Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-06-15
CITY COUNCIL.

The intense heat caused the mum her
OF spectators of the proceedings OF the
City Council last night to be few. None
appeared without the bar in the Board
Of Alderman's chamber, and but five or
six in the Common Council. MIR
Robert Granau was ected Fire Wai-
den from the Third ward in place of Mr..
James Patterson retired, and Mr.. G. l..
Boothe was chosen Trustee ofthe Alex
andria Infirmarv, vice George W. Fish.
or, deceased. The other business trans
acted was of a routine nature.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
President Marbury and Messrs. Have
ner, Dobie, Ballenger, Hinken and Cur
tin were present when the Aldermen
were called to order at 500 o'clock last
night.
a petition of R. E. Knight for per-
mission to erect bay window 10 front
OF his store on King street was present
ed. The petition was granted.
Mr.. Dobie presented resolution pro-
viding for the appropriation of 5000 for
the purchase of street sprinkler. He
said the city paid about $3.50 year for
sprinkling the streets in an unsatis-
factory manner, and urghed that with a
sprinkler King street would have to
be cleaned but once 10 two months.
Mr.. Ballenger suggested that 5000
wonld not by horse.
Mr.. Dobie said one of the horses en-
ployed on the streets Gould be used, and
he was confident the Water Company
would furnish the water free.
An aye and no vote was taken and
the resolution was adopted unani-
mously.
Mr.. Hinken, from the committee on
light, presented an adverse report on
the petition of Andrew J. Beirne for
the position of Superintendent of Gas
Works The report stated that the
city was not in want of such an officer
at present.
Mr.. Dobie wanted TO know what
changes had taken place at the works.
A little while ago the committee want.
ed an expert gas man and dispensed
with the services of Mr.. Hanzmon, who
bad been at the works nearly forty
years for the purpose of making room
for such an official.
Mr.. Hinken said Mr.. r. NJ. Latham
| had been filling the position lately and
was now giving satisfaction, and the
| com mittee saw DO reason at present for
dispensing with his services.
TIE report was finally adopted.
The committee on light reported ad-
versely on the resolution to employ a
suitable person to light certain street
lamps at salary Of $50 per month, and
requested the Mayor to order the police
force to attend to said lamps.
The report was adopted.
| The report of the finance committee
on the petition of the owners of the
Mount Vernon Cotton Factory for e
reduction of the tax on that property,
favoring 8 reduction in the assessment
from 100000 to $4,000, was received
from the Common Council and their &C.
ton concurred in.
The petition of the Washington
Southern Railway Company for release
from taxation on their rolling stock and
some other routine business wss receiv-
ed from the lower board and their &C
ton coucurred in without debate.
After an intermission in the proceed
ings, Mr.. Greene, from the Common
! Council, appeared in the chamber and
invited the Aldermen to participate with
The lower board in the election of a
Fire Warden from the Third ward in
place of Mr.. James Patterson, resigned;
also in the election of Trustee for the
Alexandria Inirmary.
Upon their return the board at
twenty minutes to ten o'clock ad-
jourLe1.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board assem- led in hot room
some time after the hour fixed, only II
members being present. Three after
wards came in.
The Mayor communicated to the
board the resignation of Mr.. Jas. Pat
terson as fire warden from the Third
ward, and the resignation was accepted.
The finance committee reported in
favor of reducing the assessment upon
the Mount Vernon Cotton Factory from
5000 to $50, 900, as applied for by the
Garrett heirs.
Mr.. Greene opposed the report and
said that not long since widow lady
had applied for change in her assess
ment and it was refused. 1t seemed
that only rich people could have their
assessments reduced. The assessor had
placed this assessment on the books
and Council had no right TO change it.
Threats had been made that a suit al
law would compel Council to change
the assessment. Let them seek the
law. Council had no right to make any
change of this kind. The property had
been kept idle so as not to interfere
with the Garrett mills al Laurel, Md,
and the closing of the factory bad
thrown many people out of employ
meu,. - ctnsrt ettorneC for the
Garrett heirs, was gran.o- '' .Ea
to address the board, and said that ~
property had not been used since 1873.
IL was then assessed by both the city
"a ,ba Stota of 500 600 but in 1856 il