
should ascertain if this work could not
be done under the city laws, which re
quired the property owners to pay their
snare OF the expenses. He was not op
posed to the work, but could not see
how tie funds could be raised.
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Green urged that
the appropriation should be made on
sanitary grounds.
Mr.. Moore asked if, in making these
drains, cobble stone could be used in
stead of bricks for the centre of the
cutters.
Mr.. Smith responded that the City
Engineer said that cobble stones could
not be 30 used.
Mr.. Burrill was surprised that the
Board of Health had not discovered the
many other cutters that needed SAM
tary Improvement. He thought that
there were cutters in all sections of the
city in the same condition as those on
the streets named.
MIR. Snowden urged that it was the
duty of the committee on streets to see
that this work should be done by the
adjoining property holders, if possible.
If the Board of Health had reported
these cutters to be a nuisance the ad-
joining property owners should be re-
Quired to abate the nuisance al their
own expense. Ifcouncil set this prece-
dent not only would abutting property
owners refuse to pay any part OF street
improvements but would not pay to
have their own cutters repaired.
Mr.. Smith said some of the property
holders were willing to pay monthly
installments for this work, but could
not pay down lumpus.
Mr.. Uhler did not know whether the
proper foundations had been laid for
charging these gutter improvements to
the property holders.
On motion of Mr.. Greene the subject
was referred to the committee on streets
with instructions to obtain the opinion
of the Corporation Attorney on the
whole subject.
When an ordinance appropriating
$500 for gravelliDg Royal street from
Duke to Wilkes street was presented,
The chair asked the chairman of the
committee on streets if the W., A. &
Mt. " R. r. Co. would do its portion
| of the work.
Mr.. Smith responded in the affirms-
alive.
Mr.. Latham then wanted to know
why the improvements to Royal street
cost $500 per square and to Lee street
only $500. 1t was explained that much
of the material for the improvements to
Lee street was already on the ground.
The ordinance was passed, only one
member, Mr.. Latham, voting against it.
At this point Mr.. Sweeney, from the
Board of Aldermen, came into the
council and after a consultation with
the chair requested joint meeting of
the boards for consultation on the sub
ject of the Lee street improvement.
1t appeared that the Mayor had stop.
| ped the work on Lee street because it
was ordered by the council only, and
also that many citizens living On Lee
street objected to the proposed change
of the street.way from stone to gravel.
The chair stated that Aldermen
Sweeney had called his attention to the
fact that the Common Council was pro
ceeding with general business when
the Mayor had called the meeting to
| consider only the Lee street improve
ment. He said that he had discussed
the matter and had Informed the clerk
that unless the point was raised by
member he, as chairman, would allow
general business to proceed. He
stated, however, that such business
could only be transacted by unanimous
consent.
Mr.. Green said that as no objection
had been made he supposed silence
gave consent, so business proceeded.
JOINT MEETING.
The Aldermen soon appeared and
took seats.
When the joint meeting came to or
der,
Alderman Sweeney explained that
the Board of Aldermen would probably
not concur with Council in the ordi
nance to tear up the centre of Lee
street from Prince to Wilkes and make
a gravel or broken stone centre. he
said Alderman Hsvener had intro.